Transferring in from the airport we check in to our hotel and look forward to our forthcoming trip.

Phnom Penh is a lovely, laid-back city still with a crumbling grace and beauty not often found in other Asian capitals. Wide boulevards, wats, markets and the city’s riverside frontage combine to give it much appeal.

Today we’ll discover the city on a city sightseeing tour taking in the National Museum, Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda.

Today we continue our exploration of this exotic Asian capital with visits to Wat Phnom, the site of the original city, the sad Tuol Sleng Prison where thousands of detainees were held and tortured during the Khmer Rouge days, and head out to Choeng Ek, the terrible Killing Fields and a chance to again pay our respects to the dead. There should also be time to visit the Russian Market.

After breakfast we set off east to remote Ratanakiri Province and its principal town, Banlung. The east of Cambodia is wild and beautiful, a land of tribal minorities and dramatic mountain landscapes.

When we arrive we head out for the chance to swim in Boeng Yeak Laom Lake, before heading for Cha Ong waterfall before, at the end of the day, making the walk up Eisey Pak Ta Mak Mountain to admire the sunset.

This eastern region is the stronghold of the hill tribe people who live in the remote mountains of this part of Asia and a visit allows us to meet some of them and learn of their culture as we head to Ven Sai village. A community made up of Chinese, Lao and the Kreung minority groups. Following our visit we visit Ka Chanh Waterfall.

Today we head to Stung Treng and take a boat ride out across the Mekong to Thala Bariwatt historical site, once an important trading town that linked regional centres of the Chenla empire.

Travelling by boat we head to Kratie where we go in search or the increasingly rare Irrawaddy dolphin. These animals can be found in just a few places in Cambodia and Laos and are in decline. Hopefully we’ll see some on our river trip.

We continue our journey southwest as we head to Kompong Cham. En route we pause at a rubber plantation to see how this valuable commercial commodity is harvested from the trees. We also stop to explore the historical hill-temples of Phnom Srei and Phnom Pros.

Our journey today leads us to Siem Reap, the town of Angkor Wat but e route we pause to explore the famous Sambor Prei Kuk temple complex. This is Cambodia’s most important pre-Angkorian cultural and historical site consisting of over a hundred small brick-built temples dotted through the forest. After exploring we continue to Siem Reap.

The term Angkor Wat is today taken to generally mean the site as a whole, but it is in fact the name of just one of the many temples that are scattered throughout the archaeological park. Today we will explore Angkor complex, beginning with Angkor Thom, home to the famous Bayon and its huge carved faces. 

In the afternoon we enter Angkor Wat itself, still well-maintained as it has been in constant use since it was built, and later witness sunset from Phnom Bakheng.

Today we continue our explorations with visits to Banteay Srei, Ta Prohm and Banteay Kdei temples. Ta Prohm for many epitomises the site, it’s ruined temples choked by the roots of giant trees, the jungle trying to reclaim the land.

Later we’ll take in the “big circuit” containing Preah Kanh, Neak Pean, Ta Som, East Mebon and Pre Rup temples.

Today, we will head for Tonle Sap lake and visit a floating village as well as Artisans D'Angkor, a local craft and carving school maintaining the ancient arts of Cambodia. We finish our comprehensive stay at Angkor with a visit to the Roluos temple group.

Today our tour ends. You are free until it is time to transfer to the airport for the start of your journey home.