Gold Explore - Wild Cambodia

Ref: CA003

Cambodia
11 days 
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Detailed Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: Siem Reap

Gold Explore - Wild CambodiaDay 1

Welcome to Cambodia. After clearing the entry formalities, exit into the arrival Area and meet your private guide from Khiri Travel. He/she will be holding a sign with your names  on it. Transfer to your hotel for freshing up.


In the afternoon make a first visit to the ruins of Angkor. Please make sure you have one passport picture ready for the entrance pass.
Enjoy a sunset view from Phnom Bakheng, a hill protruding from the otherwise flat landscape. There is the option to make the climb on elephant-back. From the top of Bakheng, the spires of the main temple, Angkor Wat, can be seen.

Overnight:  Casa AngkorMeals: None • Transport: car or minibus

Day 2: Siem Reap

Gold Explore - Wild CambodiaDay 2

Early departure from the hotel. Visit the walled city of Angkor Thom. Continue on to visit, amongst others, the Bayon, the Gate of Angkor Thom, Baphuon, the Terrace of the Leper King, and the Terrace of the Elephants. Return to Siem Reap for lunch at the stylish Foreign Correspondents Club.
The whole afternoon is set aside for a visit to the main temple, Angkor Wat.

Overnight:  Casa AngkorMeals: Breakfast|Lunch • Transport: car or minibus

Day 3: Siem Reap

Gold Explore - Wild CambodiaDay 3

Early departure to Angkor, to visit Pre Rup, Banteay Samre and Ta Prohm, which is famous for its walls overgrown by huge tropical figtrees.  Visit the Bayon Information Centre, a recently opened exhibition centre, providing information about Angkor monuments, Khmer history, religion and art. The Center also introduces the various projects that have been implemented in the Angkor area through the use of panels, movies and artifacts.
Return to you hotel for lunch.
Drive to Mechrey Village on the Tonle Sap Lake. Before reaching the village stop at the village Ampil Peam where make a short walk through the village. You have the option to ride an oxcart here, a bumpy but interesting experience.
Continue to Mechrey, a small community on the Tonle Sap Lake. The village consists mainly of floating houses. We board a local boat and tour the village. We also will enter the flooded forest. The boattrip will take about one hour. Your guide will tell you about the lake, its unique biodiversity and the importance of the lake for the livelihood of thousands of people.
Return to Siem Reap.

Overnight:  Casa AngkorMeals: Breakfast|Lunch • Transport: boat|car or minibus
Gold Explore - Wild CambodiaDay 4

Pick up at our hotel by your guide and driver at 0700. First destination today is Koh Ker, a site just recently opened for visitors. For a short period the capital from the Khmer kingdom was moved to Koh Ker, about 100 north of Angkor. There are a number of temples that you will visit: Prasat Thom, Linga Temple, Prasat Neang Kmao, Prasat Pram and others.
After lunch proceed to Beng Mealea, another seldom visited ruin. Beng Mealea is a spectacular jungle temple, located about 40 kms north of Siem Reap. Beng Mealea was constructed during the reign of king Jayarvaman VII and surpasses even the famous Ta Prohm for atmosphere.
Lunch will be in a local restaurant opposite Beng Mealea.

Along the way you will stop briefly at Spean Praptos, a fantastic stone bridge from the Angkor period. The bridge is used only for pedestrians and two wheeled vehicles and stands as proof of the craftmanship of the Khmers.
In the end of the afternoon you will arrive in Kompong Thom where you will stay overnight in Sambor Village, a recently opened boutique hotel.

Overnight:  Sambor VillageMeals: Breakfast|Lunch • Transport: car or minibus
Gold Explore - Wild CambodiaDay 5

Early departure after breakfast. You will visit Sambor Prei Kuk. The road leading from the main road to the ruins is still unpaved and a bit hobbly at times.
Sambor Prei Kuk was the capital of the Chenla Kingdom, which predates Angkor by several centuries. The ruins are spread out over a vast distance. Sambor Prei Kuk gets very few visitors and you can enjoy the beautiful ruins in peace and quiet. You will have a Khmer picnic lunch at a beautiful spot along the river.
After lunch drive back to Kompong Thom and continue to Phnom Penh. Drop off at the hotel.

