CAMBODIA
AND KOH RONG
ITINERARY IN BRIEF
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN PHNOM PENH
DAY 2: PHNOM PENH
DAY 3: PHNOM PENH - KAMPONG THOM - SIEM REAP
DAY 4: SIEM REAP
DAY 5: SIEM REAP
DAY 6: SIEM REAP - BATTAMBANG
DAY 7: BATTAMBANG
DAY 8: BATTAMBANG - SIEM REAP
DAY 9: SIEM REAP - DEPARTURE
* EXTENSION TO THE SEA *
DAY 9: SIEM REAP - SIHANOUK VILLE flight - KOH RONG
DAY 10: KOH RONG
DAY 11: KOH RONG
DAY 12: KOH RONG - SIHANOUK VILLE - PHNOM PENH - DEPARTURE
DAY 1 - PHNOM PENH
Welcomed by the guide in Phnom Penh airport. Transfer and accommodation in the hotel. In the afternoon, city tour with a visit to the major attractions of the city. You will visit the Royal Palace - a very rich and refined complex, located along the banks of the Mekong, consisting of a series of pagodas, each with its own precise function, the Silver Pagoda — famous for its silver tile floor, the monument of Independence and Wat Phnom - the pagoda on the hill from which the city takes the name and the symbol of its foundation. You will also discover the vibrant central market and the Russian market. Overnight stay in Phnom Penh.
​
DAY 2 - PHNOM PENH
After breakfast, you will visit Pour un Sourire d'Enfant (PSE), a non-profit, non-religious organization that helps disadvantaged and unlettered children. Visit their school, their vocational training centre, the PSE boutique shop and have lunch at Lotus Blanc (lunch not included), a restaurant belonging to the PSE with their students serving as cooks. Your support will help students and PSE to maintain their activities. In the afternoon, you will Toul Sleng, once a high school (before 1975), converted to the S-21 prison by the red Khmers under their regime (1975—1979). Visit to Choeung Ek Extermination Camp where, during the red Khmer regime, over a million Cambodians, men, women and even children were massacred and buried. Overnight stay in Phnom Penh.
​
DAY 3 - KAMPONG THOM - SIEM REAP
After breakfast, leave for Kampong Thom. Stop along the way to see Skun market famous for fried spiders. In Kampong Thom, visit the town. Then visit Sambor Prei Kuk, 30 km from Kampong Thom, a pre-Angkorian site dating back to the 7th century representing the oldest examples still existent of Khmer architecture. After, transfer to Siem Reap in about 3 hours (168 km). Short stop in Stoung to visit some colonial and Khmer houses and the Kampong Khdey Bridge, namely Spean Prabtus, built during the Khmer Empire. Upon arrival in Siem Reap, transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay in Siem Reap.
​
DAY 4 - ANGKOR THOM - ANGKOR WAT
Early morning transfer to Angkor Wat to admire the sunrise. Return to the hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom, with two rows of huge statues of demons and deities arranged on either side of the stone bridge depicting the transformation of the ocean of milk, visit the Bayon temple, with a forest of large Buddha heads carved in stone. Visit of the Elephant Terrace, once used as a great audience hall of the King to listen to the complaints and problem of Angkor citizens. Visit of the Leper King's Terrace that was supposedly intended for royal cremations. In the afternoon, visit to Angkor Wat, the most famous of the Khmer temples, grand and imposing, apotheosis of Khmer art, which reached the peak of glory in the 12th century. The temple stands as a temple-mountain and was built by King Suryavrman II and dedicated to the god Vishnu. Panorama from Bakheng Hill on Angkor Wat and Baray. Overnight stay in Siem Reap.
​
DAY 5 - SIEM REAP
After breakfast, visit the temple of Banteay Srei - a small temple complex considered by many visitors as the highest realization of art and architecture of classic Angkor civilization and Banteay Samrer, built in the 11th century. In the afternoon, along the way back to the hotel, visit the Pre Rup, Eastern Mebon, Neak Pean and Preah Khan - a large temple built on the site of the battle between the Khmer empire and the kingdom of Champa and which ended with the fall of Angkor. Then admire the astonishing view of Ta Prohm temple. Overnight stay in Siem Reap.
DAY 6 - SIEM REAP - BATTAMBANG
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, visit Roluos, dated back to the late 9th century. In the Roluos temple complex, you will visit Bakong — the first temple-mountain of Khmer architecture, Preh Ko — funerary building of King Jayavarman II and the ancestors of his second successor Indravarman, and, Lolei — the last brick temple in the complex. In the afternoon, transfer to Battambang in about 4 hours (190 km). Upon arrival, transfer and accommodation at the hotel. Overnight stay in Battambang.
​
DAY 7 - BATTAMBANG
After breakfast, visit the small town of Battambang and some local villages including the Prahoc village. Continuation towards Phnom Sampov, an impressive limestone mountain located 12 km from Battambang. In the afternoon, visit the small museum in Battambang, Wat Ek and Wat Toul Prasat. After that, experience with the bamboo train, a unique and creative form of transport. Overnight stay stay in Battambang.
DAY 8 - BATTAMBANG - SIEM REAP
Early in the morning, transfer to the dock to catch a wooden boat for Siem Reap. The journey takes about 5-6 hours depending on the water level. The Tonle Sap cruise runs through floating villages and offers a beautiful landscape to admire. Upon arrival, transfer by car and hotel accommodation. Overnight stay in Siem Reap.
DAY 9 - SIEM REAP - DEPARTURE
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Siem Reap Airport.
​
EXTENSION TO THE SEA
​
DAY 9 - SIHANOUK VILLE - KOH RONG
Morning flight to Sihanouk Ville. Arrival at Sihanouk Ville Airport, welcome by the local driver and transfer to the speedboat dock to Koh Rong. Accommodation in resort and night in Koh Rong.
DAY 10-11 - FREE DAYS IN KOH RONG
Breakfast at hotel. Free day in Koh Rong. Overnight on the island.
DAY 12: DEPARTURE
After breakfast, return to Sihanouk Ville pier by speedboat and continuation by private car to reach Phnom Penh airport for the return flight to Italy.
