11-Day Cambodia Uncovered Tour

Day 1: Arrive at Siem Reap. (-/-/-)
After welcoming you at the Siem Reap Airport, a Cambodian Pride Tours representative will transfer you to a comfortable hotel in the city center for overnight.
+ Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Day 2: Siem Reap – Temples of Angkor by bike (Small Circuit). (B/-/-)
We spent our day cycling through small trail rain forests visit Temple of Angkor and along with the gate of Angkor Thom. This is a very interesting way to discover the small circuit. We start our day after breakfast by cycle from the hotel toward the check-point then continue to the Mother of all temples, Angkor Wat is believed to be the world’s largest religious building built in order to dedicate to the Hindu god, Vishnu. We explore Angkor Wat by foot. Afterward, we cycle from the eastern side of Angkor along with the north mod and through remote villages dotted with palm trees and rice paddies. We reach the south grade of Angkor Thom then continue west alongside the gate with a very nice trail towards the west gate before we turn right and cycle to Bayon temple with a remarkable 54-tower. We explore Bayon Temple by foot. Take lunch break a local restaurant. Then, continue our cycling tour through passing through Ta Keo temple, Chao Say Tevoda, Tommanon, Terrace of Leper King, Terrace of Elephant, Baphoun, Phimean Akas. Later, we return to Siem Reap.
+ Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Day 3: Siem Reap – Siem Reap – Angkor Wat Sunrise. Big Circuit including Ta Promh & Banteay Srey. (B/-/-)
Rise early for sunrise over the Mother of all temples, Angkor Wat which is believed to be the world’s largest religious building. Then, we head to the temple mountain of Pre Rup, before driving further north to Banteay Srei, Angkor’s ultimate art gallery. This petite pink temple is the jewel in the crown of Angkor-era sculpture. The elaborate carvings here are the finest found in Cambodia and the name translates as ‘Fortress of the Women’, thanks to the intricate detail here, considered too fine for the hands of a man. Then, we head back to to the famous Ta Promh, embraced by the roots of enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers. Visit Ta Phrom that was built in the 12th century by the famous King Jayavarvan VII indicated to his mother. The ruined Ta Prohm (Tomb Raider) temple was made famous by Angelina Jolie. This temple has been left to the forces of nature by archaeologists as it was ‘discovered’ by French explorer Henri Mouhot in 1860, many parts of its structure being embraced by the roots of gigantic trees, giving the ruin a special atmosphere. Then, we explore the frequently visited Banteay Samre. Built by King King Suryavarman II, the same king who built Angkor Wat, the structure with its high temple tower has undergone extensive restoration. In the afternoon we visit Neak Pean, a small island temple situated in the middle of an artificial pool, which translates as “intertwined serpents” due to the coiled serpents encircling the base of the structure. We then continue on to Preah Khan or “sacred sword”, a huge monastic complex which features elaborate carvings.
+ Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Day 4: Siem Reap – Tonle Sap Lifestyle at Kompong Kleang and Beng Mealea. (B/-/-)
After breakfast, we travel southeast out of Siem Reap to one of the largest and least-visited villages on the Tonle Sap Lake, Kompong Khleang, about 55km from Siem Reap. It’s a population of 10,000 all make a living from the fishing industry. We explore the canals (wet season) or streets (dry season) of this incredible town. In the wet season, the houses appear to be floating, as water laps at the verandas, but in the dry season towering stilts are revealed, the houses almost like wooden skyscrapers. You can hire a boat and cruise into the open water of the great lake to see a small floating village and learn some more about this incredible natural flood barrier.

After a lunch break in a local restaurant, we explore the lost temple of Beng Mealea, the titanic of temples, a slumbering giant lost for centuries in the forests of Cambodia. It is the most accessible of Angkor’s lost temples, a mirror image of Angkor Wat, but utterly consumed by the voracious appetite of nature. Constructed by Suryavarman II in the 12th century, the builder of Angkor Wat, the forest has run riot here and it is hard to get a sense of the monument’s shape amid the daunting ruins. Return to your hotel in Siem Reap.
+ Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Day 5: Morning Bird Watching at Boeung Pearaing Eco-tourism Community. Afternoon Travel to Sra Em. (B/-/-)
07:30 AM leaving from your hotel and travel by van to Chreav commune, and our Bird Expert will lead you to “Boeung Pearaing Responsible Eco-Tourism” site. Along the way, you will enjoy our beautiful rice fields and different species of birds Such as Asian Open-billed, black-headed ibis, cormorants, purple herons, grey herons and etc. 08:15 AM You will be welcomed by bird conservation team, where a short orientation of Boeung Pearaing Responsible Eco-Tourism conducted before starting bird watching tour. Our team boat driver will happily take you to the bird conservation sites where they are searching for food. Then you will be explained about biodiversities and especially varieties of bird such as Spot-billed pelicans, cormorants, darter, painted stork, lesser adjutant, black-headed ibis, grey-headed fish eagle, egrets, grey herons and etc.. Return to Siem Reap town for your lunch break before we leave behind Siem Reap and head north to the mountainous border region and the last outpost of the Khmer Rouge at Anlong Veng, where we visit the house of the former military strongman Ta Mok. Anlong Veng was the last Khmer Rouge stronghold to surrender to government forces in the late 1990s. We then head east to Sra Em where we check into a comfortable hotel for the night.
+ Accommodation: Hotel in Sra Em

Day 6: Morning Preah Vihear Temple. Travel to the remote community of Preah Rumkel. (B/-/D)
In the morning we explore an imposing mountain-top temple guards the border between Cambodia and Thailand, Preah Vihear temple which was registered to be the world heritage 2008, perched on a pinnacle overlooking Cambodia and the object of recent battles with Thailand. We climb to the top of the Preah Vihea temple via the snaking road up to the mountain which is very steep in places and we eventually emerge at the second enclosure of this king of the mountain temples. We explore the temple on foot and continue onwards to the final level, clinging to a cliff face in the Dangrek Mountains, towering hundreds of meters above lowland Cambodia below. The views from this most mountainous of temple mountains are breathtaking.

