Khmer Hidden Charm 21 days
Khmer Hidden Charm makes it a great destination for those seeking to explore the cultural heritage of Southeast Asia, while also indulging in a bit of adventure.
You will experience great cuisine, visit places like Banteay Srei Temple and the “Killing Fields”, and even ride an elephant! Don’t miss out on this once in a lifetime experience.
Destination
Departure
Phnom Penh / Phnom PenhDeparture Time
Approximately 8.30AMReturn Time
Approximately 7.30PMVisit
Phnom Penh – Battambang – Siem Reap – Stueng Treng – Rattanakri – Mondukiri – KratieIncluded
BreakfastPersonal Guide
From our gallery
Tour Plan
Day 1: Phnom Penh Arrival
Day 2: Phnom Penh (B/L)
Breakfast at the hotel: Visit National Museum, over 5000 objects are on display including Angkorian era statu, lingas and other artifacts. Visit Royal Palace is a royal residence now where His Majesty, the King of Cambodia, and the royal families live. it is like a small town of royal dynasties. Continue to Silver Pagoda, serves less as a functioning temple than a repository for cultural treasures such as 90 kg golden Buddha encrusted with 2086 diamonds. Finally visit Wat Phnom Temple is one of the most important pagodas in Phnom Penh. Built in 1373 on an artificial hill by the wealthy widow Daun Chi Penh.
Stay overnight: Phnom Penh | Meals: Breakfast | Lunch
Day 3: Phnom Penh (B/L)
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to visit the “Killing Fields” of Choeng Ek (15 km south of Phnom Penh). Between 1975 and 1978 about 17,000 men, women, children and infants (including nine westerners) were detained and tortured at the S-21 prison and transported to extermination camp of Choeng Ek and followed by visiting to Independence monument t for photo shooting and Psa Thmey market.
Afternoon, visit Tuol Sleng Museum (S-21 prison). This former school was used as a prison by Pol Pot’s security forces. More than 17,000 people held at S-21 were taken to the extermination camp at Choeng Ek to be executed. Then Visit Russian Market (Toul Tumpong Market), the Market has gained reputation for cheap clothing, a large selection of Buddha images and woodcarvings, betel-nut boxes, silk, silver jewelry, and classic music instrument. Enjoy Sunset Cruise on the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers in Phnom Penh, it bursts into 4 branches.
Stay overnight: Phnom Penh | Meals: Breakfast | Lunch
Day 4: Phnom Penh – Battambang (B/L)
Breakfast at the hotel. Pick up at your hotel and depart for Battambang by overland transfer (290 km. 4-5 hrs drive). Stop at the Silversmith village, see the pottery manufactories in Kompong Chhnang and visit also a fish market. Arrive in Battambang, and check-in at the hotel. Walk through the town to discover its beautiful colonial architecture.
Stay overnight: Battambang | Meals: Breakfast | Lunch
Day 5: Battambang (B/L)
Breakfast at the hotel: Drive along the picturesque Sangker River to Wat Slaket Pagoda, the residence of the provincial Buddhist patriarch Continue to visit Wat Ek Phnom. Visit a market where Prahoc, the Cambodian fish paste, is made. Afternoon, drive to Phnom Banon, with its five sandstone towers on top of a hill and enjoy a magnificent view of the surrounding plains. The same afternoon, we are also enjoying bamboo train village with a great experiences of sliding on this funny train, then continue to visit Phnom Sampeou Mountain, steeped in legend, and topped by Wat Sampeou and a group of caves used as ‘killing caves’ by the Khmer Rouge, containing the skeletal remains of their victims. We will also visit natural caves including spectacular. Later this evening, we will wait to view from foot of the mountain the bats flying out from its caves before returning to your hotel.
