Cambodia for small budgets - Nomadays

Cambodia

Cambodia for small budgets

A 2-week tour for small budgets but without sacrificing the quality of the visit to the wonders of Khmer heritage. You visit the remains of the protectorate of the capital Phnom Penh, the unmissable temples of Angkor and the lake Tonlé Sap, without forgetting the temples of Sambor Prei Kuk recently listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This itinerary ends with a stop at Kampot on the banks of the eponymous river and a seaside stay on the island of Koh Rong

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Airport Phnom Penh

Day 1Welcome to Phnom Penh

Day 1Welcome to Phnom Penh

  • Welcome by your driver upon your arrival at the airport. Transfer and installation at your hotel. Rest of the day free.

    Rooms available from 2 p.m. If you arrive a little early and your room isn't ready yet, you can drop off your bags at reception before going for a walk in town or relaxing by the pool.
    
  • No guide is included on this day
    
Meal and accommodations

Accommodation: Mettavary Hotel / Deluxe Queen

Day 2The legacy of the protectorate era

Day 2The legacy of the protectorate era

  • Free program in the morning.

  • In a tuktuk, equipped with a digital tablet and a helmet provided, discover the heritage of the capital Phnom Penh inherited from the era of the French protectorate.

    At the end of the afternoon, embark on a boat trip on the Mekong and the Tonlé Sap and enjoy an atypical view of Phnom Penh and a magnificent sunset.

  • No guide is included on this day
    
Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Mettavary

Accommodation: Mettavary Hotel / Deluxe Queen

3h 30m-200km
Sambor Prei Kuk
3h-150km
Kampong Pluk
1h-40km

Day 3Sambor Prei Kuk and Kampong Pluk before arriving in Siem Reap

Day 3Sambor Prei Kuk and Kampong Pluk before arriving in Siem Reap

  • Early in the morning, transfer by road to Siem Reap, the city-province which hosts, among other things, the magnificent temples of Angkor. A must-see destination par excellence, the city also borders the no less famous Tonlé Sap lake and its floating villages.

  • Along the way, on the edge of Kampong Thom, let's discover the formidable pre-Angkorian temples of Sambor Prei Kuk. This archaeological site has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 2017 and owes it to its status as an ancient capital before the advent of the Khmer empire which settled in Angkor a few centuries later. , at the crossroads of Buddhist, Hindu, animist and even Persian and Greek cultures from the 7th century AD, as we will be able to discover.

  • Visit with an English-speaking guide residing on site
    
  • Still on the way, we make a second detour, this time towards the village of Kampong Pluk located on the lake Tonlé Sap a little less than 1 hour by car from Siem Reap . You board a private boat to discover and visit the floating village. During the excursion, small canoes will take you through the middle of the mangrove forest.

  • Check-in at the hotel at the end of the afternoon and free time to rest.

  • No guide is included on this day
    
Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Mettavary

Accommodation: Apsara Greenland Boutique Hotel / Deluxe

Day 4The majestic Angkor temples

Day 4The majestic Angkor temples

  • Day visit in a tuktuk of the marvelous temples of Angkor located around and inside the Angkor Thom .

    You will notably discover Angkor Wat, symbol of the apogee of the Khmer Empire under the Angkorian era. Inside Angkor Thom, discover Bayon and its many towers with gigantic faces, Baphuon and its gigantic 40m reclining Buddha statue, Phimeanakas, the Terrasse des Elephants and its wide variety of sculptures, but also the Terrasse du Roi Leper.

    Continue by Ta Prohm famous for its huge trees with sprawling aerial roots and conclude with a sunset from the heights of Phnom Bakheng.

     Possibility of making the visits in the opposite direction to avoid the crowds. Just let your guide know at the start of the day.
    
     Temples are sacred places, avoid short clothes, cover your shoulders and wear pants or a long skirt.
    
     In order to preserve these fragile monuments, it is forbidden to touch the sculptures or to sit on elements of the temple.
    
     In Cambodian culture, it is offensive to heckle inside a sacred place, calm and respect are key words.
    
     It is not recommended to buy items or sweets from child sellers, this only encourages begging and the practice of skipping school, prefer a donation to an association if it is important to you.
    
     If you wish to photograph the monks (called Bonzes), you must obtain their permission beforehand. In addition, you must not touch them, they have the right to touch you but not the opposite.
    
