Immersion and exchange in the Khmer territory

Arrival in Siem Reap and, on the second day, visit to the world-famous Angkor Wat temples, a Khmer religious site listed as Unesco's World Heritage.

Early morning departure for a day of discovery by bike, crossing ricefields and many villages. The path will take you to the ancient Royal Road, in order to reach the lost temple of Chao Srei Vibol, small and hidden in the forest, way off the beaten tracks. A journey out of time, far from the frenzy of the city, to discover the life of the locals.

Passing through villages, you'll discover the tranquil atmosphere of the rural life in Cambodia and different activities, from the smith to the hairdresser and the sugar palm farmer. In the afternoon you'll reach a local family's house and you'll be welcomed with smiles and the traditional Cambodian hospitality. The landlady will show you how to cook in Cambodian houses.

In the evening you can stroll around the village, on the banks of a small lake, among ricefields and traditional houses. You'll have dinner with your hosts: it will be your first night in a local household. (20-25 km on a mountain bike, with a support vehicle/ laterite and soil track).

Thank your hosts for their hospitality before you set off on a road that crosses banana and coconut plantations to Beng Mealea, situated on the foothills of Phnom Kulen mountain range. The atmosphere of the place will allow you to figure the emotion of the first discoverers of Angkor in the late XIX century.

Beng Mealea is considered one of the most important Khmer temples, so much so that it may have been a model for Angkor Wat. You'll continue on a private vehicle starting the climb to Phnom Kulen, the Khmer holy mountain. Halfway up you'll reach a waterfall.

In the afternoon, you'll proceed on foot crossing the forest till you reach a small hidden temple. You'll then meet your hosts, with whom you'll spend the night, in a small street in the ricefields. You'll get to a village on top of the mountain. Your hosts will welcome you in their traditional Khmer wooden house where you'll spend two nights (4-5 hrs walk with a 300m climb).

Breakfast with your hosts. You'll set off on foot to another village to meet local artisans and farmers, to learn more about their daily life and their work in the fields.

Your walk will proceed across villages, meeting another family whose main activity is fish farming. You'll stop for a picnic in a village, where you'll visit the local school and meet the little students. In the late afternoon, you'll go back to your hosts and have time to stroll around the village or help the landlady cook dinner. Second night in a local house. (2/3 hrs walk).

Today you'll depart towards Siem Reap, stopping enroute to visit Bantey Srei, an important Hindu temple dating back to the X century, whose name means "fortess of the women".

Day in Siem Reap. Sightseeing in the city and its main attractions.

Today you'll move on to Tonle Sap, a combined system of lake and river which plays an important role in Cambodia. It's the largest sweet water lake in South-East Asia: here you'll spend the next two nights, in the house of a local family in the floating village.
 

Return to Phnom Penh stopping enroute in Kampong Chnang. End of tour.