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Temples to Tranquility
Temples to Tranquility
Embark on a remarkable journey through temples, jungles, and a tropical island—a perfect off-the-beaten-track holiday in Cambodia. Experience the highlights of this enchanting country in a unique and unconventional way. Begin by exploring the awe-inspiring Angkor temples, then venture on a scenic river and road trip through the charming town of Battambang. Conclude your adventure by unwinding on the pristine shores of Koh Rong Samloem island before concluding your trip in the vibrant city of Phnom Penh. This itinerary promises to unveil the wonders of Cambodia from a fresh perspective, offering unforgettable experiences and memories to treasure for a lifetime.
Overview
Day 1: Welcome To Siem Reap
Day 2: Monk Blessing, Temples & Bike Ride
Day 3: Phnom Kulen National Park
Day 4: Battambang By Boat
Day 5: Battambang Countryside By Tuk-Tuk
Day 6: Homestay Experience
Day 7: Glamping In Jungle
Day 8: Jungle Hiking and Kayaking
Day 9: Travel To Koh Rong Samloem
Day 10 : Relax at Leisure on Tropical Island
Day 11: Relax at Leisure on Tropical Island
Day 12: A Night Out in Phnom Penh
Day 13: Tour of Phnom Penh Highlights
Day 14: Phnom Penh Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Siem Reap
Welcome to Cambodia! Upon your arrival at Siem Reap Airport, an English-speaking guide will greet you and escort you to your hotel for check-in. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure. You can relax or explore the charming town, the gateway to Angkor's temples. Join locals for a stroll along the riverside promenade, enjoy happy hour at FCC Angkor (the former Foreign Correspondents’ Club), and visit the bohemian cafés and lively bars of Pub Street.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Day 2: Monk Blessing, Temples & Bike Ride
Start your morning with a special visit to a local Buddhist pagoda, where you will experience a traditional water blessing ceremony conducted by a monk. Following this spiritual experience, explore the enchanting jungle temple of Ta Prohm, and then marvel at the grandeur of the iconic Angkor Wat. Enjoy an included lunch at a charming local restaurant before returning to your hotel for some well-deserved relaxation. As the day transitions to dusk, set off on a scenic bike ride through nearby villages and the beautiful countryside. Conclude your day with a tranquil dragon boat ride on the moat of Angkor Thom, sipping a glass of Champagne as you soak in the serene ambiance.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Day 3: Phnom Kulen National Park
This morning, embark on a scenic drive through the picturesque countryside to visit the enchanting Phnom Kulen waterfall. This area, once an ancient quarry, now holds UNESCO heritage status and is renowned for its hidden temples and unique carvings, with over 1,000 etchings in the riverbed underwater. On your return journey to Siem Reap, explore the exquisite pink sandstone temple of Banteay Srei. Finally, conclude your day with a stop at Pre Rup Temple to witness a breathtaking sunset.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Day 4: Battambang By Boat
Today, experience a different side of Cambodia from the riverbanks. You will journey from Siem Reap to Battambang by public boat, a trip that takes approximately seven hours. This fascinating stretch of river offers a glimpse into the authentic and local lifestyle of those who live and work on the water. Upon your arrival in Battambang, your private driver will escort you to your hotel, where you can unwind and enjoy some leisure time.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Day 5: Explore The Battambang Countryside By Tuk-Tuk
Prepare for an adventure through the heart of the Cambodian countryside in a traditional tuk-tuk. Your journey will include a visit to the ancient temple of Ek Phnom, where you can marvel at its historical significance. As you travel, you'll pass through charming small villages, offering a glimpse into local life and daily traditions. One highlight will be a visit to a unique school where children learn circus skills and innovative art forms. After enjoying lunch, take a ride on the traditional bamboo train, then head to the Killing Caves, where you'll witness thousands of bats emerging at dusk in a spectacular natural display.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Day 6: Off The Beaten Track Homestay Experience
Today, embark on a journey off the beaten path like few others experience in Cambodia. You will take a private road trip to Osoam, a rural community comprising four villages nestled in the heart of the Cardamom Mountains in southwest Cambodia. The drive will take approximately 5.5 hours, with opportunities to stop and explore as you wish. Upon arrival, you'll settle into your village homestay for the evening, where you'll have a truly authentic experience. While English is limited, this unique opportunity offers a genuine glimpse into local life and culture.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Day 7: Glamping In The Cambodian Jungle
Your next destination on this epic journey is the remarkable Cardamom Tented Camp, located about 2.5 hours away. Upon arriving at the jungle-surrounded campsite via river, you'll check into your cozy safari-style tent. This afternoon, embark on an exploratory hike through the surrounding jungle, where you'll be amazed by the diversity of the local fauna. During your stay, you'll also have the opportunity to learn about the conservation and protection efforts led by Wildlife Alliance, gaining insight into their crucial work in preserving this unique ecosystem.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Day 8: Hike And Kayak Through The Cardamom Jungle
This morning, accompanied by Wildlife Alliance Rangers and an English-speaking guide, you'll embark on a patrol through a network of abandoned poaching and logging trails in the dense forest. Keep an eye out for wildlife as you explore. During the half-day hike, you'll visit the Ranger Station, where you'll see a display of confiscated snares, traps, and improvised hunting rifles. Enjoy a local Khmer lunch served at the station. Later in the afternoon, you can choose to kayak along the river or simply relax at your leisure.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Day 9: Travel To Koh Rong Samloem
Leave the Cardamom Tented Camp behind as you journey by boat along the Preak Tachan River to Trapaeng Rung, where you will transfer to Sihanoukville, the coastal gateway to the idyllic island of Koh Rong. Experience the excitement of a high-speed ferry ride to this tranquil tropical paradise, where you can unwind and enjoy four days of pure relaxation.
