Cambodia Odyssey - 15 Days

Day 1 - Kampong Som • Arrival in Koh Kong.
• By vehicle from Koh Kong to Kampong Som.
• Overnight in Kampong Som. 

Day 3 - Kep • Breakfast at the hotel
• By vehicle from Kampong Som to Kampot.
• Excursion to caves around Kampot.
The limestone mountains around Kampot and Kep are riddled with CAVE FORMATIONS, many of which are revered as sacred shrines. Explore the various chimneys, passageways and rock formations, and visit the small pagodas and shrines erected over the years.
Note: visits to specific caves may be dependant on the water level inside the caves.By vehicle from Kampot to Kep
• Overnight in Kep. 

Day 4 - Phnom Penh • Breakfast at the hotel
By vehicle from Kep to Phnom Penh with sightseeing at Tonle Bati and Angkor Borei Journey southwest to the province of Kep.
• TONLE BATI: a lake south of Phnom Penh, with a beach and the impressive laterite temple of Ta Prohm.
• Angkor Borei: a 6th century monument, built in laterite by King Rudravarman of Funan. His patron deity was Vishnu and many Hindu statues survive from this site. It is one of the few remaining sites with traces of the Kingdom of Funan (a kingdom influenced by India and thought to have spread as far as southern Burma and Indonesia). Overnight in Phnom Penh. 

Day 5 - Phnom Penh • Breakfast at the hotel
• Sightseeing in Phnom Penh
Explore PHNOM PENH, a chaotic, energetic and always fascinating city. Graceful tree-lined boulevards and riverfront promenades are reminders of bygone eras; today they teem with life and activity, as motorcycles weave in and out of traffic, vendor hawk their wares, and pedestrians go about their business. Start your tour at WAT PHNOM, the birthplace of the capital; according to legend the city began here when a woman named Penh found four Buddha statues and built the temple to house them. Afterwards, see the splendor of Cambodia's royal heritage by visiting the ROYAL PALACE, still the official residence of King Norodom Sihamoni, the adjacent SILVER PAGODA, also known as the Pagoda of the Emerald Buddha, and the elegant NATIONAL MUSEUM, which contains a comprehensive collection of Khmer art. In the afternoon, learn about a chapter from Cambodia's more recent, tragic, past at the TUOL SLENG MUSEUM (Museum of Genocide). Formerly the Tuol Svay Prey High School, in 1975, this became the interrogation and torture facility for the Khmer Rouge regime - at that time known as Security Prison 21, or simply S-21. Kept largely unchanged, this prison now showcases photographs and exhibits about the thousands of victims that passed through these doors - only seven of whom came out alive. Finally, explore the modern-day city, visiting one of Phnom Penh's two great markets, the CENTRAL MARKET, located in a distinctive domed Art Deco building (Central Market is currently underconstruction but can be visited as usual), OR the sprawling RUSSIAN MARKET, a labyrinth of stalls selling everything from CDs and DVDs to silks, crafts, jewelry and more. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 6 - Kratie • Breakfast at the hotel
• By vehicle from Phnom Penh to Kratie.
• Sightseeing in Kratie
The provincial capital of KRATIE is a pleasant, small riverside town on the banks of the Mekong River. Visit the DOLPHIN OBSERVATION PARK located just north of town and enjoy an hour-long boat trip past peaceful rural scenery as you watch out for a rare sighting of one of the 50 endangered Irrawaddy freshwater dolphins that inhabit this strech of the river. On the way back, stop at WAT PHNOM SAMBOK.
• Overnight in Kratie

Day 7 - Banlung • Breakfast at the hotel
• By vehicle from Kratie to Banlung.
• Excursion to Yeak Loam Lake.

Day 8 - Banlung • Breakfast at the hotel
• Excursion to Ta Vaeng
From Banlung, travel by 4WD to Ta Veang and visit many of the different minority villages in the area. Groups include the Jarai, Tumpoun, Krueng, Kra Chok and Kavet. Overnight in Banlung. 

Day 9 - Banlung • Breakfast at the hotel, Lunch box
• Excursion to Veun Sai with boat trip
Travel by 4WD to Veun Sai, a Toumpoun village with a particularly impressive cemetary. After exploring the village, continue by local ferry boat across the river to a nearby Lao and Chinese village. Time permitting, visit a Kreung village as well before returning to Banlung. Overnight in Banlung.

