Teletravel in Cambodia

Day 1: Welcome to Phnom Penh

Greeted by your driver upon arrival at Phnom Penh airport. Transfer and installation at your hotel. Rest. Rooms available from 2:00 p.m. You can leave your suitcases at reception before going for a walk in town. Day without French-speaking guide Night in Studio at Palace Gate Hotel & Residence. Breakfasts included.

Day 2: Phnom Penh, vibrant capital

Day of tuktuk visits Let's discover the famous Wat Phnom which gave its name to the capital. The “Hill Pagoda” is the highest point in Phnom Penh. Then visit the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda, true jewels of Khmer architecture built in the mid-19th century. Continue to the National Museum and discover one of the most important collections of Khmer art: 14,000 sculptures and ethnographic objects, mostly from the temples of Angkor Visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21), the largest detention and torture center under the regime of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge which will reveal to us a very painful chapter in the history of Cambodia. Day accompanied by a French-speaking guide Studio Nights at the Palace Gate Hotel & Residence. Breakfasts included.

Day 3 > 6: free days in Phnom Penh

Nights in a Studio at the Palace Gate Hotel & Residence. Breakfasts included.

Day 7: Kampong Cham and Kratié on the banks of the Mekong

In the morning, we take the road to Kampong Cham. In Kampong Cham, we leave the city to go to the village of Steung Trong and explore the beautiful rice fields and other plantations (peanuts, jicama or potato peas) in this very fertile area along the river. A little further, a different landscape offers itself in the district of Krouch Chhmar. We go to meet the inhabitants of the village as part of a short 30-minute walk among the tobacco crops. A discovery of authentic rural Cambodia. We then continue our journey towards Kratié, a city-province on the banks of the great Mekong with a peaceful reputation and magnificent rural landscapes. Once we arrive at our destination, we settle into our room for this overnight stopover and can take advantage of the rest of the free day to stretch our legs on the promenade along the great Mekong. Day accompanied by a French-speaking guide Night at Sorya Guesthouse / Business Class Breakfast included.

Day 8: Mekong dolphins & stopover in Kampong Thom

This morning, before hitting the road again, we take a small boat to reach the river island of Koh Trong. We discover this small island on foot or by bike. The river island is a compendium of magnificent landscapes and a guarantee of a change of scenery. Let's discover the Khmer village and the inhabitants of a timeless island. After the short return crossing, we meet our driver for a short transfer to Kampi, a short distance north of Kratié. We embark on the Mekong to search for Irrawaddy dolphins, one of the rare species of freshwater dolphins, in danger of extinction. After returning to dry land, we visit nearby Phnom Sambok Hill which is home to a picturesque pagoda and a religious community where monks live separately from nuns. We then hit the road again, this time towards the province of Kampong Thom. In the mid-late afternoon, our driver dropped us off at the hotel for our check-in. Then free program to rest. Day accompanied by a French-speaking guide Night in a Deluxe Room at the Sambor Village Hotel Dinner at the Sambor village hotel Breakfast included.

Day 9: Sambor Prei Kuk and arrival in Siem Reap

This morning, we take the road towards Siem Reap. On the way, on the edge of Kampong Thom, we discover the formidable pre-Angkorian temples of Sambor Prei Kuk. This archaeological site has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 2017 and owes it to its status as an ancient capital before the advent of the Khmer empire which settled in Angkor a few centuries later. A primordial site at the crossroads of Buddhist, Hindu, animist and even Persian and Greek cultures from the 7th century AD, as we will discover. We then leave by scooter (passenger) to take a tour of the village of around 1 hour to discover the Kampong Thom countryside and its magnificent rural landscapes and to meet the farmers, their animals and the smiles of the children. The track is lined with small wooden houses with straw or palm leaf roofs. These traditional houses in typical Khmer style are bordered by waterways. Ride in the company of an English-speaking guide/motorcycle driver from the Sambor Prei Kuk community. We then hit the road again and once we arrive at our destination, we check into the hotel; The rest of the day is free.

Day accompanied by a French-speaking guide Night in a Deluxe Room at the Apsara Greenland Boutique Hotel Breakfast included.

Day 10 > 14: free days in Siemp Reap

Nights in a Deluxe Room at the Apsara Greenland Boutique Hotel Breakfast included.

Day 15: The majestic temples of Angkor

Full day tuktuk tour of the marvelous Angkor temples located around and inside the Angkor Thom enclosure. We notably discover Angkor Wat, symbol of the apogee of the Khmer Empire during the Angkorian era. Within the walls of Angkor Thom, discover Bayon and its numerous towers with gigantic faces, Baphuon and its gigantic 40m reclining Buddha statue, Phimeanakas, the Terrace of the Elephants and its great diversity of sculptures but also the Terrace of the Leper King. Let's conclude with Ta Prohm, famous for its immense trees with sprawling aerial roots. We can end this day with a sunset either at Srah Srang, or from the heights of Phnom Bakheng if you are ready to brave the crowds (be careful: Phnom Bakheng is prohibited of access to children under 12 years old and the authorities limit access to 300 people at sunset, thus creating a queue) Due to an already busy program, we are deliberately skipping some secondary temples of the small circuit such as Banteay Kdei, Thommanon, Chau Say Tevoda or even Ta Keo. If you want to visit these sites, do not hesitate to inform your guide at the start of the day so that he can organize your time as best as possible.

