Tour Code  : KAS Price  : From US$2,779/Adult
Trip Style : SINGHA Duration  : 21 Days
Country Visit  : Cambodia
Region Visit: : Siem Reap, Ouddarmeanchey, Preah Vihear, Rattanakiri, Steung Treng, Kratie, Mundulkiri, Phnom Penh
Start Location  : Siem Reap  
End Location : Phnom Penh  
     
ADVENTUROUS SPIRIT

DAY 1:  ARRIVAL SIEM REAP

There is an International Airport at Siem Reap. According to your arrival time, our guide will be pleased to give you some suggestions what to do on your first day or afternoon in Siem Reap. In the evening you will enjoy a welcome dinner for our first night in Cambodia. Overnight

Meals: Welcome dinner

DAY 2:  TONLE SAP THE GREAT LAKE

We will visit Roluos group, a collection of monuments representing the remains of Hariharalaya, the first major capital of the Angkorian-era Khmer Empire.
Then on to the fishermen’s village of Kompong Phluk, where we will enjoy a delicious seafood lunch from fresh local produce prepared by the local family in the village. You will be taken exploring in the village by foot or in small canoes, paddled by the villagers who take you deep into the dense flooded forest during the wet season.  Photographers will have plenty of “Kodak moments” waiting for us today. Late afternoon, we will board our local boat and visit another floating village. Once back on land, we travel to enjoy sunset view on Phnom Krom. Overnight in Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner with traditional Dance Show

DAY 3-4:  ANGKOR COMPLEX 

Angkor covers an area of about 402 Square Km and during this trip we will have two full days to explore this ancient capital. Your expert guide will take you on a journey back in time exploring the main Angkor Complex to include the special times of sunrise. The amazing temples of Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat are included and we will also drive through countryside to visit Kbal Spean and Banteay Srei temples built from beautiful pink sandstone.

During our visit you will have the opportunity to visit the NGO for orphans that is supported by Spirit Asia Travel as well as the Landmine museum.

Some of our meals will be taken at NGO training restaurants for street youth where students of the School of Hotel and Tourism gain valuable experience and skills for future employment. Overnight in Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DAY 5:  KOH KER & BENG MEALEA TEMPLE

We drive through the countryside to visit the ancient ruins of Koh Ker, the capital city of the Khmer Empire for two decades in the 10th century during the reign of Jayavarman IV. The main ruins at Koh Ker consist of an impressive seven-storey sandstone pyramid (Prasat Thom). It is believed that over 80 ruins lie in this area. Afterwards a one-hour drive will take us to Beng Melea which is completely ruined and largely overrun by vegetation. Our last stop today will be near the village of Kompong Kdei to seePhra Phutthos an old bridge of the Angkorean Era. Overnight in Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

DAY 6:  BANTEAY CHHMAR & TRAPEANG THMOR RESERVOIR  

Taking a route to the west of Siem Reap city we will visit Banteay Chhmar temple which was built during the reign of the king Jayavarman VII for Mahayana Buddhism. Then we will continue to Trapeang Thmor reservoir, the largest reservoir in the country, built during the Khmer Rouge regime (1975-1979). Many people were relocated here to build this reservoir and many died here. It is one of the main historical sites of Khmer Rouge regime. Overnight in Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

DAY 7:  PHNOM KULEN & ANLONG VENG 

To the northeast of Siem Reap lies Phnom Kulen (Lychee Mountain), a sandstone plateau considered sacred by the Khmers. Today as we travel this area you will see the ancient sculptures on the riverbed and a pagoda with the biggest reclining Buddha in Cambodia, carved in the rock. We will hike to see towards the towering 30 meter high waterfalls. Continuing our drive to the north on a country road we travel through the jungle to Anlong Veng, sadly famous for having been the last Khmer Rouge stronghold. Tonight we will share our experience in a local homestay with one of the former Khmer Rouge family. Overnight in Anlong Veng

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DAY 8:  HISTORICAL SITE OF KHMER ROUGE 

After breakfast with our host family we explore Anlong Veng and its most popular destination, Oh Chik, an artificial lake initially built as a moat by Ta Mok, a right-hand man of Pol Pot otherwise known as the “Butcher” for his house. Then we will drive up the Dong Rek hill to visit Pol Pot’s grave as well as his house and we will continue to see the beautiful landscape from Pouy Ta Roun. There is an interesting market between the Cambodia and Thailand border where we will have authentic local food from this market for lunch. Late afternoon, we will drive back to our homestay. Tonight we will arrange a small party at our local homestay to enjoy some rice wine and local special dishes. Overnight in Anlong Veng

