Itinerary

Day 1 Departure from London.

Day 2 Arrival in Phnom Penh and check-in to a small, comfortable, downtown hotel close to the historic riverbank quarter. Time to relax before stretching your legs with an introductory walking tour, taking in the historic French Quarter, Wat Phnom and the lively waterfront area as well as giving you a feel for the bustling street-life before finishing perhaps, with sundowners at the famous Foreign Correspondents Club?

Day 3 Day tour of some of the sites of Cambodia’s fascinating capital city: the infamous Killing Fields site and the highly moving Khmer Rouge Genocide Museum at Tuol Sleng help to explain the country’s recent tragic history, the picturesque Royal palace and Silver pagoda will provide plenty of photo opp’s whilst the Russian Market offers some ‘retail therapy’ and a chance for a local style lunch.

Day 4 Up country through Cambodia’s scenic countryside to the small provincial town of Siem Reap in Western Cambodia – our base for the next few days and jumping off point for the nearby Angkor Temple complex. Stops on the way at the famous ‘spider village’ of Skuon, (tasting not compulsory), the rarely visited but well preserved 10th century temple of Kuhananokor and lunch by the Tonle Sap Lake. A dusk visit to the atmospheric ruins of Banteay Kdei completes our day.

Day 5 Angkor – an unforgettable two-day tour of this fabulous site – its vast jungle clad temples and mysterious stone carvings. Our programme begins with dawn at Angkor Wat followed by a comprehensive morning tour of the temple. Then late morning return to Siem Reap to escape the midday heat and for some lunch, siesta or relaxation time before an afternoon walking tour of Angkor Tom: Leper King Terrace, Preah Palilay, Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, Elephant Terrace, Baphuon and last but not least, (we’ll wait until the crowds have gone!), the dramatic Bayon Temple with its famous ‘faces’.

Day 6 We’ll begin with a forest hike up Bahkeng Hill to visit the spectacular Phnom Bahkeng Temple and check out the views before moving on to the huge jungle-clad ruin of Preah Khan. Dense jungle, enormous roots and trees and screeching parakeets make this atmospheric temple one of everyone’s favourites. After a midday break in Siem Reap Town- the afternoon programme continues with a short jungle walk to Ta Keo via the remote and rarely visited Ta Nei Temple. A visit to the famous Ta Prom ruins – the famous ‘Tomb Raider’ Temple continues our jungle theme and concludes our day’s visit.

Day 7 Free morning in Siem Reap: explore the market, relax by the pool or visit the unusual landmines museum before an afternoon trip to some of the remoter temple Angkor sites such as Banteay Samre or sunset at the little visited Bakong Temple.

Day 8 Spectacular boat journey across the Tonle Sap Lake, past the ‘flooded forest’ and Prek Toal bird sanctuary and on down the Sangkar River and its floating and stilt-house fishing villages to the town of Battambang. Stop off on the way to visit the Prek Toal community water hyacinth weaving project. Time of arrival will depend upon water levels.

Day 9 Morning ride through the paddy-fields on Battambang’s famous ‘bamboo train’, (we’ll explain later!), before a departure for the fascinating river port town of Kompong Chnang. Tour of the bustling town and markets on foot and by boat – since half the town is actually floating on the Tonle Sap River!  In the afternoon we’ll continue, via the hilltop pagodas of former capital Udong – south to Phnom Penh.

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