Adventure in Eastern Cambodia
Phnom Penh - Mondulkiri - Ratanakiri - Kratie - Kampong Cham - Phnom Penh
Duration: 7 days
Ref: CCR07J-PNHMKRKKTPNH
DAY 1
Departure from Phnom Penh to Sen Monorum/Mondulkiri
This morning, you'll be picked up from your hotel reception. You'll then depart by private vehicle towards Sen Monorum, crossing Prey Veng province. The 370-km journey will take approximately 5 hours. On the way, you'll cross Cambodia's longest bridge, Spean Preah Neak Loeung, which spans the Mekong River, and discover the landscapes of the Cambodian rice fields. Lunch at your leisure. Arrival in the town of Sen Monorum in the afternoon. Continue your visit to the largest waterfall in Cambodia, Bousra. A very popular meeting place for Cambodians. On the way back, visit the coffee plantation; Mondulkiri coffee is very famous in Cambodia. Then, enjoy the sunset atop Doh Kramom Hill. You'll have a beautiful view of Sen Monorum. Overnight at the lodge in Sen Monorum. Book your hotel.
DAY 2
Sen Monorum - Hiking in the protected forest (Picnic)
This morning, meet our local English-speaking guide at your lodge. Departure by car to a village called Phou Tang, located about 10 km away. We will visit this village inhabited by the Phnong people, then begin our jungle trek, walking through the hills. You will be able to admire magnificent panoramas and beautiful mountains. The guide will show you different species of trees and tell you about how people live in the jungle. We will also cross a beautiful river! Around 10:00 a.m.: We will arrive in the heart of the jungle, where we will discover a bamboo forest, a waterfall, a cave, and a valley. You will be able to listen to the wonderful sounds of the jungle and, with a little luck, spot animals like monkeys... We will then reach a waterfall called Leng Oung, where you can bathe while the guide prepares a traditional meal in bamboo poles. We will have lunch near the magnificent waterfall, then rest in the heart of the jungle. Picnic in the jungle. We will continue our excursion to another waterfall called Leng Ken, where you can take a shower if you wish. We will continue our journey through the jungle via another trail, where we will see tall trees and cross rivers on our way back to the village. Back at the starting village, we will rest and enjoy some quality time with the guide's family. Around 4:00 p.m.: Return to Sen Monorum by car. Overnight in Sen Monorum.
DAY 3
Sen Monorum - Hiking with elephants (Picnic)
A fantastic day awaits you: a trek with elephants in the protected forest. This morning, meet our partner from the Phnong ethnic community at your lodge. A short drive will take you to the trekking starting point. It's important to note that this adventure will take place in groups of 2 to 15 people. An English-speaking guide and his team will be present on site, along with various other people. You will always be accompanied by your English-speaking guide throughout the day. See the detailed activities for this day below! Elephant Trek: • Trekking level: Moderate, suitable for families and children over 8 years old. • Spend a day at an elephant rescue sanctuary and explore the local forest and natural habitats. • Contribute to elephant rehabilitation and the community conservation project in Mondulkiri. • Hand-feed the elephants and observe them in their natural habitat. You won't see any elephant training or riding here. • Lunch break at the sanctuary's base camp near the O'tey River, with a swim in a waterfall. • Visit an indigenous village to discover its unique culture and traditions. • Return to town and overnight at your lodge. Around 4:00 p.m.: Return to Sen Monorum by car. Overnight in Sen Monorum.
DAY 4
Direction Banlung/Ratanakiri
Early in the morning, head to Banlung, a 200 km (124 mi), approximately 3-hour drive, crossing mountains and wildlife reserves. Our local English-speaking guide will meet you at the hotel. Departure north to Banlung town, continuing our visits to ethnic minority villages. This region is home to about ten different minority groups. Lunch at your leisure. In the afternoon, you'll return by vehicle to the Vietnamese border to observe workers in the gemstone mines in Borkeo. You can purchase these rough stones for small prices depending on their size. Return to the city. Check-in at your booked hotel. Overnight in Banlung.
DAY 5
Banlung - Minority Territories (Picnic)
Meet your English-speaking guide at your lodge or hotel. Departure via the red dirt road to Voeun Sai, 35 km, approximately 50 minutes. Arrival at a small local market in Voeun Sai, then continue by boat on the Tonlé Sé San to visit the village of Koh Pèak, famous for its funerary totems. Most of the inhabitants of this region are of Chinese and Laotian origin and speak Khmer, Chinese, Laotian, and sometimes ethnic languages among themselves. These Chinese and Laotian populations settled there during the wars of the 1960s. A picnic lunch will be provided along the way. Depending on your interests, you will have the opportunity to visit their village, as well as a Laotian pagoda and its surroundings. In the late afternoon, return to Banlung and visit the volcanic lake of Yeak Lom, located in the heart of a lush jungle. You can take a short 5km hike around the lake! Don't forget to bring your swimsuits for a swim! The water is truly refreshing! For the minorities who inhabit the region, this site is sacred, particularly due to the mysterious creatures said to live in these crystal-clear waters... Overnight in Banlung.
DAY 6
Kratie - Excursion on the Mekong
Departure by road for a 203 km journey, lasting approximately 3 hours 30 minutes. You will pass through a protected reserve and cultivated fields, notably rubber trees, cashew nuts, and cassava. In the afternoon, take a short cruise on the Mekong River: you will set off by car to meet the Irrawaddy freshwater dolphins. The Irrawaddy dolphin, or bottlenose dolphin, was first described by Owen in 1866. Long considered a single species, recent studies have distinguished two species: the Irrawaddy dolphin and the Australian snub-finned dolphin. Similar in appearance to the beluga whale, it is genetically close to the killer whale. Its specific name, "brevirostre," comes from the Latin "brevis," meaning short. Lunch at leisure. Next, you'll continue your journey to visit the magnificent Wat Sorsor 100 (Pagoda with 100 Wooden Columns). Nearby, you can discover Wat Vihear Kaok, a centuries-old temple whose columns are made of solid wooden trunks. On the way back, if your fitness permits, you can climb Phnom Sambok to enjoy breathtaking views of the Mekong River. Around 5:00 p.m., depending on the season, you'll witness a magnificent sunset over the river. Check-in at your booked hotel. Overnight in Kratie.
DAY 7
Phnom Penh via Kampong Cham and Skun
Pick-up by our private driver. Head to Phnom Penh. A 255-km drive. Along the way, you'll pass through rubber and cashew nut plantations and cassava fields. Photo stops are available; please ask your driver! Before arriving in Kampong Cham, you'll visit a rubber factory and its plantations in Chub, one of Cambodia's main rubber-producing regions. Rubber cultivation was introduced in the early 20th century by the French colonial authorities. Between January and March, the factory is temporarily closed as this is the resting season for the rubber trees. Lunch at your leisure. Afterwards, you'll visit Wat Nokor Bachey, an ancient Buddhist temple built by a great Khmer king in the 12th century. As an optional visit, you can visit the hills of Phnom Pros and Phnom Srei. Phnom Srei offers an exceptional panoramic view of the city of Kampong Cham. Finally, our last stop is Skun, famous for its spiders and tarantulas. Eating tarantulas is very popular in Cambodia, so don't hesitate to try them! These animals are also used in traditional medicine. Arrival in Phnom Penh in the late afternoon. Overnight in Phnom Penh. Book your hotel. End of the trip.