Koh Rong, the most popular of Cambodia's islands, is renowned for its powdery white sands and turquoise, warm waters brimming with marine life. Despite its increasing popularity, Koh Rong retains its stunning natural beauty and offers a vibrant nightlife centered around Koh Tuch village. Spend the rest of today easing into relaxation mode by the beach, setting the tone for the coming days of leisurely exploration and enjoyment of the island's offerings.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Day 10 : Relax At Leisure On Tropical Island
We've purposely kept your schedule open for the next two days so you can unwind at your own pace on the breathtaking paradise island of Koh Rong Samloem. Following your temple explorations and jungle treks, it's the ideal moment to indulge in some well-deserved relaxation. Since our trips are fully customizable, if you desire more beach time, please let us know as soon as possible. We're delighted to extend your stay (to minimize any potential extra fees) and ensure you have ample time to immerse yourself in the serene beauty of this island escape.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Day 11: Relax At Leisure On Tropical Island
The island's dense forest is alive with birds and monkeys. Along with its smaller counterpart, Koh Rong Samloem, it forms part of the Koh Rong National Marine Park, home to endangered sea turtles, dugongs, and Irrawaddy dolphins. Nature lovers will find plenty of opportunities to appreciate the diverse wildlife.
These below recommended activities offer a mix of relaxation, adventure, and cultural experiences, ensuring a memorable stay on Koh Rong Island.
Snorkeling: xplore the vibrant underwater world around Koh Rong. Many beaches offer excellent snorkeling opportunities right off the shore, where you can see colorful fish and coral reefs.
Sunset Viewing: Head to one of the western beaches, like Tui Beach, to catch a stunning sunset. The view of the sun setting over the ocean is a perfect way to end your first day.
Boat Tour: Take a boat tour around the island. These tours often include stops for snorkeling, fishing, and visiting smaller, secluded beaches.
Hiking: Hike through the island's jungle trails to reach remote beaches or viewpoints. The hike to Long Beach is particularly popular and rewarding with its breathtaking views.
Nightlife: Explore Koh Tuch village for some nightlife. Enjoy a relaxed evening at a beach bar or join a beach party, depending on your mood.
Visit Local Villages: Spend time visiting local fishing villages like Prek Svay. Learn about the local way of life and perhaps buy some fresh seafood.
Kayaking: Rent a kayak and paddle around the island. You can explore hidden coves and mangrove forests at your own pace.
Bioluminescent Plankton: Join a nighttime boat tour to see the bioluminescent plankton. Swimming among these glowing creatures is a magical experience unique to Koh Rong.
Scuba Diving: If you're a certified diver, take a scuba diving trip to explore deeper underwater sites around the island. If not, consider taking a beginner's course.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Day 12: A Night Out In Phnom Penh
This morning, hop aboard the speedboat for your return journey to the mainland before embarking on a scenic drive to the capital city, Phnom Penh (approximately 4 hours). Upon your arrival in Phnom Penh, you'll check in to your accommodation and have some leisure time to relax. Later in the afternoon, get ready for an exciting evening tour that starts with cocktails on a rooftop terrace. Then, buckle up for a thrilling Vespa ride through the bustling streets as you sample some of the city's best street food. After a delicious dinner, zip past iconic historical monuments before heading to a popular spot for live music. Finally, wrap up your evening in an upscale street filled with unique bars, creating unforgettable memories of Phnom Penh's vibrant nightlife.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Day 13: Tour Of Phnom Penh Highlights
Immerse yourself in the heart of the capital today with a personalized tour of its most iconic landmarks, including Wat Phnom, the Royal Palace, and the Silver Pagoda. Your exploration continues with a meaningful stop for lunch at a local restaurant, which not only serves delicious cuisine but also provides training and employment opportunities for street children, contributing to their empowerment and well-being. In the afternoon, gain insight into Cambodia's tragic history with visits to the Tuol Sleng Prison, where you'll witness the haunting remnants of the country's genocide era, followed by a solemn excursion to the Killing Fields, situated just beyond the city limits. These poignant experiences offer a profound understanding of Cambodia's past and its enduring resilience.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Day 14: Phnom Penh Departure
Savor every moment of your final morning in Phnom Penh before bidding farewell to this captivating city. Take the time to soak in the sights, sounds, and flavors that have enriched your journey. After checking out of your hotel, your private guide and driver will be on hand to ensure a seamless transfer to the airport for your onward flight to your next destination. As you depart, carry with you the cherished memories and experiences gathered during your time in Phnom Penh, knowing that its vibrant spirit will linger in your heart until you return. Safe travels!
