Cambodia Tour 15 days: Northeast & Lost City

Upon arrival at Phnom Penh Airport, meet and transfer by the local guide to the hotel for check-in (Early check-in is NOT included and is subject to the hotel’s availability).

Our guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel in Phnom Penh and begin the tour with visits to the Royal Palace - a stunning complex and the residence of the King of Cambodia - and the Silver Pagoda, famous for its floor paved with silver tiles and its revered Emerald Buddha. Next, you'll explore Wat Phnom, an important historical Buddhist temple situated on a hill offering panoramic city views, followed by a stroll through Central Market, a bustling hub of local commerce with a vibrant Art Deco design. Afterward, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. 

In the afternoon, visit the National Museum, which houses an extensive collection of Khmer arts and sculptures that showcase Cambodia’s rich cultural heritage. Then, if you wish to reflect on Cambodia’s tragic past, you can visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum - a former school turned prison during the Khmer Rouge regime; you may opt to skip this site if you prefer to avoid topics related to genocide and sad history. The tour continues with a visit to the Art Gallery, featuring contemporary and traditional Cambodian artworks. Finally, the day concludes with a scenic sunset boat ride along the Mekong River, offering breathtaking views of the sunset before returning to your hotel.

Our guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel in Phnom Penh and transfer you to Kampong Cham. En route, we’ll stop at the Spider Market in Skoun after about 70 km, where you can try Cambodia’s edible insects. Next, explore the bustling local market in Kampong Cham and then cross to Koh Pen, the largest island in Kampong Cham along the Mekong River. There, you'll encounter local families engaged in farming activities. We’ll visit a pagoda, local school, and interact with villagers while seeing farms of corn, rice, beans, and bananas. Enjoy lunch at an authentic riverside restaurant. Afterwards, visit Wat Han Cheay before arriving at hotel. The rest of the afternoon can be spent relaxing at the pool or enjoying a yoga session.

After breakfast, travel further upstream along the Mekong River to Kratie. Take a boat ride to spot the rare Irrawaddy dolphins up close, a truly unique experience. Return to Kratie and cross the Mekong River by local ferry to Koh Trong Island, where you'll enjoy a homestay with a local family. In the late afternoon, take a leisurely bicycle ride around the village, visiting local farms, families, and possibly wildlife along the way. 

Enjoy a traditional Khmer dinner and stay overnight with your host family in a wooden Khmer-style house

Cross the Mekong River by a local ferry to the mainland of Kratie city for breakfast at a local restaurant. After breakfast, continue your journey to Sen Monorom, the capital of Mondulkiri Province. Upon arrival, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then check in at the hotel for some refreshment. In the afternoon, explore the town by driving around to view various scenic spots of the Mondulkiri Hills, featuring lush green grass and beautiful views. Visit the sunset viewpoint at one of the best highland spots to enjoy the breathtaking scenery. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Morning Elephant Walk & Afternoon Jungle Trek + Lunch

Spend an amazing morning in one of the most biodiverse forests in Cambodia, where you will have the opportunity to observe retired elephants roaming freely in their natural forest environment. This unique experience allows you to connect with nature while witnessing former working elephants return to the forest and express their natural behaviors.

During the guided forest walk, learn about the elephants’ histories and welfare, as well as the traditions and culture of the local Indigenous Bunong people. No elephant riding is involved in this experience.

The morning walk ends at the forest base camp, set along the side of a valley overlooking the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary. Enjoy a delicious buffet lunch prepared by local Bunong staff, relax in a hammock, and immerse yourself in the peaceful surroundings.

After lunch, head back into the forest for an afternoon jungle trek through the community forest. Wander through lush jungle, admire ancient trees, discover rivers and waterfalls, and, if you are lucky, catch glimpses of other wildlife.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will drive to Banlung, the capital city of Ratanakiri. Along the way, we’ll stop to visit Busra Waterfall, known as the most beautiful waterfall in Cambodia. After enjoying the waterfall, we will continue to Banlung for lunch, then proceed to check in at your hotel to relax. In the afternoon, we’ll visit Leak Lom Lake and take a drive around the city to explore its sights. Dinner at a local restaurant

Included for the day:

Transport: Private vehicle and driver

Tour guide: English-speaking tour guide

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast at the hotel, we will drive to Veun Sai village, where you will meet Hill Tribe villagers, interact with them, and learn about their cultures. Then, we will take a boat ride further to an authentic, less-visited village, walking through the community to visit interesting ancient cemeteries in the tribal villages of Kachok and Koh Piek. Continuing our boat trip, we will visit Chinese and Lao villages to observe residents living simple lifestyles, and tour their traditional medical centers, where they produce medicines using ancient methods with natural ingredients such as tree roots, leaves, flowers, and bark. You may ask questions about healing and sickness before we head back to Banlung. En route, we will stop at a site where locals search for gemstones and gold mines.

