Cambodia Wildlife Adventure

11 Days / 10 Nights

Day 1Arrive Phnom Penh

Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by our representative and transferred to your hotel.
Later this afternoon, visit the iconic highlights in the city including the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and the National Museum, home to the world’s finest collection of sculptures from the Angkor period.

Overnight in Phnom Penh

Day 2Koh Dach Island Cycling, Genocide Museum & Killing Fields

This morning travel by boat to Koh Dach island on the Mekong River. Known also as ‘Silk Island’, you will explore by bicycles through the villages where you will find a silk weaving loom under every house. Stop along the ride to meet friendly villagers and see their weaving techniques. Ride to the island’s pagoda at Wat Yeak, passing by fruit orchards and vegetable farms. Continue to a sandy beach for a break with some snacks before returning to the city.

Afternoon, visit the genocide museum of Tuol Seng and the Killing Fields. 17,000 people passed through the gates of Toul Seng, or S-21, during the murderous reign of the Khmer Rouge.

Overnight in Phnom Penh

Day 3Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center

Spend the day at Phnom Tamao Rescue Center located about 1.5 hour drive out of the city.

Guided by the center, you will receive great insight into the work of the Wildlife Alliance team who protect Cambodia’s wildlife from the threats of poaching, trafficking and cruelty. Depending on availability, activities could include a walk with elephants in the forest, visiting their tiger enclosures and the rehabilitation section of the rescue center which is not open to the general public. There is an opportunity to help feed one of the young residents of the center such as a baby jackal or leopard cat or play with the many mischievous baby macaques.

A picnic lunch is served before exploring the vast water bird aviary, home to some of Cambodia’s rare avian life. Walk around the lakeside where the Sambar deer roam.

Overnight in Phnom Penh

Day 4Drive & Boat Ride to Cardamom Tented Camp

Today you will journey to Botum Sakor National Park, the country’s largest national park. The drive takes about 4 hour from Phnom Penh plus an hour boat ride to the Cardamom Tented Camp, gateway to a home for a rich variety of wildlife and Cambodia’s endangered mammals such as the clouded leopard, Asiatic black bear, Dhole, pileated gibbon and sun bear.

A 3-night stay will allow you more free time to explore on your own the surrounding forest and river areas with hiking or kayaks. You will also learn about Wildlife Alliance’s operations and join a patrol with their Rangers hiking through dense jungle along abandoned poaching and logging trails. Visit the Rangers Station where the confiscated equipment of poachers including traps and improvised hunting rifles are on display. Though rare but possible sightings of wild life in this area include macaque, gibbon, hornbill and many others.

Overnight at Cardamom Tented Camp

Day 5Cardamom Tented Camp

Take an early morning hike with rangers and a English-speaking guide over a network of abandoned poaching and logging trails through the dense forest. After lunch at the Ranger Station, you can hike or kayak back to camp. Rest of the day is free to relax or participate in other in house activities like visiting one of their wildlife hides or take another hike in the jungle.

Overnight at Cardamom Tented Camp

Day 6Cardamom Tented Camp

Today is free to select your preferred activities. You can take an early morning boat ride to see wildlife along the Preak Tachan river, take the kayaks out for a paddle, go on a longer hike in the jungles or relax on the floating pier with binoculars in hand to do some bird watching.

Overnight at Cardamom Tented Camp

Day 7Drive to Sihanoukville, Fly to Siem Reap

Depart morning for boat ride back to Trapeang Rung followed by a private transfer to Sihanoukville for a flight to Siem Reap.

Upon arrival at Siem Reap, you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 8Full Day Temples by Bike

Today you will explore hidden trails around Ta Prohm and Angor Thom Temple Complex by bicycle with your guide. Take in some of the most beautiful jungle paths between temples that are used by locals in their everyday lives.

Bike past the walls of Banteay Kdei to the North Gate of Ta Prohm. This ‘jungle temple’ has been left the way it was when ‘discovered’ by French explorer Henri Mouhot in 1860. Famed for its the tentacle-like tree roots strangling the surviving stones and Hollywood movie “Tomb Raider” with Angelina Jolie.

Then continue past Takeo Temple and turn left into the jungle just after Chao Say Devada temple. This brings you down a beautiful jungle path to the East Gate, or Gate of the Dead. Then, ascend the walls of Angkor Thom and ride around the southeast quadrant to stop at atmospheric Prasat Chrung, a seldom-visited temple overlooking the vast moat of Angkor Thom.

Continue riding from the South Gate to the Bayon, explore the main temples of Angkor Thom on foot, including Baphuon, Phimeanakas, Preah Palilay, Terrace of the Leper King and Preah Pithu. Explore Bayon, the temple famous for its enigmatic faces of Lokesvara, the Buddha of Compassion, said to bear an uncanny resemblance to the great King Jayavarman VII himself. Transfer back to your hotel by car after the tour.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 9Wildlife Rescue Center & Kulen Elephant Forest

Morning drive about an hour to Angkor Center for Conservation of Biodiversity, an excellent wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center. This non-profit is involved conserving Cambodia’s natural habitat through research, education, breeding and reintroduction of endangered species. You can expect to see a wide range of rescued and rehabilitating wildlife, visits are permitted only at 9am or 1pm led by their in-house guides.

Then continue about 40min drive to Kulen Elephant Forest, created to provide a retirement home for the working elephants that were providing elephant rides around Angkor Temples. Those rides have ceased operations and currently the camp hosts 14 elephants who are free to roam within a protected forest area of 1100 acres. This is a group tour of maximum 12 participants and the visit will include walking with the herd through the forest, watching them bathe and participating in feeding activities. You will be shown around the compound by an expert who will share interesting insights to elephant behavior.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 10Sunrise Angkor & Floating Village Kayaking

Rise early morning with your guide and visit the majestic temples of Angkor. Believed to be the world’s largest religious building, this temple was built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II.

Afternoon drive about an hour along country roads to the boat pier at Mechrey Village. Some stretch of the road is unpaved and could be a little bumpy. On arrival, meet your friendly kayaking guide and board a local motorboat to the floating village for kayaking.

As you paddle through the floating village, you will be greeted by smiley villagers as your guide explain the local livelihood and customs. Depending on the water levels, you may have a chance to kayak through a flooded forest and chance to view rare birds in this region, typically possible between July through February. Later, kayak to a spot for spectacular sunset views over the great Tonle Sap before returning to Siem Reap by car.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 11Depart Siem Reap

Transfer to airport for onward journey.

Meal included: Breakfast