Cambodia Southern Explore 14 Days 13 Nights

  • 14 days / 13 nights
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Overview

Cambodia shares a border with Vietnam. These are the two most recognizable cities in Cambodia and while the former is the capital the latter is justifiably famous for Angkor Wat. Both cities are excellent tourist destinations and any first visit to Cambodia should include one or both. Both cities have also been extensively documented and described. Cambodia is also a great country for a road trip. Let’s start this journey from Siem Reap to the South of Cambodia.

Highlight

  • Follow in the footsteps of pilgrims of old along the immense causeway of the temple that is a city, the holiest of holies, the one and only Angkor Wat
  • Angkor Thom means "the great city" in Khmer. The 12th-century royal Buddhist city is especially famed for its grand Bayon Temple but has several other sights of interest as well.
  • Succumb to the enigmatic smiles of the 216 giant faces of the Bayon, Angkor’s strangest temple
  • Tonle Sap Lake – Get a glimpse of the distinctive way of life led in the floating villages on Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake
  • Discover the secrets of Bar street, Siem Reap’s quaffing capital where the action goes on all night, and Angkor Night Market
  • Relax with a massage or spa, the perfect medicine for weary bodies
  • Tread lightly upon the 5000 silver floor tiles at the Silver Pagoda, in the Royal Palace
  • Step back in time to the National Museum, home to the world’s finest collection of Angkorian sculpture
  • Check out the Art Deco masterpiece that Psar Thmei, Phnom Penh’s central market
  • Wat Phnom – on a leafy hill, Wat Phnom affords a view that has changed little in a half-century
  • Soak up the city by night, with a happy hour cocktail, a fine meal, and crawl through the city’s bars
  • Mekong Boat trips – Cruise the river as the sun sinks behind the spires of the Royal Palace
  • Kick back in Kampot, a pretty riverside town with some of Cambodia’s best-preserved colonial architecture
  • Explore abandoned villas and remote Islands in the colonial-era beach resort of Kep, a town that’s slowly coming to life
  • Cambodia’s Cardamom Mountains vast blanket of tropical rainforest remain one of Southeast Asia’s most pristine expanses of wilderness.
  • Soak up the sun in Sihanouk Ville, home to blissful beaches, tropical Islands, fresh seafood, and lively nightshift
  • Koh Rong has long been a favorite getaway for locals and ex-pats, who call it a true island paradise. With its white sand beaches and calm turquoise waters, and a refreshing absence of roads and fast-food joints.

Itinerary

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Day 1: Arrive – Siem Reap, Welcome to Cambodia

Upon arrival at Siem Reap Int’s Airport, process immigration procedure (visa on arrival is available or obtain in advance via www.evisa.gov.kh), then get your luggage and walk straight to the Exit Gate where our representative is waiting. After self-introduced, you’ll transfer directly around 30 minutes to the hotel in the city for check in (check in time is 2pm). Time to fresh-up and relax at hotel.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 2: Angkor Highlight (Meal: B/L)

After breakfast, we continue to Angkor Thom was the masterpiece of King Jayavarman VII. Following the occupation of Angkor by the Chams from 1177 to 1181, the new king decided to build an impregnable fortress at the heart of his empire. We begin to visit Bayon Temple. At the exact center of Angkor Thom, this is an eccentric expression of the creative genius and inflated ego of Cambodia’s most celebrated king. From there, we walk to Baphuon, once of the most beautiful temples at Angkor, dating from the reign of Uditayavarman 1 in the 11th century. We continue to visit Terrace of the Leper King. Along the Terrace of Elephants, originally used as a viewing gallery for the king to preside over parades, performances and traditional sports. We continue to Ta Prohm ``Tomb Raider`` fame. Ta Prohm has been abandoned to the elements, a reminder that while empires rise and fall, the riotous power of nature marches on, oblivious to the dramas of human history. We journey out to the Mother of all temples, Angkor Wat. Believed to be the world's largest religious building, this temple is the perfect fusion of symbolism and symmetry and a source of pride and strength to all Khmers.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 3: Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary (Meal: B/L)
  • 5.30am pick up from your hotel by CBGA English-speaking bird guide, with our A/C vehicle, transfer Mechrey Pier for the boat trip to Prek Toal village.
  • 7 am half-way on the tonle sap lake, enjoy packed breakfast on the boat.
  • 7.30am arrive at the Prek Toal floating village,
  • 7.45am transfer into smaller local community boats and explore the biosophere reserve.
  • 8 am enjoy birding along the way one hour through the core reserve.
  • 9 arrive at the observation platform, climb the tree top to enjoy the wider views of the bird colonies.
  • 10 am return back to Prek Toal village for lunch at Saray Community Restaurant.
  • 1 pm after lunch, visit the Water Hyacinth Handicraft Workshop located next to the restaurant.
  • 1.30pm we will take you on paddled boats around the floating village, observing how locals adapt their floating environment, visiting the crocodile farms, fish farms, floating school, floating gardens, etc.
  • 2.15pm travel back to Siem Reap
  • 4 pm arrive back at your Siem Reap hotel.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 4: Phnom Kulen Adventure (Meal: B/L)

