15-day Cambodian Lifestyles Tour

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive to Phnom Penh

Stop At: Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh
After welcoming you at the Phnom Penh, a Cambodian Pride Tours representative will transfer you to a comfortable hotel in the heart of the city for your first night.
Duration: 1 hour

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Hotel in Phnom Penh

Day 2: Phnom Penh City Tour

Stop At: Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, Corner of Street 113 & St 350 History Museum, Phnom Penh 12304 Cambodia
Your included visits to the Tuol Sleng Prison Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek tell the story of the tragic legacy of the Khmer Rouge. Tuol Sleng is a former school that served as a Khmer Rouge torture centre, and it’s estimated that more than 20,000 people were held and tortured here.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Choeung Ek Genocidal Center, Roluos Village, Sangkat Cheung Aek, Phnom Penh Cambodia
The Choeung Ek Memorial is home to stupa made up of some 8,000 human skulls, marking the site of the infamous Killing Fields. This was the execution ground for the torture victims of Tuol Sleng, and standing in this peaceful setting it's almost unthinkable to imagine that to date nearly 9,000 corpses have been exhumed from the area. There is an optional visit to Wat Phnom, the temple that gave rise to the foundation of the city in the 15th century. An ideal way to spend your second evening here is to relax in a cafe by the riverfront.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Royal Palace, Sothearos between Street 240 & 184, Phnom Penh Cambodia
In the afternoon, we explore home to the Cambodian royal family and a symbol of the nation, the spectacular Royal Palace complex, including Wat Preah Keo Morokat with the spectacular Silver Pagoda, decorated with a floor made up of 5,000 silver tiles. In the afternoon, we explore home to the Cambodian royal family and a symbol of the nation, the spectacular Royal Palace complex, including Wat Preah Keo Morokat with the spectacular Silver Pagoda, decorated with a floor made up of 5,000 silver tiles.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: National Museum of Cambodia, Street 13 Sangkat Chey Chumneas, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh 12305 Cambodia
We leave the Royal Palace and continue to the nearby National Museum which houses the world’s finest collection of sculptures from the Angkor period.
End your day with a private boat for a sunset cruise and on the Tonle Sap River, which famously reverses direction each year, acting as the world's largest natural flood barrier for the Mekong River. We cruise past the Royal Palace compound and around the Chrouy Changvar Peninsular onto the mighty Mekong River.
Duration: 1 hour

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Hotel in Phnom Penh

Day 3: Phnom Penh to Mondulkiri

Stop At: Kampong Cham, Kampong Cham, Kampong Cham Province
Today is a long drive up to 9 hours but interesting. 8:00am-8:30am hotel pick-up time depending on location. Your friendly English speaking and knowlegable guide greets you with a traditional Khmer welcome. We leave Phnom Penh and travel northeast to the bustling provincial city of Kompong Cham. En route, 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. We then enjoy a local lunch in Kompong Cham. During dry season (Jan-May), we can visit the bamboo bridge built across the mighty Mekong River connecting mainland to Koh Pen Island.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Mondulkiri Province, Mondulkiri Province
Our road journey continues on the east bank of the Mekong River past many rubber farms. There are many opportunities to stop along the way to experience rubber collecting and pepper plantation. We travel east towards the small junction town of Snuol, our gateway to the wilds of Mondulkiri highland. We turn right and leave behind the surfaced roads of civilization to take on the red earth roads of hill country. The first half of the journey from Snuol is flat, passing through patches of lush forest and areas of cultivation and plantations. After Kau Sima district, the road snakes up through the mountains that give Mondulkiri its name of ‘where the mountains meet’. We might also see wild monkeys out on the road. We reach Mondulkiri capital Sen Monorom around 5:00pm and check in to a comfortable lodge.
Duration: 8 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Hotel in Mondulkiri

