Cambodia Discovery 17-Days Tour

Phnom Penh - Siem Reap - Sihanouk Ville - Battambang - Kratie - Mondulkiri - Kampong Thom

Travel to Cambodia on a 17-day adventure from Phnom Penh City to where has the most beautiful beach in Cambodia: Sihanoukville. In this Cambodia discovery tour we will explore most of Cambodia's famous places and sights such as: Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Battambang, Angkor Complex, Kratie, Mondulkiri, Sihanoukville.

Admire Cambodia’s sublime beauty in style on this 17-day trip that takes you deep into the country’s rich culture and history. Immerse yourself in the heart of the Khmer way of life, enjoying rustic homestays, visiting remote tribal villages and ridding elephants through the jungle. From bustling cities, to ancient temples and relaxing, white-sand beaches, this tour covers all of Cambodia’s main attractions, while taking you off the beaten path to craft a travel adventure of a lifetime.

Day 1 - Phnom Penh Arrival
Welcome to Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s vibrant and bustling capital city. Despite its recent turbulent history, Phnom Penh’s wide tree-lined boulevards and faded colonial mansions hold an undeniable charm. Upon arrival, our guide will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Enjoy some free time to rest and freshen up before driving to the dock to catch the sunset cruise along the Mekong River. Savor a welcome dinner onboard as you watch the sunset over the shimmering lights of Phnom Penh.
Meals: Dinner on boat.
Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh.

Day 2 - Phnom Penh – City Tour – Royal Palace
Phnom Penh was founded in the 14th century and has long been a vital trading hub at the confluence of three rivers: the Mekong, Tonle Sap, and Bassac. Start the day learning about the Khmer Rouge and Cambodia’s recent history on a guided tour of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the notorious Choeung Ek “Killing Fields”. In the afternoon, try out your best bargaining skills on a walk through the city’s expansive “Russian Market”, where you can find anything from motorcycle parts to valuable gems. Our cultural tour continues as we visit the National Museum an excellent introduction into ancient Khmer art and civilization and the Royal Palace, home to the royal family and the opulent silver pagoda.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh.

Day 3 - Phnom Penh – Kompong Chnang – Battambang
Today we travel by car to Battambang, Cambodia’s second largest city. Get a taste for Cambodia’s rural life and stop en route at Kompong Chnang to visit the floating village in Kompong Luong. We arrive in Battambang in the late afternoon.
End of the day trip by visiting Phnom Sampov – an important religious site known throughout all Cambodia. During the Khmer Rouge period the mountain was used as a place to kill "enemies" of the regime and in what are known as the "killing caves" there is a memorial to these victims. Every evening at nightfall, thousands of bats make their way out of caves in the hillside to feed before returning at dawn.
Return to your hotel to relax at your own leisure.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Batambang.

Day 4 - Battambang Sightseeing – Siem Reap
This morning, visit Wat Kor Village with a cluster of Khmer heritage houses that the village is known for. Built of now-rare hardwoods almost a century ago and surrounded by orchard gardens, they have wide verandahs and exude the ambience of another era.
Take a slow 30-minute ride on the Bamboo Train before going to town center and enjoy a walking tour through the city’s bustling boulevards lined with quaint French colonial buildings and central market and end up with lunch time in town.
Then drive 13km to north of Battambang to visit Wat Ek Phnom – an ancient Hindu temple that was built in the 11th century during the Angkor Wat era by King Suryavarman II. In front of the ruins of Wat Ek Phnom stands the multi-coloured, modern-day pagoda of Wat Ek Phnom with a majestic white-stoned Buddha, surrounded by 18 Bodhi trees.
Later of the day, spend around 3 hours driving toward Siem Reap. Pass by Cambodia’s charming countryside, past stretches of rice paddies and exotic hamlets. Arrive at Siem Reap in late afternoon and check in at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 5 - Siem Reap – Angkor Complex
Wake up early to be transferred for picking up the most beautiful, haunting and spiritual moment to visit magnificent Angkor Wat at sunrise. This special activity is designed also to help you see “the Temple reflex on the water” when it’s much cooler and less crowded. Angkor Wat, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was constructed by Suryavarman II who reigned Cambodia from 1113 to 1152 and built the five towers in the 12th century and dedicated them to the Hindu God Vishnu. The plan of the pyramidal conception of the temple combined with spaces, alleys and ditches is an ancient masterpiece of architectural design and construction.
For your most convenience, a table with hot tea or coffee and breakfast box is arranged by Cambodia Travel will be served at a local restaurant nearby Angkor Wat.
Your journey continues to Angkor Thom, first with its South Gate, which is famous for its majestic doors and artifacts. The next visit will be the monumental temple of Bayon, the heart of Angkor Thom. Later, visit the Elephant Terrace, Terrace of the Leper King and Takeo "Jewel of Crystal", which is dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva and was erected at the end of the 10th century. Leaving Angkor Thom by the North Gate, you travel to Preah Khan (Sacred Sword), one of Angkor’s largest temples, constructed in the 12th century by Jayavarman VII. You should not miss Ta Prohm Temple, which is a wonderful combination of human genius and natural beauty with its giant trees that have grown there for centuries.
Later this afternoon, transfer back to the hotel where you will spend the rest of day on your own.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 6 - Siem Reap – Experience Daily Life & Homestay at Kampong Khleang
Today is dedicated to exploring Cambodia’s daily life and rich culture with trips to Kampong Khleang and the floating villages on Tonle Sap Lake. Travel down winding picturesque roads on the way to Tonle Sap, stopping to admire the rice plantations and various season activities of the locals such as roof building and banana harvesting. In the afternoon we drive to Kampong Khleang homestay. Take a cooking class on traditional Khmer cuisine before joining with a local family for a cozy homestay.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.
Accommodation: Homestay in Kampong Khleang.