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
How did people say about us!
Our Traveler's Beloved Programs
Traveler Reviews
Jay M
Date of Experience: Mar 2023
We highly recommend Custom Asia Travel for your trip to Southeast Asia! They provided a great combination of visiting historical and religious sites, temples, and also cultural connections in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia that we could have never made on our own. Our local guides were informative, and shared personal experiences that made our journey meaningful. We asked for an active trip, and Custom Asia Travel tailored our request with biking, kayaking and hiking. We enjoyed local cuisine in Laos, and were amazed by the history and significance of the temples in Cambodia, experienced via a beautiful bike tour.
Date of Experience: Mar 2023
We did a day trip in a Jeep in Ninh Binh with Thu, which included Trang An, Hang Mua, Bich Dong and Tam Coc. Thu was an amazing tour guide and was extremely helpful throughout the whole day, organising everything from start to finish and giving us insightful information about the things we saw, as well as life in Vietnam and it’s history more generally! The lunch was also great and the day turned out to be one of the best days of our trip! Couldn’t recommend Thu enough 😊
Nadine
Date of Experience: Mar 2023
We had an amazing time! Me and my friends visited the Halong/Lan Ha Bay and the Dry Halong Bay. Everything was perfectly organized & all the pick-ups were punctual. The guide and driver were very nice. The cruise ship and the eco lodge, in which we stayed, were great. The staff was very friendly and everything was clean. We can definitely recommend booking a trip with Custom Asia Travel! The organisation and contact with the company was great before, during and after the trip.
Whitney B
Date of Experience: Dec 2022
I cannot say enough positives about Custom Asia Travel! We visited Vietnam in December/January 2023 and had an amazing trip with our 3 teens. The itinerary exceeded our expectations! We travelled to Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, and Nha Trang. We had no issues with any of our transportation around the country - our drivers and guides were always there on time (early, actually), friendly and helpful. The accommodations were excellent and our guides were fantastic (Tanh, Tanh, and Viet - they were awesome!). Every place we stayed put our rooms right next to each other, often adjoining, and the kids’ room always had two twin beds and a cot, while my husband and I had a king bed. This was perfect as our teenagers did not want to share beds, lol! The activities were super fun and appealed to all of us. So many highlights - the kids loved the rice farm tour (riding the water Buffalo elicited the biggest smile we’ve ever seen from our 16 year old!), seeing the caves in Ninh Binh, the cooking class in Hoi An, and Ha Long Bay. I really appreciated that some of our itinerary was focused on less crowded activities - a couple of the temples we saw were practically empty, allowing us to enjoy and experience these beautiful sites on our own. We did a couple of bike rides which were also highlights, such a great way to explore and see the area! Minh was available and responsive while planning the trip and while we were there. I agree with others reviews about whether she ever sleeps! She was able to coordinate our luggage getting dropped off as it did not arrive with us, and contacted one of the hotels about a ring that had been left, and arranged for us to pick it up. She was warm, friendly, knowledgeable, and so helpful. We truly had a relaxing and stress free trip because of the excellent customer service from Minh and our guides. With only having 12 days to visit we were so grateful to be able to enjoy the travel and know that Minh and her team were there if and when needed. I highly recommend using this company, you will not regret it! Now I am dreaming of how quickly we can make it back!! Thank you thank you to Minh and the team, our trip was unforgettable!
Date of Experience: Feb 2022
We are over 60 yers old and for eficiency we decided to organise our trips in Vietnam with a local agency. Custom Asia Travel is the wright agency. We decided to visit Hanoi, Tam Coc, Ha Long, Da Nang, Hoi An, My son Sanctuary and Ho Chi Minh City with help of this agency. The organisation and planing of the tours, the selection of the places to visit, hotels, restaurants,cars ( clean and comfortable), drivers and guides was perfect. The drivers and guides where friendly and polite. The guides ( Cường Xi,in Hanoi and Tam Coc, Tran Thanh Binh in Ho Chi Minh as also the guide in Da Nang area) where perfect. They gave us many interesting information about the visited places, organized perfect the details of the trips. The boat arrangement done by Custom Asia Travel in Ha Long Bay - Peony 1 was perfect. The prices for the offered services are fair. We kindly recommend this agency for tailor made trips.
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