Day 4: Eco-friendly Elephant at BEP

Stop At: The Bunong Ways, Lot 76, Sen Monorom Cambodia
Today, we will have a full day visit one of the Eco-friendly elephant project, called Bunong Elephant Project (BEP) where elephants are being rescued from hard work like pulling the tree out from the farm and carry heavy things up the mountain. We travel by road out of Sen Monorom to one the hill top where we will start walking around 40 minutes through the valleys and forests to the project field work. You will be introduced to the herd of elephants and get to know more about their history, character, behavior, body language and relationship with mahout family. You will be able to feed the elephant buckets of bananas. At noon, the elephant must be taken to pastures for at least 2 hours in order to make sure they get enough food for the day. Elephants eat up to 300 kg of vegetation per day in order to sustain themselves. While the elephant is grazing, you will have a lunch break. Then, you will learn more detail about elephant and the community from the elephant guide.
In the afternoon, the mahout will bring the elephant to the river for a wash. You are welcomed to get in the water and give them a hand. Afterwards, we leave the elephants and start walking out different way towards a village where your driver is waiting for. Closer to the village, there is a big hill so you will challenge yourself.
We then reach Kratie and check in a comfortable hotel.

Duration: 5 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Hotel in Mondulkiri

Day 5: Bou Sra Waterfall & Coffee Farm Resort

Stop At: Bou Sra, Cambodia
We leave Sen Monorom and head east towards the double drop waterfall of Bou Sra, one of the most famous in Cambodia. It is possible to access both drops and there are swimming opportunities. Along the way, we may stop at a Pnong minority village to learn a little about their way of life. After a visit to Bou Sra Waterfall we come to visit a local coffee grower (Unique product in the province).
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Kratie, Kratie, Kratie Province
We leave Sen Monorom and head east towards the double drop waterfall of Bou Sraa, one of the most famous in Cambodia. It is possible to access both drops and there are swimming opportunities. Along the way, we may stop at a Pnong minority village to learn a little about their way of life. After a visit to Bou Sra Waterfall we come to visit a local coffee grower (Unique product in the province).
Duration: 1 hour

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Hotel in Kratie

Day 6: Kratie Rural Lifestyle & Dolphin Watching

Stop At: Kampi, Cambodia
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 up river 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 mostly 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 remain from the French colony. Visit Wat Rokakandal which has a very unique wooden carving about 300 years of age. Afterwards, we learn about local productions including 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 guarantee, 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.

Duration: 6 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Hotel in Kratie

Day 7: Kratie to Siem Reap including Kompong Khleang

Stop At: Kampong Khleang, Cambodia
After breakfast at the hotel, it is time to make your journey to Siem Reap, the gateway to the fabled temples of Angkor. Traveling south through the old river port of Chhlong, home to some of the best examples of French colonial architecture in the country. Have lunch on the road. En route, we visit one of the largest and least-visited villages on the Tonle Sap Lake, Kompong Khleang, about 55km from Siem Reap. It’s 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. We will take 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. Later we arrive to your Siem Reap and check into a comfortable hotel.
Duration: 2 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Hotel in Siem Reap

Day 8: Siem Reap – Temples of Angkor by bike

Stop At: Angkor Wat, Sangkat Nokor Thum, Siem Reap Cambodia
We spent our day cycling through small trail rain forests visit Temple of Angkor and along gate of Angkor Thom. This is a very interesting way to discovery 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.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Angkor Thom, Angkor Wat, Siem Reap 17259 Cambodia
. Afterwards, we cycle from the eastern side of Angkor along the north mod and through remote villages dotted with palm trees and rice paddies. We reach south grade of Angkor Thom them continue west along side the gate with a very nice trail towards 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.
Duration: 1 hour

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Hotel in Siem Reap

Day 9: Angkor Wat Sunrise & Big Circuit

Stop At: Angkor Wat, Sangkat Nokor Thum, Siem Reap Cambodia
Rise early for sunrise over the Mother of all temples, Angkor Wat which is believed to be the world’s largest religious building.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Pre Rup, Siem Reap Cambodia
Then, we head to the temple mountain of Pre Rup, before driving further north to Banteay Srei, Angkor’s ultimate art gallery.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Banteay Srei, Siem Reap Cambodia
. 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.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Ta Prohm, National Road #6 Angkor Archaeological Park, Siem Reap 17252 Cambodia
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 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.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Banteay Samre, Banteay Srei Angkor, Siem Reap Cambodia
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.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Neak Pean, Angkor Wat, Siem Reap Cambodia
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 the coiled serpents encircling the base of the structure.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Preah Khan, Angkor Wat, Siem Reap Cambodia
We then continue on to Preah Khan or “sacred sword”, a huge monastic complex which features elaborate carvings.
Duration: 1 hour