Start early this morning at 7 a.m to leave your hotel for Phnom Kulen, considered the holiest mountain in Cambodia. Arrive at Kulen Mountain near the Preah Ang Thom Pagoda. First on the agenda is a wander around the mountain-top pagoda which is home to relics, statues, and a large reclining Buddha.

Meet your Motordup (motorbike) driver who will take you for the next few hours up the mountain. The first stop is at Poeng Tbal, where a river bed reveals a well-preserved stone with details of Shiva and Vishnu and the rock carvings of Ganesh and sages. A short trip leads to one of Cambodia's most important sites: a small pedestal that sits on top of three-step pyramids called Prasat Rong Chen. Head through more paths to a modern temple with colorful statues and a panoramic view. Enjoy a simple picnic lunch in the temple dining room. Continue after a short break to a bat cave that, with the help of torches, you can enter for a few hundred meters and see a modern sanctuary. Both the cave and the temple attract many pilgrims to the area. A short distance away is Srah Damrei (or Elephant Pond). Head back to the starting point with a few more stone carvings to see at Damrei Khrap (Kneeling Elephant). The Motordup adventure ends at Preah Ang Thom.

Two more stops are made before your return, the first is a short visit to see the Thousand Lingas River, hundreds of Lingas carvings can be seen in a section of the river. After visiting the Kulen waterfall, where you can take a refreshing bath. Return to Siem Reap and accommodation.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 5: Siem Reap – Phnom Penh (Meal: B/L)

Travel by road from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. On route you will witness the everyday lives of Cambodians as you pass through interesting provincial towns, bucolic villages, and delightful scenery. This is no ‘freeway dash’ as you will often slow down to let cows and water buffalo wander across the road, pass horse drawn carriages, and school kids walking and cycling to/from school. You may wish to stop off in Kompong Kdei, to look at Spean Pratos – an ancient Angkorian bridge.
We continue to Phnom Udong, the ancient Cambodian capital during the latter stages of the Khmer Empire and crowning site of many past kings. Consisting of a series of stupas atop a large hill, there are outstanding views across the surrounding plains below. Phnom Udong was bombed and desecrated by the Americans and then the Khmer Rouge, but still possesses a beauty that no war has been able to steal from it. Before going to Phnom Penh, stop by to see the spectacular Vipassana Dhura Buddhist meditation center, also located in Udong. Your tour guide can tell you more about the Vipassana school (Insight Meditation) as you walk through the center. Don't forget to see the imposing jade Buddha, the mummified monk and the colorful painted walls that tell the story of Ramayana, the epic Sanskrit poem that adorns many pagodas throughout the country.