Possibility of carrying out visits in the opposite direction to avoid the crowds. All you have to do is tell your guide at the start of the day. Temples are sacred places, avoid short clothes, cover your shoulders and wear pants or a long skirt. In order to preserve these fragile monuments, it is forbidden to touch the sculptures or sit on elements of the temple. In Cambodian culture, it is offensive to heckle inside a sacred place, calm and respect are the key words. It is not recommended to buy items or sweets from child sellers, this only encourages begging and truancy, prefer a donation to an association if this is important to you. If you wish to photograph the monks (called Bonzes), you must obtain their permission first. In addition, you should definitely not touch them, they have the right to touch you but not the opposite. Day accompanied by a French-speaking guide

Night in a Deluxe Room at Apsara Greenland Boutique Hotel Breakfast included.

Day 16: The river of 1000 lingas and the pink sandstone citadel

After about 45 minutes of driving, we start the day with a visit to the Angkor Center for the Protection of Biodiversity. We will be able to see the efforts made by local and international teams to protect endangered local species: turtles and other reptiles, birds and rare mammals. Children and animal lovers will be enchanted by this discovery and awareness visit.

We then begin the short hike necessary to reach the site of Kbal Spean nicknamed "the underwater temple". Ruins of temples dating from the 9th century line a river whose bed is strewn with carved lingas. A small waterfall near the protected sacred site will allow us to cool off or even swim there (bring a small towel).

Very accessible hike of around 1.5 km (or 3 km round trip) with a small elevation gain over the last 700 meters. Bring walking shoes/sneakers as the path is quite rocky. After lunch, we continue with a visit to Banteay Srey, a temple on a human scale compared to the gigantic Angkor Wat or Bayon. This pink sandstone temple nicknamed “The Citadel of Women” is known for the refinement of the bas-reliefs and sculptures which adorn its walls and columns. If we have any strength left, we can conclude the day with a visit to the Banteay Samre temple or return directly to the hotel.

Day accompanied by a French-speaking guide Night in a Deluxe Room at the Apsara Greenland Boutique Hotel Breakfast included.

Day 17: Flying towards the gentle seaside

Your driver drops you off at Siem Reap airport for your flight to Sihanoukville. After landing and collecting your luggage, a driver will wait for you at the airport to take you to the pier of Sihanoukville, a southern seaside town with beautiful sandy beaches and gateway to the paradise islands of Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem. Boat transfer to Koh Rong from Sihanoukville pier. Our on-site team will wait for you at the pier to give you your boat tickets.

The boat staff will take half of your ticket from you. Keep the other half safe for the return! Day without French-speaking guide Night in a Deluxe Room with pool view at the Long Set Resort Breakfast included.

Day 18 > 21: free days in Koh Rong

Nights in a Deluxe Room at the Apsara Greenland Boutique Hotel Breakfast included. Nights in a Deluxe Room with pool view at the Long Set Resort Breakfast included.

Day 22: Return to the continent and stop in Kampot

Return by boat to Sihanoukville A driver will wait for us at the pier to drop us off at Sihanoukville station. We board our train towards Kampot. Train departure scheduled for 2 p.m.

Be careful, don't miss your stop! The stops are not clearly marked. However, the train stops a little longer than the others in Kampot. When we arrive at Kampot station, a tuktuk will be waiting for us with a sign with our name to take us to our resort.

Check-in at the hotel, rest and free time. Night in a Deluxe Room at The Columns Hotel Breakfast included

Day 23: The fame of Kampot pepper

In the morning, near Kep, we begin exploring the caves of Phnom Kampong Trach which have some lovely surprises in store for us. Considered natural temples by local Buddhists, they hide numerous statues and altars. As the highlight of this “speleological” excursion, a beautiful representation of a reclining Buddha awaits us in an open-air clearing created by the collapse of the rock. The Kampot region is internationally recognized for its exceptional pepper. It is therefore impossible to pass through Kampot without taking a trip to one of the many pepper plantations in the region! We then visit the famous family pepper production farm, La Plantation with one of their French-speaking guides who will explain to us the origin and why of the fame of this pepper. We will learn more about the cultivation methods and how to cook this famous pepper. After lunch (included at the plantation), on the way to the hotel, we can stop at Secret Lake to admire the scenery.

Conclude the day with a visit to the Trapeang Sangkae community which will show you the mangroves and tell you about the efforts made to preserve and restore these real natural barriers.

We then return to the hotel; The rest of the day is free.

Day without French-speaking guide Night in a Deluxe Room at The Columns hotel Breakfast included

Day 24 > 28: free days in Kampot

Nights in a Deluxe Room at The Columns Hotel Breakfast included

Day 29: Return to Phnom Penh

In the morning or early afternoon, transfer by road to Phnom Penh. Once we arrive at our destination, we check into the hotel; The rest of the day is free. Day without French-speaking guide Night in a Deluxe Room at the G-Mekong hotel Breakfast included

Day 30: Have a good flight and welcome back!

Free program before our transfer to Phnom Penh international airport. We will need to vacate our room before noon. If our flight is in the evening, we can leave our suitcases at the hotel reception for a final stroll around town.