Northeast & Lost City

Cambodia is one of the most beautiful Asian countries. It has a long history and a significant number of interesting sites, ranging from ancient temples to tropical beaches and jungles. Why do we say that? This 15 days tour will answer this question.

15 days 14 nights

Cambodia

Off the beaten track

Attractions

Kampong Thom - Phnom Penh - Kampong Cham - Kratie - Mondulkiri - Ratanakiri - Siem Reap

Duration

15 days 14 nights

Code

COT03

Overview

Overview
Cambodia is one of the most beautiful Asian countries. It has a long history and a significant number of interesting sites, ranging from ancient temples to tropical beaches and jungles. Why do we say that? This 15 days tour will answer this question.
Arrival in Phnom Penh, 3rd city and capital of the country, you will visit a peaceful town with a colonial past with the Vat Nokor temple of the 12th century, the rubber plantations of Chhup ... Kompong Thom, the peaceful province, located on the edge of a river, usually serves as a starting point to visit some buildings of the colonial era. On the way to Siem Reap, you will pass the traditional Cambodian villages, the Group of Roluos, representing the remains of Hariharalaya, the first major capital founded in the Angkor region with the Bakong mountain temple, Lolei temple... Direction to the Siem Reap with the Angkor highlighted temples complex. Recognized as World’s Heritage Site, Angkor Complex was the largest and also the most important archaeologist sites in Southeast Asia. The Complex comprises numerous monuments in Khmer architecture which is naturalistic, complicated and full of symbols. All will make your trip to Cambodia unforgettable.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Visit the temples of Sambor Prei Kuk, considered some of the most beautiful examples of pre-Angkorian art (first half of the 7th century) in Kompong Thom, a peaceful province in central Cambodia
Walk in the traditional Cambodian villages, the Group of Roluos, representing the remains of Hariharalaya with the temple Bakong mountain, Lolei temple ...
Direction to the Angkor site including Angkor Wat and surrounding areas, Beng Mealea, Banteay Srei ...
Visit of the tropical rainforest, the Jaong and Kajain waterfalls or the Kroeug villages

Itinerary

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On arrival at the airport, meet and transfer to hotel for check-in or dropping off your luggage. The capital city of Phnom Penh was once considered the loveliest city of Indochina. Set out on a city tour to visit the Royal Place built in 1866 by King Norodom; are now home to the royal family. At the northern area of the palace grounds is Silver Pagoda, the most sacred shrine in the country. This monument was named because of its floor which is made up of 5000 silvers tiles. We then continue to visit both structures as well as the legendary temple of Wat Phnom, which provides an interesting view over the surroundings. Overnight in Phnom Penh

Accommodation : In Phnom Penh
Meal : Not available

Today we continue our Phnom Penh city tour with a start to visit Royal University of Fine Arts, where the young Cambodians know more about the ancient arts of their ancestors. Our tour is following with National Museum, which was built in 1917 and completed in 1920 by French colonial government with the mixture in architecture: French and Khmer.. It is top of the museums of archaeology and literature in Cambodia. The museum intends to be faint by Angkor Heritage Site Complex and those related in Siam Reap, but there is a biggest stored and display place of Khmer artistic and religious collections in the world.
Heading out of town we visit the Tuol Sleng Prison Museum and the notorious ‘Killing Fields' of Choeung Ek, a reminder of the Khmer Rouge regime. We have time this afternoon, exploring Psar Toul Tom Pong, also called the “Russian Market” where you will find varieties of items on sales such as clothes, electronic devices, souvenir stuffs and many more you have chance to see more about the locals. Overnight at the hotel in Phnom Penh

Accommodation : In Phnom Penh
Meal : Breakfast

We will proceed to Kampong Thom by our private car with guide for 170km and the journey takes about 3 hours or longer depending on road condition. Make a stop at Skun in Kampong Cham where it is quite well-known for fried bugs, especially spiders. After that, we will keep driving to visit Sambor Prei Kuk Temple. Located 30 minutes away, Sambor Prei Kuk temple site pre-dates Angkor by more than 500 years. You are greeted on arrival by your local community guide, who will take you on a peaceful hike or bicycle ride of about 5km along shady jungle paths. Some of the temples hold incredible carvings and there is a sense of discovery as the temples are often hidden under vegetation. Lunch served on your own account. After lunch, we will take a 1 hour drive back on the same road then turn right at Kampong Thma district onto road 71 for about 1 hour we will reach Wat Nokor Traffic Circle where we will turn right to visit Nokor Bachey Pagoda and Wat Nokor Temple. Visit a rubber plantation and a rubber factory. Visit Phnom Pros (the hill of men) and Phnom Srei (the hill of women) from which you can admire the surrounding panorama. Overnight at hotel