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Hotel in Siem Reap

Day 10: Siem Reap to Battambang

Stop At: Artisans Angkor, Stung Thmey Street, Siem Reap 17259 Cambodia
Today, our journey continues to south the rice bold of Cambodia which is located on the other side of Tonle Sap Lake. Due September – January, the water level of Stung Sangke River is deep enough to allow boat to run. This means we can travel to Battambang by boat. This will let you experience typical Cambodian landscapes to the historic riverside city Battambang. Else, we travel by road En route, we stop at the rural district of Puok, home to the Artisans d’Angkor silk weaving project.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Preah Netr Preah, Cambodia
We visit a working silk farm where it is possible to learn about all aspects of the production process. We make another stop at Preah Net Preah district to see unique stone carving by locals. Lunch along the road, arrive to Battambang and check in to your hotel.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Phnom Sampeau, 57 Off NH, Battambang 02000 Cambodia
At around 3:30pm, we drive to Phnom Sampov, a sacred mountain dotted with interesting pagodas and stupas. There is also a moving memorial to Khmer Rouge victims who were thrown into one of the many caves in this holy mountain. After your visit on top of this mountain, we come down and witness millions of bats flying out of their cave at 5:30 – 6pm.
Duration: 2 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Hotel in Battambang

Day 11: Battambang Lifestyle

Stop At: Voat Kor, Krong Battambang, Cambodia
After breakfast at the hotel, we drive to Wat Kor district to visit a local village and learn about rural life in Cambodia, rice harvest, fruit farming and how the sugar palm is used.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Bamboo Train Battambang, Krong Battambang, Cambodia
Board the Bamboo train (locals call Nori). These ‘local trains’ are bamboo platforms with wheels and they fly along the rail tracks offering great views of the surrounding countryside. Battambang is also known as the best preserve town from the French colony (1863-1953) so let’s witness some of those building including Wat Conding, old house built since 1907, provincial hall and national bank.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Doun Teav Village, Cambodia
Board the Bamboo train (locals call Nori). These ‘local trains’ are bamboo platforms with wheels and they fly along the rail tracks offering great views of the surrounding countryside. Battambang is also known as the best preserve town from the French colony (1863-1953) so let’s witness some of those building including Wat Conding, old house built since 1907, provincial hall and national bank.
Duration: 1 hour

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Hotel in Battambang

Day 12: Battamabang to Sihanoukville

Pass By: Pursat, Pursat, Pursat Province
We leave behind the rice bowl of Cambodia, Battambang and travel to country’s prime beach location of Sihanoukville. Today is another long way to drive; around 9-10 hours depending on the traffic. We journey through Pursat province, passing through typical Cambodian landscapes of endless ricefields dotted with sugar palms.

Pass By: Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Chhnang Province
There may be an opportunity to visit a local pottery village, as Kompong Chhnang is famous for producing undecorated items for the Cambodian home. After lunch break in Phnom Penh, we continue south on National Highway 4 towards the Cambodian capital.

Pass By: Bokor National Park, Elephant Mountains, Kampot 07000 Cambodia
We pause to pay our respects to Yeay Peau, a protective spirit who looks after travellers on the road. The Pich Nil Pass is where the road cuts through Bokor and Kirirom National Parks to the east and west and is lined with shrines and incense. We arrive in Sihanoukville late afternoon and check into our hotel. We leave the rest of the day free to soak up the charm of this beautiful seaside.

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Hotel in Sihanoukville

Day 13: Day 13-14: Koh Rong Island or Koh Rong Samleaom.

Stop At: Koh Rong, Koh Rong, Koh Kong Province
Take to speed boat at 9:00am to either Koh Rong Island or Koh Rong Samleaom and spend one night there. The beaches are clean, the water is clear and clean. You will have the whole afternoon and morning on the beach until 10:15 AM or 1:15 PM, then, we take the ferry back to Sihanoukville and travel to Kampot for a night break.
Duration: 7 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Hotel on Koh Rong Island or Koh Rong Samleaom on day 13 & in Kampot on day 14



Day 14: Day 15: Back to Phnom Penh.

Pass By: Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh
We leave Kep at 7:00 AM and travel straight to the airport in Phnom Penh. The journey is about 3-3.5 hours depending on the traffic

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.