Upon arrival in Phnom Penh you will check-in to your hotel.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 6: Phnom Penh’s Past & Present (Meal: B/L)

After breakfast, we meet our guide and hop on Cyclo, an original means of transport from Phnom Penh and a fun way to explore this vibrant city. First visit Wat Phnom is a Buddhist temple located in the center of Phnom Penh City. It was built in 1373, and stands 27 meters above the ground. Next, we visit to the Royal Palace compound build in 1866 by the Predecessors of King Norodom, is the most conspicuous feature and also one of impressive colorful Khmer-style Palaces. Nearside the Royal Palace is Silver Pagoda (The Emerald Buddha temple), display plenty of Buddha Statues that were decorated and made by diamond, emerald, gold and silver, continuing visit to National Museum, the distinctive red building with a beautiful Khmer architecture was built since 1917 and contains more than 5000 art objects made of sandstone, bronze, silver, copper, wood and others. Travelers will proceed to visit Independence Monument, which was constructed in 1954 after Cambodian took their country back from French colony.

Visit newly open SOSORO Museum, Cambodia Museum of economic and money. SOSORO has been designed to provide a unique perspective on Cambodia’s history and offers a sharper grasp on the constant interaction between money, the economy and politics.

We will stop at Central Market is located in the heart of the Phnom Penh. The Khmer name of the market is Phsar Thmei, which translates to “new market”. The Central Market was built in 1937 during the French colonial period, in Art Deco style, and is painted bright ochre.

We will enjoy a cruise for view sunset on the Mekong and Tonle Sap River (1 hour). Situated at the “Four Arms” where the Mekong meets the Tonle Sap River before splitting into two branches, Phnom Penh offers the ideal location to discover the mighty Mekong.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 7: Phnom Penh – Free The Bear – Kampot (Meal: B/L)

After breakfast, we depart to Kampot and enroute stop join Free “The Bear Care Programs”. Get special behind-the-scenes access to the world's largest sun bear sanctuary with our Bear Care Tour. Hear the moving stories of the rescued bears, meet the bears and help the Bear Care Team prepare food and enrichment treats. You'll be delighted watching the bears search and gobble down the treats you've hidden. An exciting and unique once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Our Cambodia Bear Sanctuary is located within the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre, located approximately 30km or a one hour drive from Phnom Penh. As well as housing the world's largest sun bear sanctuary, the facility has over 1,000 animals from over 200 species, many of which you'll be able to meet during your visit.

We then continue south following the picturesque drive to Kep / Kampot. The southern coast of Cambodia, edging the border with Vietnam, once served as a glamorous seaside resort for the French in the early 1900s. Evocative of the French Riviera towns along the Mediterranean coast; the towns of Kep, Sihanoukville and Kampot have tree-lined, wide roads fringing the ocean, large statues, luxury villas, casinos, and even a palace overlooking the Gulf of Thailand.

Overnight in Kampot.

Day 8: Kampot Exploration & Mangrove conservation (Meal: B/L)

After breakfast, we stop at Crab Market to sample some of the delicious fresh crab that Kep is famed for is also a must. We continue to Pepper farm and salt farm.

We continue to Trapeang Sangkae Conservation Project. Here you will learn more about their efforts to preserve and develop the mangrove which acts as an important projectiong against coasstal erosion anda lso serves as a natural habitat for an entire ecosystem. We hop on a small boat to go and make our contribution to the global effort by planting some mangrove tree.

If you like, we join sunset cruise like a local with drink along the Kampot River.

Overnight in Kampot.

Day 9: Kamot – Koh Kong, Ta Tai (Meal: B)

Today, drive to Ta Tai, Koh Kong. Away from the tourist trail to ancient civilizations there is another country, a land of unspoilt virgin forest, rare orchids and fragrant frangipani, the startling colors and calls of birds of paradise, secretive jungle creatures and a perfumed air of peace and solitude. This ecological miracle deserves an environmentally friendly resort that captures the imagination while offering.

Overnight in Ta Tai, Koh Kong.

Day 10: Koh Kong, Ta Tai – Free leisure (Meal: B)

Free for your own time. You can swim, kayak, or join a boat trip to Ta Tai waterfall, or at night watching fireflies.

Overnight in Ta Tai, Koh Kong.

Day 11: Koh Kong – Sihanouk Ville – Koh Rong (Meal: B)

Meet your driver (no guide) and continue to Sihanouk Ville, which has long been a place of relaxation for Cambodians. Arrive in Sihanouk Ville we take a fast boat to Koh Rong “Paradise Island”.

