2025 Cambodia: Ancient Temples & Elephant Forest

Day 1

Arrive in Siem Reap. Upon your arrival at 22:15 (direct flight from Shanghai), you will be welcomed by the guide at the airport. The guide will escort you to the hotel, ensuring a hassle-free check-in process.

*If you choose to arrive earlier and don't want to wait for the evening free pickup, you can take a taxi on your own (cost not included).

Stay overnight at Siem Reap.

🛌 Accommodation: 4* Hotel in Siem Reap

🍚 Meals: /

Day 2

Kulen Elephant, Apopo Center, Wat Bo, Royal Residence & Fruit Bat and Local workshop.

Morning (∼7h45-14h)

Kulen Forest Elephant Join-In Tour: After breakfast at the hotel, we will drive to a designated gathering spot for you to take a shuttle bus to the Kulen Elephant Forest. Once there, you will spend time learning about elephants (with a guide from the reserve). You will follow the elephants through their natural habitat, observing their relationships and behaviours. You can also walk alongside them into the forest and witness how they spend their time.*

After a fulfilling morning with the elephants, you will go to the base camp for a traditional meal before meeting with your guide again.

After lunch

Apopo Center: Head to the Apopo Center, a unique organization that trains rats to detect landmines and diseases like tuberculosis. You will learn about their innovative techniques for humanitarian aid and social impact.

Wat Bo: Visit Wat Bo, a highly respected pagoda founded in the 18th Century. Like the Silver Pagoda in Phnom Penh, the Vihear of Wat Bo contains unique wall paintings of the Reamker that are said to be from the late 19th Century.

Royal Residence & Fruit Bat: Proceed to the Royal Residence, a stunning example of Cambodian architecture. In the Royal Gardens, there is an avenue of tall trees. These trees are the roosting site for hundreds of fruit bats. We can observe them in the late afternoon as they become more active.

Cambodian Handicraft Center: Observe a traditional local workshop called Satchak, where artisans create traditional crafts. They aim to inspire and encourage the young generation to perpetuate ancestral know-how.

We will then head back to the hotel (∼17h). Free time in the evening.

Stay overnight in Siem Reap.

🛌 Accommodation: 4* Hotel in Siem Reap

🍚 Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

*Note: For the elephant visit, we recommend bringing sports shoes, sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, mosquito spray, and an outfit you don't mind getting dirty. Don't forget to pack some extra clothes for changing if needed.

Day 3

Tonle Sap Lake, floating village & dinner with traditional Cambodian performance.

After breakfast (∼8h00), we'll head to Tonle Sap Lake to check out either the Kompong Phluk or Kampong Khleang floating village - depending on the current water levels.

Our first destination will be a vegetable farm market near the floating village which offers a glimpse into the local trade dynamics.

We will then head to the stunning village on stilts.

Did you know that toward the end of the rainy season, the nearby Tonle Sap Lake swells up to 10 times its size? That's why the fishing villages around are raised on stilts (about 6-7 meters high).

Hop onto a canoe for a unique exploration of the floating village. As you glide through the water, you'll get up close to the charming homes perched on stilts above the water. Feel the gentle sway as you navigate the village's waterways, passing by bustling markets and picturesque scenes of daily life.

We will be back at the hotel (∼13h). Free time in the afternoon. You can chill by the pool at the hotel or, if you're feeling adventurous, roam around the city on your own.

In the evening (∼19h-21h), the driver (no guide) will drive you to a dinner with a traditional Cambodian dance performance.

Stay overnight in Siem Reap.

🛌 Accommodation: 4* Hotel in Siem Reap

🍚 Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 4

Banteay Kdei, Ta Prohm, Angkor Thom, Angkor Wat

After breakfast (∼9h00), we will check out the hotel. Today, we will visit to the remnants of the Khmer Empire, which once governed much of Southeast Asia.

The first stop is Banteay Kdei, a Buddhist temple that was built in the late 12th and early 13th century by King Jayavarman VII. Serenity pervades its surroundings, offering a quiet respite from the bustling world. This temple, characterized by its delicate stonework, presents a glimpse into the past.

Next, we will explore Ta Prohm Temple. Also constructed in the late 12th and early 13th centuries, it originally served as a Buddhist monastery and university. Its distinctive charm lies in the way nature has reclaimed it; trees have become interwoven with the temple's structure.

In the afternoon, we will go to Angkor Thom, a historic city that once served as the capital of the Khmer Empire. Within its precincts, a wealth of remarkable features awaits our exploration, including the distinguished Royal Palace, the iconic Terraces of the Elephants and the Leper King, the captivating Bayon temple, and numerous other architectural marvels.

In the late afternoon, we will explore Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument globally, featuring some of the longest and most intricate stone carvings. As the sun begins its descent, you may climb up Bakheng Hill – it's just a quick 15 to 20-minute hike. The sunset at Angkor Wat is a unique experience. The ancient temple turns all golden as the sun goes down, making the whole scene unbelievably beautiful and peaceful.

We'll make our way back around to the hotel around 18h30-19h. You may freshen up at the hotel's shared bathroom. Around 20h, the driver will drop you off at the airport. Recommended flight:  23:10.

🛌 Accommodation: /

🍚 Meals: Breakfast