After a lunch break in a local restaurant in Sra Em, we journey to Cambodia-Lao border of Preah Rumkel Community, one of the most remotes eco-tourism frontier community. We survey Sopheakmet Waterfall; that thwarted the grand designs of French imperialists (and which now mark the Lao border). If time is available we will take the boat across the river to visit Hang Khone, which is the southernmost tip of Laos. The French used this as a ferry port where goods were then transferred back to the ferry by train before they continued their travel by river. Sunset here is some of the most beautiful sunsets across the Mekong River.

Tonight, you will stay in a traditional Cambodian home under a mosquito net at one of the local family who lives on the bank of the Mekong River; experience bucket shower like Khmer people.
+ Accommodation: Homestay at Preah Rumkel

Day 7: Stung Treng – Kayaking Through Mekong Flooded Forests. (B/L/-)
After breakfast at homestay, it’s time to say goodbye to the family. Then, we enjoy a short boat trip down to O’Svay where we will start our paddling tours to explore the Ramsar Wetlands area. It stretches south along the Mekong River from the border with Laos to Stung Treng. Only accessible by boat, it is a haven for critically endangered mammals, birds, and fish and a unique riverine flooded forest system that is a photographer’s dream. With only birdcalls announcing our presence, we maneuvered our way leisurely downstream for a couple of hours. Our paddling tour of the forest continue until one point that you feel enough, then we return back to O’Svay by boat before we travel by road to the provincial capital of Stung Treng. We check in to a comfortable local hotel for the night.
+ Accommodation: Hotel in Stung Treng

Day 8: Stung Treng to Ratanakiri. Cha Ung waterfall and Yeak Loam Crater Lake. (B/-/-)
Before leaving Stung Treng, We might visit Stung Treng Women’s Development Center (open Monday to Friday). STWC or Mekong Blue is where the project focuses on developing life skills that assist in breaking the cycle of poverty and illiteracy for vulnerable people, especially women in their region. You will learn about Cambodian silk weaving and their production, which allows not only preservation but the cultivation of the hundred-year-old tradition of silk-weaving. At the end, you can shop for souvenirs. Then, we hid the road south towards O’Pongmon before veering east towards the red earth of Ratanakiri. We arrive in Ban Lung in the early afternoon. After a lunch break, we explore a 25m high Cha Ung waterfall which surrounded by various creepers and by climbing plants. The scene is very picturesque- the water spray generated by the water cascading off the vegetation creates its own rainbows in the sunlight. We can access the bottom part with new concrete stairs. Behind the waterfall is a large rocky cave from which visitors can gain a different perspective of the scenery through the water. At the base of the falls are natural scattered large boulders where trekkers can relax and take in the incredible views. Check into your hotel and enjoy your lunch.

Later in the afternoon, we visit Yeak Laom crater lake. It is time to enjoy the refreshing waters of the beautiful crater lake of Yeak Loam, set amid a pocket of lush jungle.
+ Accommodation: Hotel in Ratanakiri

Day 9: The Indigenous Lifestyle. (B/-/-)
We start our day at 6:30 am before breakfast to explore the origin of Ratanakiri and learn about the indigenous people life who form up the region for thousands of year. Our visit includes Banlung market. It’s most colorful in the early morning, when local indigenous women (Chunchiet) set up around outside of the market, puffing on bamboo pipes of large cigars made from tobacco rolled up in leaves.

Return to your hotel for breakfast, then we travel to Kachon where we’ll take a scenic boat ride for about on Sesan river to a remote village of Kaoh Piek. It is home to a traditional Kachoch burial ground complete with carved effigies of the deceased. Family groups are buried side by side and elaborate ceremonies held after a period of mourning. There are wooden men and women statues standing in front of the tombs to guard and likeness of elephant tusks and beautifully decorated tombs. You will also take a walk through the village, visit the school. You will learn about the animist belief of Kachoch hill tribe from your local guide in the area.

Return to Ban Lung and we will visit the local gem mining somewhere around town as they always move their mining location, we don’t really know which point exactly but our local guide will find accordingly.
+ Accommodation: Hotel in Ratanakiri

Day 10: Ratanakiri to Kratie. Dolphin Watching. (B/-/-)
We leave behind Banlung and travel southwest towards O’Pongmon before veering south towards to the charming town of Kratie and check into your comfortable hotel.

In the afternoon we travel to Kampi, one of the many deep pools where the rare river dolphins gather to feed. We board a local boat and cruise out into the mighty Mekong for a chance encounter with these gentle mammals. Viewing is guaranteed. After enjoying an hour or more of dolphin viewing, we travel back to Kratie.
+ Accommodation: Hotel in Kratie

Day 11: Market of Kratie, Rice Whisky Production. Travel to Phnom Penh. (B/-/-)
After breakfast, we visit the Central Market of Kratie where you will see the local trades. Afterward, we experience the traditional rice whiskey production at Crazy Cow Village before we, we travel to Cambodia capital city of Phnom Penh. We pass through Kampong Cham where we visit the bamboo bridge built across the mighty Mekong River connecting the mainland to Koh Pen Island. Before reaching Phnom Penh, there is the chance to pause at Skuon, affectionately known as ‘Spiderville’, where it is possible to sample the local delicacy of deep-fried tarantula. Have lunch on the road, returning to your Phnom Penh hotel between 3 and 5 pm, depending on weather and traffic.