Overnight in Koh Rong.

Day 12: Koh Rong – Free Leisure (Meal: B)

Enjoy a full day of sun or swim in the warm coastal waters. This is the moment when the dream of going on vacation to an exotic land becomes reality.

Overnight in Koh Rong.

Optional: You can rend a boat from the hotel to the island for snorkeling and fishing.

Day 13: Koh Rong – Free Leisure (Meal: B)

Enjoy a full day of sun or swim in the warm coastal waters. This is the moment when the dream of going on vacation to an exotic land becomes reality.

Overnight in Koh Rong.

Day 14: Koh Rong – Phnom Penh – Departure (Meal: B)

We farewell island and take express boat back to Sihanouk Ville. Upon arrival at Sihanouk Ville port, meet your driver (without guide) and drive back to Phnom Penh.

Arrive in Phnom Penh, transfer to airport for departure to next destination. It’s time to say goodbye, we thank you for traveling with us and warmly welcome you to come again.

*** Note: To have enough time, please book a departure flight from Phnom Penh not early than 4 pm.

FAQS

1. Can I customize the itinerary?

Absolutely. This is your bespoke Vietnam boutique tour, designed just for you. Every traveler is unique, and as a leading Vietnam luxury boutique travel company, we’re here to craft a journey that matches your personal style. Whether you’d like to swap destinations, upgrade to luxury boutique hotels, or slow the pace for a deeper cultural immersion, we’ll tailor every detail to reflect your preferences.

2. What kind of accommodations are included?

We handpick charming boutique hotels known for their comfort, character, and hospitality. In Sapa, you’ll also enjoy a night in a welcoming, well-kept local homestay – a chance to connect with the community and embrace authentic mountain life.

3. Do I need travel insurance?

Yes, we strongly recommend travel insurance for any Vietnam boutique tour. While we don’t include it in our packages, this gives you the freedom to choose a plan that suits your needs. Travel insurance ensures you’re protected against unexpected events and provides smooth assistance throughout your journey. Please share your policy details with us before your departure.

4. How can I book this tour?

Booking your boutique journey is easy. This itinerary serves as inspiration—your actual trip will be custom-built. Simply fill out the request form on our website with your preferences. A local travel specialist from our Vietnam luxury boutique team will then contact you to discuss ideas and fine-tune the plan until you’re fully satisfied.

5. What is the payment policy?

Once your custom itinerary is finalized, a deposit of 30% is required to confirm your booking. The remaining balance is due around 60 days prior to your travel date. For last-minute bookings, full payment may be needed upfront. We accept bank transfers, Visa/Mastercard, or cash. Your travel expert will guide you through each step clearly and transparently.

6. What is your cancellation policy?

We understand that plans can change. Here's a quick summary of our cancellation terms:
- 30% deposit is non-refundable once the booking is confirmed
- 60–46 days before arrival: 50% cancellation fee
- 45–31 days before arrival: 75% cancellation fee
- 30 days or less: 100% cancellation fee

If your tour is impacted by unexpected events (like natural disasters or force majeure), we’ll offer you the option to postpone your trip or refund eligible payments (excluding any unrecoverable costs).

7. Do I need a visa to travel to Vietnam (or neighboring countries)?

Yes, most travelers will need a visa to enter Vietnam. The process is simple, and we’re happy to guide you through it. If your trip includes neighboring countries, we’ll help you check their specific visa requirements too.

8. Can I extend my trip or add extra days?

Absolutely! Love the beach? Want more time in the mountains? Or just a little extra downtime? Whatever your dream trip looks like, we’ll tailor the itinerary to include more of what you love. Just tell us what you’re thinking and we’ll make it happen.

9. Are solo travelers welcome?

Yes – our Vietnam boutique tours are perfect for solo travelers. You’ll enjoy a private, tailor-made itinerary and personalized care from your travel consultant. A single supplement may apply, but we’ll work with you to find elegant yet affordable options. Whether you’re seeking connection, solitude, or adventure, your solo experience will be safe, smooth, and truly special.

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