Included for the day:

Transport: Private vehicle and driver

Tour guide: English-speaking tour guide

Meals: Breakfast   

After breakfast, we will travel to Stung Treng, the northernmost city of Cambodia near the Laos border. We will then explore Koh Han with a boat ride and kayaking to visit its flooded forest. In the late afternoon, we return to Stung Treng for the night. Dinner at a local restaurant

Included for the day:

Transport: Private vehicle and driver

Tour guide: English-speaking tour guide

Meals: Breakfast

Start your day with breakfast on the island. Then head to Sopheak Mitt Waterfall, located at the Laos border along the Mekong River. Continue to Preah Vihear City for lunch at a local restaurant. Afterward, visit the UNESCO World Heritage temples of Koh Ker, known for their outstanding Khmer architecture and mysterious carvings, and drive to Sraem for overnight. Dinner at a local restaurant.

Included for the day:

Transport: Private vehicle and driver

Tour guide: English-speaking tour guide

Meals: Breakfast

Our guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel in Siem Reap and drive 37 km north to visit Banteay Srei Temple, known for its intricate pink sandstone carvings and exquisite detailing. Afterward, we will return to visit Banteay Samre, a beautiful Angkorian temple featuring well-preserved bas-reliefs depicting mythological stories. Next, we will stop at Preah Dak Village and enjoy a homemade lunch with a local family. 

In the afternoon, we will visit East Mebon, a 10th-century temple built on an island in the reservoir, notable for its large sandstone towers. Then, we will explore Neak Pean, an artificial island and Buddhist healing temple set in a large sacred pond. Finally, we will visit Preah Khan, a massive 12th-century temple complex with extensive corridors, lively carvings, and a peaceful atmosphere. Afterward, we will drive back to your hotel in Siem Reap.

Beat the crowds early in the morning at 7:00 am with a visit to the picturesque Ta Prohm, a temple nearly swallowed by the jungle, overgrown with roots that create an oddly haunting and exotic scene. The magnificent roots of ancient trees pushing between the massive stone blocks evoke feelings that may stay with you forever. Next, continue to explore the intricately carved Khmer ruins at Angkor Wat, one of the world’s most impressive archaeological sites. The temple is renowned for its exquisite Apsara carvings and detailed Angkorian-era art. Enjoy lunch at local restaurant. 

In the afternoon, explore the mysterious Royal City of Angkor Thom. Highlights include the Bayon Temple, with its 54 towers and massive stone faces. At first glance, it appears as a shapeless mass of stone, but upon closer inspection, you’ll notice the serene faces gazing out with half-closed eyes, conveying a silent, enigmatic presence from a primitive and remote era. Then, visit the surrounding complex, including the Baphuon Temple, Elephant Terraces, Lepper King Terrace, and the Royal Palace area, offering a deeper insight into the grandeur of Angkor’s ancient civilization.

Our guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to a remote village, where you will be welcomed by villagers and enjoy an ox-cart ride for about 10-20 minutes around the village. You will walk through the village to see daily activities such as weaving, working in rice fields, and tending vegetable gardens. Later, you'll stop at a traditional Khmer house where the hosts will teach you how to cook three Cambodian dishes, which you can enjoy afterward. 

In the afternoon, continue to Tonle Sap Lake to take a boat ride through the floating villages, providing an interesting opportunity to learn about the unique lifestyle of people living on floating houses, with floating shops, schools, and more. Discover how this vast lake, covering 12 square kilometers, is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. Finally, return to your hotel in Siem Reap in the late afternoon.

Our guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel in Siem Reap and drive approximately one hour and 30 minutes, covering about 55 km, to Phnom Kulen, a sacred mountain and the birthplace of the Khmer Empire in the early 9th century. Phnom Kulen is an important spiritual site, renowned for its historical significance, lush landscapes, and religious relics. Explore the famous 1000 Lingas carved into the riverbed, visit the Reclining Buddha statue, and enjoy the scenic waterfalls, including the impressive Phnom Kulen Waterfall, a popular spot for relaxation and swimming amidst natural beauty. 

After exploring Phnom Kulen and lunch, continue your journey to Beng Mealea, a sprawling jungle temple built in the early 12th century, often called the "Lost Temple." Overgrown with vegetation, Beng Mealea offers a sense of adventure and discovery, with crumbling stone structures and crossing vines. Spend time exploring the mysterious ruins before heading back to Siem Reap in the late afternoon.

Breakfast at hotel, then you will have free and leisure on your own till time for departure. Our driver will transfer you to airport for your departure flight.