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Day 1: PHNOM PENH
Arrival in Phnom Penh. Transfer your hotel. City tour including: Silver Pagoda, Royal Palace, National Museum, and Wat Phnom. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 2: PHNOM PENH
After breakfast, tour to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, the Russian market and the Choeung Ek Killing fields. In the afternoon stroll through the Central market and take a sunset cruise on a local boat down the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 3: PHNOM PENH-BANLUNG
In the morning flight to Banlung, capital of Rattanakiri, nicknamed "the Red City" because of the omnipresent laterite. Transfer to the lodge/guesthouse. Drive by jeep on a bumpy road to discover the surrounding waterfalls (Teuk Cha Ong, Okatchang). Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: KROEUNG TERRITORY
Drive north towards Laos and the village of Taveng. Cross the volcanic lava field of Veyrum Plâng. As we go north, you cross different types of landscape: primary forest, clear forest, bamboo forest and “african” bush. Stop in some Kroeung villages. The Kroeung people have the particularity of erecting bachelor houses standing on very long bamboo poles, these houses will remain so till the young man finds a wife, then, they are destroyed. The right time to see them is usually from February to August. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: TAMPOUN TOTEMS
Direction northwest through bamboo forests to reach the village of Voeune Saï. This village is like a Chinese enclave in Cambodian territory, most villagers not speaking Khmer. Upstream we find Tampoun villages that practice funeral statuary. We can admire superb totems in the village of Ka Choan, reached by boat or jeep. Dinner & night at lodge.
Day 6: BANLUNG-STUNG TRENG
Early shopping at the Banlung market, then a short trip to the volcanic lake of giant Laom, superb place surrounded by pristine rainforest. Swim or go for a walk around the lake before leaving to catch the plane to Stung Treng (alternatively by road). Meet your local guide and transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon visit the charming little town, its markets and the local pagodas. For sunset short drive to the confluence of the Te San and Mekong rivers. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 7: STUNG TRENG-KRATIE
In the morning embark on the local boat to Kratie (4 hrs). On arrival, stroll through town and check in at hotel. In the afternoon, excursion to Phnom Sambok (9km) and Kampi (12km) north of town to visit first Phnom Srey and Phnom Pros and second try to catch a glimpse of the endangered Irawaddy dolphins. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 8: KRATIE – KOMPONG CHAM
After breakfast, transfer to the port for the trip by speedboat to Kompong Cham. The speedboat from Kratie takes 2½ hours to Kompong Cham. On arrival visit of Wat Nokor: 11thcentury Mahayana Buddhist shrine of sand stone and laterite and walk through the town to see old colnial buildings and the daily life. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 9: KOMPONG CHAM – KOMPONG THOM
In the morning, drive across the new bridge to the rubber plantation in Chup. On the way to Kompong Thom, visit of Phnom Pros (Man Hill) & Phnom Srei (Woman Hill): each has its own temple on the top. In the afternoon climb the 980 steps of Phnom Santuk for sunset. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 10: KOMPONG THOM – SIEM REAP
After breakfast drive to Sambor Prei Kuk, 30 kms north, a pre-angkorian complex of temples built in 616 – 635 AD. The road from Kompong Thom to Siem Reap is a long but interesting journey of 146 km. Road conditions are not good and this journey will take around 4-5 hours to complete. On arrival transfer to your hotel. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 11: SIEM REAP
Siem Reap is the base for exploring the fabled temples of Angkor, the ancient capital of the Khmer empire. Start with a visit to the Roluos Group of temples including Preah Ko, Ba Kong and Lo Lei. In the afternoon visit the magnificent 12th century Angkor Wat. Return to hotel after watching the sun set over Angkor Wat. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 12: SIEM REAP
An early start to catch the sunrise (optional). Return to the hotel for breakfast. A morning tour of the temples includes the South Gate of Angkor Thom, the famous Bayon, Baphoun, the Terrace of Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King. In the afternoon continue to Srah Srang, Banteay Kdei, Chau Say Tevoda, Thommanon, and the fabulous Ta Prohm Temple, embraced by the roots of enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers. The day ends with a spectacular sunset at Phnom Bakheng. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 13: SIEM REAP
After breakfast visit Banteay Srei, Kbal Spean (River of 1000 Lingas) and Banteay Samre. In the afternoon continue to Pre Rup, East Mebon, Ta Som, Neak Poan and Preah Khan. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 14: SIEM REAP
After breakfast visit the workshops of Artisans d’Angkor to see wood and stone carving or shop for souvenirs OR take a boat trip on the Tonle Sap Lake (July-February) before transferring to Siem Reap Airport for onward departure flight. (B)
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