Accommodation : in Kampong Cham
Meal : Breakfast

Breakfast served at hotel. Check-out the luggage and drive to visit Koh Paen Bridge, known as Bamboo Bridge. The bamboo bridge is an attraction in itself, totally built by hand each year and looking like it is made of matchsticks from afar. During the dry season, several sandbars, the closest thing to a beach in this part of Cambodia, appear around the island. Transfer towards the sleepy town of Kratie, passing through Chhlong district along the Mekong River. Arrival, check-in at hotel. Lunch on your own account. After lunch, we will cross the Mekong River by local boat to the peacefully small islanded of Koh Trong where we will have a soft adventure by bicycles to see the lifestyle and interact with the people on the island. Late afternoon, we will drive to the Mekong River and board a local boat to observe the rare Irrawaddy Mekong Dolphin until sunset. Back to hotel for overnight

Accommodation : Kratie
Meal : Breakfast

Today we drive to Mondulkiri through beautiful scenery, remote villages and rice paddy fields. The journey takes about 5 hours. Upon arrival, check-in at your hotel then embark on a 1-hour drive to visit the most beautiful waterfall, Bou Sra Waterfall. The waterfall is divided into three stages (First Stage: The waterfall fall is 8 to 12 meters high and 15 meters wide in rainy season and 10 to 15 meters wide in dry season. Second Stage: The waterfall fall is 15 to 20 meters high and 20 meters wide in rainy season and 18 to 25 meters high and 13 meters wide in dry season. The second stage is 150 meters from the first stage. Third Stage: The speed of waterfall is faster than the second stage. This stage cannot be reached because it is in the thick forest. There are no marked paths and dangerous wildlife inhabits the area). Enjoy bathing and relaxing. Back to town and if time permits, we will visit a Coffee Farm where it will give you a great idea of how the coffee is growing in order to make it tastiest. Back to hotel for relaxing and overnight.

Accommodation : In Sen Monorom
Meal : Breakfast

Early morning wake up early to get a fresh air and experience a visit to the local market where many of the Phnong people from the nearby villages are coming to trade with their baskets carrying on their back. Back to your hotel for breakfast and continue our tour with a walking tour to some nearby hill tribe’s village of Sen Monorom. Our first seen is Phlung village – one of the largest and easiest to access. The curious huts have woven wooden walls and thatched roofs almost to the floor. Three or more families often live in just one hut. You will be lucky to see more than a handful of people during daytime, as they are all out working in the fields. Lunch is on your own account. Last enjoy an elephant riding with the experienced Phnong mahouts to explore the jungle. Dinner and overnight in Sen Monorom

Accommodation : In Sen Monorom
Meal : Breakfast

After breakfast the overland journey continues with a half day drive towards the rugged land of Rattanakiri Province. Afternoon we take a short drive to Wat Phnom Soui, giving us a chance to catch the first view over the plateau and Banlung Town and then continue to Cha Oung Waterfalls and Yeak Laom Park, a protected area, which is looked after and managed by the regional authority. The main attraction of this area is Yeak Laom Lake, a volcanic crater lake believed to have been created about 700,000 years ago. Surrounded by forest up to the crater rim, the spectacular lake is a beautiful oasis and a great place for a refreshing swim! We will walk along the lake - side and visit the simple visitor center, which exhibits different tools from the various tribes. Overnight in Banlung

Accommodation : In Ban Lung
Meal : Breakfast

Heading out of the town, we make our way to Voeune Say which is one of the main villages by the Se San River. The road conditions are rough in this mountainous region and the travel is somewhat arduous. Once arrive at Voeune Say, stroll around the village and then we will embark on a traditional wooden long boat thrilling trip along the scenic Se San River, giving us a taste of adventure and an enjoyable visit to the Tampoun, Kroeng and Brou minority people. These minorities group are very poor but have interesting local history and diversity culture. Overnight in Banlung

Accommodation : In Ban Lung
Meal : Breakfast

Banlung - Kroeung Territori – Banlung (B)

Early morning waking up early to experience a traditional local market in Ban Lung before we set off on a drive northwards. Enroute we have a chance to pass by various scenic landscapes changing from the volcanic lava field of Veyrum Plang to the village of Kroeung. The Kroeung people have the curious custom of erecting bachelor houses standing on long bamboo poles. These houses will remain so till the young man finds a wife. After a short walk around this seldom visited village we continue driving to the Bai Srog, an impressive waterfall with seven levels in the middle of the forest. Enjoy your time here by relaxing and swimming. Overnight in Banlung

Accommodation : In Ban Lung
Meal : Breakfast

After breakfast we set off on a rough but scenic drive to Stung Treng. These back roads are a great way to explore the real Cambodia. We see very few other travelers, mostly rural dwellers who are just as interested in finding out about our lives as we are of theirs. On arrival in Stung Treng we have time to stroll around this outpost town. There are not many things to see Stungtreng apart from the countryside and few temples. Overnight in Stung Treng

Accommodation : In Stungtreng
Meal : Breakfast

Breakfast at hotel then head out for Saem district in Preah Vihear Province. The journey takes about 3 hours and half for over 200KM. Arrival, check-in at hotel and lunch on your own. Afternoon, drive towards to explore Preah Vihear Temple, where it is situated about 30KM away. The temple is on the top of Dangrek Mountain where it will offer a great views of panoramic view and fresh air to tourists. The temples was recently awarded UNESCO World Heritage status. Back to hotel for overnight

