Cambodia Adventure Tour 16 Nights / 17 Days

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 | Siem Reap – Arrival

Meal: None
Upon your arrival at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, you will be greeted by our friendly driver then transfers directly (approx. 1 hour) to a booked hotel for check in and have your own free time.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 2 | Fully Guided Angkor Discovery & Traditional Gondola Sunset

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast is at hotel. We’re journeying out (or tuk tuk) of hotel at 8.00am to the South Gate of Angkor Thom atop 4 giant faces that religiously represents compassion, sympathy, equanimity and charity. Stroll around Bayon temple consisting of more than 200 smiling faces in stone, admired by interesting temples including Baphuon, Phimeanakas, terrace of leper king and terrace of elephant. Resume the journey to visit Ta Prohm temple adorned with the stunning, amazing tree roots where Lara Croft Tomb Raider was filmed.

Enjoy Khmer set lunch at a selected local restaurant near temples.

Afternoon, continue to witness the marvelous Angkor Wat – the world’s heritage listed by UNESCO in 1992 and the largest unrivaled monument in the world. Built by Suryavarman II in 12th Century, Angkor Wat is considered as one of the top destinations in Asia and is a must-see in your lifetime. Learning from your tour guide the amazing history, its ancestral incredible, architectural masterpieces and the finest carvings dates back to the Khmer Empire when it dominated the largest parts of Southeast Asia.

Next, we’re heading to Angkor Thom where we will embark a traditional gondola which slowly glides along the moat (Tonle Om), immerse yourselves with the serenity among the stunning nature of Angkor which the moment seems date back to the old time of Angkor Kingdom while the picturesque sunset with golden color fading at horizon.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 3 | Sunrise, Phnom Kulen Waterfalls & Beautiful Banteay Srei

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

We start the tour at 5.00am then drive within Angkor jungle toward the magnificent Angkor Wat where we wait to watch the spectacular sunrise over Angkor Wat towers and capture its beautiful sunrise reflection at the lotus pond.

Return hotel for breakfast then leave hotel again to Phnom Kulen where you meet the famous beautiful waterfalls. Phnom Kulen is regarded as the holy mountain for religious significance to Hindus and Buddhists and was the significant home of the ancient Khmer Empire when King Jayavarma II proclaimed independence from Java in 804 CE. The journey provides nice views of rice paddies, countryside dotting with palm trees and cattle.

Enjoy the walking tour to see the giant reclining Buddha statue on the hilltop along with breathtaking, spectacular views and learn from your tour guide about historical site. Resume walking within the jungle to witness religious Hindu of the riverbed of 1000 linga carvings, next we move to observe the sacred ground-pool before we head to relax near the waterfall. From then, it is your own free time for cooling down, swimming and enjoying local lunch at a selected local restaurant near the waterfalls.

Afternoon, we drive back to unlock the intricately carved, beautiful red-pink sandstone temple of Banteay Srei – considered to be a Jewel of Khmer art which features elaborate decorations and its finest details. These factors have made the temple extremely popular with tourists, and have led to its being widely praised as a “precious gem”.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 4 | Unique Village Experience with Oxcart Ride

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast is at hotel. We start the tour at 8.30am to a remote countryside village, the journey passes interesting city highlight and huge beautiful rice paddies dotting with palm trees and cattle in the fields. We will visit a local market to observe interesting trade exchanges before arriving in the village, next have some fun on the oxcart ride through the village to get interaction along with “Hello” from friendly kids. Disembark the cart, you’ll be greeted by a host family then we get involved with rural activities such as rice planting or harvesting or growing vegetables or making roof of palm leaves depending on the season of the year. These rural village activities are most unique, memorable experience in your trip to Cambodia. Return to the family’s house, stroll round to see the surrounding which admired by routine, lifestyle, culture, customs and superstitions, enjoy lunch followed by tropical fruits and get refreshed by coconut juice before saying goodbye to the host family and we make our way back to the hotel.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 5 | Tonle Sap Lake, City Tour & Traditional Apsara Show

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast is at hotel. We set off hotel at 8.30am for countryside sightseeing along with a visit at local market to see interesting trades before resuming our journey to Kompong Phluk village of Tonle Sap Lake. We process to take a boat trip along canal toward the centre of Kompong Phluk then the boat slows down to let you enjoy the surrounding admired by amazing houses atop high poles, come across the highlight of fishing activities as well as see people selling fruits/vegetable/meats on their boats, you sometimes see kids in their student uniforms coming back from their classes. Witness how life works on the water and how people make the lake as home then we embark on a canoe to explore the pleasant mangroves, enjoy the serenity while taking picturesque photos and you may see a few waterbirds. Continue by our main boat to see the great lake of Tonle Sap, learn from your tour guide about Tonle Sap ecosystem and its rich biosphere reserve.

Return Siem Reap city to enjoy tasty Khmer set lunch at Khmer wooden house restaurant.

Afternoon, we go for guided orientation at the finest Artisan Angkor wood/stone carving center which displays various defined handicrafts and silk products, continue to stroll around old market to see interesting daily trade as well as bargaining for local handmade products, paintings, lacquers, carvings, clothes, traditional crafts and so on, and you can also go to Royal Residence Garden for walking and breathtaking.

