Southern Cambodia Explorer 14Days-13Nights

Overview

Treasures of the South

Itinerary in Brief

Day 1 Phnom Penh (PP)
Day 2 PP - Takeo
Day 3 Takeo - Kampot
Day 4 Bokor Hill Station (Kampot)
Day 5 Kampot - Sihanoukville
Day 6 Sihanoukvile - boat trip to tropical Islands
Day 7 Sihanoukville - free day
Day 8 Sihanoukville - Kirirom NP
Day 9 Kirirom NP - PP
Day 10 PP - Battambang
Day 11 Battambang
Day 12 Battambang - Siem Reap (boat trip on Tonle Sap lake + Angkor Wat)
Day 13 SR - Angkor
Day 14 SR - Angkor

Group Size (Green Card Style)
Maximum of 10 persons per tour

Transport
Tuk-tuk, local boat, local bus, walking

Accommodation
11 nights simple hotels, 2 nights homestay

Meals
13 breakfasts, 9 lunch, 4 dinners
Allow approx US$70-140 for meals not included

Drinks
Not included, allow approx $5 per day for water & sodas (it is advisable to drink about 2 liters of soft drinks per day).

Tips
Allow approx $4 per day

Price Per Person in USD

1 Pax

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2 Pax

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3 Pax

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4 Pax

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5 Pax

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6 Pax

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7 Pax

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8 Pax Plus

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Duration 14Days-13Nights
Experienced Tour Guide English
Instant Confirmation
No Deposit Required
Free Cancellation Yes
Mobile Voucher Accepted

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Day 1 – Phnom Penh - Arrival Day (L)

You can arrive anytime at the hotel during the morning before the group meeting at Noon, followed by a welcome lunch. After lunch we will begin the exploration of the capital city by cyclo, the traditional mean of transportation of Indochina.
We will visit the Royal Palace situated on the site of the former citadel. Besides the Royal Residence (closed to the public), the Throne Hall or Vinichhay Temple (the place where kings are enthroned) and the Chan Chaya Pavillon (where traditional dances took place), it includes Wat Preah Keo, better known as the Silver Pagoda. This amazing place, which floor is covered with 5000 silver plates, houses the Preah Keo or emerald Buddha, made of Baccarat crystal. In front stands a 90 kg golden Buddha studded with 9584 diamonds. After this, we will walk about 10 minutes to the National Museum. Built around a central courtyard, the galleries, arranged chronologically, present a collection of Khmer art, mostly sculptures. Tonight before dinner we will enjoyed a drink on the roof top of FCC restaurant, a nice spot to enjoy a whole view of Phnom Penh.
Dinner at the restaurant Friends which is a non-profit restaurant run by street youth in training. All proceeds go to the organization Mith Samlah and the food is delicious.

Overnight in Phnom Penh at Town View I hotel or similar

Day 2 – Phnom Penh – Takeo (B / L / D)

After breakfast, we will leave Phnom Penh and drive to the South. The final goal of this day will be the small town of Takeo, about two hours by bus from Phnom Penh, but we will stop for visits on the way. First, we will stop at Phnom Tamao wildlife sanctuary. This zoo was established to preserve and rescue rare and endangered local species from poachers and smugglers. Phnom Tamao is home to 70 Sun bears and Asiatic bears that have been rescued with the help of the NGO Free the Bears which aim is to protect, preserve and enrich the lives of bears and those who live alongside them throughout the world. Afterward, we will also stop at the two temples of Tonle Bati, an important worshipping place and a popular local weekend picnic site where we will have our picnic lunch. In the afternoon, we will visit Phnom Chisor, a well preserved Angkorian era temple ruin. The quality of the ruins and the splendid view of the countryside is well worth the effort of climbing the 412 steps to reach the top of the hill. Then, we drive to our homestay in the surroundings where we will be received by our host family. After a short rest we will help our host family prepare dinner and enjoy a friendly meal together.

Overnight in homestay, Takeo.

