Cruise in Cambodia. Shores of the Mekong and dreams of Angkor

Welcome by our driver upon arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH).

Transfer and check-in at our hotel. The rest of the day is free.

Rooms available from 2:00 PM. If you arrive a little early and your room is not ready yet, you can drop off your luggage at the reception before going for a walk around the city or resting by the pool. Day without English-speaking guide

Day trip by tuk tuk

Board at 4:00 PM at Phnom Penh port, be welcomed with a drink and a cold towel, settle comfortably into your cabin, then enjoy dinner while sailing to Koh Chen before your first night on board. Day accompanied by an English-speaking guide in the city.

After breakfast, set off on a walking tour of the village of Koh Chen, where the highlight is meeting a local copper and silver craftsman. Then travel by coach to Oudong, the former capital of Cambodge, with a stop at the fascinating Vipassana Dhura meditation center.

After lunch on board, join Silk Island by tuk-tuk, where you will discover the silk weaving process, from silkworm to shuttle, with the opportunity to observe local families weaving the krama, the emblematic scarf of Cambodge.

Before dinner, immerse yourself in Cambodian cultural heritage with a captivating Krama presentation, where you will learn the history and significance of this iconic scarf, as well as its multiple uses in daily life.

The boat continues on towards your next stop: Angkor Ban.

This morning, explore Angkor Ban village with its wooden stilt houses and local atmosphere. Return to the cruise to continue the journey with Victoria Mekong towards Kampong Cham.

Before leaving for the afternoon excursion, take a few minutes for a hands-on cultural experience by learning the delicate art of folding lotus flowers, a symbol of purity and devotion in Southeast Asian tradition.

Take a walk along the river to visit the town of Kampong Cham.

Then enjoy dinner and the evening show on board.

On the way, at the edge of Kampong Thom, let's discover the remarkable pre-Angkorian temples of Sambor Prei Kuk. This archaeological site has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list since July 2017 and owes this distinction to its status as a former capital during the period preceding the rise of the Khmer empire, which would later establish itself at Angkor a few centuries later.

Ce matin, nous partons en tuktuk vers le village de Kampong Pluk situé sur le lac Tonlé Sap. Nous embarquons sur un bateau privé pour découvrir et visiter le village flottant.

Au sein du village, il existe des petites pirogues qui peuvent vous balader dans la forêt de mangroves. En l'absence de guide, nous ne pouvons pas inclure cette balade dans notre prestation. Si vous souhaitez effectuer cette balade en pirogue, comptez environ 5$ par personne.

En saison sèche, si le niveau de l'eau compromet l'accès au village de Kampong Pluk (généralement entre février et août), nous pourrons visiter le village de Mechrey

A day-long visit by tuk-tuk of the magnificent temples of Angkor located around and inside the Angkor Thom enclosure. We discover in particular Angkor Wat, a symbol of the pinnacle of the Khmer Empire during the Angkorian era.

Inside the Angkor Thom enclosure, discover Bayon and its numerous towers with gigantic faces, Baphuon and its colossal 40-meter reclining Buddha statue, Phimeanakas, the Terrace of Elephants with its great diversity of sculptures as well as the Terrace of the Leper King.

Let us conclude with Ta Prohm famous for its immense trees with sprawling aerial roots. We can end this day with a sunset either at Srah Srang, or from the heights of Pre Rup or Phnom Bakheng if you are ready to brave the crowds (warning: Phnom Bakheng is off-limits to children under 12 years old and authorities limit access to 300 people at sunset, creating a queue)

Due to an already busy schedule, we deliberately skip a few secondary temples of the small circuit such as Banteay Kdei, Thommanon, Chau Say Tevoda or Ta Keo. If you wish to visit these sites, do not hesitate to inform your guide at the beginning of the day so he can best organize the schedule.

It is possible to do the visits in reverse order to avoid crowds. You just need to mention it to your guide at the beginning of the day.

The temples are sacred places, avoid short clothing, you must cover your shoulders and wear long pants or a long skirt.

In order to preserve these fragile monuments, it is forbidden to touch the sculptures or to sit on temple elements.

In Cambodian culture, it is offensive to behave rowdily inside a sacred place; calm and respect are key words.

It is not recommended to buy items or sweets from child vendors, as this only encourages begging and truancy; instead, consider making a donation to an association if you wish.

If you wish to photograph the monks (called Bonzes), you must obtain their permission beforehand. Furthermore, you must absolutely not touch them; they have the right to touch you but not the other way around.

We then begin the short hiking walk needed to reach the Kbal Spean site nicknamed "the temple under water", 49 km north of Angkor. Temple ruins dating from the 9th century border a river whose bed is scattered with carved lingas. A nourishing source for Angkor, the waters of Kbal Spean once irrigated the rice fields of the ancient city. In its bed, the Khmer people carved Shiva figures and stone squares designed to bless the waters before they reached the Royal City. The site was discovered in 1968 by ethnologist Jean Boulbet, and following in his footsteps you can wander along the lush banks. A small waterfall near the sacred protected site will allow us to cool off and even take a dip (bring a small towel).

A very accessible hike of approximately 1.5 km (or 3 km round trip) with a slight elevation gain over the last 700 meters.

Wear hiking shoes or sneakers as the trail is quite rocky.

After lunch, let's continue with a visit to Banteay Srei, a temple with human proportions compared to the gigantic Angkor Wat or Bayon. This pink sandstone temple nicknamed "The Citadel of Women" is known for the refinement of the bas-reliefs and sculptures that adorn its walls and columns.

If we still have energy left, we can end the day by visiting Banteay Samre temple or return directly to the hotel.

Free program before your transfer to Siem Reap International Airport.(included; we will organize the transfer according to your flight schedule). Note: you will need to check out of your room before noon. If your flight is in the evening, you can leave your luggage at the hotel reception to stroll around the city.