TYPOLOGIES

Culture Tour

DIFFICULTY

MIN. AGE

Tour Overview:

Venture far off the beaten path into Cambodia’s raw, untamed eastern frontier. This extraordinary overland expedition bridges the gap between ancient stone empires and majestic natural wonders. Starting in the archaeological wonderland of Siem Reap, you will journey north to the thundering rapids of the Lao border, kayak through flooded wetlands, watch endangered river dolphins, ascend into the misty elephant highlands of Mondulkiri, and trace the mighty Mekong River down into the pulsing capital of Phnom Penh.

Itinerary in brief :

Day Destination Meals Cities
Day 1 Welcome to Cambodia Siem Reap
Day 2 Banteay Srei & Phnom Kulen B/L Siem Reap
Day 3 Angkor Highlight B/D Siem Reap
Day 4 Tonle Sap Lake & Sunset Quad bike B/L Siem Reap
Day 5 Siem Reap – Preah Rumkel B/D Preah Rumkel
Day 6 Kayaking Through the Mekong Flooded Forest B/L Stung Treng
Day 7 Stung Treng – Kratie B Kratie
Day 8 Local Life & Irrawaddy Dolphins B Kratie
Day 9 Kratie – Mondulkiri B Mondulkiri
Day 10 Eco-friendly elephant project B/L Mondulkiri
Day 11 Mondulkiri – Phnom Penh B Phnom Penh
Day 12 Phnom Penh’s Past & Present B Phnom Penh
Day 13 Silk Island Tours B Phnom Penh
Day 14 Goodbye Cambodia B Phnom Penh

* B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Itinerary in details:

Upon arrival at Siem Reap Int’s Airport, process immigration procedure (visa on arrival is available or obtain in advance via www.evisa.gov.kh), Cambodia E-Arrival Card - https://arrival.gov.kh, clients can apply online or on arrival), then get your luggage and walk straight to the Exit Gate where our guide is waiting. After self-introduced, you’ll transfer to hotel in the city (check in time is 2pm). Time to fresh-up and relax at hotel.

 

Recommend activities: Walking or use Tuk Tuk to Night market and enjoy local exotic food.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Breakfast is at the hotel.

We leave hotel at 7.00am to unlock the intricately carved, beautiful red-pink sandstone temple of Banteay Srei – considered to be a Jewel of Khmer art which features elaborate decorations and its finest details. These factors have made the temple extremely popular with tourists, and have led to its being widely praised as a “precious gem”.

Continue our journey to visit one of Cambodia’s national parks – popularly known as “Phnom Kulen” where you meet famous, beautiful waterfalls. Phnom Kulen (Mountain of Lychee) situates about 57km with approx. 1 hour drive, Phnom Kulen is regarded as the holy mountain for religious significance to Hindus and Buddhists and was the significant home of the ancient Khmer Empire when King Jayavarma II proclaimed independence from Java in 804 CE. The journey provides nice views of rice paddies, countryside dotting with palm trees and cattle.

Enjoy the walking tour to see the giant reclining Buddha statue on the hilltop along with breath-taking, spectacular views and learn from your tour guide about historical site. Resume walking within the jungle to witness religious Hindu of the riverbed of 1000 linga carvings, next we move to observe the sacred ground-pool before we head to relax near the waterfall. From then on, it is your own free time for cooling down and swimming.

On the way back to Siem Reap, we stop for a visit at Palm Sugar Village and various other local handicraft souvenirs, and we will stroll at Preah Dak village to observe local people making the famous steaming-rice cake which hides coconut milk inside before we arrive at the hotel.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

We start very early in the morning so we can capture the iconic picture of the pre-dawn facing Angkor Wat temple. Sunrise at Angkor Wat can be a busy venue especially during the months of December, January, February, and March.

 

After sunrise, we will explore the vast and rich of Angkor Wat temple, taking pictures at different angles, playing with light and shadows, and capturing the most beautiful devatas carved in sandstone.

 

Next destination will be the Ta Prohm "Tomb Raider" fame. Ta Prohm has been abandoned to the elements, a reminder that while empires rise and fall, the riotous power of nature marches on, oblivious to the dramas of human history. Left as it was ‘discovered’ by French explorer Henri Mouhout in 1860, the tentacle-like tree roots here are slowly strangling the surviving stones, man first conquering nature to create, nature later conquering man to destroy.

 

Next, at the Golden Hour, will be the impressive Bayon temple with its 54 towers and 216 faces overlooking the defunct city of Angkor Thom. The final stop will be at one of gate of Angkor Thom to capture sunset over the moat.

