Cambodia – To the Temples and Beyond

The highlights

• Monk Water Blessing Ceremony at a Buddhist Pagoda

  A visit to a Buddhist pagoda for a traditional monk water blessing ceremony believed to cleanse bad spirits and bring good luck. An offering of a Sadok — a traditional gift of sugar, milk, and tea among other items — is provided for the monk. This sets the spiritual tone before exploring the temples of Angkor.

• Angkor Wat and Ta Phrom by Bicycle and Dragon Boat

  After visiting the jungle temple of Ta Phrom and the main temples of Angkor Wat, the afternoon is spent exploring Angkor by bicycle. The route passes the King's residence, Royal Gardens, the Siem Reap River, local villages, rice fields, and historic family parcels, concluding at twilight with a Dragon Boat ride on the moat of Angkor Thom with local delicacies on board.

• Phnom Kulen National Park and Banteay Srei

  A drive through the countryside to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Phnom Kulen, where the itinerary includes the large Buddha statue at Preah Ang Thom, the lava-covered ruined temple of the Terrace of Sdach Kum Ling, and a swim in the waterfall. The afternoon continues to Banteay Srei — the "Citadel of Women" — which houses some of the finest examples of classical Khmer bas-relief.

• Bamboo Train and Killing Caves at Battambang

  A remok ride of about 5km leads to the Bamboo Train, a unique contraption running on tracks originally built by the French to transport goods. The route passes villages with activities such as making bamboo sticky rice, fish paste, rice paper, and banana paper, before an afternoon visit to the Killing Caves at Phnom Sampeou — a Khmer Rouge memorial with a hilltop temple offering commanding views over the Cambodian countryside.

• Wildlife Patrol and Kayaking in the Cardamom Mountains

  Wildlife Alliance Rangers lead a half-day patrol through dense forest along abandoned poaching and logging trails, stopping at a Ranger Station where confiscated snares, traps, and improvised hunting rifles are displayed. The afternoon is spent kayaking along the Prek Tachan river back to camp, with swimming and a local Khmer lunch also included during the day.

• Cycling Through Kampot and the Elephant Mountains

  A bicycle ride from Kep takes in rice fields, durian and rambutan orchards, and the backdrop of the Elephant Mountains. The route stops at local villages to meet residents, with a guide available to help translate, and ends at the rapids on the Kampot River for a swim and local picnic lunch.