CROSSING UNKNOWN LANDS 13 DAYS

Meet your guide and driver at Siem Reap airport and transfer to the city center to check-in at your hotel. Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor temples, is considered as the “tourist capital" of Cambodia, travelers staying there for the millennial temples, a must-see. The rest of the day will be free for you to discover Siem Reap at your leisure.

Hop on a tuk tuk (motorized tricycle, carry up to three passengers) and follow the river to reach by the west the famous temple of Angkor Wat. Have lunch in a local restaurant then head to the temple of Angkor Thom (Great City). Entering the southern gate, admire the famous Bayon dating from the 12th and 13th centuries, and the 11th century Baphuon, dedicated to Brahmanism (ancient Hinduism). Proceed with the Elephant Terrace or the Leper King Terrace.

This day trip is first focused on the visit of Kbal Spean (River of a Thousand Lingas), at about 30 km (1-hour drive) north of Angkor. Next, head to Phnom Kulen Sacred Mountain (487 meters above sea level). You will reach it after a 45 minutes hike through a dense rainforest. Then, explore Banteay Srei temple (Citadel of Women), dedicated to Shiva, whose architecture and pink sandstone sculptures are a Khmer masterpiece. The temple turns a beautiful shade at sunset, a sight not to be missed.

After breakfast, a short transfer will show you the surroundings of Siem Reap along a beautiful country road. Venture into Roulos, the oldest temple complex in Angkor, called "Roluos Group", located 12km east of Siem Reap. These temples are the remains of Hariharalaya, which was for 70 years (and under four successive kings) the first Khmer capital.
●    The Preah Kô is dedicated to Jayavarman II, first king and founder of the kingdom of Angkor
●    Bakong is by far the largest temple of the Roluos group and the first "state temple" supposed to mark the center of the capital
●    The remains of Lolei, four dilapidated brick towers laid on a two-level basement.
Continue your journey to Kampong Khleang, a lakeside village. After lunch at a local’s home, hop on a traditional wooden boat. Cruise gently on the river and the great Tonle Sap Lake, discover the lakeside Khmer life: everybody’s fishing, 70-year-old women and 6-year-olds included! Return to Siem Reap in the late afternoon.

Transfer by car to the countryside to meet your host - a Khmer family. Discover with them the technique of homemade sugar. Venture among the sugar palms, basic ingredient of this preparation, and pick out its sweet flowers. On foot or by bicycle, wander in this village to grasp the essence of this local life. Come back home to prepare lunch with your host, the perfect opportunity to learn how to make some traditional dishes of Cambodia. At the beginning of the afternoon, take the road to Battambang.

By bike or tuk tuk (motorized tricycle, carries up to 4 passengers), ride along the Zhang Khe River in a lush scenery, lined with many pagodas, witnesses of a bygone era. On the way, make a first stop to discover the traditional manufacture of rice cakes in a small typical factory. Then, start the visit of the temple Wat Ek Phnom, built in the 10th century, and keep going with the Angkorian temple of Phnom Banon. At the top of the hill where it’s located, enjoy a breathtaking 360° panoramic view. A short transfer by car then takes you to the station for a great adventure: it's time to experience a typical local transport means, the bamboo train! For about 1h30, ride in a wooden car driven by a locomotive with a 10 horsepower engine on an abandoned rail line. Don’t forget to meet your driver, a friendly villager who will guide you in this unusual activity.

In the morning, transfer by car to Chnok Tru, a large fishing village southeast of Battambang. On arrival, short boat ride on a sampan, a small typical local boat, to discover a whole community perfectly integrated in its aquatic environment. Lunch at the inhabitant. In the afternoon, venture into a dense forest of 3-4 meters high. Its small trees, shrubs and lianas are entirely submerged by floods during the monsoon season. In the late afternoon, arrival at the village, then head to your homestay for the night.

Get up early this morning, and take a walk or cycle through the village to meet locals. Continue your journey with a boat ride, before transferring by car to Phnom Penh, the capital of the country. Stop in Kandal to explore the abandoned royal city of Oudong, its many temples and beautiful statues. We’ll spend the afternoon visiting the Royal Palace of typical Khmer architecture. Several buildings and pagodas are painted in royal yellow. This palace is the current residence of the King of Cambodia, but also serves for religious and royal ceremonies. Then the visit continues with the Silver Pagoda, located on the south side of the Royal Palace, housing gold and stone Buddha statues among precious national treasures. Your day of sightseeing in the capital will come to an end with the Tong Sleng Prison tour, where you’ll be able to grasp the intensity of the genocide committed by the Khmer Rouge regime. Night at the hotel.

In the morning, leave the capital Phnom Penh to head to Kratie via Kampong Cham, a pleasant city on the Mekong River. Make a stop along the way and take a look at the Skun Market, better known as the Insect Market, where the adventurous ones will dare taste unusual specialties much appreciated by Cambodians: cicadas, spiders, grasshoppers, grilled crickets… In the afternoon, explore two hills: the man's (Phnom Pros) and the woman's (Phnom Srei), then visit the Vat Nokor pagoda before heading back to Kratie. The road runs along the Mekong River, offering stunning scenery and a clear view of the floating fishing villages of Vietnamese origin.  Make a stop in Chlong and stretch your legs on a short hike to discover old colonial houses. Arrival in Kratie is scheduled for mid-afternoon. Hop on a local ferry to cross the Mekong and reach the island of Koh Trong. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, hop on a local ferry to cross the Mekong River and start your journey to Kampong Cham. The road runs along the Mekong River, offering stunning scenery and a clear view of the floating fishing villages of Vietnamese origin.  Make a stop in Chlong and stretch your legs on a short hike to discover old colonial houses. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, start the day by exploring two hills: the man's (Phnom Pros) and the woman's (Phnom Srei), then visit the Vat Nokor pagoda before heading back to Kampong Thom. Kampong Thom, a pleasant stage on one’s journey, is not yet touristy but still welcomes a steady number of visitors. There, hundreds of hectares stretch as far as the eye can see, covered by deep green rubber trees, pepper crops and several kinds of vegetables. This extremely fertile region holds an important place for agriculture and for the country's economy. Take a break for lunch in the city center, then continue your journey. Transfer by car for about one hour to reach Sambo Preikuk, former capital of the ChenLa Empire. This city has a rich architectural heritage thanks to its shrines from different eras. At the end of the afternoon check in, and stay overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to Siem Reap city and its famous temples of Angkor. Along the way, make a few stops to visit traditional Cambodian villages and the Naga Bridge, an ancient Angkorian bridge still used today. At Siem Reap, check-in and stay overnight at the hotel.

Temps libre à Siem Reap en attendant votre vol de départ. Fin de nos services.