 

Overnight in Siem Reap.

We will go to local pagoda, where you should change to clothes, we can get wet in as here we will experience the ceremony “Srouch Teok”, which roughly translates into “Water blessing”. A monk will chant in ancient Pali as he splashes water over us, washing away our sins and bad luck so we can start fresh and by being a good person can increase our good luck. Visit a floating village on the Tonle Sap lake where we can experience a unique lifestyle. The lake is the largest fresh water in Southeast Asia. The size of the water body changes dramatically during the year. It is very rich in fish, snakes, crocodiles, turtles, turtles and otters. About 700 fishing families live on the lake. We visit a floating restaurant where we can have lunch based on daily fishing. So back to Siem Reap and the rest of the day is free, so you can buy souvenirs.

Transfer to Quad Bike office, then our guide will give you a safety driving, instruction how to drive the quad bike, and will make a short training for the beginner to adobe with quad bike before departure. Strikingly beautiful view of the rice fields and villages under the clear blue sky turns gold and yellow at dawn and at dust. The unforgettable and unbeatable view of sunset in the countryside behind the villages is a must.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

After breakfast, we depart to Koh Ker, the former capital of the Khmer Empire between 928 and 944 A.D. Enjoy a simple packed or local lunch near the temple and continue to visit other ancient structures in the peaceful area. The remote archaeological site in northern away from Siem Reap and the ancient site of Angkor. It is a very jungle filled region that is sparsely populated. Only about two dozen monuments can be visited by tourists because most of the sanctuaries are hidden in the forest and the whole area is not fully demined.

We leave the historical, cultural, and temple-rich part of the country to get to know the larger Mekong region. One of the newest and most remote roads towards Preah Rumkel.

We explore Sopheakmit Waterfall, a majestic cascade that once thwarted the grand designs of French imperialists and now marks the border between Laos and Cambodia. Whether you can see the waterfall in its full glory depends on the water level. During the dry season, we can take a boat directly to these untouched falls. In the wet season, however, we must leave the boat behind and continue on foot – trekking through forests and along roads for about 3.5 kilometres round trip to witness the mighty Mekong's powerful descent.

If time allows, we will cross the river by boat to visit Hang Khone, the southernmost tip of Laos. This was once a French ferry port, where goods were unloaded and transferred onto a small train before continuing their journey along the Mekong. The sunset here offers some of the most beautiful views across the river.

Tonight, you will stay in a traditional Cambodian home, sleeping under a mosquito net with a local family living on the banks of the Mekong. You’ll also experience a bucket showe – just as the Khmer people do every day.

Overnight at Stung Treng (Homestay).

Traditional Homestay:

Stay in a wooden bungalow featuring a beautiful river view overlooking Laos. The bathroom is external and shared. You’ll sleep on a mattress with an attached mosquito net, and a fan is provided for comfort. Experience an authentic bucket shower, just like the Khmer people use daily. Hot water can be arranged upon request.

Alternative Guesthouse:

If you prefer more privacy and amenities, we can arrange accommodation at a local guesthouse instead. This option includes a private bathroom, air conditioning, and a hot shower (please note that water pressure is low, so the shower flow may be slow).

After breakfast at the homestay, it’s time to say goodbye to the family. We then take a short boat trip down to O’Svay, where our paddling adventure begins. From here, we explore the Ramsar Wetlands area, which stretches south along the Mekong River from the Lao border all the way to Stung Treng.

Accessible only by boat, this pristine wetland is a haven for critically endangered mammals, birds, and fish. Its unique riverine flooded forest system is a photographer’s dream. With nothing but birdcalls announcing our presence, we paddle leisurely downstream for a couple of hours, weaving through the submerged trees in peaceful solitude.

Our kayaking tour continues until you feel you’ve taken in enough of this magical landscape. At that point, a boat returns us to O’Svay, from where we travel by road to the provincial capital of Stung Treng. We check into a comfortable local hotel for the night, ready to rest after a day of unforgettable exploration.

Overnight in Stung Treng.

After breakfast, we leave Stung Treng and travel south along Highway 7 to Kratie. En route, we visit the famous Hundred Pillars Pagoda (Wat Sorsor Mouy Roy) and learn its fascinating history as a place of pilgrimage for the people of Kratie. First built in the 16th century by King Chann Reachea, the pagoda features 100 wooden columns, erected to commemorate the memory of his daughter, Princess Vorakpheak, who was tragically killed by a Mekong crocodile.