Day 3 - Takeo - Kampot (B / L)

After breakfast we will enjoy a 40-minute boat trip along the canals of Takeo, through the rice fields and marshland to visit the ancient Funan ruin temples of Phnom Da which is the oldest historical site in Cambodia and Angkor Borei as well as visit a nearby museum housed in a small colonial building. We will continue to Kampot. Kampot is the durian growing region of Cambodia and is also renowned for producing one of the world’s finest peppers. On the way, we will visit some limestone caves with exotic rock formations and Buddhist shrines. On arrival, we will relax at Epic Arts Café. This Café belongs to the NGO Epic Arts which trains disabled people to do arts performance in order to allow them to regain some self-confidence and respect. Later in the afternoon, we will take a boat on the Prek Kampong Bay River, which runs along the city for a sunset river cruise. Passing through a Cham village, this journey will lead us to the rapids at Tekchhou, a pleasant place very popular with the locals on weekends. We will return to Kampot for dinner.

Overnight in Kampot at Borey Bokor hotel or similar

Day 4 – Kampot (Bokor Hill Station) (B / L)

After breakfast we will drive to Bokor Hill Station. This site is located on a 1000 meters high plateau of steaming jungle, shy wildlife and abandoned buildings. The specific climate of the site, often shrouded in fog and clouds, completes the mysterious atmosphere of this ghost-town. In addition, the view of the coast from the top is really spectacular. We will spend a full day in this eccentric and surprising site with a picnic lunch near the Popokvil waterfalls. We will drive back to Kampot in the evening where we will have dinner. After a day on the bumpy roads of Bokor, you will be perhaps tempted by a shiatsu-style massage or a foot massage at “Seeing Hands 5 Massage” or “Kampot Massage by the Blind”, two places offering massages by seeing-impaired masseurs and masseuses.

Overnight in Kampot at Borey Bokor hotel or similar

Day 5 – Kampot – Sihanouk Ville (B)

We will begin the day with an early breakfast before leaving Kampot to Sihanoukville. Sihanoukville is Cambodia’s leading beach resort. There are white-sand beaches around the headland, unspoilt islands off the coast and the popular Khal Chhay waterfall near town. As we will arrive there at noon time, we will first go for lunch to Starfish Bakery Café from the Starfish Project which assists disabled families and individuals to becoming independent through housing, community and water projects, and medical assistance. Starfish Project will also be able to provide for you a relaxing moment with their experienced blind masseurs, or give you the opportunity to keep in touch with your family and friends with their Internet Centre. Afterwards, you will have a whole free afternoon to explore the beaches. Dinner and drinks at some of local restaurants and bars along the beaches to enjoy sunset on the sea.

Overnight at Sihanoukville. Accommodation at CCS hotel or similar.

Day 6 – Sihanouk Ville (B / L)

Today, we will organise a boat trip on the Gulf of Thailand. The boat will stop close to islands with rocky reefs providing a rich marine life for snorkelling before to shore to an island with uninhabited sandy beaches where you will relax while your guide will prepare lunch. Later, you will return to Sihanoukville with one or two more snorkelling stops.

Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at Sihanoukville. Accommodation at CCS hotel or similar.

Day 7 – Sihanouk Ville (B)

Here, you will have a full day to unwind and enjoy the beautiful tropical environment. No activities are planned today, but there are many sights around the city which are interesting to explore. You can spend the day in one of the numerous beautiful beaches around the peninsula, explore the surroundings of the city, or visit the maritime national park of Ream by boat to see the mangroves and wildlife on the shore. If someone is interested in diving, this will be possible with Ecosea Dive. Tonight, we will have dinner and drinks at some of local restaurants and bars along the beaches to enjoy sunset on the sea.

Overnight at Sihanoukville. Accommodation at CCS hotel or similar.

