Hidden Gems of Cambodia

DAY 1 DEPART THE UK

Depart the UK on an overnight flight to Siem Reap.

DAY 2 - 4 SIEM REAP

You'll be fast-tracked through the airport and whisked to your lovely hotel on arrival.  

There will be plenty of time to explore the Angkor temples. You'll discover some magnificent sights, including off-the-beaten-path structures left in the jungle for many years.

There is much more to this region than just the temples and during your stay, you'll have a chance to walk with elephants in a protected forest and explore the stilted communities of Tonle Sap Lake. An evening at the Phare Circus is a must too. An enjoyable night out that achieves so much more. The performers tell stories of Cambodian life through a blend of traditional and modern theatre - a tremendous all-round initiative that supports many disadvantaged young people.

DAY 5 & 6 BATTAMBANG

Transfer south to Battambang. The Kingdom's second city is awash with faded French colonial villas and alive with the unmistakable buzz unique to Cambodia. Sample fresh street food (arguable the country's best) at the market and head out of the town to Phnom Banan, a small hill temple providing a beautiful vista of the plains below and still showing the scars from the civil war years. A sunset ride on the wonderfully imaginative and quirky bamboo train is not to be missed. 

Day 7 & 8 FARMHOUSE GECKO

Continue south towards Farmhouse Smiling Gecko. Halfway along the route, you can break the journey at Krakor and board a boat to explore Kampong Loung, the largest floating village on Tonle Sap lake but one that tourists often overlook.

Check-in at the organic farm, home to a sustainable boutique resort, and a hospitality training school. Farmhouse Smiling Gecko is a lovely place to stay and an experience where you can learn, cook, eat and explore whilst supporting the local community.

DAYS 9 & 10 Cardamom Mountains

Travel next to the Cardamom Mountains, where you’ll board a small boat towards your unique accommodation. Simply relax by (or in!) the river or take time to explore the beautiful wildlife and scenery of the surrounding rainforest. The hotel provides a wide range of daily activities and experiences; these include boat trips to nearby waterfalls, a trek through the forest, a visit to local villages, a tour of a Mangrove forest and various nature trails.

Days 11-14 Beach

Now for some time relaxing on an island just off Sihanoukville; travel here from the Cardamom Mountains and board a boat for the 45-minute crossing to Koh Rong.

Enjoy spending a few lazy days on a beautiful beach, relaxing, swimming, snorkelling and enjoying great food. 

DAYS 15-16 PHNOM PENH

Return back North to Phnom Penh where you'll stay within a stone's throw of the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda.

There will be a chance to visit the Killing Fields and Toul Sleng Genocide museum should you wish. Tuol Sleng is a former school that was converted into the notorious Security Prison 21 (S-21) by the Khmer Rouge. The Khmer Rouge used Choeung Ek (better known as the Killing Fields) as a mass grave and execution site. Today both of these sites are a memorial dedicated to the victims of the Khmer Rouge. The tour is a very moving reminder of the horrors faced by Cambodians between 1975 and 1979. 

Day 17 Fly Home 

Depart Phnom Penh for your flight back to the UK.

 

Your bespoke proposal with Experience Travel Group will include:

• International Flights (we can omit if you prefer)
• Accommodation as described
• Privately guided tours and transfers
• Tips for guides and drivers
• Original Experience Travel Group "signature" experiences 
• Full financial protection (ABTA and ATOL bonding.) 
• 24-hour in-country backup while away
• Your dedicated travel expert in the UK