Day 1 (Arrival in Phnom Penh- city tour) (-, L, D)

Arrive in Phnom Penh International Airport where a luxury sedan/SUV will pick you up and drive you to your hotel in downtown Phnom Penh. The Cambodian capital offers a charming blend of the old and the new. Here, exotic bars and bustling urban bazaars exist under the omniscient shadows of classical Khmer architecture.
The short drive from the airport to the hotel gives you a glimpse of some of the unique sights and sounds of the once war- torn city that rose from the ashes and grew into one of the most dynamic travel destinations in Asia. A welcome drink awaits you on arrival and after a quick check-in we set off for a day tour of the city.
Our first stop is Wat Phnom, the city’s iconic pagoda that sits on top of a hill and was built in 1372 to store Buddhist statues washed ashore by the Mekong River. Hundreds of devotees flock to Wat Phnom every day to offer prayers and seek the benediction of the holy spirits who are believed to grant wishes. Once a wish is fulfilled, the faithful return with promised offerings of floral garlands and fruit.
Our next stop is the Royal Palace of Phnom Penh. Built in 1866, the palace is the official residence of King Sihamoni with large parts of the property closed to the public. The golden spires and Khmer roofs of the palace bear a striking resemblance to the royal palace in Bangkok. Take a stroll around the expansive palace compound and visit the Throne Hall and the spectacular Silver Pagoda where the floor is made of 5,000 silver tiles. The pagoda also houses two striking Buddha images- one made of gold and studded with over 9,000 diamonds and another made of emerald and baccarat crystal.
Our final stop for the day is the National Museum. Built in 1917, the museum houses hundreds of sculptures, artworks and other exhibits from the pre and post- Angkorian eras. We return to the hotel in the evening and after an early dinner you can retire to your rooms for the night.

Day 2 (Phnom Penh- Kompong Cham- Snuol- Sen Monorom) (B, L, D)

Have an early breakfast at the hotel and depart for Mondulkiri. This is a beautiful drive that takes us along the bank of the Mekong River. Mondulkiri is home to 12 ethnic tribes and wild animals including elephants and leopards. One of the least populated provinces in Cambodia, Mondulkiri is a picturesque expanse of rolling hills, verdant rainforest and pine groves.
Our drive from Phnom Penh takes us across Kompong Cham to Chhup to visit the biggest rubber plantation in the country established during the French colonial era by the tyre manufacturer Michelin.
From here, we make our way to Snuol where we stop for lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to Sen Monorom. This is the capital of the Mondulkiri province and the ideal base to explore the surrounding waterfalls and hill tribes.
We reach Sen Monorom in the late afternoon and check into a hotel. The evening can be spent at leisure. After the day’s excursion, enjoy an early dinner and retire to your rooms for the night.

Day 3 (Mondulkiri- Day trip to Elephant Valley Project) (B, L, D)

Today is a special treat for animal lovers as we get to spend a full day among elephants. Try your hand at bathing, feeding and interacting with these gentle beasts at a special camp for rescued jumbos. We set off after breakfast at the hotel and drive to the Elephant Valley Project sanctuary. Local Bunong villagers help care for injured and abused elephants at this sanctuary. Try the ‘Walking with the Herd for a Day’ tour. Walk alongside the herd and take them to the river to bathe and clean them and then watch as they splash around in the mud just moments later! Feed them bananas and then head to the onsite café yourself for lunch. It’s interesting how spending just one day among the elephants teaches you so much about their behaviour and habits.
After lunch we follow the jumbos on a trek across the Mondulkiri countryside to a nearby waterfall. Join your ‘big’ friends in a refreshing swim in the falls. Don’t forget to carry a spare set of clothes that you can change into once back at the camp. We return to our hotel in Sen Monorom in the late afternoon. You can spend the rest of the evening at leisure.

Day 4 (Sen Monorom sightseeing) (B, L, D)

We set off early today to visit the local market where Phnong people from adjoining villagers come to sell their wares carrying the distinctive baskets on their backs. Explore the vibrant bazaar and pick up a souvenir or two to take back home.
We return to the hotel for breakfast and then leave for the beautiful Bou Sra Waterfall located 40 kilometres away from Sen Monorom. This double-drop waterfall is a popular picnic spot and said to be one of the biggest and most spectacular falls in Cambodia. The bottom level of Bou Sra Falls plunges 25 metres to the gorge below, while its top layer is situated at a height of 10 metres.
Enjoy a lovely al fresco lunch by the falls and take in all the wonderful views of the surroundings. If you plan on swimming then make sure to carry a spare change of clothes.
On our way back to Sen Monorom we will stop at a few tribal villages dotted across the Mondulkiri countryside. Return to the hotel and spend the rest of the evening at leisure until dinner.

