Day 1: Welcome to Siem Reap Day 2: Siem Reap - Beng Mealea - Phnom Kulen Day 3: Phnom Kulen - Vat Along Thum Day 4: Vat Along Thum – Svei Leu Day 5: Siem Reap must-see tites tour Day 6: Hiking on the large circuit of the temples of Angkor Day 7: Cycling around Siem Reap Day 8: Roulos - KamPong Kleang Day 9: Kampong Kleang - Kampong Thom Day 10: Kampong Thom - Kampong Cham Day 11: Kampong Cham - Phnom Penh Day 12: Phnom Penh departure
Highlight
Tropical forests on the sacred mountain of Phnom Kulen
The cashew and coconut forests
Lakeside villages on the Tonle Sap lake
The pre-Angkorian temples of the Roulos Group and Sambor Prei Kuk complex
The magnificent temples of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom
The Royal Palace in Phnom Penh
Overnight in homestays in Siem Reap and Kam Pong Thom area
Local markets along the way
Full itinerary
B (Breakfast), L (Lunch), D (Dinner)
Open and close
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.
Car: 10km Night: hotel
After breakfast, drive to Beng Mealea Temple. Along the way, discover villages, lively local markets and wooden houses on stilts. It will take two hours to explore this beautiful forgotten temple, a miniature Angkor Wat. It's time to start an unprecedented treasure hunt in the maze of Suryavarman, among arcades, galleries and gopura, engulfed by the roots of cheese trees. After lunch at a local restaurant, transfer via the foot of Mount Phnom Kulen (lychee tree mountain). There, like Khmer pilgrims, climb the staircase and follow a lush path to reach the summit of this sacred mountain. At the top, explore the River of a Thousand Lingas, the main pagoda and its huge stone statue. Seize the opportunity to swim in the river next to a beautiful waterfall. Check-in at your homestay for the night.
Car: 100km/2h Night: homestay
Early morning, leave your host for a long day of walking. You will quickly venture deep into a rainforest as the path becomes narrower. Cross rivers and cashew gardens, and explore several ancient temples on the way: Sras Preah Ko, Sras Dam Rey ... before taking a well-deserved break and a delicious picnic. Arrival at Anlong Thum, a pretty village lost in the wilderness, at the end of the day.
Trekking: 6h Night: homestay
Visit Along Thum pagoda before walking to reach Phnom Kulen, a sacred mass for all Cambodians. You will make a few stops in remote villages in the forest, inhabited by smiling but shy locals. Next stop in the village of Sangke Lak, to immerse yourself a little more in the daily life of the locals, and to have a lunch break in the form of a picnic. Let yourself be tempted by the possibility of savoring fresh coconuts picked on the spot by yourself, under the guidance of a villager of course! A short climb on a track will take you to the village of Ta Ping then the Vat Chas pagoda. Magnificent view of the valley. Your walk will continue in the middle of cashew and coconut forests. The walk will continue under the shade of the trees to the Svei Leu. Transfer by car to Siem Reap. Overnight at the hotel.
Car: 40km/1h Night: hotel
Today, venture into the three main most emblematic temples of Angkor Complex: Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Banteay Srei. In the morning, In the morning, visit the Banteay Srei temple known as the "Citadel of Women" built entirely in pink sandstone and laterite. 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). Continue your visit with the Elephant Terrace or the Leper King Terrace. Your journey goes on through the great hours of the Cambodian Empire with the marvelous temple of Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and will come to a breathtaking end with Phnom Bakheng (the mountain temple) where you shouldn’t miss out on the beautiful sunset. Return and overnight at the hotel.
Night: hotel
Today is dedicated to an in-depth discovery of the countryside and the temples unknown to travelers of the large circuit of the temples of Angkor. A short transfer by bus or tuk tuk (motorized tricycle, carry up to 4 passengers) will take you to Preah Khan Temple, starting point of your hike. Have a picnic lunch in the wilderness after visiting Ta Nei Temple. Your hike then continues and will lead you to the temple of Ta Keo, before reaching the highlight of the day, the famous temple of Ta Prohm. Return to downtown Siem Reap by motorized vehicle.
Car: 20km Night: hotel
This cycling day is about meeting locals and discovering rural life around Siem Reap. Ride through many rice paddies, fruit gardens, sugar palm plantations and Khmer villages. Take it slow for a few miles, before taking it to the next level and cycling for about an hour on a sandy track, an ancient royal road linking the lost temple of Chau Srei Vibol and its pagoda. Continue your pleasant journey towards the temple of Banteay Samre then the Roluos temples to finally arrive at Bakong. Embrace this stroll out of time, far from the city frenzy, and the hearty welcome given by the family who will host you for the night. Dinner and overnight at a homestay in a traditional Khmer house.