Accommodation : In Preah Vihear
Meal : Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast at the hotel and check-out the hotel leave for Siem Reap. Along the way, we will visit Koh Ker and Boeng Mealea temples where both located in the beautiful rural hinterlands of Siem Reap. Travel off-the-beaten track before arriving at Koh Ker, the former capital of the Khmer Empire between 928 and 944 A.D. The style of the Koh Ker temple is different from any other temple in Cambodia and has more of a resemblance to the ancient pyramids of Egypt. Partially overgrown by the forest and inhabited only by birds, this temple and its surroundings are an exceptional experience. continue to visit other ancient structures in the peaceful area. As you head back to Siem Reap, visit the spectacular ruins of Beng Mealea, which was constructed by King Suryavarman II (1113-1150). It preceded and may have served as a prototype of sorts for Angkor Wat. Contrary to Angkor, few carvings or bas-reliefs are evident. Today the temple is largely overrun by vegetation and the stone walls are crumbling which adds to its charm in a unique way. After your visit, drive 1.5 hours back to your hotel. (Road conditions to Koh Ker may vary according to the season and can be bumpy in the wet season)

Accommodation : In Siem Reap
Meal : Breakfast

In the morning, you will have a breakfast at the hotel and then be picked up to our northeast journey to Beng Melea, located 70km away from Seam Reap by road. Constructed in a distinctly Angkor Wat style by King Suyavarman II in the early 12th century, Beng Mealea might be considered as a prototype for Angkor Wat. It quitely collapsed after war, but can be seen as monumental as Angkor Wat. This also is the burial ground of King Suryavarman II.
Have a lunch in local home, then return to Seam Reap.
Enroute back to Seamreap, we have a chance to visit Banteay Srei - 25km far away from the Angkor area. It is the smallest but magnificent temple of the Complex, dedicated to the Hindu God - Shiva. Banteay Srei was completely built in the 14th century with red sandstones, which made it a masterpiece of artistic sculpture. We continue to explore the ancient Khmer civilization site of Hariharalaya complex, the earliest temples in the Angkor area, referring to Rolous group. In Hariharalaya, we visit the main one of three, called Bakong temple. It was officially constructed in the 9th century under the reign of Indravarman I. This temple is a mixture between mountainous and temple architectures and between two materials: bricks and stones, taking shape of stepped pyramid.
We return to Seam Reap and you are free at leisure.

Accommodation : In Siem Reap
Meal : Breakfast

Today, we will take the whole day to explore Angkor Highlighted Temples Complex.

Recognized as World’s Heritage Site, Angkor Complex was the largest and also the most important archaeologist sites in Southeast Asia. Stretching over 400 km2, including forested area, Angkor Complex contains the magnificent remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century. The Complex comprises numerous monuments in Khmer architecture which is naturalistic, complicated and full of symbols.

The first destination is Ta Prohm, which is nearly disappeared in jungle and seems to be abandoned with many ruins and surrounded tropical forests. It was a monastery and a Mahayanist Buddhism School, constructed by the king Khmer Jayavarman VII in late 12th century and early 13th century in Bayon architecture style. We continue to visit Angkor Wat, the largest religious heritage site all over the world. The King Khmer Jayavarman II constructed Angkor Wat in early 12th century as his own mausoleum. It is a mixture in 2 basic Khmer architectures: mountainous – temple architecture.
In the afternoon, we will continue to explore the mysterious Angkor Thom – the longest and the last capital of the Khmer Empire. Lying beside Tonle Sap Lake, it was constructed by the king Khmer Jayavarman VII in late 12th century in Bayon architecture. Then, we visit the surroundings of the complex including the Baphou, Elephant Terraces, Lepper King Terrace and Royal Place area and visit one more ruin in Angkor Area of Preah Khan temple, built in 12th century by King Jayavarman VII and it is the same style to those which was constructed under the reign of King Jayavarman VII.
We return to the hotel and you will have time to explore Seam Reap by night by yourself.

Accommodation: At the hotel in Seamreap
Meal: Breakfast

Enjoy the rest of your time today until we transfer you to the airport for your flight home

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Trip notes

Tour includes:

Accommodation in a double or twin share room with daily breakfast
Private air-conditioned vehicle during all tours and transfers.
Entrance fees for all visits as mentioned in the itinerary
Experienced English speaking guide during all tours and transfers
Meals as specified in the itinerary
Boat, cruise as specified in the itinerary
Water & cool towels
Government taxes & service charge

Tour excludes:

Cambodia Visa stamp fee
International airfare and departure taxes
Meals, if not specified in the itinerary
Early check in/ late check out
Domestic flights and domestic airport taxes
Gala dinner on 24th and 31st December if any
Surcharged for Public holidays
Drinks and meal not mentioned
Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone, drinks … etc.
Personal travel insurance (we highly recommend that you purchase adequate insurance).
Gratuities/ Tipping
All other services not specified in the itinerary