Stay overnight: Battambang | Meals: Breakfast | Lunch
Day 6: Battambang – Siem Reap (B/D)
Day 7: Siem Reap (B/L)
Early morning, we will visit the sunrise at Angkor Area – the idea is to view the reflection of amazing Angkor temple in the morning sun. Return to the hotel for breakfast. After that, we will start our full day visit, firstly with the sightseeing tour of Angkor area we spend a full day exploring the wondrous ancient ruins with the South Gate of Angkor Thom, which is famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone, the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and the largest as well as the most complete temple of Angkor Wat. This architectural masterpiece was constructed in the 12th century and covers an area of about 210 hectares. We stroll around this massive edifice, seeing the many galleries with colums, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple.
Stay overnight: Siem Reap | Meals: Breakfast | Lunch
Day 8: Siem Reap (B/L)
Breakfast at hotel, Heading out of town we make our way by traveling on a newly paved road to the intricately carved and well preserved temple of Banteay Srei. Along the way we make stopover at the Preah Dark village and we follow these with a visit the Banteay Samre Temple adorned with impressive relief’s depicting scenes of Vishunu as well as Krishna legends. Afternoon, visiting the jungle covered temple of Ta Prohm is an incredible sight. There are enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers which embrace themselves in the stone foundations of the structure giving the impression of man’s creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces of nature and we also explore the surrounded temples if time permits.
Stay overnight: Siem Reap | Meals: Breakfast | Lunch
Day 9: Siem Reap (B/L)
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the Roluos Group. The monuments of Roluos, which served as the capital of Indravarman I (reigned 877-89. Preah Ko erected by Indravarman I in the late 9th century dedicated by the King to his ancestors in 880. Bakong the largest and most interesting of the Roluos group temples, with his active Buddhist monastery just to the north of the east entrance. Lolei built on an islet in the center of a large reservoir (now rice fields) by Yasovarman I, the founder to the first city at Angkor. Afternoon, Continue to visit Beng Mealea temple for visit before continue to Siem Reap, the little explored temple of Beng Mealea (XIth c) is waiting to be rediscovered by the adventurous travelers. The sprawling jungle temple covering over one square kilometer is largely overrun by vegetation. Constructed in a distinctly Angkor Wat style, Beng Melea preceded and may have served as a prototype of sorts for Angkor Wat.
Stay overnight: Siem Reap | Meals: Breakfast | Lunch
Day 10: Siem Reap (B/L)
Breakfast at the hotel – drive to Chrieve village to admire the local life of people – Taking oxcart riding tour is a great way to see authentic Cambodia, meet a lot of encounters and interact local people by visiting their home gardens. Learn their ways of life, Cambodia culture, help them with vegetable gardening, take as many as photos you like and enjoy seasonal fruits at a village house. Afternoon, Drive 18km toward Tonle sap where we will enjoy a boat ride (private boat and guide) on the Tonle Sap lake. This is the largest permanent fresh-water lake in South East Asia and flows into Tonle Sap River, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. We will see a fishermen’s “floating village” with floatting schools, floatting police station, etc. It is same as a big village floatting on the lake, and the “village” move from place to place following water levels and curant.
Stay overnight: Siem Reap | Meals: Breakfast | Lunch
Day 11: Siem Reap – Stueng Treng (B/L)
After breakfast, free time at leisure until leaving Siem Reap for Stung Treng. On the way close to Stung Treng, stop at Sopheakmit waterfall for photos and take a short rest if time permits. Upon arrival, check in hotel and rest for the rest of the day.
Stay overnight: Stueng Treng | Meals: Breakfast | Lunch
Day 12: Stueng Treng (B/L)
After breafast, take about 1.5 hour drive to the north, nearby border with Laos, then continue by boat along Mekong River to a wide rocky river with lots of deep water pools and the impressive Mekong waterfalls. Walk closer to see the waterfall and visit a small nearby fishing village. You can learn more about the traditional medicines against malaria, fever and diarrhea that the local people still use. Continue on to go to the southern tip of Hang Khone, one of the 4000 well-known islands. You will find an old French ferry port and train tracks used this during the Indochina war for the transport of material. By boat you might spot the rare Irrawaddy dolphins that live in the deep water pools then have lunch and take a short rest. In the afternoon, do kayaking through “flooded forest” and “Ramsar wetlands” You might trees protruding from the water whose branches have grown in the direction of the current over the years. Here and there are small islands. After kayaking, return by longtail boat to the car and get back to hotel.