Overnight:  Goldiana HotelMeals: Breakfast|Lunch • Transport: car or minibus

Day 6: Phnom Penh

Gold Explore - Wild CambodiaDay 6

Your guide and driver will pick you from the hotel for a full day tour of the capital of Cambodia.
Morning visit of the Royal Palace, built in 1866 under King Norodom. Adjacent is the Silver Pagoda, which is named as the floor is covered with 5000 silver tiles. Later on visit the National Museum, with an important collection of Angkorian artifacts. Lunch at Friends Restaurant, which provided underpriviledged street children with the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the hospitality business. All profits are reinvested into the Training Centre activities.
Afternoon visit Choeng Ek, the location of the infamous Killing Fields. Continue to Tuol Sleng prison, the notorious Khmer prison where thousands of Cambodians perished in the darkest hours of Cambodian history.

Overnight:  Goldiana HotelMeals: Breakfast|Lunch • Transport: car or minibus

Day 7: Phnom Penh

Gold Explore - Wild CambodiaDay 7

You will be picked at your Phnom Penh hotel by your guide and driver.
This morning we will drive to Andong Teuk, a small settlement on the Stoeng Prat River. This will take approximately four hours. At Andong Teuk you will board a local boat that will take you to Chi Phat. Enjoy the relaxing boat ride.

After arrival in Chi Phat have lunch at the headquarters of the project. After lunch you will check into your homestay and meet your hosts. Walk to the Chhay Chrey rapids. This is an easy 2 kms walk. Have a swim and enjoy the quiet surroundings. After an hour we will be picked up by motorbike taxi (helmet provided) and transferred to the nursery of the Cardamom Reforestation Project. If you want you can leave a small donation and plant a tree.
Return to Chi Phat by motorbike taxi.
Dinner will be the restaurant.

Overnight:  Guesthouse by Chi Phat communiMeals: Breakfast|Dinner|Lunch • Transport: boat|car or minibus

Day 8:

Gold Explore - Wild CambodiaDay 8

Before sunrise we wake up and board a local boat. Enjoy the sunrise on the Stoeng Prat River. Birdlife is prolific. If you're lucky you will be able to spot hornbills and monkeys. Binoculars will be provided. A packed breakfast will be served during this boattrip, a kind of a picnic breakfast on the water.

After one hour you will transfer to a rowing boat allowing you to enjoy the nature and wildlife in tranquillity. At around 0900 we will arrive at Domnak Khos, a wildlife observation post. Here we start the trek. At a leisurely pace we will trek through the forest taking time for pictures and explanations about flora and fauna until we arrive at O'Chonleas Pran. Your local guide will prepare your lunch while you can relax. After lunch we will continue our trek until we reach the Antong Prang campsite where we will spend the night.

Late afternoon we will visit Preak Ta Veal, a large clearing in the forest. There is a large pond where wildlife will gather around sunset and sunrise. We will enjoy sunset before walking back to the campsite. By that time dinner will be ready.
After dinner there is time for exchanging stories and experiences of a long and exciting day.

Overnight:  Antong Prang CampsiteMeals: Breakfast|Dinner|Lunch • Transport: boat

Day 9:

Gold Explore - Wild CambodiaDay 9

Before sunrise we wake up and will walk back to the Preak Ta Veal clearing to watch wildlife. With our flashlights we will make our way through the forest, a fantastic experience. We will enjoy sunrise at Preak Ta Veal. The birdlife is absolutely stunning here. Trek back to the campsite where we will have breakfast. Then it is time to pack up and move on. We follow a forest trail called O'Kay trail. It leads to a community of the same name. At O'Kay village we will have lunch before continue trekking to Chi Phat village where we will arrive at around 1500.
Time to relax, explore the village and meet the local people or have a swim at the Chhay Thourain waterfall, located just behind the village.
Dinner will be served at the project headquarters.

Overnight:  Guesthouse by Chi Phat communiMeals: Breakfast|Dinner|Lunch

Day 10: Phnom Penh

Gold Explore - Wild CambodiaDay 10

After breakfast we will say goodbye to our hosts and travel back to Phnom Penh where we will arrive back around noon.
The afternoon is free at leisure.
You can make a relaxing tour by cyclo (on own) or roam one of the many fascinating markets of Phnom Penh.

Overnight:  Goldiana HotelMeals: Breakfast • Transport: car or minibus

Day 11: Phnom Penh

Gold Explore - Wild CambodiaDay 11

Transfer to the airport.

Overnight:  No AccommodationTransport: car or minibus

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Price includes:
- English speaking guide during sightseeing
- Entrance fees
- Meals as indicated
- Accommodation as mentioned on the itinerary
- Tour and transfers as indicated on the itinerary
Price DOES NOT include:
- Airport taxes
- Air tickets both domestic and international
- Insurance
- Personal Expenses
- Surcharges during festivals or peak season
- Gala Dinner on Christmas and New Year
- All Drinks
- Visa Fees
- Tips