Cambodia Wildlife & Adventure – 2 weeks package

Upon arrival at Siem Reap International Airport, you will be welcomed by your driver and transferred to your hotel for check-in. Once you arrive at the hotel, you will be welcomed by one of our management team, and it is the opportunity to go through your itinerary again before it gets started.

You’ve a good chance of seeing the rare Silver Langur monkey as you walk in the forest on cleared trails (and through the bat cave) that now covers the birthplace of the Angkorian Empire. A picnic will be set up on the rocky banks of the Kulen River, followed by a visit to Cambodia’s largest reclining Buddha and a swim at the Kulen waterfall pools.

This morning you’ll get picked up to Prek Toal as it has been called “the single most important breeding ground in Southeast Asia for globally threatened large waterbirds”. Key bird species of global significance here: Spot-billed Pelican, Milky Stork, Painted Stork, Lesser Adjutant, Greater Adjutant, Black-headed Ibis, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, and Oriental Darter. Enjoy the landscapes of flooded forests, floating villages, and the Great Tonle Sap Lake.

This morning, you will be picked up to visit Angkor Center for Conservation and Biodiversity (ACCB), which is located next to the river. Time-limited, we will try to come back down before 12 noon and will rest in one of the stalls near the center for the fresh coconut if you like one before the center opens the gate.

The center rescues and provides shelter for wildlife that has been illegally hunted with the aim of returning it to the wild. ACCB has succeeded at reintroducing birds into safe habitats, in particular Red-headed Vultures and Lesser Adjutants. Unfortunately, mammals are more difficult either due to habitat loss, hunting, or acclimatization into captivity. ACCB will organize a tour of their Center for SVC, where you will get the chance to see some of Cambodia’s indigenous fauna.

Rising early, at 8 am, you journey by jeep to the enigmatic and enchanting temple of Bayon. By beginning our tour here, we can avoid the crowds and see the temple at its quietest. This temple, located in the heart of Angkor Thom, is an eccentric expression of Cambodia’s most celebrated king’s creative genius and inflated ego.

Its 54 towers are each adorned with the four faces of Avalokiteshvara (Buddha of Compassion), a striking resemblance to the king himself. These enormous heads look below every side, exuding power and control with a hint of compassion, simply the mix needed to keep a hang on such a vast empire.

You continue your expedition amongst the walled city of Angkor Thom, the work of art of King Jayavarman VII. Following the Chams’ occupation of Angkor from 1177 to 1181, the new king decided to construct an impregnable fortress in the center of his empire. The causeway is lined by a complex bridge depicting the churning of the ocean of milk from Hindu folklore in which devas (gods) and asuras (devils) play tug of war with a naga (seven-headed snake) to get the elixir of immortality.

Within Angkor Thom, our next stop is the Terrace of the Leper King. This intricately sculpted platform was the royal crematorium, and the statue, which was originally thought to be the leper king, is now figured to be Yama, the god of death.

We proceed along the Terrace of Elephants, originally used as a viewing gallery for the king to command parades, performances, and traditional sports. The Baphuon temple, one of the most beautiful in Angkor, is located at the southern end and was built during the reign of Uditayavarman in the 11th century. It has gone through a huge renovation and is now once again open for visiting.

You then move on next to the Mother of all temples, Angkor Wat, believed to be the world’s largest spiritual building. This temple is the perfect symbolism and balance. It stands as a huge source of pride to all Khmers. We begin by deciphering the mysteries of the bas-reliefs, which depict Hindu mythology as well as the splendors of the Khmer empire. These intricate carvings stretch for nearly one kilometer and are a contender for the title of the world’s longest unbroken work of art. We then proceed to the upper levels of the inner sanctuary, following in the footsteps of the faithful and the destructive who came before us.

The final steps up to Angkor’s upper terrace are the steepest of all, as pilgrims used to stoop on their way to meet the Gods. We have finally arrived at the pinnacle and sacred heart of Angkor Wat, a perfect combination of spirituality and symmetry that few moments can match. After that, we head to the Ta Prohm temple, which has been left to the elements. The temple acts as a significant reminder that, while empires rise and fall, nature’s riotous power marches on, indifferent to human history’s dramas. The tentacle-like tree roots that French explorer Henri Mouhot discovered in 1860 are slowly strangling the remaining stones that man first conquered nature to build.

We will then pause for a late lunch at a local restaurant (Lunch is on the clients’ own account) before continuing to our final temple – Banteay Kdei. The name translates to `Citadel of Chambers,’ and as the temple exists on one level, it is easy to thoroughly explore the towers and corridors as well as their beautiful carvings.

The temple’s construction had changed many times since its original plans causing a slight lack of consistency in its design. That being said, the final outcome of the temple is superb. As it is far less visited than its neighboring main sites, Banteay Kdei offers a serene and peaceful end to our exploration.

After the temple tour, you’ll go straight to the Angkor jungle for a wildlife visit, like the park’s roaming gibbons! And currently, there are 3 species of gibbons: Lar Gibbon, Pileated Gibbon & Agile Gibbon.

After the tour, you’ll be transferred back to your hotel for your rest of the evening free.

After breakfast, depart Siem Reap for Kratie, a sleepy Mekong port and the starting point for an encounter with the endangered freshwater Irrawaddy dolphin that lives in Cambodia’s upper reaches of the Mekong. Once you arrive in Kratie, we will go straight to your hotel for check-in.

