Heritage & Beach

Welcome from our driver upon your arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport (KTI).

Transfer and hotel check-in.

The rest of the day is free.

Rooms available from 2:00 PM. If we arrive a little early and our room is not yet ready, we can drop our luggage at reception before going for a walk around the city or resting by the pool.

Day tour by tuktuk

In the morning, we head towards Kampong Cham. In Kampong Cham, we leave the city to go to Steung Trong village and explore the beautiful rice fields and other plantations (peanuts, jicama or winged beans) in this very fertile area by the river. A little further on, a different landscape unfolds in Krouch Chhmar district. We set out to meet the villagers on a small 30-minute walk in the middle of tobacco crops. A discovery of authentic rural Cambodge.

We then continue our journey to Kratié, a city-province on the banks of the great Mekong with a peaceful reputation and magnificent rural landscapes.

Once we arrive at our destination, we settle into our room for this one-night stopover and can enjoy the rest of the day free to stretch our legs on the promenade along the great Mekong.

Let's continue with a short transfer to Kampi, a few nautical miles north of Kratié. We board the Mekong to search for Irrawaddy dolphins, one of the rare freshwater dolphin species, on the verge of extinction.

Optional: if you're of a sporty nature, possibility to observe the dolphins by kayak (contact us)

After returning to dry land, if time permits, we visit nearby the Phnom Sambok hill which hosts a picturesque pagoda and a religious community where monks live separately from nuns. We then return to Kratié to reach our accommodation.

This morning, before getting back on the road, we take a small boat to reach the river island of Koh Trong.

We then continue on the road, this time heading towards Kampong Thom province.

60 km from Siem Reap, stop in the village of Kampong Kdei to admire the superb Preah Tos bridge. Bordered by Naga sculptures, this 100-meter-long structure that is 1000 years old is still used by pedestrians and motorcycles. Once you arrive at your destination, we settle into the hotel; the rest of the day is free for you to enjoy as you wish.

Day visit by tuk-tuk of the wonderful Angkor temples located around and inside the Angkor Thom enclosure. We discover in particular Angkor Wat, symbol of the height of the Khmer Empire during the Angkorian era.

Within the Angkor Thom enclosure, discover Bayon and its many towers with gigantic faces, Baphuon and its gigantic statue of reclining Buddha measuring 40m, Phimeanakas, the Terrace of Elephants and its great diversity of sculptures as well as the Terrace of the Leper King.

Let us conclude with Ta Prohm famous for its immense trees with tentacular aerial roots. We can end this day with a sunset either at Srah Srang, or from the heights of Pre Rup or Phnom Bakheng if you are ready to brave the crowds (note: Phnom Bakheng is off-limits to children under 12 years old and authorities limit access to 300 people at sunset, creating a queue)

Due to an already busy schedule, we deliberately skip a few secondary temples of the small circuit such as Banteay Kdei, Thommanon, Chau Say Tevoda or Ta Keo. If you wish to visit these sites, do not hesitate to inform your guide at the beginning of the day so he can best adjust the schedule.

Possibility to do the visits in reverse order to avoid crowds. You just need to indicate this to your guide at the beginning of the day.

Temples are sacred places, avoid short clothing, you must cover your shoulders and wear long pants or a long skirt.

In order to preserve these fragile monuments, it is forbidden to touch the sculptures or sit on temple elements.

In Cambodian culture, it is offensive to be disruptive inside a sacred place, calm and respect are paramount.

It is not recommended to buy items or sweets from child vendors, this only encourages begging and truancy, prefer a donation to an association if you feel so inclined.

If you wish to photograph monks (called Bonzes), you must obtain their permission beforehand. Also, you must never touch them; they have the right to touch you but not the other way around.

We then begin a short hiking excursion to reach the site of Kbal Spean, nicknamed "the temple underwater", located 49 km north of Angkor. Temple ruins dating from the 9th century line a river whose bed is scattered with sculpted lingas. A nourishing source for Angkor, the waters of Kbal Spean once irrigated the rice fields of the ancient city. In its bed, the Khmers sculpted Shivas and stone squares designed to bless the waters before they reached the Royal City. The site was discovered in 1968 by Ariège-born ethnologist Jean Boulbet, and following in his footsteps you will be able to wander along the lush banks. A small waterfall near the sacred protected site will allow us to cool off and even take a swim (bring a small towel).

A very accessible hike of approximately 1.5 km (or 3 km round trip) with a slight elevation gain over the last 700 meters.

Bring hiking shoes or sneakers as the trail is quite rocky.

After lunch, let's continue with a visit to Banteay Srey, a temple with a human scale compared to the gigantic Angkor Wat or Bayon. This pink sandstone temple nicknamed "The Citadel of Women" is known for the refinement of the bas-reliefs and sculptures that adorn its walls and columns.

If we still have the energy, we can end the day with a visit to Banteay Samre temple or return directly to the hotel.

We first head towards the village of Kampong Kleang located on Tonlé Sap Lake approximately 1 hour 30 minutes by car from Siem Reap. We then board a private boat to discover and visit the floating village.

On the way after getting back on the road, be bold to make the most of a brief "gastronomic" stop in the city of Skun, famous for its spiders and grilled insects. Once you arrive at your destination, we settle in at the hotel; The rest of the day is free at your convenience.

After breakfast, we head towards Kampot.

Meeting with our driver at 9:45 am for a car transfer (without guide) to the Sihanoukville pier, a seaside resort town in the south with beautiful fine sandy beaches and gateway to the paradisiacal islands of Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem.

Boat transfer to Koh Rong from Sihanoukville pier. Our team on site will be waiting for you at the pier to give you your boat tickets.

Once you arrive at your destination, we settle into the hotel; the rest of the day is free.

Day without English-speaking tour guide

After breakfast and checking out of our room, we return by boat to Sihanoukville.

The boat departure is scheduled for 9:30 AM.

Upon our arrival at Sihanoukville pier, a driver will be waiting for us for a final transfer via the country's only highway (to date) which will take us directly to the Phnom Penh International Airport (KTI) for our return flight.

The driver will wait for you at the Buva Sea office, a few dozen meters away. Vehicles cannot always access the boat landing directly.

Please note: this itinerary is only possible with a return flight at the earliest in the mid-afternoon (i.e. from 4:30 PM onwards). If the flight is in the morning, we will need to arrange a last night in the capital.