Kingdom of Wonder

Welcome to the Kingdom of Cambodia! Arrival in Phnom Penh and transfer by air-conditioned vehicle to the hotel. Cambodia is much more than temples. The country’s history is both inspiring and sobering, uplifting and heartbreaking. Visit Siem Reap’s magnificent temples, abandoned centuries ago by the Khmer Kingdom and now surrounded by lush forests. In Phnom Penh, witness stark reminders of the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Your day begins at 8:00 AM, meeting in the hotel lobby for a morning discovery of Cambodia’s vibrant capital. Explore what Phnom Penh has to offer, starting with the lively riverfront promenade along the mighty Mekong, a bustling area filled with chaotic traffic, busy sidewalks, street vendors, and pedestrians. Visit the Silver Pagoda, followed by the magnificent Royal Palace, where King Norodom Sihamoni still resides today. Continue to Wat Phnom, a serene Buddhist temple built in 1373, known for its beautiful architecture, lush gardens, and peaceful atmosphere, offering a glimpse into the city’s cultural heritage. The tour ends around 11:30 AM, followed by a return to the hotel for some time to refresh. In the evening, meet again in the hotel lobby at 4:30 PM for a gastronomic adventure through Phnom Penh’s vibrant street food scene. Travel by tuk-tuk (Cambodian remork) to a local evening market and begin exploring the famous street food culture at Central Market. Wander through the aisles while discovering a variety of desserts, tropical fruits, and local snacks. Look for the busiest stalls to find the best food and sample seasonal fruits and traditional delicacies such as barbecued meats or even fried insects. Continue to a nearby restaurant to enjoy a welcome drink and relax at a rooftop bar. After about two hours of tasting and exploring, it’s time for dinner. Sit down at a popular local restaurant on Bassac Lane and enjoy a delicious Khmer set menu served in the traditional way, with large dishes placed in the center of the table to be shared. Your dinner is accompanied by two drinks of your choice, including cocktails, wine, local beer, or mineral water. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Full day at leisure. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

After breakfast, drive to the Cardamom Tented Camp, an eco-lodge located in the Cardamom Mountains (transfer without guide). Spanning more than 4.4 million hectares of rainforest in southwestern Cambodia, this area is one of Southeast Asia’s largest rainforests and is home to a wide range of endangered wildlife, including elephants, tigers (though sightings are very rare), sun bears, Siamese crocodiles, gibbons, and clouded leopards, as well as about 25,000 people, many from ethnic minority groups. Upon arrival at the camp, settle into your comfortable safari-style tent and receive a brief introduction to the conservation and protection work of Wildlife Alliance. In the afternoon, enjoy an exploratory hike in the surrounding jungle before relaxing at the riverside restaurant as the sun sets over Botum Sakor. Dinner is served at the camp, followed by an overnight stay in your tent.

After an early breakfast, meet the Wildlife Alliance Rangers along with an English-speaking guide and embark on a patrol through a network of abandoned poaching and logging trails in the dense forest. Keep your eyes open for wildlife, such as macaques, gibbons, and hornbills, and stop by the ranger station to see confiscated snares, traps, and improvised hunting rifles on display. After enjoying lunch at the station, return to the camp by kayak or on foot. Dinner is served at the camp, followed by an overnight stay at the Cardamom Tented Camp.

Spend the day in nature at your own pace. Begin with tea or coffee during an early morning boat ride along the Preak Tachan River to observe wildlife, take the kayaks out for a paddle, or relax on the floating pier with binoculars in hand for some birdwatching. Enjoy lunch at the riverside restaurant, and choose from optional activities in the afternoon, such as embarking on a longer trek, visiting one of the wildlife hides, or participating in a Khmer cooking class. Dinner is served at the camp, followed by an overnight stay at the Cardamom Tented Camp.

Enjoy breakfast at your leisure. Early risers can embark on a self-guided hike along the trails surrounding the camp or join one of the other morning activities, such as the wildlife boat ride. Around 10:00 AM, board the boat for the transfer back to Trapeang Rung, followed by a boat transfer to Koh Rong Samloem Island. Overnight stay on Koh Rong Samloem.

