Cambodia
Irrawaddy dolphins, an elephant sanctuary, the Virachey jungle and a night with a local family
Cambodia
A little-known Cambodia, as a private trip: the Mekong islands by bike, the Irrawaddy dolphins at Kratie, Koh Trong island, the Mondulkiri highlands and the Elephant Valley Project, a sanctuary for rescued elephants, Banlung, the 'red town' of Ratanakiri, and the Sesan River to a waterfall in the Virachey jungle. Then Preah Vihear temple on its cliff, Koh Ker, Angkor at sunrise and by bike, two days' walking on Phnom Kulen with a night in a family home, the Tonlé Sap and Sambor Prei Kuk.
When
Nov to March
Price
From 4 852€ excl. flights
(based on 2 people sharing)
How long
14 nights
Ideal length
Days 1-6
The Mekong islands, the Kratie dolphins, then the Mondulkiri highlands.
Day 1
Flight to Cambodia
Flight to Phnom Penh. Dinner and night on board.
Day 2
Arrival in Phnom Penh
Welcome by your driver and guide, then transfer to the hotel.
Day 3
The Mekong islands by bike
About four hours by bike on the Mekong islands after a ferry crossing: paths, villages and Koh Dach, the silk island, with a local lunch.
Day 4
The Kratie dolphins – Koh Trong
Head east and a trip in a traditional boat to watch the rare Irrawaddy dolphins, then the unspoilt island of Koh Trong.
Day 5
Koh Trong by bike – Sen Monorom
A 9-km bike loop on Koh Trong, between beaches and orchards, then the road to the Mondulkiri highlands.
Day 6
The Elephant Valley Project
A day at this sanctuary for mistreated elephants: with the guides, you follow two elephant families in their natural habitat.
Days 7-10
The red earth and jungle of Ratanakiri, then the isolated temples of the north.
Day 7
Sen Monorom – Banlung
Drive to Banlung, the 'red town', where ochre earth meets the jungle. Visit Wat Rahtanharanm pagoda and its large reclining Buddha.
Day 8
The Sesan River and the Virachey jungle
At dawn, by boat on the Sesan River from Kachon village with a ranger, through rice fields and bamboo forest, to the jungle of Virachey park and a 40-metre waterfall.
Day 9
Stung Treng – Preah Vihear
Drive to Preah Vihear, with a lunch stop in Stung Treng, a small isolated town of wooden houses.
Day 10
Preah Vihear and Koh Ker – Siem Reap
Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO site at the top of a 547-metre cliff near the Thai border, then the Koh Ker site and its pyramid, before Siem Reap.
Days 11-17
Angkor at sunrise, two days' walking on Phnom Kulen, then the great lake.
Day 11
Angkor at sunrise and by bike
Sunrise over Angkor Wat, then the site by bike: the Bayon and its stone faces, Ta Prohm overgrown by the jungle.
Day 12
Phnom Kulen – a night with a family
Leave for Phnom Kulen, the largest forest in the province, through villages, rice fields and sugar palms. A walk and a night with a host family.
Day 13
The Kulen plateau – Siem Reap
Breakfast with the family, then a second day's walking on the Phnom Kulen plateau, before returning to Siem Reap.
Day 14
The Tonlé Sap – Kampong Thom
By local boat on the Tonlé Sap to the village of Kampong Khleang and its stilt houses, lunch with a family, then drive to Kampong Thom.
Day 15
Sambor Prei Kuk – Phnom Penh
A stop at the isolated temples of Sambor Prei Kuk, a UNESCO site, then drive to Phnom Penh.
Day 16
Phnom Penh – flight home
Free time depending on your flight, then transfer to Phnom Penh airport and fly to France.
Day 17
Arrival in France
Arrival in France during the day.
Other trips built in the same spirit — more to draw inspiration from.
11 nightsThe Magic of Cambodia: Angkor, Battambang, Kampot and Kep
The complete tour, from the temples of Angkor to the pepper plantations and Rabbit Island
Explore Trip
11 nightsCambodia in a Small Group: Angkor by Bike, Battambang and Koh Sdach Island
Fourteen travellers at most, the bamboo train and three nights on the Island of Kings
Explore Trip
8 nightsEssential Cambodia in Private: Angkor, Tonlé Sap and Battambang
The country's great sites in eleven days, with your own French-speaking guide
Explore Trip
10 nightsThailand and Cambodia: from the Golden Triangle to the Temples of Angkor
Thailand's must-sees, then sunrise over Angkor Wat
Explore Trip
9 nightsLaos and Cambodia: Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Angkor
The train to Luang Prabang, the Kuang Si falls, then the temples of Angkor
Explore Trip
6 nightsCambodia: The Cardamom Mountains and Koh Rong
One of the last great primary forests of South-East Asia, then an island with bioluminescent waters
Explore Trip
Custom tripsCreate your own itinerary
Our Travel Experts will help you create a completely bespoke itinerary. Just tell us what you want. We'll make it happen.
Create trip