Day 8 – Sihanouk Ville – Kirirom National Park (B / L / D)

Today, we will take the bus to Chambok Community-based Ecotourism Site.
This place lies at the border of Kirirom National Park. It boasts a beautiful 40-meters high waterfall, which can be reached via a 3 km nature trail. The site serves as a model for best practice in community-based ecotourism in Cambodia. Trained local guides are available to share their knowledge of the nature, history and cultural aspects of the area. The site also has a visitor centre and a restaurant where the local youth stage dance performances and Khmer food is served. The site offers a wide range of outdoor activities and attractions such as trekking, hiking, bird watching, animal tracking or visiting a bat cave. You can also swimming in the stream, riding a bicycle or experiencing Khmer rural lifestyle on an ox-cart ride. We will spend the night at a homestay which benefit the local community. We will stay at a traditionally fashioned Khmer house of a local farmer’s family and have dinner with the owners. Members of the homestay families have participated in a food preparation training and can prepare delicious Khmer meals.

Overnight in homestay, Chambok.

Day 9 – Kirirom National Park – Phnom Penh (B / L / D)

After breakfast with our hosts, we will spend some time at the village area before to resume our journey to Phnom Penh. After check-in, we will go to the main center of the NGO “Pour un sourire d’enfant” which works to support underprivileged children who work and live in the streets and around the Stung Meanchey garbage dump in Phnom Penh. We will visit this place and watch a movie about their activities before having lunch at their vocational training restaurant “le Lotus blanc”. In the afternoon, we will drive to the Choeng Ek killing fields and the Tuol Sleng genocide Museum - a mass gravesite and a former high school converted to a detention and torture centre by the Khmers Rouges when they came to power in 1975. Choeung Ek also serves as a memorial to those killed under the Khmers Rouges rule. We will have dinner in the nice garden of the restaurant Le Rit’s owned by the NGO Nyemo which assists vulnerable women and helpless children in their reintegration into workforce and society.

Overnight in Phnom Penh. Accommodation at Town view hotel or similar.

Day 10 – Phnom Penh - Battambang (B / D)

Early in the morning, we will take the public bus to Battamang. The journey takes about 4-5 hours to reach the final destination. At arrival in Battambang and after check in at the hotel, we will go for lunch at the White Rose. This local restaurant has a huge selection of delicious fruit-shakes. Battambang is the provincial capital of Battambang province and is the second biggest town of Cambodia. However it still has a very local, untouristed, provincial atmosphere. In the afternoon, we will stroll around the city to see the old colonial buildings, the small museum and Wat Kampheng, a colourful temple in a peaceful garden. Then, we will drive 11 km along the Sang Ker River to reach Wat Ek Phnom temple (built by Suryavarman I in the 11th century). On the way back we will stop at the NGO Phare Ponleu Selpak where many different activities are offered with children from poor and disabled families before having diner with them.

Overnight in Battambang. Accommodation at Royal hotel or similar.

Day 11 – Battambang (B)

After breakfast, we will drive 18 km to Phnom Sampeu to visit two caves formerly used by the Khmer Rouge and enjoy a spectacular view of the countryside. Afterwards, we will go to Phnom Bannon which homes a12th century's temple and the cave of the holy water. The "Kouhea Preah Toeuk" still hosts some Buddha statues brought by locals in this immense natural room. A real life experience on the bamboo train will bring us back to Battambang where we will have some time to relax before going for dinner at the Cold Night Restaurant which offers an extensive menu of khmer, thai and western food.

Overnight in Battambang. Accommodation at Royal hotel or similar.

Day 12 – Battambang – Siem Reap (B)

Early in the morning we will take a regular speedboat departing from Battambang at 7:00 am. The boat will first navigate along the Sang Ker river before enter into the Tonle Sap lake, the biggest lake of Southeast Asia. This is a very scenic and picturesque journey, you will enjoy the wonderful landscape, passing through the flooded forest and the floating villages and learn about the daily life on the lake and along the river. This marvellous journey lasts about 4 hours during the wet season but can be considerably longer in the dry season due to low water. After check in, we will visit the complex of Angkor Wat, the largest and most impressive of all the temples. It is the best preserved of all the temples. Its layout and its scale are simply breathtaking, the wall surrounding the enclosure measures 1,000 by 800 meters and the moat, said to represent the oceans of the world is 200 meters wide. This amazing temple homes the longest continuous bas relief in the world, which runs along the outer gallery walls.