Day 10 - Banlung • Breakfast at the hotel, Lunch box
• Excursion to Jarai village with boat trip.
From Banlung, travel by 4WD to the village of Andoung Meas and embark on a boat to Phoum Dal or another Jarai village. The Jarai are an ethnic minority who dwell in traditional stilt houses. Their beliefs are polytheistic and they follow elabroate funerary customs, carving fascinating funerary totems out of wood. After exploring the village, enjoy a picnic lunch on the riverbanks and return to Banlung by boat and 4WD. Overnight in Banlung. 

Day 12 - Siem Reap • Breakfast at the hotel
By vehicle from Kampong Cham to Siem Reap with sightseeing at Sambor Prei Kuk
SAMBOR PREI KUK: also known as Isanapure, it is an ancient Chenla capital dating from the 6th century and the reign of King Isanavarman. It is believed to be the most impressive group of pre-9th century monuments in Cambodia. Overnight in Siem Reap. 

Day 13 - Siem Reap • Breakfast at the hotel
• Sightseeing in Angkor
• Visit Angkor Wat
The crowning jewel of Khmer architecture, ANGKOR WAT is the national symbol and the highlight of any visit to Cambodia. The largest, best preserved, and most religiously significant of the Angkor temples, Angkor impresses visitors both by its sheer scale and beautifully proportioned layout, as well as the delicate artistry of its carvings. To approach the temple, first cross the vast moat, continuing along a broad causeway lined with naga balustrades. As you enter the main building, ascend through a series of galleries and courtyard before reaching the central sanctuary, which offers beautiful views back over the causeway and across the surrounding countryside. On the way, stop to enjoy the intricate stonecarvings that adorn nearly every surface, with some 1,700 Apsaras, or celestial dancers, sculpted into the walls. Along the outer gallery walls run the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which narrates stories from Hindu mythology, including the famous Churning of the Ocean of Milk. Angkor Wat is stunning at any time of the day, but sunrise and sunset are especially beautiful times to watch the play of light on the stones.
• Visit Ta Prohm
one of the most popular attractions of Angkor as much of the jungle has not been cleared and it looks very much as most of the Angkor monuments would have appeared when European explorers first stumbled across them. Visit Banteay Srei Temple Seemingly miniature in comparison to the other Angkor temples, BANTEAY SREI is considered to be the jewel of classical Khmer art. Built in pink sandstone, the walls are covered in exquisitely preserved carvings of unusual delicacy. Because of its small size, fairy-like atmosphere and extraordinary examples of Khmer sculpture, this temple is often a favorite with visitors.
• Visit Banteay Samre
BANTEAY SAMRE is a mid-12th century temple dedicated to the god Vishnu.
• Visit Pre Rup at sunset
PRE RUP: built by Rajendravarman II (ruled 944 to 968), it consists of a pyramid shaped temple with the upper-most of the three tiers carrying five square shrines arranged as a quincunx. The name means turning the body and refers to the traditional method of cremation. Overnight in Siem Reap. 

Day 14 - Siem Reap • Breakfast at the hotel
• Sightseeing in Angkor
• Visit Angkor Thom The fortified city of ANGKOR THOM covers an area of 10 square km. Enclosed by a wall and wide moats, the city includes many of Angkor's most popular sights. Enter by the monumental SOUTH GATE over a causeway lined on either side by statues of demons and gods, each carrying a giant naga. Continue to the TERRACE OF THE ELEPHANTS and the TERRACE OF THE LEPER KINGS, former spaces for public cermonies, both adorned with dramatic bas reliefs. Visit the ruined BAPHUON, ROYAL ENCLOSURE and PHIMEANAKAS before continuing to the mysterious BAYON TEMPLE. In this temple, one of the most popular and compelling in Angkor, explore the galleries of beautifully preserved bas reliefs and ascend narrow stairs to reach the central sanctuary, where you will find giant stone faces smiling enigmatically down at you from every angle.
• Excursion to the Kampong Kleang with boat trip
• Kompong Kleang is located about 50 km from Siem Reap town. The place is situated northest shore on the edge of Tonle Sap Lake. The road to the site is good but rather narrow. This boat trip will explore the floating fishing villages that live at the edges of the lake, passing submerged forests and fishing farms.Visit the Chantiers Ecoles (Artisans d Angkor)
• LES CHANTIERS ECOLES: vocational centre trains 650 apprentices a year including 160 in fine arts and crafts trades united in the Artisan d Angkor production network. Guided tours through the different workshops like stone sculpture, woodcarving, polychromie, and watch the artisan at work. Overnight in Siem Reap.