Evening, we leave to enjoy delicate Khmer set dinner (or buffet) followed by traditional Apsara dance performance at a selected local restaurant.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 6 | Private Car/Minivan to Battambang & Battambang Tour

Meal: Breakfast

Breakfast is at hotel. Check out and goodbye to Siem Reap. We drive (3 hours) to Battambang Province, we stop at a roadside for chances to dare of sampling deep-fried crispy insects including crickets, grasshoppers etc. Check in at a booked hotel in Battambang and have your own free time.

*Note: Angkor Silk farm is available for a visit on the way. Please talk to our tour guide if you want to observe the silk processing as well as browser unique silk products at Angkor Silk Farm.

Afternoon, we leave to visit traditional wooden house which was built a century ago during French Era and have a short tour that reveals a very interesting background regarding to its history. We will stroll at Battambang winery (with grape wine tasting) before heading to Phnom Sampov where you enjoy the active walking at the top of the mountain to witness the killing caves and visit hidden caves of Battambang. Next, we wait at hillside to watch thousands of bats flying back to their caves in the red sky while the sun is setting down.

Oernight in Battambang

Day 7 | Full Day Battambang Tour with Bamboo Train

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast is at hotel. We set off at 8.00am to experience some fun on the famous bamboo train in Battambang, cruising on the track of the train rail while enjoying the highlight of rural landscape. Continue to wander around the infamous Prohoc market “Fermented Fish Market”, observe rice paper making, have chances to try the taste of Cambodian rice wine and learn how it is made before drive to visit ancient temple of Wat Ek Phnom – an Angkorain temple built in the 11th century.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon, we will have Battambang City tour, start with the market of Phsar Nat with interesting local trades and have chances to taste some of local snacks then we go for the fascinating highlights of Khmer & French architectures, National Bank and the old bridge that was built more than a hundred year ago. Continue to visit the most popular Ta Dumbang Statue with an interesting legendary and now become the religious site for praying to have happiness and good luck in life.

Overnight in Battambang

Day 8 | Private Car/Minivan to Preah Vihear & Khmer Rouge House

Meal: Breakfast

Breakfast is at hotel. We make the journey with 6.30 hours to Preah Vihear Province, drive passing beautiful countryside dotting with palm trees. On the way, we visit Ta Mok House – the historical site and a house who owned by the former Khmer Rouge Commander named “Ta Mok”. Witness tragic history and learn how Khmer Rouge organized their rebels to struggle against the government. Check in and simply have free time at hotel.

Overnight in Preah Vihear

Day 9 | Preah Vihear & Koh Ker Temples

Meal: Breakfast

Breakfast is at hotel. We leave with at 8.00am to the base of DangRek mountain. Once we arrived, we process to get pick-up car which will take all of you up the mountain to visit the ancient Preah Vihear temple that was built atop Mt DangRek as of the scenery provides the fascinating landscape while learn from your tour guide about temple history and take picturesque photos of the most spectacular setting of the temple.

Around noon, we return to our awaiting car then go to hotel for refreshment and check out. Continue our adventure to discover the hidden Koh Ker temple which was listed as UNESCO World Heritage on 17 September 2023. We stroll around to witness the rich history of Pre-Angkorian Koh Ker in Pyramid shape, the very less touristy temple surrounded by the stunning lush jungle. Once it’s done, we will spend an overnight in a guesthouse near Koh Ker.

Overnight in Preah Vihear

Day 10 | Drive from Preah Vihear to Ratanakiri

Meal: Breakfast

Breakfast is at hotel. We say goodbye to Preah Vihear and make a long journey with approx. 5-6 hours to Ratanakiri Province. On the way, we will spend a few lovely hours (depends on your interest) to visit cow and animal farms where you learn about cow milk processing, see green farms and wild animals included deer, boars and take a breathtaking views of the surrounding.

Arrived, check in and have free time at a booked hotel in the evening.

Overnight in Ratanakiri

Day 11 | Adventure to Ethnic Minority Villages

Meal: Breakfast

Breakfast is at hotel. We leave a bit early at 7.45am for a wonderful journey to get the best insight into the diversity of cultures that Ratanakiri has offered to hundreds of visitors to experience its remarkable uniqueness and ethnic daily life that is animated by ritual cultures, customs and interesting routine.

We’ll take about an hour and half drive that passes fascinating scenery and stop on the way to visit traditional Kroeung village to witness lifestyle of her friendly people and other highlight in the village before we arrive at Veun Sai for a boat excursion cross the river to explore other tribal villages. The boat excursion offers scenic views of lush rainforest and Tonle San River, and if you’re luck to spot wildlife and hear sounds of birds.

Disembark the boat, visit interesting ancient cemeteries at tribal villages of Kachok and Koh Piek. Next, we continue down Tonle San River where we will find a stop for lunch at a local restaurant (at your own account).