Overnight in Siem Reap. Accommodation at Side Walk Villa or similar.

Please note that if water levels are low the journey from Battambang to Siem Reap will be overland. The Tonle Sap Lake presents its lowest level at the end of the dry season, in March and April.

Day 13 – Siem Reap (B / L)

Today after breakfast at the hotel, we will visit Handicap International, an NGO (non governmental organisation) which provides a range of support activities to disabled people, many of whom are victims of leftover weapons. Then, we will continue to the Jayavarman VII Children’s hospital, a state-of-the-art hospital which provides free medical care to children. Like every hospital in Cambodia, the medical staff is always in need of blood to save lives. We will stop there for the ones who would like to give blood.
Afterwards, we will have lunch at Palm Village where you will be able to refresh yourself with a swim in the swimming pool. In the afternoon we will visit Ta prohm and Angkor Thom. Ta Phrom has been largely consumed by the jungle and as you will climb through the dilapidated stone structures you will see many giant trees growing out of the top of the temple itself. At every turn you will expect to see Indiana Jones or Lara Croft step out from behind a fallen pillar. Ta Phrom looks as many of the monuments did when European explorers first laid eyes on them. Angkor Thom which means “Great City”, is surrounded by a massive perimeter wall and a moat with five monumental gates and covers an area of more than ten square kilometers. The most important monuments are located in the centre of the city, namely the Bayon, the Baphounand the Terrace of Elephants. The Bayon is a fascinating piece of architecture and one of the most photographed. It is a bizarre structure, with a total of 54 towers elaborately decorated with 216 enormous and enigmatic smiling faces.

Overnight in Siem Reap. Accommodation at Side Walk Villa or similar.

Day 14 – Siem Reap (B / L)

This morning, we will visit some more temples of the Angkor complex. We will first stop at the temple of Prasat Kravan. This temple consists of five brick towers in a row on one platform and contains some remarkable brick bas-reliefs. Then, we will visit Banteay Kdei and the opposite Srah Srang Royal Bath. Srah Srang is a large lake originally excavated during the mid-10th century and remodeled in the 12th century as part of Jayavarman VII’s massive building campaign. Banteay Kdei is enclosed by a large laterite wall and contains three main enclosures with laterite towers, connecting galleries and beautifully frontons and lintels. Then we have lunch in town. The afternoon will be free to let you explore Siem Reap on your own.

TOUR PRICE QUOTED IN US DOLLARS
Group size	1	2	3	4	5 - 7	8 - 12
Tour cost per person	$1,939	$1,189	$989	$939	$839	$749
Single Supplement	Included	$189

The booking has to be paid at least 42 days before tour starts.
The single supplement is the price of one supplementary room for 13 nights (2 single rooms instead of one double/twin room). There is no single room available in homestay. Note that for every odd-number pax, one of the rooms is already a single room.

Price of Tour Includes:

Accommodation on twin sharing basis and meals as stated in the itinerary
Entrance fees and sightseeing tours by boat, tuk-tuk and private air con vehicles
An experienced English-speaking local leader
The services of local guides at some sites
3-days Angkor Pass
Public bus & private transportation mentioned in the itinerary
Boat from Battambang to Siem Reap

NOT Included in Tour Price:

Personal travel insurance (compulsory!)
International flight , airport taxes & excess baggage charges
Visa & visa fees, passport & vaccination charges
Arrival & departure transfers
Departure tax
All optional tours & activities during free time
Personal expenditure, such as souvenir, laundry, postage, phone calls, etc…
Drinks & tips
Other meals not mentioned in the itinerary

Phnom Penh
Multi-Day Tours
14Days-13Nights
Royal Palace & National Museum in Phnom Penh, Tonle Bati & Phnom Chisor temples, River boat trips, Ghost City of Bokor, unspoiled beaches in Sihanouk Ville, Homestay in beautiful Kirirom National Park, Old colonial buildings in Battambang, Bamboo Train, Boat Trip onto the Tonle Sap, the temples of Angkor

from
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