Stay overnight: Stueng Treng | Meals: Breakfast | Lunch
Day 13: STueng Treng – Rattanakri (B/L)
After breakfast, visit the old site of ThalaBarivat, located on the other side of the river, about 4 kilometers from Stung Treng, visit the Preah Ko temple, one of the first temples of the Khmer empire, built in the 7th & 8th century by King Jayavarman I with 6 special towers total and each tower has several beautiful details. There are also other small, ancient temples in the area (such as the Prambuon Lveng Temple, Srei Temple and the Angkor Kmao Temple) that have been severely affected by time. Then have lunch and take a short rest. In the afternoon, continue on to drive to Ban Lung, the capital of the province of Ratanakiri. If time permits, drop by Ban Lung local market and discover the real Khmer people’s daily life here. Check in hotel and rest.
Stay overnight: Rattanakiri | Meals: Breakfast | Lunch
Day 14: Rattankiri (B/L)
After breakfast, visit the Voensai District and take a traditional wooden boat along the river and the Jungle. On the way, you can admire the beautiful nature and see the local people living near the river. Then visit traditional villages of the Lao tribes, ethnic minorities and an authentic cemetery before getting back to Voensai by boat and have lunch break. In the afternoon, continue on to visit Chaong Waterfall, the largest and most beautiful waterfall around Ban Lung, as walking on narrow path to reach it. What an exciting experience! During dry season, it is also possible to swim under the waterfall. By the way, the water is not much as in the wet season.
Stay overnight: Rattanakiri | Meals: Breakfast | Lunch
Day 15: Rattanakiri (B/L)
After breakfast, visit the two smaller waterfalls called Katieng and Ka Chang. Ka Tieng is 10 meters high and in the middle of the jungle and Kan Chang is about 7 meters high and ends in a large swimming pool. The next stop is Bai Srok waterfall which has no less than 7 floors. Most of the seven levels of this waterfall have deep pools where you can swim in the rainy season, while only a few are deep enough to swim in the dry season. The journey goes via an unpaved road and takes about 1 to 2 hours. You will enjoy a picnic lunch at the waterfall. In the afternoon, visit a traditional Gem Mine and see how the local people searches for precious stones in a very narrow deep shaft. End your today trip with Yaklom volcano crater in the late afternoon before getting back to hotel.
Stay overnight: Rattanakiri | Meals: Breakfast | Lunch
Day 16: Rattanakiri – Mondukiri (B/L)
Breakfast at hotel: drive to Sen Monorom town of Mondulkiri. Because this area is more difficult to reach, many travel organizations leave this section to the left, but we find it absolutely worthwhile to visit this unknown and much less touristy part of Cambodia. On the long yet fascinating trip to Sen Monorom in the remote province of Mondulkiri, you will stop to visit the local Pagoda of Koh Nhek to have a blessing by the Buddhist monks for happiness, prosperity and safety for your journey in Cambodia. Check in the hotel upon arrival. Rest and relax for the rest of the day
Stay overnight: Mondulkiri | Meals: Breakfast | Lunch
Day 17: Mondulkiri Project (B/L)
After breakfast, you will be transfered to the project site: https://www.mondulkiriproject.org. Get to know each of our wonderful elephants as you feed them and walk with them in our protected forest. Enjoy a delicious Cambodian lunch at our jungle lodge, and then relax in hammocks. In the afternoon we will walk to a waterfall for a swim and have fun washing our elephants there. After farewelling the elephants we will walk back to the Jungle Lodge and be driven back to Sen Monoro
Stay overnight: Mondulkiri | Meals: Breakfast | Lunch
Day 18: Mondulkiri (B/L)
After breakfast, discover the flora and fauna of Mondulkiri. Stop at the beautiful Bousra Waterfalls. Its dramatic 3 stage creates a natural swimming pool that is very popular with visitor during summer. You can take beautiful pictures here! The different levels of the waterfalls are tens of meters high and the waterfall is also beautifully wide. There are no marked trails and you can get the time to look around and especially take a dip in one of the pools. A picnic lunch will be prepared for you at the waterfall. Continue on to the coffee plantation, learn about this popular good and the coffee plantations in the northeast of Cambodia are struggling to meet the increasing international demand for these lucrative beans. You can also enjoy a cup of coffee at the small restaurant in the plantation/ There is a small restaurant on the plantation where the furniture is made from the wood of the coffee tree. Here you can enjoy a cup of fresh coffee. After this pleasant coffee break, you set foot to the Sen Monorom Waterfall and enjoy the charming sunset in Mondulkiri from the northeast corner of the beautiful temple, Wat Phnom Doh Kromom. On the way back, visit the Samot Cheur (Ocean of Trees), with a magnificent view over the emerald green forests. Rest and relax for the rest of the day.