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

DAY 9:  PREAH VIHEAR TEMPLE

Saying goodbye to our family we will drive to Trapeang Prasat village to visit the temple there which was built during Khmer empire. Then we will continue our journey to Preah Vihear. The temple dominates the plain from its prominent position in the Dong Rek Mountains, which straddle the Thai border, at an altitude of more than 700 m.  Your efforts of the climb will be rewarded by stunning views on a clear day which can reach all the way to Phnom Kulen to the west and the intersection of the Lao, Thai and Cambodian borders to the east.  We will have plenty of time to visit the temple and the area and enjoy the beautiful sunset on the top of the hill. Overnight in Preah Vihear

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DAY 10:  TBENG MEANCHEY & PREAH KHAN TEMPLE 

An early start to see the sunrise from the top of the hill and then, we drive to our next destination. We will pass through the deciduous dipterocarp forest and grassland mosaic of the Northern Plains of Cambodia, home of some of the rarest bird species of South-east Asia, such as Giant Ibis (Cambodia’s national bird), vultures and ducks; most of them endangered. We will stop en route for lunch and will arrive at our destination, the temples of Preah Khan, also known as Prasat Bakan, which is one the most remote temples of Cambodia.  You will have a real feel of being lost in the middle of nowhere. We will return to stay overnight into the small provincial city of Tbeng Meancheay

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DAY 11:  JOOM NOON SILK PROJECT 

The Joom Noon Silk project is a local initiative to help rehabilitate people with disabilities and which produce some of the country’s finest silk. You will have a chance to see this craft and to purchase the beautiful cloth if you wish. Today we will spend one more night in this rural village and there will be time to explore more temples and surrounding area or relax in the village by visiting the local school. Overnight in Tbeng Meancheay

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DAY 12:  RATANAKIRI 

We will leave Tbeng Meanchey in the early morning. We take the route to Thalaborivath, Steung Treng then continue drive to Ratanakiri. It is a new route in Cambodia which motorcyclists in particular rave about - Until recently there has been no way to travel directly from Preah Vihear to Steung Treng since French colonial times in Cambodia. You will really feel the spirit adventure on this road. Overnight in Ratanakiri   

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DAY 13:  BEUNG YEAK LOAM          

Breakfast at the hotel, then we will visit Ka Chanh Waterfall and Cha Ong Waterfall, today we will also have chance to meet some Khmer tribal people who live the small towns (Reung Sei Village, Pnorng Village and other villages)

In the afternoon, we will swim at Beung Yeak Loam which is a natural lake located at the middle of the mountain in Yeak Loam Commune.  Here there are two walkways above of the water for tourists to view the scenery and birds that live in the stretch of the forest surrounding the lake. Overnight in Ratanakiri

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 14:  PREAH RUMKEL COMMUNITY BASED ECO-TOURISM   

The province of Steung Treng marks Cambodia's northern border with Laos and the point where the Mekong river enters Cambodia after swirling its way around the 4,000 Islands of southern Laos. Steung Treng is however on the southern bank of the San River which flows into the far larger Mekong about a kilometre west of town. After arrival in Steung Streng province we will continue our journey to Preah Rumkel community based ecotourism where there is an explosion of wildlife rivalled only by that of the Amazon.  The Ramsar Wetlands are one of Cambodia’s richest biodiversity hotspots. Explore flooded forests and magnificent waterfalls, take an energising mountain hike and try traditional rice wine at a friendly homestay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DAY 15:  KRATIE 

From Preah Rumkel village we continue by boat to O’Svay village. We will explore a forest trail and take a boat trip through the Ramsar Wetlands where we visit the tiny community of Veun Sien then stop at Koh Khao Din (from here, cyclists can disembark and ride the 15km back to town) before continuing back to Steung Treng town.

