Cambodia Trekking 16 day tour

Destination: Siem Reap/Phnom Kulen/Kratie/Stung Treng/Rattanakiri/Banlung/Kroeung/Territory/Tapoun Totems/Kampong Cham/Phnom Penh/Kirirom National Park/Sihanoukville

B=BREAKFAST, L=LUNCH, D=DINNER, G=GUIDE

Day 1: Siem Reap arrival (G)

On arrival at the airport, you’ll be met and transfered to your hotel for check in. You’ll spend the night in

Day 2: Siem Reap/Angkor complex (10km) (B, G)

Meet at the hotel to brief on the tour. Then transfer to the South Gate of Angkor Thom and start walking on the Great Wall of Angkor Thom city, the main capital of the King Jayavarman VII. The wall is about 5 square km, surrounded the capital of the former Angkor with 2 million habitants during the 12 century. Visit the four faces Bayon temple and walk through the terrace of Elephant, terrace of Leper King toward the jungle temple of Ta Phrom embraced by giant trees and creepers. Ta Phrom was featured in the movie starred by Angelina Jollie. After lunch, visit the magnificent 12th century Angkor Wat. It is visually, architecturally and artistically breathtaking. Angkor Wat is a massive three-tiered pyramid crowned by five beehive-like towers rising 65 meters from ground level. Suryavarman II constructed Angkor Wat in the form of massive ‘temple mountain’ dedicated to the Hindu god, Vishnu.

Day 3: Trekking Phnom Kulen (12km) (B, L, D, G)

Meet with your guide. Transfer from the hotel to the foot of Kulen Mountain which takes 50 minutes. On arrival, get water in the cool box. Begin walking up the hill. The first 2km is uphill and rocky. After the 2km, the path is more flat. Water stop at Km 2. Visit the River of Thousand Lingas lying under the river bed, people believe it brings fertility and blessing Angkor area as the river flows from Kulen to Siem Reap. Walk 700meters to visit the Grand Reclining Buddha. Kulen mountain remains the sacred place local people believes. From the Grand Reclining Buddha, walk another 500 meters to the water fall, where we enjoy swimming the 30 meters high water fall. After lunch, transfer to Beng Mealea temple. Beng Mealea is an untouched temple hidden in the jungle surrounded by its mood 900 meters by 1,200 meters. Beng Mealea is a beautiful, charming temple. It has it own character which cannot be found in any other temple. We can feel very peaceful sitting inside the temple as we can get rid of the many tourists at Angkor area. Late afternoon, transfer back to the hotel.

Day 4: Siem Reap/Kratie (6km) (B, L, D, G)

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer visit Kompong Kdei bridge, the 12 century lava stone bridge. Then transfer to Santuk Mountain and climb the hill to visit the hilltop pagoda. After Kampong Thom, there are also villages of stone carving and drive through the rubber plantation before Kampong Cham. Arrive in Kratie in time for the sunset. There remains some colonial building reminds that Kratie used to be the French port on the Mekong river. Overnight in Kratie.

Day 5: Kratie (7km) (B, L, D, G)

After breakfast, board on the local wooden boat to head north 16km to visit Prek Kampi and view the rare Mekong River Dolphins either from boat tour or from the river bank. The spectacular river scenery and the rural, friendly villages are added attractions. Afternoon, take a range of half day trails along the river spectacular scenery and unhurried village. Walk through the island and visit the more remote island villages. Overnight in Kratie.

Day 6: Kratie/Stung Treng  (8km) (B, L, D, G)

After breakfast, transfer to Stung Treng, the bustling river port located on the junction of the Mekong river and Sesan river. Take a range of half day trail along the Mekong river in remote rural village and trek in the fringing forests. Enjoy local specialty Nhem, made from fresh fish, garlic and chili and salt. Dinner with fresh fish from the Mekong and overnight in Stung Treng.

