Combine Cambodia’s highlights with little-known wonders located far from tourist trails on this three-week trip
The Lowdown
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Getting There
You can fly to Phnom Penh from major SE Asian cities – Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong which connect from London Heathrow.
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Don't Miss
For an evening's entertainment in Siem Reap, visit the acrobatic wonders of the Phare Circus, which in turn empowers the lives of young Cambodians.
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When To Go
Between November and April is when the country receives the least rainfall although green season (July - August) sees the country burst into bloom.
Your journey will take a slow circumnavigate around Cambodia, taking in rarely visited temples in the north, the buzz of cities, mountain terrain and fledgling tourist destinations ideal for hiking and crater-lake swimming. Finish at a unique tented river camp in the Cardamom Mountains before heading to the coast for seafood and island adventures.
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Highlights
- Experience a deep-dive into Cambodia on a slow-travel three-week journey
- Discover Cambodia’s cities- Phnom Penh and its tragic history plus colonial Battambang
- Spend time at Angkor Wat’s lesser-known vantage points with a guide
- Explore Cambodia’s wilderness – crater lakes, pristine rainforest, waterfalls, mountains and rivers
- Relax on tropical beaches and enjoy seafood feasts
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Cities and Sunrise
Phnom Penh is a trove of ancient temples, glittering palaces and Art Deco markets. Explore this diverse city with a local architecture student, who will reveal the hidden gems by traditional cyclo. Gain insights into Cambodia’s tragic history under the Khmer Rouge with visits to the Killing Fields. Stop for a sunset cocktail at the colonial FCC (Foreign Correspondents Club) – an iconic rooftop bar that overlooks the Tonle Sap River. Next discover laid-back Battambang, Cambodia’s second largest city, with its surprisingly sleepy feel. Full of crumbling colonial beauty and charming countryside, Battambang is being repaired to its former glory. Onwards to Siem Reap, through pre-dawn to see the sunrise over Angkor Wat, when it is as its quietest. Travel by boat, ox-cart and on foot to visit villages little changed since the days of Jayavarman VII.
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Jungles and Dolphins
Visit the Yeak Lom crater lake, near Ratanakiri, a pristine lake set in a 300,000-year-old volcano caldera, with deep, blue waters, surrounded by wild monkeys and parrots. Pristine rainforests lead the way to Vensai, an outpost on the Sesan River that feeds the Mekong. Journey upriver by boat to a Kachok hilltribe village, a small ethnic group located deep in the jungle. In this mountainous Mondulkiri area, swim under the cascades of Bousra Waterfall, that plunges deep into the dense jungle below. Hike up Dos Kromom, a sacred mountain to visit tribes and see an awe-inspiring view across the never-ending greens of the rainforest canopy. In Kratie, take a boat out to see the (illusive) dolphins. Learn about the survival of this unique and beautiful snub-nosed creature, through conservation, research and education.
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Wilderness and Beaches
Enjoy the rivers, waterfalls and jungles of this untamed natural wilderness surrounding River Tatie. Take time out to enjoy this peaceful environment, in overwater tented bungalows that maximise views onto the river and jungle. You’ve reached the beach – explore the local fish market and sample freshly caught crabs. Visit the charming riverside town of Kampot and its surrounding pepper plantations. Take a private longtail boat to nearby Koh Ton Say (Rabbit Island) to relax on its uncrowded beaches and enjoy a seafood bbq.
