The Essence of Cambodia

Day 1 - Welcome to Cambodia!

Welcome to the Kingdom of Smiles. You will be met at Siem Reap Airport by your private driver and English-speaking guide who will take you to your hotel where you can rest and soak up your surroundings.

Jaya House is an award-winning boutique hotel on the river and a stylish, peaceful oasis for your busy few days exploring the temples.

Day 2 - Discover the temples of Angkor

Rise early this morning to catch sunrise over the largest and most breathtaking temple; Angkor Wat. Here, you will spend the morning exploring one of man’s most magnificent creations before returning to the hotel for a late breakfast and to relax while the sun is hot and the temples are more crowded. Later, explore the fortified city of Angkor Thom as well as Bayon, Baphuon, Phimeanakas, and the Terraces of the Elephants and Leper King. Finish with sunset at Pre Rup Temple – its red bricks are accentuated by the sinking sun.

Day 3 - Get off the beaten track at Angkor

This morning take a scenic drive to the 10th century Banteay Srei Tmple, regarded by many as the jewel in the crown of classical Khmer art. Later, visit the Roluos Group of temples, that served as the capital of the Khmer empire under King Idravarman, and the majestic Ta Phrom, which has been left to the elements and looks very much like the other temples must have looked when “rediscovered” by Henri Mouhot in the 1860s. Enjoy the evening at your leisure.

Day 4 - Travel to Phnom Penh overland

This morning, your guide and driver will pick you up and transfer you to Phnom Penh. Along the way, you will visit Sambor Prei Kuk, some fabulous ruins which predate Angkor by several centuries and are spread out over a vast distance. Tourists seldom visit this place so you can enjoy the beautiful ruins in peace and quiet. You will have a traditional Khmer picnic lunch in front of the temple. After lunch, you will continue your journey towards to Phnom Penh and check into White Mansion (deluxe room).

Day 5 - Experience the flavours and history of the capital

Start the morning with a food walking tour in the amazing Art Deco central market to get under the skin of Khmer cuisine. You will stop for a local-style breakfast and have the chance to sample different delicacies on offer. This afternoon you can visit the National Museum, with its huge collection of Khmer sculpture and artifacts recovered from Angkor. Then continue to the adjacent Silver Pagoda. Although some 60% of the pagoda’s contents were destroyed under Pol Pot, what remains is spectacular. Lunch – included.

Day 6 - See the darker side of Cambodian history

This morning you will visit Tuol Sleng Prison, housed in a high school, where many were held and perished under Polpot’s devastating regime. After you can take a trip to the Killing Fields, which held the mass graves of the years of gencide. This excursion may prove distressing for some; it is however an important piece of Cambodia’s recent past. This afternoon you can enjoy the city at your own leisurely pace.

Day 7 - Stay in a luxury floating tent on a jungle river

This morning your private driver will drive you to the jungle paradise of Koh Kong in south-west Cambodia. On the way you will stop at Kirirom National Park, which covers about 80,000 acres of forested land. Enjoy a short and easy trek to the Chambok waterfall for a picnic lunch before continuing to your luxury floating tent on the River Tatai. This is ‘glamping’ on another level… (Floating Tent)

Day 8 - Enjoy a second day on the jungle river

Today you can relax and enjoy the gorgeous surroundings of your floating tent in the jungle. The resort has a wonderful selection of daily excursions that you can choose from if you would like to see more of the surrounding area, we especially recommend taking the boat downstream to the scenic Tatai Waterfall and enjoying a picnic by the waterside.

Day 9 - Make your way to Kampot

Enjoy a relaxing morning before making your journey to Kampot, a cute colonial town in south Cambodia. Take the boat back to mainland and meet your private guide and driver who will drive you (about five hours) to the gorgeous Vine Retreat, which is on a working pepper farm outside the town and surrounded by luscious jungle. (Superior Room)

Day 10 - Explore the colonial town of Kampot

This morning your driver and guide will take you for a drive through the countryside to Kampot town. You’ll see Phnom Kampong Trach cave at the base of a rocky mountain, as well as a pepper plantation and salt fields. In Kampot we’ll stop for a local Khmer coffee at a restaurant with a lovely river views before taking a sunset cruise along Stung Kampong Bay in a local-style boat to see local people’s daily lives. Lunch – included.

Day 11 - Exploring the natural beauty of the south-west

This your guide will take you out on the bikes to visit a local pepper plantation, which has made this area so famous, and talk to the people for whom pepper is their livelihood. You will also cycle to a fantastic sustainable handicraft village, where the ladies weave scarves at a remarkable pace! Later you will be driven one-hour to the seaside town of Kep, where you will check into one of our favourite hotels in the country; Knai Bang Chatt. (Garden View Room).

Day 12 - 13 - Relaxing on the south coast

Take three full days at the beautiful Knai Bang Chatt. Its infinity pool has tremendous ocean views and we think this is the perfect way to end any holiday in Cambodia. Whats more, it has the finest sunset spots in the country and a great selection of massages, spa treatments and even private meditation sessions. We can organise local excursions for you but we think this is the perfect place to unwind.

Day 14 - Bon voyage!

The time has come to bid farewell to this beautiful country of smiles. Your private driver will transfer you four hours back to Phnom Penh where you can catch your flight home. Bon voyage… we think you’ll be back!