From there, we continue to Kratie Town and check into a comfortable hotel for the night. Later in the afternoon, we take a local ferry across the Mekong River to Koh Trong – a beautiful Mekong Island renowned for its sweet grapefruit and lush market gardens. Once on the island, we enjoy a scenic 9 km cycling tour, passing through traditional villages and orchards. As the sun begins to set, we return by ferry to Kratie Town, carrying with us the peaceful beauty of island life.

Overnight in Kratie.

At 8:30 AM, you will meet your English-speaking guide and begin an immersive journey into the local lifestyles of Kratie. Our visit starts with a walk through the central market, where you can observe the vibrant local trades and admire several remaining colonial-era buildings from the French period.

We then visit Wat Rokakandal, home to a unique wooden carving estimated to be around 400 years old. Along the way, you'll have opportunities to learn about local productions, including a mushroom farm, rice whiskey making, a brick factory, bamboo sticky rice, and rice noodle production. We'll break for lunch at Kampi.

The highlight of our day is a visit to one of the many deep pools where the rare River dolphins gather to feed. We board a local boat and cruise out into the mighty Mekong for a chance encounter with these gentle and endangered mammals. Viewing is guaranteed.

Overnight in Kratie.

After breakfast, departure to Mondulkiri. Mondulkiri – means “Meeting of the Hills” a suitable name for such a hilly province.

We stop at the double drop waterfall of Bou Sraa, one of the most famous in Cambodia. It is possible to access both drops and there are swimming opportunities. Along the way, we may stop at a Pnong minority village to learn a little about their way of life. After a visit to Bou Sra Waterfall, we come to visit a local coffee grower (Unique product in the province).

Overnight in Mondulkiri.

Today, we will have a full day visit one of the Eco-friendly elephant projects, called Bunong Elephant Project (BEP) where elephants are being rescued from hard work like pulling the tree out from the farm and carry heavy things up the mountain. We travel by road out of Sen Monorom to one the hilltop where we will start walking around 40 minutes through the valleys and forests to the project field work. You will be introduced to the herd of elephants and get to know more about their history, character, behavior, body language and relationship with mahout family. You will be able to feed the elephant buckets of bananas. At noon, the elephant must be taken to pastures for at least 2 hours to make sure they get enough food for the day. Elephants eat up to 300 kg of vegetation per day to sustain themselves. While the elephant is grazing, you will have a lunch break. Then, you will learn more detail about the elephant and the community from the elephant guide.

In the afternoon, the mahout will bring the elephant to the river for a wash. You are welcomed to get in the water and give them a hand. Afterward, we leave the elephants and start walking out a different way towards a village where your driver is waiting for. Closer to the village, there is a big hill so you will challenge yourself.

 

EURASIE Travel has been supporting elephant experience with Bounong Hill Tribe to reduce their use of elephants in hard working activities, such as pulling trees or clear up forests for farming. The more tourists arrive the more they understand about taking care of their elephants. With our elephant experience you help the elephants and their keepers.”

 

Overnight in Mondulkiri.

Today, we will transfer you to Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia. Along the way, we pass through Kampong Cham, where we visit the famous bamboo bridge—a remarkable structure built across the mighty Mekong River, connecting the mainland to Koh Pen Island. Please note that this bridge is only available during the dry season, from January to May.

Before reaching Phnom Penh, we’ll make a stop in Skuon, affectionately known as "Spiderville". Here, you have the opportunity to sample a local delicacy: deep-fried tarantula – not for the faint of heart, but a truly authentic Cambodian experience.

We’ll stop for lunch along the road before continuing our journey. Depending on weather and traffic conditions, you can expect to arrive back at your Phnom Penh hotel between 4:00PM to 6:00PM.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Breakfast at hotel, visit to The Tuol Sleng Prison Museum and the notorious ‘Killing Fields’ of Choeung Ek are not to be missed. A visit to these sights provides a deep insight into the painful bloody rule of the Khmer Rouge. Visit to the Royal Palace compound build in 1866 by the Predecessors of King Norodom, is the most conspicuous feature and also one of impressive colorful Khmer-style Palaces. Nearside the Royal Palace is Silver Pagoda (The Emerald Buddha temple), display plenty of Buddha Statues that were decorated and made by diamond, emerald, gold and silver.

We keep moving and walking to visit nearby, Ounalom Pagoda, situated in the Corner Sothearos, lies in front of the Tonle Sap River. It is one of the most significant pagodas featuring Cambodian Buddhism in comprises of the country's religious establishment, here also where the top monk of the nation resides. In the earlier years, this pagoda served as the library of the Buddhist Institute.

