Day 1: Siem Reap – Peung Tanon – Banteay Chhmar
We’ll depart from our hotel at 08:00 AM. We’ll leave for the Banteay Chhmar Eco-tourism community, and on the way will stop to visit the remote villages and unseen attraction sites. The first stop at Peung Tanon (also written as Perng Ta Norn) is about 2 hours drive north of Siem Reap. It’s becoming a popular day trip for local and international travelers because of its massive sandstone rock formations, also called standing stones, which provide a glimpse into another slice of Khmer history. Continue to drive to visit Phnom Srok Village to stop for lunch, and also visit the Ang Trapeang Thmor. Ang Trapeang Thmor is a unique wetland ecosystem giving a home to over 200 bird species including the endangered Sarus Crane. The population of the Sarus Crane species in this area rose consistently over the years to number more than 300 birds today.,Continue to drive to Banteay Chhmar temple, which is also referred to as the “Fortress of the Cat”. This large temple is rarely visited by tourists due to its remoteness, thus it makes a refreshing change from the crowds at Angkor Wat. Severe looting has prevented archaeologists from understanding the temple and its function in detail, leaving its use to speculation. A low-key community tourism project has recently been established in the village to help the poor people taking care of the temple to supplement their incomes. Upon arrival, the local community will welcome you and members will join you to visit the temple explaining its history. Enjoy the sunset in the rice field with cold drinks (coconut, local beer, and other soft drinks).,Get back to the community to have dinner and we will stay one night in a Khmer Traditional House with the local family.
Included for the day:
Transport: 4WD and driver – 240km
Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Homestay at Banteay Chhmar Community Based-tourism
Day 2: Banteay Chhmar – Battambang
Breakfast with the local family.,We say goodbye to the local family and the community, visit the local market and drive to visit one more big manmade lake called Trapeang Rohal Trach, it is one of the manmade lakes that remained from the Khmer Rouge Regime and it is now become an important reservoir to keep the water for the locals to suppler the surrounding rice paddies, and of course, it is also a nice spot for locals come for relaxation and picnic. Then we continue to drive to Battambang, the second biggest city in Cambodia.,Lunch at the local restaurant upon arrival at Battambang, then we check in and get refreshments.,Continue to the well-preserved 11th-century Prasat Phnom Banan, located on top of a hill bearing the same name. After climbing the 350 steps you are treated to a peaceful setting with superb views across the surrounding countryside. And enjoy the Bamboo Train for 30 minutes ride before we continue to drive to visit the striking hilltop pagoda of Phnom Sampeau. This massive limestone outcrop is dissected by a number of caves with some containing unexpected reminders of Cambodia’s turbulent history. Small villages are dotted in and around the endless rice paddies, punctuated with the characteristic sugar palm trees – a wonderful location to catch the sunset before returning to Battambang town.
Included for the day:
Transport: 4WD and driver – 177km
Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Deluxe Villa (Superior Room) or a similar standard hotel
Day 3: Battambang – Kampong Luong Floating Boat Ride – Kampong Chhnang – Kampong Thom
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive around the premises with your guide and walk through the village on the banks of the Sangker River, which is home to many well-preserved traditional Khmer wooden stilted homes and tropical fruit farms. This is a great opportunity to taste juicy oranges, sweet pineapples, and many other fruits available in the region as much as the activities of the villagers making rice paper, and the process of brewing Rice Whiskey. And continue to drive to Kampong Luong in Pursat Province, which is one of the biggest floating villages in Tonle Sap Lake, and take a boat ride to visit this village. The floating village of Kompong Luong offers the opportunity for you to discover the everyday life of Cambodian families on the Tonle Sap Lake. The families live in floating houses with a constant movement of boats that brings people and goods to the village. The village consists of both the Cambodian community and the Vietnamese community both living in the same floating village. Return to the mainland and drive to have lunch at the local restaurant in Pursat.,After lunch, continue to the small riverside town of Kampong Chhnang, it is famous for its beautiful landscape and local villages that produce pottery in the midst of the rice fields. Visit this community and learn how the community makes pottery the traditional way and observe how sugar is collected from the sugar palm trees. Let your guide assist you with translating if you are interested to learn more about village life. Continue to drive to overnight in Kampong Thom (crossing the Tonle Sap River by the local ferry). Dinner at the local restaurant
Included for the day:
Transport: 4WD and driver – 270km (and boat ride)
Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Gloria Hotel (Superior Room) or a similar standard hotel
Day 4: Kirirom – Kampong Chhnang – Unseen Temples – Siem Reap
Breakfast at the hotel.,We drive to visit Sambor Prei Kuk temples, Sambor Prei Kuk is Cambodia’s oldest temple site dating back to the 6th century. The site remains remarkably well preserved. Continue to walk along quiet, shady trails from one temple group to another. Lunch at the local restaurant that runs by the Sambor Prei Kuk Community. Continue to drive to visit the lost temple of Preah Khan Kampong Svay.,Preah Khan Kompong Svay bears the original name of “Bakan” which refers to a high tower or citadel. It is a large Khmer temple complex located in Sangkum Thmei commune, Kampong Thom province, approximately 105km to the east of Angkor. The temple is well known for three things; firstly it was a Mahayana-Buddhism temple related to the concept of pure land, secondly, it served as one of the way stations (the temples tape) at least since the 12th century on the east-bound ancient highway network (Royal Road) starting from Angkor Thom, passing through Beng Mealea to Preah Khan Kompong Svay, and thirdly, it is an industrial center relating to the region’s iron mining, smelting, and production activities.,Proceed to Siem Reap, if time permits, we will stop to visit the Naga Bridge on the way.,Arrive in Siem Reap at about 5 pm, drop off, and end of services. Dinner and accommodation are not included.
Included for the day:
Transport: 4WD and driver – 300km
Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Tour inclusive of:
- English Speaking Guide as per itinerary
- Private 4WD and driver during the trip
- Entrance fees as per itinerary
- Mineral water during the tour (unlimited)
- Meals as per itinerary
- Boat rides as per itinerary
- All ferry riding to cross the Tonle Sap River
- All taxes and service charges
- Accommodation (twin/double sharing) - 3 nights
Tour exclusive of:
- Visa fee to Cambodia
- Accommodation in Siem Reap
- All flights
- Travel Insurance
- Drinks during the meals
- Personal expenses
- Tipping
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