Trekking Cambodia: Along the Mighty Mekong in 19 Days

Arrive at Siem Reap International Airport. Meet with your guide outside arrival terminal and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Siem Reap

Breakfast at the hotel. We transfer to the starting point by walking from the west gate of Angkor Thom. We walk on to visit the Bayon temple for 1 hour in details with our guide. Then continue walking east through the jungle track and passing 1 stream of water. Then continue the jungle track until reaching the jungle temple of Ta Phrom. We spend the time to visit this Tom Raider temple for about 1 hour. Then walk in the jungle track again to have lunch at the Spean Angkor under the hut. After lunch, we walk another 1km to visit Angkor Wat and enjoy sunset at Angkor Wat from the background with the reflection of the pond. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Breakfast at the hotel. We cycle on the back road and off road through the countyside, the rice fields and the villages to see REAL Cambodia. Then we take the boat to visit the floatig village at Kampong Phluk. We visit not only the village on the water but also the magrove forest which has been protected to shelter the fish and other water animals. After the boat trip, we stop for lunch at the refresh restaurant. After lunch we cycle to our base camp. We then have sunset view at Phnom Bok to climb 640 steps to visit the ruin on the top of the hil. Overnight in camping.

Breakfast at the camp site cooked by our friendly staff. Then we walk through some of the vilages, the rice fields and we stop for lunch in the village. Afternoon, we arrive Beng Mealea to visit this temple. This trip will make special as we can escape from the crowded tourists in Angkor complex. This special temple was featured in the Lost Temples by Indiana Jones and The Two Brothers by a French movie maker, Jean Clake Annaud. Beng Mealea is located 50km from Siem Reap. It is an untouched temple hidden in the jungle surrounded by its mood 900 meters by 1,200 meters. Beng Mealea is a beautiful, charming temple. It has it own character which cannot be found in any other temple. We can feel very peaceful sitting inside the temple as we can get rid of the many tourists at Angkor area. Overnight in Homestay.

Breakfast at home-stay in Beng Meale. After the breakfast, we transfer to the foot of the Kulen hill. Then start trekking uphill. The first 2km are up hill and the rest are more flat. We trek through some of the villages along the hills. The children there have not seen tourists walking often along the routes. They are supprised and come out to say hello. We stop for lunch at Anlung Thom village to have a chat with the local people. After lunch we walk the last 5km to our base camp near the water fall. If time permits, visit the Grand Reclining Buddha, One Thousand Lingas, and enjoy swimming at the 30m high water fall. Overnight camping.

Breakfast at the campsite. We enjoy walking through the jungle track and mostly down hill. We stop for water at Pheah Ang Chub temple and visit the temple. Then proceed down through the steps and start walking on flat dirt track with some sand through the plantation of cashew nuts and casava. We passes some village and stop for lunch at Wat Srah Doun Rik. After lunch we continue walking on a wider road until we reach to the main road where our van waits for us to transfer back to Siem Reap. Dinner and overnight in Siem Reap.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer visit Kompong Kdei bridge, the 12 century lava stone bridge. Then transfer to Santuk Mountain and climb the hill to visit the hilltop pagoda. After Kampong Thom, there are also villages of stone carving and drive through the rubber plantation before Kampong Cham. Arrive in Kratie in time for the sunset. There remains some colonial building reminds that Kratie used to be the French port on the Mekong river. Overnight in Kratie. 

After breakfast, board on the local wooden boat to head north 16km to visit Prek Kampi and view the rare Mekong River Dolphins either from boat tour or from the river bank. The spectacular river scenery and the rural, friendly villages are added attractions. Afternoon, take a range of half day trails along the river spectacular scenery and unhurried village. Walk through the island and visit the more remote island villages. Overnight in Kratie.
 

After breakfast, transfer to Stung Treng, the bustling river port located on the junction of the Mekong river and Sesan river. Take a range of half day trail along the Mekong river in remote rural village and trek in the fringing forests. Enjoy local specialty Nhem, made from fresh fish, garlic and chili and salt. Dinner with fresh fish from the Mekong and overnight in Stung Treng.
 

After breakfast, transfer to Banlung, capital of Rattanakiri Province, nicknamed “the Red City” because of the omnipresent laterite. Transfer to lodge. Walk to the volcanic lake, Yak Lom in a superb location surrounded by pristine rainforest. Swim or take a stroll around the lake before having dinner. Overnight at the lodge.

Drive north towards Laos and the village of Taveng. Cross the volcanic lava field of Veyrum Plang. Travelling north the landscape changes from primary forest to cleared forest, bamboo and bush. Walk to visit some Kroeung villages en route. The Kroeung people have the curious custom of erecting bachelor houses standing on long bamboo poles. These houses will remain so until the young man finds a wife. Only then will the unusual bachelor pad be destroyed. The time of year to see them is usually from February to August. Overnight in home-stay. 
 

Leave Banlung heading northwest through bamboo forests to reach the village of Voeune Sai. This village is a Chinese enclave in Cambodian territory with most villagers not speaking Khmer. Upstream are the Tampoun villages, known for their funeral statuary or totems. Some of the best of totems are in the village of Ka Choan, reached by boat and walking. Return to Banlung for dinner and overnight.
 

Drive by on rough roads to explore the surrounding waterfalls  at Teuk Cha Ong and Okachang before heading back to Kampong Cham. Kampong Cham, means Muslim Port is one of biggest province in Cambodia producing fruits and rubber. There are still some colonial building reminding of the French time once they owned rubber plantation in Kampong Cham. Sunset on the Mekong River. Overnight in Kampong Cham.
 

After breakfast, walk through the calm Koh Pen island, one of the beautiful island on the Mekong river. Then transfer to Wat Hanchey to hike and visit the hilltop pagoda. Wat Hanchey used to be the Khmer Rouge small killing field. There remains some of the graves old and new. Today, it becomes a peaceful place for local people to have offering ceremony dedicated to those who passed away. Stop at Skun town for lunch before continuing to Phnom Penh. Afternoon, visit National Museum, Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda. Overnight in Phnom Penh. 
 

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Koh Dach island, walk through the island to visit the village. There are many families earn their living from weaving the silk, Krama and other beautiful traditional clothes. Krama is the Cambodian traditional scarf people normally wear around their head or neck. Afternoon, visit Toul Sleng Genocide Museum known as S21 and Cheung Ek killing field. Overnight in Phnom Penh.
 

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer Phnom Dat Chivit located in Kirirom National Park where walking guide and ranger will brief you on the tour. After water fill and get ready, immediately begin the hiking 2 hours to visit Phnom Dat Chivit. Visit the rest of Kirirom National Park including some of the local attraction, water-fall and tour to visit Chombok Community. Overnight at Chambok home-stay.
 

Wake up early morning to see the bird and walking 1km to enjoy variety of different attractions including a 40m high water fall, variety of plants and animals while discovering the breathtaking nature and landscape. Then transfer to Ream National Park to board on the boat to visit the mangrove forests, offshore coral reefs and fishing villages. Explore the jungles and mangrove swamps by boat, a fishing village and a small tropical island to trek for 1 hour through the jungle to the village. Enjoy having lunch with the local family. Afternoon, relax quietly patiently to observe the dolphin from the boat. Transfer to Sihanuk Ville for overnight.
 

Breakfast at the hotel. Free and relax to swim at the beach on your own. Overnight in Sihanuk Ville
 

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer back to Phnom Penh for departure flight.