  • English-speaking guide included on this day
    
Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Apsara

Accommodation: Apsara Greenland Boutique Hotel / Deluxe

1h-50km
20m-14km
1h-40km

Day 5The river of 1000 lingas and the pink sandstone citadel

Day 5The river of 1000 lingas and the pink sandstone citadel

  • Near Kbal Spean, continue with a visit to the Angkor Center for the Protection of Biodiversity. You will be able to see the efforts made by local and international teams to protect local endangered species: snakes, turtles and other reptiles, birds and exotic mammals. Children and animal lovers will be delighted by this visit of discovery and awareness.

  • We then begin the short hike necessary to reach the site of Kbal Spean nicknamed "the underwater temple". Ruins of temples dating from the 9th century border a river whose bed is strewn with carved lingas. A small waterfall near the protected sacred site will allow us to cool off or even swim there (bring a small towel).

    Very accessible hike of around 1.5 km (or 3 km round trip) with a small elevation gain over the last 700 meters. Bring walking shoes/sneakers as the path is quite rocky.
    
  • After lunch, let's continue with a visit to Banteay Srey, a temple on a human scale 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 which adorn its walls and columns. If we have any strength left, we can conclude the day with a visit to the Banteay Samre temple or return directly to the hotel.

  • Possibility of replacing this day with the Grand Circuit of Angkor with the temples of Preah Khan, Neak Pean, the eastern Mebon, etc.

  • English-speaking guide included on this day
    
Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Apsara

Accommodation: Apsara Greenland Boutique Hotel / Deluxe

Day 6Free program in Siem Reap & night bus to Kampot

Day 6Free program in Siem Reap & night bus to Kampot

  • Free day in Siem Reap.

    We will need to vacate our room before noon. We can leave our suitcases at the hotel reception for a final stroll around town.
    
  • At 7:30 p.m., our tuktuk accompanies us to the departure of the night bus to Kampot.

    Bus departure scheduled for 10:30 p.m. but subject to change without notice.
    
  • No guide is included on this day
    
Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Apsara

Accommodation: Night bus

Day 7Kampot, peaceful city on the riverside

Day 7Kampot, peaceful city on the riverside

  • Expected arrival in Kampot around 8 a.m.

    A tuktuk waits for us at the bus station with a sign with our name on it to take us to our accommodation. It will be a little early to check into our room but we can leave our bags at reception and enjoy our breakfast (included).

    The rest of the day is free.

  • No guide is included on this day
    
Meal and accommodations

Accommodation: Les Manguiers / Small bungalow

Day 8-9Leisure time in Kampot

Day 8-9Leisure time in Kampot

  • Free days at your convenience. Take the opportunity to visit the pepper fields, the salt marshes, the Kampong Trach caves and the Bokor altitude station.

  • No guide is included on this day
    
Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Manguiers

Accommodation: Les Manguiers / Small bungalow

3h 20m-120km
1h-20km
Koh Rong

Day 10Extension to Koh Rong Samloem

Day 10Extension to Koh Rong Samloem

  • Meet with your tuktuk at 8:45 a.m. for a transfer to Kampot station.

    You take the train towards Sihanoukville.

    When you arrive, a tuktuk will be waiting to take you to the pier.

  • Boat transfer to Koh Rong from Sihanoukville pier. Our on-site team will wait for you at the pier to give you your boat tickets.

    The boat staff will take half of your ticket from you. Keep the other half safe for the return!
    
  • No guide is included on this day
    
Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Manguiers

Accommodation: Soksan Natura Beach / Bungalow - Seaview

Koh Rong

Day 11-12Beach days

Day 11-12Beach days

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Breakfast at Soksan Natura Beach

Accommodation: Soksan Natura Beach / Bungalow - Seaview

Koh Rong Samloem
1h-20km
3h-270km

Day 13Return to Phnom Penh

Day 13Return to Phnom Penh

  • Return to Sihanoukville by boat at 9:30 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. (depending on the company)

  • When we arrive in Sihanoukville, a driver will wait for us at the pier for a final transfer by road to Phnom Penh.

  • Check-in at the hotel and free time to rest or enjoy a final shopping session (be careful, the markets close around 4-5 p.m.).

  • No guide is included on this day
    
Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Breakfast at Soksan Natura Beach

Accommodation: Mettavary Hotel / Deluxe Queen

50m-13km
Départ Phnom Penh

Day 14Thank you and welcome back!

Day 14Thank you and welcome back!

  • Free program before our transfer to Phnom Penh international airport.

    We will need to vacate our room before noon. If our flight is in the evening, we can leave our suitcases at the hotel reception for a final stroll around town.
    
Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Mettavary