After lunch break, we continue our boat trip to Chinese and Laos villages to observe people making a living based on simple life, and visit their traditional medical center where they produce traditional medicines by their ancient methods and based local natural products included tree roots, leaf, flowers and tree skins etc. You may interrupt them to ask questions regarding to healing and sickness before we make our way back to Banlung Twon.

Overnight in Ratanakiri

Day 12 | Half a Day Elephant Tour

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast is at hotel. We make small trip towards the South of Banlung trough fields and rubber plantations, half road, half dirt track. Arrival at the Airavata site at 8.45-9.00AM. Presentation of Airavata Elephants of the place, our philosophy, and preparation of the milk bottles and Noelle’s bath. We leave for the enclosure, greet mother and daughter and give treats to the mother while listening to the story of Ikeo and of her unlikely pregnancy.

We take Ikeo to the training area, hose her, brush her nails with shampoo and do a health check. Noelle’s bath, we wash her with shampoo, check her weight while giving her the bottle to get on the scale. All this done, we take mother and daughter into the forest, walking to the place where they will spend the day together. It is elephant school for Noelle as by observing her mother and mimicking her, she learns what plants to eat or not to eat. We return and eventually observe the training of the other elephants (power washing, etc).

*Note: No elephant ride and we don’t certainly promote or encourage to ride an elephant.

Once the tour finished, we drive back to the hotel and have free time.

Overnight in Ratanakiri

Day 13 | Waterfalls, Yeak Lom Crater Lake & Drive to Kratie

Meal: Breakfast

Breakfast is at hotel. We start the morning tour to visit natural Kachang waterfalls, the market in Banlung town of Ranakairi and see beautiful nature, and enjoy swimming (if you want) in the popular Yeak Lom crater lake before returning hotel for refreshment and check out.

Next, we drive to Kratie Province – a sleepy town and the great home for freshwater Irrawaddy Dolphins. On the way, we will have a few stops to enjoy the highlights of Cambodia and sample Cambodian snacks as well as deep fried crispy insects (spiders…).

Once we arrived in Kratie, we process to take a local boat to Koh Trong Island and check in at a booked hotel and have free leisure.

Overnight in Kratie

Day 14 | Koh Trong Exploration & Mekong Irrawaddy Dolphin

Meal: Breakfast

Breakfast is at hotel. We go to explore Koh Trong Island by push bike for the highlights of Koh Trong, interact local people as well as seeing rural life. Learn from your tour guide about their way of living, routine, culture especially the en-rooted superstitions. Passing traditional stilt houses and hear kids welcoming you by saying “Hello”, you’ll have a lot of chance to take interesting photos. Continue to see Vietnamese floating houses, make a friendly visit to grape farm (seasonal) and enjoy the taste of famous Koh Trong pomelo and fresh coconut juice before making our way back to the hotel.

Afternoon, embark a local boat to the mainland then heading to visit Wat Sasar Mouyrouy (100 column pagoda) with interesting history & legend, continue to Kampi pool where you take a small boat to capture the special glimpses of rare endangered freshwater Irrawaddy Dolphins and watch beautiful sunset over the Mekong River. Return and back to hotel in Koh Trong.

Overnight in Kratie

Day 15 | Kratie Hightlights & Drive to Phnom Penh Capital

Meal: Breakfast

Breakfast is at hotel. Enjoy the rest of free time at Koh Trong Island, check out then take a local boat to the mainland, we’ll then go for the highlight of Kratie’s city included visiting local market with interesting hightlights of local trades. Continue driving (Approx. 5 hours) to Phnom Penh Capital and check in at a booked hotel.

Overnight in Phnom Penh

Day 16 | Full Day Phnom Penh City Tour with Sunset Boat Cruise

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast is at hotel. Today our guide and driver will pick you up at 8.00am then go to Independent Monument where we stop to capture some beautiful photos before continue to witness the tragic site of Choeung Ek – the killing field that proceeded more than 20 thousands of civilians and the site is connecting with Tuol Sleng Museum – was the former school that was transformed to Tortured Prison S21. Stroll around Russian market for shopping.

Enjoy Khmer set lunch at Bopha Titanic Phnom Penh restaurant by The Riverside.

Afternoon, visit The Royal Palace – a complex of buildings which are served as the royal residence for the King of Cambodia, admired by impressive Silver Pagoda with over 5000 solid silver tiles and other Royal Stupas, shrines, monuments etc. Continue for a guided tour at the National Museum, the world’s most important collection of Cambodian antique sculptures and carvings. Next, continue to visit Wat Phnom with interesting legendary of founding place of Phnom Penh Capital.

Evening, we head to Phnom Penh’s Riverside where get on board with a welcome cocktail while the boat cruise is slowly gliding along Mekong & Tonle Sap, watch the sunset fading at horizon, immerse yourself with golden color of Phnom Penh skyline. Disembark around 6.20pm and return hotel.

Overnight in Phnom Penh

Day 17 | Phnom Penh – Departure

Meal: Breakfast

Breakfast is at hotel. Simply enjoy the rest of free time in Phnom Penh before our team picks you up from hotel’s lobby and transfers to Phnom Penh International Airport for your flight to the next destination.

Thank You and Goodbye to Beautiful Cambodia