5-Day Mekong Explorer Tour

Day 1: Siem Reap to Preah Rumkel. (-/L/D)

We pick you up from your Siem Reap hotel at 7.00 AM and hit the road to the greater Mekong region. Traveling along one of the newest and remotest roads there are many opportunities to photograph and enjoy nature. Having arrived at Preah Rumkel in the afternoon, you will be welcomed by the leader of Preah Rumkel Community Base Ecotourism and have a short break. In the late afternoon, we survey Sopheakmet Waterfall; that thwarted the grand designs of French imperialists (and which now mark the Lao border). It depends on the water level in order to see the waterfall. During the dry season, we can access to the unexplored falls by boat whereas, during the wet season, we have to stop the boat and continue by a walk through forests and road for about 3.5km in return to visit the mighty Mekong falls. 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: Wooden bungalow with nice river view overlooking to Lao; bathroom is outside and shared; mattress with attached mosquito net with a fan; experience bucket shower like Khmer people, hot water can be arranged upon request. Alternatively, we can put you in at guesthouse with private bathroom, A/C, hot shower (but the water come out slow for shower)

Upgraded: Sovann Entertaining Resort set on the bank of the Mighty Mekong Fall 15 minutes away from the main village of Anlong Cheuteal with comfortable room (A/C & Hot Shower); Restauarnt 7-12$ per meal; big swimming pool with great view and garden. 

Day 2: 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 continues 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

Extra Night Camping (Dec-Apr):
During the dry season (December-April), an extra night camping in Ramsa Forests with excursions to see the birds and a boat journey to explore O’ Talas and even freshwater stingray catching experience are optional and arranged locally. Please contact Cambodian Pride Tours for availability.

Day 3: Stung Treng to Kratie. Cycling on Koh Trong. (B/-/-)

This morning we will take you to a local restaurant that is famous for Laos breakfast. Afterward, we leave Stung Treng and travel on Highway 7 to Kratie. On our way, we visit the famous 100 pillars pagoda and learn its fascinating history as a place of pilgrimage for residents of Kratie. First built in the 16^th century by King Chann Reachea. The pagoda includes 100 wooden columns to commemorate the memory of his daughter Vorakpheak who was killed by a Mekong crocodile. Afterwards, we travel to Kratie Town and check in to a comfortable hotel for the night. Later in the afternoon we take a local ferry across the Mekong River and go for a 9km cycling on Koh Trong, a beautiful Mekong Island and home to famous sweet grapefruit and market gardens. We return to Kratie Town by ferry at sunset time.

+ Accommodation: Hotel in Kratie

Day 4: Kratie Rural Lifestyle & Dolphin Watching. (B/-/-)

Today, we learn about local lifestyles of the Kratie as well as their local productions and witness the one of the most endangered wildlife that habitat upriver at Kampi.  We start with a visit to a traditional cafe shop near the market. This is where you will learn about the lifestyle of Khmer men and women in which most men hang out at the cafe while women are working or doing shopping at the market nearby.  Next, walk through the central Market of Kratie where you will see the local trades and see some of the old colonial building which remains from the French colony. Visit Wat Rokakandal which has a very unique wooden carving about 300 years of age. Afterward, we learn about local productions including a mushroom farm, rice wish key making, and brick factory.
Get back to town for lunch break and rest from the hit at your hotel for 1-2 hours.
Later in the afternoon, we go to Kampi, one of the many deep pools where the rare freshwater Irrawaddy river dolphins gather to feed. We board a local boat and cruise out into the mighty Mekong for a chance to encounter with gentle creatures. Viewing is almost guaranteed, although it is easier to see the dolphins in the shallower waters of the dry season, than in the swollen river of the wet season. After enjoying an hour or more of dolphin viewing, we travel back to Kratie.

+ Accommodation: Hotel in Kratie 

Day 5: Kratie to Phnom Penh. (B/-/-)

Today, we will transfer you 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 (dry season between Jan-May only). 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 the deep-fried tarantula. Have lunch on the road, returning to your Phnom Penh hotel between 3 and 5 pm, depending on weather and traffic.