All days are at leisure. Everything you need to relax and enjoy the true experience of a tropical island is right here. In addition to palm trees, white sand, and the blue sea, the resort is the only one on the island with a swimming pool located directly on the beach, beautifully illuminated at night to add a touch of magic to your stay. You can take advantage of a variety of facilities, including the massage area on the sundeck, the bar serving delicious drinks and cocktails, or the restaurant offering a range of Asian and European dishes. For those seeking more active options, a variety of activities are available, such as volleyball, kayaking, trekking, or even booking a snorkeling or fishing trip. Overnight stay on Koh Rong Samloem.

Boat transfer to the jetty in Sihanoukville, followed by a vehicle transfer to Sihanoukville Airport for your flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, transfer by air-conditioned vehicle to your hotel. Overnight stay in Siem Reap.

The crown jewel of Khmer architecture, Angkor Wat is the national symbol and the highlight of any visit to Cambodia. The largest, best-preserved, and most religiously significant of the Angkor temples, Angkor impresses visitors both with its sheer scale and beautifully proportioned layout, as well as the delicate artistry of its carvings. To approach the temple, first cross the vast moat and continue along a broad causeway lined with naga balustrades. Upon entering the main structure, ascend through a series of galleries and courtyards before reaching the central sanctuary, which offers stunning views back over the causeway and across the surrounding countryside. Along the way, admire the intricate stone carvings that adorn nearly every surface of the temple, including some 1,700 Apsaras, or celestial dancers, sculpted into the walls. The outer gallery walls feature the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, narrating stories from Hindu mythology, including the famous Churning of the Ocean of Milk. Angkor Wat is impressive at any time of day, but sunrise and sunset are especially beautiful moments to witness the play of light on the stones. The fortified city of Angkor Thom covers an area of 10 square km. Enclosed by walls and wide moats, the city includes many of Angkor’s most popular sights. Enter through the monumental South Gate, crossing a causeway lined on either side by statues of demons and gods, each carrying a giant naga. Continue to the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper Kings, former spaces for public ceremonies, both adorned with dramatic bas-reliefs. Visit the ruined Baphuon, Royal Enclosure, and Phimeanakas, before continuing to the mysterious Bayon Temple. In this temple, one of the most compelling in Angkor, explore the galleries of beautifully preserved bas-reliefs and ascend narrow stairs to reach the central sanctuary, where giant stone faces smile enigmatically down from every angle. Then, discover the beauty of Ta Prohm, left to the embrace of the jungle and entwined with the roots of massive trees. Nothing can prepare you for the sheer scale and the spiritual atmosphere you will experience when seeing these ancient monuments in real life. To end a perfect day, climb to the upper terraces of one of the ancient temples to enjoy the sunset. Overnight in Siem Reap.

In the morning, explore how the Cambodian people make traditional Khmer rice noodles, known as Nom Banh Chok. Start at Preah Dak village, one of the most picturesque villages near the temples, famous throughout the region for its rice noodles. Enjoy a bowl of Nom Banh Chok for a traditional breakfast before continuing to another small village to observe street vendors preparing palm sugar. Palm trees are essential to the Khmer people, who use almost every part of the plant, stem, leaves, trunk, fruits, and flowers. They create a distinctive palm juice primarily for local consumption. Later, visit Banteay Srei, one of the most romantic temples in Angkor, built from pink sandstone with walls adorned with exquisitely preserved and delicately carved reliefs. In the afternoon, relax on a boat and enjoy the scenery of Kampong Kleang, a fishing community on the edge of Tonle Sap Lake, passing wooden houses on towering stilts, submerged forests, and fish farms. Today’s highlights include family interactions, Banteay Srei temple, and a boat trip around Kampong Kleang. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Excursion to Koh Ker and Beng Mealea. Beng Mealea offers the ultimate Indiana Jones experience! Located in the heart of the Cambodian jungle, the temple is vast, overgrown, and mysterious. Full-grown trees wind their way around the ancient ruins, creating a haunting jungle atmosphere. Explore piles of stone blocks, pass under hanging vines, and admire tentacle-like tree roots alongside beautifully preserved classical bas-reliefs. Later, visit the seven-tiered pyramid of the main temple at Koh Ker, a remote temple and ancient capital dating back to the 10th century, whose architecture would not look out of place in Mexico. Today’s highlights include Beng Mealea and Koh Ker. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Time at leisure until your transfer by air-conditioned vehicle to the airport for your departure from Cambodia.