Day 5 (Sen Monorom- Snuol- Kratie) (B, L, D)

Today we leave the provincial capital of Sen Monorom and make our way to the pretty riverside town of Kratie. We set off after breakfast and drive for about 3-and-a-half hours to reach Kratie by lunchtime. Have lunch at a local restaurant. Kratie has a rich legacy of colonial architecture and a languid pace of life that is quaint and charming.
After lunch we will visit Wat Phnom Sampok in the north of the town to see the secluded Buddhist monasteries and take in the breathtaking views from the hilltop. From here we make our way further north to Kampi for a chance to spot the elusive Irrawaddy Dolphin. These freshwater dolphins live in the Mekong River and are usually seen in the late afternoon.
Drive back to Kratie and then take a ferry ride across Mekong River to the island of Koh Trong situated opposite Kratie Town. Check into a resort in Koh Trong and spend the night here.

Day 6 (Kratie- Kompong Cham- Phnom Penh) (B, L, D)

Today we will return to Phnom Penh at the end of the first leg of our tour. Have a leisurely breakfast at the hotel and return by ferry to Kratie. From here, drive to Kompong Cham, via the rubber plantations of Snuol.
En route, visit the famous Wat Nakor Pagoda. This pagoda is a unique blend of the old and new where a modern Buddhist Theravada pagoda has been built into a 12th century Mahayana temple made of sandstone.
Next, continue to Phnom Penh via the small village of Prek Kdam. If time permits we will make a quick trip to Udong, which was the former capital of Cambodia until 1866.
Visit the famous Phnom Udong, with its twin humps that have several stupas on top and stunning views of the countryside.
Reach Phnom Penh in the late afternoon and check into your hotel where you can spend the evening at leisure.

Day 7 (Phnom Penh- Sihanoukville- Song Saa Private Island) (B, L, D)

Rise and shine! Today we set off for the second leg of our Cambodian Adventure to the beautiful private island of Song Saa. We leave after breakfast and drive 226 kilometres to Sihanoukville. The drive takes 3- 4 hours depending on traffic.
Once in Sihanoukaville, we take a 35- minute speedboat ride to the islands of Koh Ouen and Koh Bong in the beautiful Koh Rong Archipelago. Check into your resort in the afternoon and sit down to a delicious lunch on the beach. Enjoy an assortment of seafood cooked to perfection in a sauce of your choice along with some signature Cambodian delicacies including Fish Amok, Bai Sach Chrouk, or BBQ pork with rice and Kuy Teav or noodle soup.
Over the next couple of days, explore the island at your leisure. Go snorkelling in the resort’s private coral reefs or swim in the aquamarine waters of its beaches. With more than 20 islands in the Rong Archipelago there’s plenty to do and see. Watch the glorious sunset in the evening and enjoy the culinary creations of the resort’s chef at dinner. This is the good life and on your first day here, embrace the calm and serenity of life on the island, away from the hustle- bustle of city life.

Day 8 (Song Saa Private Island) (B, L, D)

Refresh your body and mind with a morning session of yoga and meditation on the beach. Get in sync with your senses and shut out the distractions of daily life on this heaven on earth. Treat yourself to a gala breakfast spread that sets the tone for the rest of the day: indulgence and relaxation! Choose from a wide range of activities at the resort or the adjoining islands. Go kayaking, swimming, snorkelling, dicing or sailing. How about a trek through the island’s dense rainforest spotting various species of tropical birds and flowers?
Pamper yourself with a luxurious spa session at the wellness centre in the middle of the forest. Evenings on the island are a magical time where a spectacular sunset makes way for the twinkling lights of the resort. Sit back and relax on one of the deck chairs as you sip on a cocktail and watch the sun melt into the sea in the distance.

Day 9 (Song Saa Private Island) (B, L, D)

This is the last day of your private island retreat so make the most of your time here. As before, begin your day with an invigorating session of early morning yoga and meditation on the beach. Spend the rest of the day exploring the island and its environs at your own pace and leisure. Enjoy the many amenities at the resort and its environs and end your day with another delectable spread of the chef’s compliments.

Day 10 (Song Saa- Sihanoukville- Phnom Penh departure) (B, -, -)

Have breakfast at the hotel and get a final look at the white sand beaches of Song Saa before saying goodbye to this tropical paradise. Transfer by speedboat to Sihanoukville and from there drive back to Phnom Penh. Our car will drop you at the airport where the tour ends and you can continue your onward journey.

Phnom Penh to Private Island Retreat

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