Day 7: Stung Treng/Rattanakiri (4km) (B, L, D, G)

After breakfast, transfer to Banlung, capital of Rattanakiri Province, nicknamed “the Red City” because of the omnipresent laterite. Transfer to lodge. Walk to the volcanic lake, Yak Lom in a superb location surrounded by pristine rainforest. Swim or take a stroll around the lake before having dinner. Overnight at the lodge in Banlung.

Day 8: Banlung/Kroeung Territory/Banlung (17km) (B, L, D, G)

Drive north towards Laos and the village of Taveng. Cross the volcanic lava field of Veyrum Plang. Travelling north the landscape changes from primary forest to cleared forest, bamboo and bush. Walk to visit some Kroeung villages en route. The Kroeung people have the curious custom of erecting bachelor houses standing on long bamboo poles. These houses will remain so until the young man finds a wife. Only then will the unusual bachelor pad be destroyed. The time of year to see them is usually from February to August. Overnight in home-stay.

Day 9: Banlung/Tapoun Totems/Banlung (15km) (B, L, D, G)

Leave Banlung heading northwest through bamboo forests to reach the village of Voeune Sai. This village is a Chinese enclave in Cambodian territory with most villagers not speaking Khmer. Upstream are the Tampoun villages, known for their funeral statuary or totems. Some of the best of totems are in the village of Ka Choan, reached by boat and walking. Return to Banlung for dinner and overnight.

Day 10: Banlung/Kampong Cham (3km) (B, L, D, G)

Drive by on rough roads to explore the surrounding waterfalls  at Teuk Cha Ong and Okachang before heading back to Kampong Cham. Kampong Cham, means Muslim Port is one of biggest province in Cambodia producing fruits and rubber. There are still some colonial building reminding of the French time once they owned rubber plantation in Kampong Cham. Sunset on the Mekong River. Overnight in Kampong Cham.

Day 11: Kampong Cham/Phnom Penh (4km) (B, L, D, G)

After breakfast, walk through the calm Koh Pen island, one of the beautiful island on the Mekong river. Then transfer to Wat Hanchey to hike and visit the hilltop pagoda. Wat Hanchey used to be the Khmer Rouge small killing field. There remains some of the graves old and new. Today, it becomes a peaceful place for local people to have offering ceremony dedicated to those who passed away. Stop at Skun town for lunch before continuing to Phnom Penh. Afternoon, visit National Museum, Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 12: Phnom Penh (5km) (B, L, D, G)

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Koh Dach island, walk through the island to visit the village. There are many families earn their living from weaving the silk, Krama and other beautiful traditional clothes. Krama is the Cambodian traditional scarf people normally wear around their head or neck. Afternoon, visit Toul Sleng Genocide Museum known as S21 and Cheung Ek killing field. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 13: Phnom Penh/Kirirom National Park (13km) (B, L, D, G)

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer Phnom Dat Chivit located in Kirirom National Park where walking guide and ranger will brief you on the tour. After water fill and get ready, immediately begin the hiking 2 hours to visit Phnom Dat Chivit. Visit the rest of Kirirom National Park including some of the local attraction, water-fall and tour to visit Chombok Community. Overnight at Chambok home-stay.

Day 14: Kirirom/Ream National Park (3km)/Sihanoukville (B, L, D, G)

Wake up early morning to see the bird and walking 1km to enjoy variety of different attractions including a 40m high water fall, variety of plants and animals while discovering the breathtaking nature and landscape. Then transfer to Ream National Park to board on the boat to visit the mangrove forests, offshore coral reefs and fishing villages. Explore the jungles and mangrove swamps by boat, a fishing village and a small tropical island to trek for 1 hour through the jungle to the village. Enjoy having lunch with the local family. Afternoon, relax quietly patiently to observe the dolphin from the boat. Transfer to Sihanouk Ville for overnight.

Day 15: Sihanoukville Free Day (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. Free and relax to swim at the beach on your own. Overnight in Sihanouk Ville.

Day 16: Sihanoukville/Phnom Penh (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer back to Phnom Penh for departure flight. TOUR ENDS.