Stay overnight: Mondulkiri | Meals: Breakfast | Lunch
Day 19: Mondulkiri – Kratie (B/L)
Breakfast at the hotel: Drive to Kratie via the areas of Ou Reang, O Am, Khum Dong, Phum Samrong, Phnum Alung Khe and Phum Kantour before reaching the destination. Upon arrival, take boat in Kampi. If you are lucky, you might see the rare Kampi Mekong dolphins that are seriously protected from extinction. End your day trrip with a visit to Wat Sor Sor Mouy Roy, also known as the 100 Pillar Pagoda, which used to be destroyed by the Pol Pot regime in the 1970s and rebuilt in 1997. Take ferry to the car-free island: Koh Trong, then transfer to your hotel.
Stay overnight: Kratie | Meals: Breakfast | Lunch
Day 20: Kratie – Phnom Penh (B/L)
Breakfast at the hotel – we will drive back to Phnom Penh via Chlong village, a small and peaceful village on the Mekong River bank with both, typical Khmer and Colonial architecture. One unique and beautiful wooden house is called 100 columns house for its many columns supporting the house, dating from 19th century. Tonight, we’ll stay another night in Phnom Penh
Stay overnight: Phnom Penh | Meals: Breakfast | Lunch
Day 21: Phnom Penh – Departure (B)
Gallery
Reviews Scores and Score Breakdown
Rating 0
Comfort 0
Food 0
Hospitality 0
Hygiene 0
Tour Included:
- Private tours with Cambodian Local English speaking guide
- A/C transport throughout the tours and all Transfers + Tuk Tuk
- Entrance fee to any applicable tourist sites
- Meals as indicated (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
- Other tours related service stated in the itinerary
- Cold water and towel during the trip
- Government tax & Service charge
- Hotel accommodation (based on half twin/double sharing room)
Tour Excluded:
- International flight ticket
- Visa stamps upon arrival of $30.00 per person
- Domestic flight ticket within the country
- Compulsory Gala Dinner on 24 Dec and 31 Dec
- Other meals not mentioned
- Tips & personal expenses
- Laundry
- Other not stated above
- Travel insurance
| Cities | Hotels List | Room Type |
|---|---|---|
| Hanoi | Hotel 1 | Sup |
| Halong | Hotel 2 | Deluxe |
| Hoian | Hotel 3 | Lux |
| Central America | Hotel 4 | Sing |
| Hanoi | Hotel 1 | Sup |
| Halong | Hotel 2 | Deluxe |
| Hoian | Hotel 3 | Lux |
| Central America | Hotel 4 | Sing |
| Hanoi | Hotel 1 | Sup |
| Halong | Hotel 2 | Deluxe |
| Hoian | Hotel 3 | Lux |
| Central America | Hotel 4 | Sing |