Rising early, this morning at 8:00 am, you start the day by a traditional fisherman’s boat, which takes you on a one-hour tour to the dolphin pool of Kampi. This is the largest dolphin pool on the Mekong River and is the best natural habitat to witness the critically endangered Mekong Dolphin (Irrawaddy Dolphin). You will spend an hour watching the dolphins in their river environment before returning to the mainland.

After watching the dolphins, you start your journey to Ratanakiri. After your arrival, we check in, and you will be free to explore your new surroundings.

At 7 pm we will meet at `Terres Rouges’ hotel for a trek briefing before the gibbon starts tomorrow.

The Gibbon Spotting Cambodia guide will pick you up from your hotel at 08:00 before departing in a 4×4 at around 08:30 for that authentic jungle encounter.

After a short distance, you will arrive at Kachon Village, where we will board a traditional boat and travel about 20 kilometers upstream to Kackork Village, where you will see a traditional cemetery. We then get back on the boat and cruise downstream on the Sesan River back pass Kachon and onwards for approximately 12km to the town of Veun Sai.

We then break for a western-style packed lunch before meeting our local community guides and signing in to the conservation area. You have time in Veun Sai to buy any last-minute jungle supplies.

We then take a local moto’s passed I Tub village. This Laotian community is approximately halfway point to the camp and the beginning of the Veun Sai-Siem Pang Conservation Area. This chapter of the trail is mostly flat and crosses a few bridges along the way. From here, we then trek into camp, which will take approximately 1 hour. However, we have time on our side and can take as much time as we want to enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

We should arrive at camp at around 4 pm; then, you can unwind, take a simple jungle shower to cool off or start exploring the paths surrounding the camp. It is also better to communicate with some of the team members who are stationed there to gain a better vision of the work and other Cambodian wildlife that is being researched.

At dusk, we leave the camp for a one-hour nature walk around the grounds. On this walk, you will gain knowledge about the forest and witness firsthand the area’s problem with illegal loggers. It is critical that you understand the issues that are occurring in the area and how you can assist. Once you return to the camp, you can cool off and wash your clothes again if you want. We will then sit down for a delicious camp dinner at about 7:30 pm. Lights will then go off between 9:30 pm and 10 pm.

Today, we get up around 3:30 am, leave camp, and trek to the edge of the jungle savannah, arriving before dawn and ready for the gibbons to start calling.

Once the gibbon song starts, we have about a 15-minute window to find the gibbons before they stop singing. Fortunately, your guides are well-versed in the jungle and perfectly know where they should be. Walking, and perhaps even running, after your guide as the gibbon song grows louder, is an exciting experience, but it is quickly surpassed when you come face to face with the gibbons.

We will pursue the gibbons for a couple of hours and will be able to get within 15 meters of them in some cases, providing an excellent opportunity for photography.

At around 9:30 am, we end up leaving the gibbons and return to camp for brunch. Where we find the discussion firmly focused on the fabulous gibbon experience.

After brunch, we pack our belongings and prepare to leave camp. Because you will be exhausted by this point, we will arrange for motos to transport you from camp to Veun Sai. We then say goodbye to our community guide before crossing the Sesan River on the local ferry.

Stop for lunch at a restaurant that boasts a beautiful view of the river. After lunch, we will meet our driver, who will take you back to your hotel.

After breakfast, you leave behind Ratanakiri at 10am to Sen Monorom, the land of Bunong Tribe and elephants. Driving with the distance of approximately 216 kilometers through National road 76 passing the tropical jungle and rubber plantation, the journey may take you about 4 hours.
Upon arrival, you will be dropped off for lunch at Cafe Plantation where Khmer savory pancakes will be served before you checking in to your hotel for overnight stay.

Today, at 8am, you will be driven from your hotel to a Phnong minority village. It is where your Cambodian elephant and local guide (Mahout) will be waiting to greet you. You’ll walk through the jungle, across rivers, and past some local minority farms before arriving at the Trok River for lunch.

During lunch, the elephants are released and free to wander around the forest to rest and scavenge for food. After lunch, you then have to go and search for your Cambodian elephant with your guide.

The elephant is then taken down to the river for a wash and to cool off. You can either watch from the riverbank or go for a swim and help wash your elephant, which is a lot of fun.

Evening:
As a wonderful insight into Cambodian culture, we take you to a local village just outside the town. Once we arrive at the village, you can explore and play games with the local children before the village elders return from their days of work in the fields.

You can then assist in the preparation of a traditional evening meal and BBQ with your family. Appreciate a fantastic cultural evening, and if you’re feeling brave, try a few shots of traditional home-brewed rice wine before retiring to your hotel for the night.

Today you are free to enjoy your day.

After breakfast at 7:30 am, we leave behind the wilds of the North East and begin the journey to Phnom Penh. We head back to the bustling provincial city of Kompong Cham, where you enjoy a local lunch. We then pause shortly at Skuon, affectionately known as ‘Spiderville’, where it is possible to sample the local delicacy of a deep-fried tarantula.

Once you arrive in Phnom Penh, you’ll go straight to the hotel for check-in.

Today you will be picked up from your hotel to the airport with plenty of time before your departing flight home.