Then we will continue to the province of Kratie, a well-preserved town with interesting architecture - chophouses and some old Khmer wooden house. We will take a boat ride to see the most famous resident of the mighty waterway, the Mekong River dolphin. Later we continue to the spectacular scenery viewed from the top of Sambok Mountain, where a lesson in Buddhism awaits. On the way back to our homestay we will visit Thma Kreae village market to taste local delicacies krolan (bamboo sticky rice) and nem (pickled raw fish wrapped in banana leaves).  Overnight in Homestay

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

DAY 16:  100 PILLARS PAGODA 

We will leave Kampi to the north to reach Sambour town and continue to the original Wat Sarsar Mouy Roy (‘100 Pillars Pagoda’). Destroyed by Pol Pot’s forces in the 1970s, this 16th century edifice has since been restored to its former glory. Then taking a boat to Koh Phdao, one of the most beautiful islands in the Mekong, you can try your hand at village life. Afterwards, enjoy a traditional dance performance; join a Khmer cooking lesson or volunteer to teach English. We visit the Mekong Turtle Conservation Centre, where you can see tiny turtle hatchlings. We will overnight on this island in the village.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

DAY 17:  MONDULKIRI 

Mondul Kiri means “meeting of the hills” a suitable name for such a hilly province. At an elevation of 800m, it is chilly at night; almost half the 30,000 inhabitants are from the Phnong minority group with the Chunchiet people making up most of the remaining population.

The afternoon of arrival is free for you to choose between the many possibilities offered by the area. Explore the local market or visit some of the hill tribes’ villages and assist to a minority cultural show or make an excursion to a waterfall among the 100 present in this area. The most famous is Boosra Waterfall, the biggest in Cambodia, 35 km from town. Overnight in Mondulkiri

Meals: Breakfast only 

DAY 18:  ELEPHANT TREKKING 

Today we will enjoy an elephant trek from one of the minority ethnic villages. It will give you the opportunity to explore surrounding jungle, habitat and villages and will be a memorable experience. The income from these guided treks are an important source of income for the villagers. Overnight in Mondulkiri  

Meals: Breakfast and Picnic Lunch

DAY 19:  PHNOM PENH CAPITAL 

Our journey will continue to the village of Snoul, which is famous for its delicious fruit cultivation sold in the large town market. We will pass through many rubber plantations reaching Phnom Penh in the afternoon. It will be time to relax and enjoy sunset boat ride on the Tonle Sap River giving a river view of Phnom Penh, a charming city with many French colonial buildings. The evening will find us enjoying a drink on the famous Foreign Correspondent Club rooftop. Overnight in Phnom Penh

Meals: Breakfast only 

DAY 20:  ROYAL PALACE & KILLING FIELDS    

A visit to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda. This amazing place, the floor covered with 5000 silver plates, houses the Preah Keo or emerald Buddha, made of Baccarat crystal. In front stands a 90 kg golden Buddha studded with 9584 diamonds. After this, we will walk about 10 minutes to the National Museum. Built around a central courtyard, the galleries, arranged chronologically, present a collection of Khmer art, mostly sculptures. In the afternoon, we will drive to the Choeng Ek killing fields and the Tuol Sleng genocide Museum - a mass gravesite and a former high school converted to a detention and torture centre by the Khmer Rouge when they came to power in 1975. Choeung Ek also serves as a memorial to those killed under the Khmer Rouge rule. Overnight in Phnom Penh  

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

DAY 21:  ONWARDS HOME 

The tour will end after breakfast, when you will have free time to explore central town or relax at the hotel before your departure. There are international flights to Bangkok or Vietnam and many other Asian destinations.

Meals: Breakfast only

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Experience Indochina, the local way…

Our adventures are designed to be flexible with comfortable accommodation arranged depending on the itineraries and the areas visited.  We use a combination of Guesthouse, Motel, Homestay, Camping, Boutique Hotel and 3, 4, 5 star hotels with swimming pool depending on your choice of journey.  Each will be suitable to your choice and stay during your holiday.  All accommodation is carefully chosen - hotels are clean, with unsuited bathroom, air-conditioning and television.   The Guesthouse, homestay and camping will have shared bathroom facilities.  All are clean and comfortable.  We really care about your accommodation during your holiday and as we are local Khmer people ourselves, we understand the accommodation that we will choose for you and your family. 

Choosing locally owned facilities helps the Indochina people in their lives - and will support our local families during your journey.  These people are friendly welcoming and exceptionally hospitable.  We are sure you will sleep soundly and eat very well.

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