Day 1 Siem Reap arrival.

Upon arrival at Siem Reap International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Day 2 Visit Angkor Thom (B,L,D)

After breakfast you’ll begin with a visit to Angkor Thom, starting with the Bayon, a bizarre structure of several architectural changes reflecting the historical ascendancy of Buddhism (the superstructure) over Hinduism (the foundations). Your next visit will be to the Elephant and Leper Emperor Terraces, followed by the Baphoun Temple, which is now nearing the end of an eight-year multi-million dollar restoration programme.

The afternoon’s activities will be devoted to the Angkor Temple complex, of which Angkor Wat is a key element. You’ll explore Angkor Wat itself, the largest, and for most people, the most impressive temple in the complex. As dusk nears, a walk to the summit of Phnom Bakheng Hill will affords a panorama of the whole complex lit by the rays of the setting sun, weather permitting of course.

Day 3 Angkor mini-trek (B,L)

This morning your guide will accompany you on a mini-trek to the North Gate of Ta Prohm, strangled by massive tree roots and typical of the condition of the whole complex when it was ‘discovered’ in 1860 by French naturalist Henri Mouhot.

You’ll then continue to Ta Nei temple with a 1.5 km trek through the jungle. After a picnic lunch, you’ll be driven to a spa for relaxation before being driven back to your hotel.

Day 4 Banteay Srei & Kompong Pluk (B,L)

Your day will be taken up with visit to Banteay Srey Temple which displays some of the finest examples of classical Khmer art with some of the most beautiful, deep and intricate carvings, and Bantey Samre which has been admirably restored.

After lunch, you’ll be driven to Siem Reap River, for a boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake to visit the village of Kompong Pluk, where you can ‘go native’ aboard a dugout canoe for a paddle through the flooded forest near the village. You’ll then return to the hotel to freshen up.

Kampong Pluk is a cluster of three villages of stilted houses built within the flood-plain of Tonle Sap about 16km southeast of Siem Reap. The villages are primarily Khmer and have about 3000 inhabitants between them.

Day 5 Travel to Phnom Penh; sightseeing (B,L)

After breakfast your guide and driver will take you to the airport for your short flight to Phnom Penh.

Upon arrival at Pochentong airport, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. You’ll then visit the National Museum, Silver Pagoda and Vat Phnom, the namesake of the capital city of Cambodia, followed by a sunset cruise on the Chatomouk River.

Day 6 Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville (B)

In the morning, you’ll drive from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville. You’ll have time to relax, swim or sunbathe as you wish. Your accommodation will be in a hotel on the beach.

Largely overlooked by the tourist trade, Sihanoukville is a revelation. About 240km from Phnom Penh, the city is, to be kind, unattractive, but the route neatly avoids the ugly vista of Cambodia’s only port. Heading east, the four main beaches get better. By the time you reach Sokha beach, you find a classic tropical strand – soft white sand, gentle limpid waves, palm trees and so on. Skipping the long first half of Ochheuteal beach (good, but lined by shanty shelters), you’ll arrive at the top of the Queens Hill promontory with stunning views of seemingly endless beaches in both directions.

There’s little attractive accommodation apart from two resorts. One is Deluxe standard, located on Sokha beach with a long private stretch of sand and a striking view.

The other a small cluster of wooden bungalows and a restaurant perched on the top of Queens Hill – it’s about as basic as you can get, but the compensation is one of the best views in Indochina.

Day 7 Sihanoukville.

Free to enjoy the beach.

Day 8 Nail Island excursion. Sihanoukville  

After breakfast you’ll take a boat to Nail Island, with your time free on arrival.

Day 9 Sihanoukville /Phnom Penh departure.

In the morning, you’ll return to Phnom Penh in a good time to connect with your departure flight.