SUSTAINABLE TOUR : SIEM REAP - BATTAMBANG – PHNOM PENH – MONDULKIRI - KRATIE

Day 1 : Siem Reap – Arrival

We will be met at Siem Reap International Airport and drive to the hotel for check-in. We then have some time to settle into our surroundings with lunch at our leisure. Siem Reap is packed full of tasty options, ranging from local to international cuisine.

In the afternoon, discover the history of conflict in Cambodia, the impact of landmines on local communities, and the opportunity to meet and see the HeroRATs in action at APOPO Visitor Centre. Experience the realities of humanitarian demining where rats are trained to save lives. Learn about the mine clearing process from the guides, enjoy a series of videos showing the Centre's work and read about how Cambodia became one of the most mine-affected countries in the world.

Then we head to the globally renowned Phare Cambodian Circus. This is much more than a conventional circus, with a focus on performance art and a deep social message behind each act. Beyond the amazing acrobatics and stunning stunts in a traditional big top tent, Phare helps the marginalized achieve better lives.
Show starts at 8pm.

Dinner is at leisure.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 2 : Siem Reap (B / L / -) 

Take a step back in time and delve into the jewel of Cambodia’s crown, the temples of Angkor Wat by e-bike. We start the day at the South Gate of Angkor Thom, the Khmer Empire’s last capital built in the late-12th century. Inside the city’s ancient walls, we visit Bayon to stand in the shadows of its hundreds of giant carved faces; 11th century Baphuon; the small Hindu temple of Baksei Chamkrong; and Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. 

We continue the visit with the incredible 12th century Angkor Wat. The architectural feat stood at the heart of the Khmer Empire.  Our last stop is root-riddled Ta Prohm, made famous after featuring in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider starring Angelina Jolie. We have lunch at Sala Bai School, that supports and train student in hospitality field.

Dinner is at leisure.

Note: Sala Bai is open for lunch from 11:45 pm to 2:00 pm from Monday to Friday, from mid-October to mid-July. The school is closed during Pchum Ben, Water Festival and Khmer New Year and August to September.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 3 : Siem Reap – Battambang (B / L / -)

Experience life on the revered Tonle Sap Lake before diving into Cambodian culture. After breakfast, we hit the road to the Tonle Sap Lake to enjoy a gentle cruise to one of the fishing villages that dot the water. Here, we can see how life is lived as we sail past homes, schools and shops that bob on the water. We then head to Battambang. We have lunch on the way then check-in at the hotel in Battambang.

Then we transfer to the Bamboo Train Station where we take a ride on a train made from bamboo. We then stop at Wat Kor village to meet the owners of a traditional Khmer house that dates back to the 1920s. Here, we find out how this stunning wooden stilted home survived the Khmer Rouge regime. If time allows, we will have a city tour and visit an art gallery with an encounter with the artist.
Dinner is at leisure.

Please note: The high-level water season is from mid-July to mid-February and the low-level water season runs the rest of the year. There is a maximum of four people per bamboo train. Tour activities are subject to seasonal changes.

Overnight in Battambang.

Day 4 : Battambang (B / L / D)

After breakfast, we set off on a discovery of the local countryside and explore surrounding Cambodian villages. We will see first-hand artisans, such as sculptors, rice wine brewers and noodle and rice paper producers open up their homes and workshops so we can watch them at work.

Lunch is at a local restaurant, followed by an afternoon visit to Phare Ponleu Selpak, a non-profit association that helps to support the lives of children, young adults and their families. Time at leisure before we end the day with a foodie tour.

Please note: Tour activities are subject to seasonal changes. Phare school will be closed every weekend and public holiday. 

Overnight in Battambang.  

Day 5 : Battambang – Phnom Penh (B / L / -)

Leave behind laidback Battambang as we head to the charismatic capital. After breakfast, we set off on our road trip to Phnom Penh (291 km/ eight to 10 hours, including stops). The journey takes us through the provinces of Pusat, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Speu and Kandal. We will stop at Kampong Chhnang to learn about the traditional handmade pottery the province is famed for. During harvest season, we can see crops being harvested and sugar palm collected. We then hit the road, stopping for lunch at a local restaurant. Upon arrival in the capital, we check-in at the hotel with the evening at our leisure. 

Overnight in Phnom Penh. 

Day 6 : Phnom Penh (B / L / -)

Jump straight into city life with a cyclo tour of Phnom Penh. We on a one-hour cyclo tour of the bustling capital. The three-wheel bicycle rickshaw has been used to transport people and goods since French colonial times. Tour highlights include Independence Monument, an impressive structure that sits at the centre of a roundabout. Dating back to 1958, it was created to mark the country’s independence from France in 1953. We also stop at Wat Phnom, an ancient hilltop temple and compact park that marks the official centre of the city. We visit Champey Academy of Arts, a non-profit school that delivers Cambodian traditional performing arts training programmes. 

Lunch in a local restaurant.

Take a sobering step back in time with a visit to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. The former school was transformed into S-21 during the brutal Khmer Rouge and served as a detention and torture centre. Out of an estimated 20,000 prisoners, only seven survived. The rest were tortured and killed there, or sent to their death at Choeung Ek – the nearby killing field site. Much of the centre has been left as it was discovered in 1979. Many of the torture tools remain, shocking boards of photographs taken of victims as they enter stand in blood-splattered rooms, and the tiny brick cells used to house prisoners remain intact. We then put our bartering skills to the test with a trip to the market. Here, we can have fun driving a bargain with the shop keepers before we return to the hotel. 