Biking: 5h Night: homestay
After thanking your hosts, cycle for an hour 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 cycling trip 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 and overnight at the hotel in Siem Reap.
Biking: 3h Night: hotel
This morning, head to Kampong Thom, a pleasant stage on one’s journey, not yet touristy but still welcoming 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 late afternoon, have dinner and spend the night at your homestay.
Car: 150km/3h Night: homestay
After breakfast, start your day visiting Nokor Kuhak Temple and the complex of Sambo Prei Kuk (former capital of Chenla) which was erected in the 7th century. Then continue your journey to Kampong Cham. In the afternoon, explore two hills: the man's (Phnom Pros) and the woman's (Phnom Srei), and visit the Vat Nokor pagoda before transferring to your hotel.
Car: 120km/3h Night: hotel
This morning, take the road towards Phnom Penh, the national road 7 running along the Vietnamese border. Along the way, 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… Arrival in the capital is scheduled for noon, take the time to check-in at your hotel. 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.
Car: 120km/3,5h Night: hotel
Depending on your flight, free time then transfer to the airport. End of our services.
€ 1,020euro/personneUSD
The price includes
þ Accommodation and breakfasts in hotels on the accommodation list
þ Meals clearly mentioned in the program: B = breakfast; L = lunch; D = dinner
þ The entrance fee to the sites
þ Competent English–speaking guides throughout the trip except the free days when it is mentioned clearly: without a guide
þ Private air – conditioned car for all land transport except free days when it is mentioned clearly: without driver
þ One litre of drinking water per person per day
þ Domestic flight in economy class
þ All logistic services necessary for the program
The price does not include
ý International flights and airport taxes from/to your country
ý Visa fees
ý Means of transport not mentioned in the program
ý Meals not mentioned in the program
ý Tipping for services: local guides, crew members, drivers, porters…
ý Drink, telephone, linen or all personal expenses not mentioned in the "price includes" section
You need to know
Trip price
All prices mentioned in the quotes provided to clients are in US Dollars (USD). Euros are accepted, but the exchange rate will be determined by the international website https://www.xe.com/ on the date the payment is made. iLOTUS TOURS guarantees the rates mentioned in the quotes, invoices, or documents given to the client. Upon payment of the deposit or the full price, we guarantee the price of your trip (excluding changes made by you). However, certain force majeure situations may require us to adjust our prices to meet the travel conditions described in the quote. These force majeure situations may include: • An unpredictable and significant increase in the rate of our local providers (hotels, trains, planes, junks, boats, road vehicles...) • A significant currency fluctuation that has a considerable impact on the exchange rate • The introduction of a new tax imposed by the government Proof of these force majeure events will be provided to the client. In these cases of force majeure, even after the deposit has been paid, the client may refuse these increases and cancel their trip. We commit to refunding the deposit you have paid.
Reservation and Confirmation
All reservations must be sent to iLOTUS TOURS by email at: contact@ilotustours.com • Registration must be accompanied by a deposit of 25% of the total cost of the trip and 100% of the cost of international flights. • The deposit required for trips lasting less than one week is 50% of the total trip cost. • A larger deposit may be required in the case of last-minute bookings or depending on the specific requests of certain high-category hotels or airlines. • The balance must be paid upon your arrival, without any reminder from our side. • Upon confirmation of the booking, an invoice will be sent to the client by email.
Payment
The trip can be paid for in cash, by bank transfer, by credit card, or through an application (Wise, Revolut, One Pay...): • Cash payments must be made at the iLOTUS TOURS office located in Hanoi, and the client will not be charged any payment fees. • Credit cards: we accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and JCB. Any bank fees are the responsibility of the client. • Bank transfer in US dollars or euros.
Cancellation by the Client
In the event of trip cancellation, all cancellations must be confirmed by email. The client must pay cancellation fees corresponding to the following rates: • 25% of the total trip price, if the cancellation reaches iLOTUS TOURS less than 30 days before the trip start date. • 50% of the total trip price, if the cancellation reaches iLOTUS TOURS less than 10 days before the trip start date. • 75% of the total trip price, if the cancellation reaches iLOTUS TOURS less than 3 days before the trip start date. • 100% of the total trip price, if the cancellation reaches iLOTUS TOURS 2 days before the trip start date or in case of no-show. For trips to Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar, your travel advisor will provide you with all the information regarding the deposit and cancellation fees.
Cancellation by iLOTUS TOURS
iLOTUS TOURS reserves the right to cancel trips agreed upon with clients for reasons related to a force majeure situation: war or the threat of war, riots, a natural or nuclear disaster, a port blockade, looting, fires, and any terrorist activity, adverse weather conditions, an epidemic, quarantine, or any similar event. In all these cases of cancellation, iLOTUS TOURS will deduct the amount of these penalties from the deposit paid by the client but will refund the remaining amount to the client by bank transfer, with the client covering all bank fees.