Next, we head to visit Wat Phnom “Mountain Pagoda” is a Buddhist temple that symbolizes the name of Phnom Penh, located on the hill. According to legend, the first pagoda on this site was erected in 1372 to house four statues of Buddha deposited here by the waters of the Mekong River and discovered by Lady Penh. Wat Phnom is the most popular place for local people come to play healthy spot or praying for their good luck as well as admire the sundown.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

08:30. Meet your private tour guide at the hotel lobby and travel on a private Tuk Tuk to the pier for a ferry across the river to Koh Dach Silk Island.

The hustle and bustle of Phnom Penh can be overwhelming at the best of times. Take a break and head north to the rural Silk Island on this quiet half-day walking tour. Discover the rhythms of Cambodian life away from the city: try your hand at farming at a local farm, visit traditional silk weavers and learn about their work, and walk around the island’s tiny villages and sun-baked countryside at your own pace, with a private guide by your side to help you explore.

Afternoon, visit to Choeung Ek Killing Field sit just outside Phnom Penh, the best known of the “killing fields” where the Khmer Rouge executed over a million innocent Cambodians. A memorial stupa contains the skulls of around 8,000 victims; bracelets decorate killing sites; and a museum documents the atrocities.

Continue our visit to the Tuol Sleng Museum, the memorial site of the S-21 interrogation and detention center of the Khmer Rouge regime. Located in the heart of Phnom Penh, it preserves a tragic period in history with the aim to encourage visitors to be messengers of peace.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Transfer to Phnom Penh airport for departure to next destination. It’s time to say goodbye, we thank you for traveling with us and warmly welcome you to come again.

Services

What’s include :

TOUR COST INCLUDES:

TOUR COST NOT INCLUDES:

✅ Accommodation: 13-nights with daily breakfast in double / twin shared room

✅ Meals: at local restaurant (Foods only) as mentioned in program (B: Breakfast, L: Lunch and D: Dinner)

✅ Private Transportation: Airport transfers & Tours by air con. vehicles as per program.

✅ Private boat trip as mentioned in program.

✅ Entrance fees: Sightseeing and entrance fees as specified as mentioned in program.

✅ Private Tour Guide: Local English-speaking guide during tours as mentioned in program

✅ Join Tour – Elephant Experience

✅ All government taxes.

✅ 24hours supporting hotline.

✅ Cold water and towel during tours

❌ Cambodia Visa stamp fee – https://www.evisa.gov.kh/

❌ All International air tickets.

❌ Other meal, drink, personal expenses, tip, Travel insurance,

❌ Early check-in & late check-out surcharge.

❌ International bank transfer fees (Banking fee is covered by the sender)

❌ Another thing not mentioned in included

GENERAL NOTICE:

  • Standard check-in time is 14h00 and check-out time is 12h00 at most of the hotels.
  • Arrival/Departure: Above prices are valid only for group of clients travelling together – arrival and departure with the same flight. Arrival/departure by other flight subject to supplement charge.
  • Program is subject to change without notice due to Airlines unexpected changes of schedule or flight unexpected cancellations.
  • There will be no refund or compensation applied due to force major which effect to visit program.
  • We reserve the right to adjust the prices at any time in the event of an increase of the fuel surcharge applied by airlines companies or any other transport companies.
  • Deadline for flight tickets: We will automatically issue flights 5 days after bookings is confirmed by us, please take note and come back to me within 5 days since booking is confirmed if you find clients don’t want to issue it.

 

Consultant/Emergency Contact:

EURASIE Travel “Best for the Best“ – Head office

#AC04, Street 59CW, Borey Sopheak Meangkul, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

info@eurasietravel.com.kh / www.eurasietravel.com.kh

 

Hot lines:

+ Mr. Bonny: (+855) 12 608 108 (WHATSAPP)

    ” Possiamo dire che è stata la luna di miele perfetta. Abbiamo avuto la possibilità di entrare a stretto contatto con la gente locale, di vivere diverse esperienze molto interessanti e di visitare dei posti fantastici. Tutto era organizzato in maniera perfetta grazie anche al validissimo supporto del nostro corrispondente Roberto, che non ci ha mai lasciati soli. Da dietro le quinte ci ha assistito per tutta la durata del nostro magnifico viaggio di nozze, dandoci un valido supporto per qualsiasi cosa. Le guide e i drivers erano sempre puntuali, cordiali, molto disponibili e molto preparati. Difficile dire in una sola frase cosa ci sia piaciuto. In una sola parola: TUTTO. L’organizzazione pre e durante il nostro viaggio è stata ineccepibile. Non possiamo che ringraziare Roberto ed Eurasie per questa meravigliosa esperienza.”

    Erika e Andrea

    Tour Vietnam & Cambogia