Please note: Guests will have to sign a disclaimer form before taking part in the cyclo activity. This will be provided by the guide in Phnom Penh. Champey Academy of Art will close every Sunday and public holidays. Visitors to the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum are required to keep their knees and shoulders covered.

Dinner at our leisure. 
Overnight in Phnom Penh. 

Day 7 : Phnom Penh – Kampong Cham – Mondulkiri (B / L / D)

Leave behind the bright lights of capital life as we head to the remote eastern province of Mondulkiri. In the early morning, we will be collected from our hotel in Phnom Penh and drive with our guide to Mondulkiri (357 km/ six hours). En-route, we stop at Kampong Cham and visit Cheung Kok village to see a more rustic side of Cambodian life before stopping at Chhup rubber plantation established by French tyre maker Michelin in the early 20th century.

The road follows Sam Leng logging track and gradually rises from the Tonle Sap basin into hill country. Upon arrival in Mondulkiri’s capital, Sen Monorom, we check-in at the hotel and have the rest of the day at our leisure to explore the town that is home to hilltribes. Dinner will be served at a local restaurant.

Overnight in Sen Monorom. 

Day 8 : Sen Monorom (B / L / -)

Get into the wild and spend an unforgettable day hanging out with elephants in their natural habitat. After breakfast, we head to Elephant Valley Project (EVP), an NGO that rescues and rehabilitates over-worked and captive elephants, while supporting the local communities that work with the magnificent beasts. After a short introduction to the project and the morning’s activities, we set off on a jungle hike in search of the elephants and trail them as they trudge through the forest and bathe in streams. This is a truly incredible experience that allows us to learn about the elephants’ plight in Cambodia.

We return to EVP’s basecamp in time for a well-deserved buffet lunch before hiking back to the meeting point and returning to the hotel armed with ever-lasting memories. The rest of the day is at our leisure, with dinner at a local restaurant. Please note: there is no elephant riding, tricks or shows involved. This tour is available Sunday to Friday. 

Important Health notice: 
It must be noted visiting the Elephant Valley Project requires a moderate to high level of physical fitness. There is a lot of hiking (5 - 7km per day) on difficult terrain in the jungle to see the elephants guests need to be told about this and prepared accordingly. Guests must be prepared for the day’s activities and hold full travel insurance.

Overnight in Sen Monorom. 

Day 9 : Sen Monorom (B / L / D)

Learn about hill tribe life and explore Mondulkiri’s sprawling countryside. After breakfast, we spend the morning learning about the unique customs and culture of the bunong hill tribes who call this remote corner of Cambodia home. We visit a tribal village and, if we’re lucky, get the chance to enjoy a traditional hill tribe ceremony.

During our visit, villagers will introduce us to their community and way of life. We enjoy a lunch at the village before driving on bumpy tracks along two rivers to impressive Bu Sra waterfall. The road leads past another stunning waterfall that is one of the largest in Cambodia. After refreshing at the falls, we explore the surrounding countryside, soaking up the sprawling scenes of farmland and rice fields. We then return to the hotel, with dinner served at a local restaurant.

Overnight in Sen Monorom. 

Day 10 : Sen Monorom – Kratie (Homestay) (B / L / -) 

Trade in Mondulkiri’s rugged jungle-clad hills for rural Kratie. After breakfast, we hit the road for a nearly five hour scenic drive (193 km) to Kratie. We stop en-route for lunch at a local restaurant and to sample the famous Kratie snack of krolan. This is a flavoursome sticky rice mixed with coconut and beans and baked bamboo tubes.

On the way, we visit the Irrawaddy dolphins from Kampi, a 30-minute drive from Kratie town. Here, we board a local boat and cruise along the Mekong to a stretch of water where the endangered dolphins swim. We then take a local boat to the island. Upon arrival, we will jump into a tuk tuk and head to the homestay, with the rest of the day at our leisure. Dinner is at our homestay.

Please note: Rooms are fan-only, with no TV and minibar.

Overnight in Kratie. 

Day 11 : Kratie – Kampong Cham - Phnom Penh  - Departure (B / L / -)

Get a glimpse into contrasting life on Koh Trong and mainland Kratie with today’s immersive adventure. After breakfast, we employ pedal power to explore the island. The narrow tracks that sit in the dappled shade of the trees that flank them are perfectly designed for cycling. We pass by traditional stilted homes and children screaming, “hello”, grazing buffalo and farmland. The island is famed for its grapefruit and is a self-sustaining community that produces a variety of fruits and agricultural products, such as rice, soy beans, milk fruit and coconuts, to sell in Kratie town.

After lunch, we board a ferry and return to Kratie to set off on a five-hour drive to Phnom Penh via Kampong Cham province (340 km). We make a stop just outside Kratie at Chhlong, a charming town that is home to a collection of stunning French colonial buildings. In Phnom Penh, we go directly to the airport, or the hotel for check-in.

Notes: 
-    The itinerary is subject to last-minute change and modification depending on local conditions. If this occurs, we will provide an alternative activity.
-    This itinerary is perfectly combinable with a beach extension. 

End of our services.