Day 7 - Homestay – Beng Mealea – Koh Ker – Kampong Thom
Enjoy a simple breakfast at your homestay and say good bye to your host family and travel in the morning to visit the remote and jungle-covered Beng Mealea temple. We continue the trip to Koh Ker. Here we will discover the long abandoned temples in the forests of northern Cambodia. Also known as Chok Gargyar, this region once served as the capital of Jayavarman IV until his son and successor, Harshavarman I moved the capital back to Angkor. There are more than 30 major structures and archeologists believe there may have been as many as 100 minor sacred buildings in the region.
In the afternoon, drive straightly to Kampong Thom. On arrival, check in your hotel and free at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Kampong Thom.

Day 8 - Kampong Thom – Sambor Prei Kuk – Kratie
Today we will visit the ancient temple complex, Sambor Prei Kuk, situated just north of Kampong Thom. The main temples are divided into three complexes, all dedicated to Shiva. Enjoy the serene atmosphere as you wander through these 7th century brick monuments, artfully scattered about the jungle.
Then we travel to Kratie, a tranquil riverside town and home to the endangered freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins. On the way, visit the Cham Ka Lour rubber plantation, before crossing the Mekong River by ferry at Stung Trong/Krochmar district of Kampong Cham province.
Arrive in Kratie in the afternoon and check-in at your hotel. Then drive north of town and take a local boat to view the freshwater dolphins that inhabit this stretch of the Mekong. Enjoy an hour on the river, before returning to the quaint French colonial town for the late afternoon.
* Note: Dolphin watching is not guaranteed and subjects to availability.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Kratie.

Day 9 - Kratie – Mondulkiri
Today we travel to Cambodia’s eastern province, Mondulkiri. With rolling grassy hills, pine growths and rainforests, this sparsely populated province is like nowhere else in Cambodia. Mondulkiri is also home to the majority of country’s tribal minorities, including the Cham and Phnong peoples. Arrive in Sen Monorom, the region’s capital, in the late afternoon. Check in at the hotel and enjoy the evening discovering this small, quirky town - the base from which to explore the surroundings hill tribe villages and cascading waterfalls.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Mondulkiri.

Day 10 - Mondulkiri – Tribal Villages
Wake up early and visit the local market frequented by the Phnong people who travel from the nearby villages to buy and sell their wares. Next we journey to some of the surrounding hill tribe villages. There are hundreds of minority villages around Sen Monorom. One of the largest and easiest to access is the Phlung village inhabited by Phnong chunchiets, where their curious huts have woven, wooden walls and thatched roofs that slope almost to the floor. You will be lucky to see more than a handful of people during daytime, as most are out working in the fields.
Later in the afternoon, explore the jungle astride an elephant, guided by the experienced Phnong mahouts, then stop to visit some of the region’s beautiful waterfalls.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Mondulkiri.

Day 11 - Mondulkiri – Elephant Adventure
After breakfast at hotel, the guide and driver will transfer you to Mondulkiri Project where you will join in a fun day in the jungle with Mondulkiri elephants in the protected forest. Here you have chance to live with elephant for a day, and do many activities, such as: feeding and following 4 Mondulkiri elephants through the jungle (no elephant riding), swimming with and washing elephants at the waterfall, learning about elephants and Bunong culture and traditions.
Have lunch at the Jungle Lodge and relaxing in hammocks. The Lodge has great views over the jungle and is a good place to view wildlife and many species of birds.
After saying goodbye to the elephants, we walk back out of the jungle to our starting point and take drive back to hotel in town.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Mondulkiri.

Day 12 - Mondulkiri – Kampong Cham – Phnom Penh
Say goodbye to Mondulkiri and continue on the tour to Kampong Cham, where we will stop to visit the Wat Nokor Pagoda. This 11th century Mahayana Buddhist shrine is home to a large reclining Buddha as well as many carved Buddha images. In the afternoon we continue on to Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh. The journey offers an excellent opportunity to observe rural Cambodia up-close. Stop along the way and visit Skun market, where every assortment of street food is available, including the Khmer favorite: fried spiders! Of course feel free to try one! Upon arrival, check in at the hotel then enjoy the rest of the evening at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh.

Day 13 - Phnom Penh – Sihanoukville
Have breakfast at the hotel then travel by private car to Sihanoukville (226km with 3-hour drive). Sihanoukville’s white-sand beaches are some of the most pristine in all of Southeast Asia. 10 km of beach stretches the whole length of the town and with dozens of small islands just a short boat ride away, Sihanouk Ville makes for the perfect tropical getaway - complete with facilities for swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving.
Upon arrival, you check in at the hotel then free to enjoy the afternoon at your leisure. Soak up the sun as you lounge on the beach or enjoy swimming and snorkeling in the warm waters of the Gulf of Thailand. In case you are looking for activities or places to visit, please refer to the article about the most beautiful beaches in Sihanoukville.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Sihanoukville.

Day 14 - Sihanoukville – Free and leisure
Free at your own leisure.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Sihanouk Ville.

Day 15 - Sihanouk Ville – Free and leisure
Free at your own leisure.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Sihanouk Ville.

Day 16 - Sihanoukville – Free and leisure
Free at your own leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Sihanoukville.

Day 17 - Sihanoukville – Phnom Penh – Departure
Have breakfast at the hotel, our driver will transfer you to Phnom Penh International Airport to catch your departure flight home. Bon voyage!
Meals: Breakfast.