Luxury Cambodia - Temples, Jungle & Beach

Fly overnight to Siem Reap via Bangkok, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur and on arrival you will be met and transferred to Zannier Phum Baitang, a unique resort located in the countryside just outside Siem Reap. Forty-five private villas are set in eight hectares of beautifully landscaped gardens and rice fields. This will be your base for four nights whilst exploring the nearby temples, however you’ll find it hard to leave this stunning place and will certainly want to build in some time to relax by the pool and indulge in the spa here.

Over the next few days you’ll see the main temples as well as a few lesser known but equally as impressive ones as well as visiting the villages on the lake and even enjoying a cooking class amongst the temples.

Today you’ll start with a visit to Kbal Spean an intricately carved riverbed deep in the foothills of the Cambodian jungle. The river flows down to the Tonlé Sap lake, and in ancient times its holy waters breathed life into the rice fields of the empire via the most complex irrigation system the world had ever seen. The Khmers venerated its limestone bed with a riot of carvings, including the delicate deities Vishnu and Shiva with their consorts. The carvings were only rediscovered in 1969 when French researcher Jean Boulbet was shown the river by a local hermit. A trip to Kbal Spean is one of the easiest ways to experience a short jungle trek in the Angkor area, as it is a steady but scenic climb to reach the river carvings. The path winds its way through knotted vines and big boulder formations and occasionally offers big views over the surrounding jungle. And there is a small waterfall below the carved riverbed, perfect for cooling off after the hot climb. Then head to Banteay Srei, Angkor’s ultimate art gallery. This petite pink temple is the jewel in the crown of Angkor-era sculpture. The elaborate carvings here are the finest found in Cambodia and the name translates as ‘Fortress of the Women’, thanks to the intricate detail here, considered too fine for the hands of a man. Head back to your hotel for the rest of the afternoon or this would be a chance to see the war museum.

This morning head to an area of temples called Rolous, a little further away from the main Angkor temples, this impressive collection of some of the oldest temples of the region are just as striking as the rest but with a fraction of the crowds; in fact when walking amongst the temples we almost had them to ourselves and couldn’t quite believe that more people don’t venture out here. To make it even more special we’ve arranged a cooking class in a nearby traditional Khmer house that follows in the culinary footsteps of many of the celebrity chefs who’ve visited the region, from Gordon Ramsey and Anthony Bourdain to Rick Stein. First head deep into the Cambodian countryside around Siem Reap where you’ll visit the local market of Roluos, a traditional town far removed from the tourism industry around Angkor. After browsing the local market for some fresh ingredients, head to Sala Rolous and recreate many of the traditional dishes they enjoyed.

In the afternoon head to Tonle Sap Lake and the village of Kompong Pluk by boat. Cruising down a narrow waterway, enter this medieval floating village, where the houses stand atop stilts as much as seven metres above the water. Everything lives on the water, pigs, dogs, crocodiles and people, all jockeying for space in this incredible floating town.

There are so many temples to see in the Angkor park that blink and you’ll miss them. We can of course arrange an air-conditioned car but one of the best ways to see what is around you is by bike, be it mountain bike, e-bike or even motorbike. By taking to two wheels you can escape the main routes, take the back roads and enter the main temples through jungle paths without the rest of the tourists.

Leaving Siem Reap early, you’ll use a forest path to avoid the traffic head to the North Gate of Ta Prohm, the ‘jungle temple’ abandoned to the elements. You’ll then cycle on to Ta Nei, a small temple that has been forgotten in the jungle and sees few visitors. You then enter the immense walled city of Angkor Thom, see Bayon and explore the main temples of Angkor Thom, including Baphuon, Phimeanakas, Preah Palilay, Terrace of the Leper King and Preah Pithu. Enjoy a traditional Khmer lunch menu at Sala Kdei, a special traditional wooden home, exclusive for use by our local agents, on the banks of the Royal bathing pool at Sra Srang.

Saving the best to last you’ll rise at the crack of dawn, and journey out to the Mother of all temples, Angkor Wat. Believed to be the world's largest religious building, this temple is the perfect fusion of symbolism and is the most famous temple at Angkor. After a morning of exploring head to the airport for your flight to Phnom Penh, where on arrival you’ll be met and transferred (about two and a half hours) to Shinta Mani Wild. Shinta Mani Wild is an uber luxurious tented retreat, located in the heart of Cambodia’s Southern Cardamom national park. The camp is designed by visionary Bill Bensley, who has set out to protect the 400-acre river valley from poaching, mining and logging. The fifteen custom designed tents have fabulous creative touches, from the outdoor bathtubs overlooking the river to the retro decor. On arrival you’ll climb to the top of the lookout tower to view the surrounding wilderness, before being harnessed up and zipwiring over the spectacular waterfall, directly into the Landing Zone Bar, where your drink of choice awaits! (of course, you can also drive in if zipwiring is not for you!!)

Shinta Mani Wild is an uber luxurious tented retreat, located in the heart of Cambodia’s Southern Cardamom national park. The camp is designed by visionary Bill Bensley, who has set out to protect the 400-acre river valley from poaching, mining and logging. The fifteen custom designed tents have fabulous creative touches, from the outdoor bathtubs overlooking the river to the retro decor. Beyond relaxing on your deck, looking out to the stunning river and jungle views, enjoying sumptuous food and drinks (all included in your stay), there are many activities for guests to enjoy and your personal butler will create an itinerary suited to your interests. Hike in the nearby forest, indulge in the jungle spa are choose from one of their signature experiences:

Head out on patrol with the rangers from the Wildlife Alliance, a wildlife NGO dedicated to stopping and catching poachers and illegal loggers in the area.

Spend an afternoon on one of the expedition boats and explore the upper reaches of a nearby estuary. Anchor in a beautiful back water to take out the kayaks while your butler gets the barbecue going to cook up the fresh giant crabs that you just caught.

Meet the chef and set off on a foraging expedition in our land as he shares his vast wealth of knowledge on the plants, fruits, and fungi that the forest has to offer. On your return prepare to enjoy a cooking class unlike any other.

Transfer (approx. two and a half hours) to Six Senses boat pier, where you’ll be able to freshen up before the short boat transfer over to Koh Krabey Island. Six Senses have transformed this tiny volcanic island into a gorgeous intimate retreat, with 30 acres of jungle carefully landscaped to preserve the natural environment. The 40 private pool villas have been cleverly blended into their surroundings with the use of local timbers, volcanic stone and rooftops blanketed in tropical vegetation. Interiors are contemporary with neutral tones, creating a relaxed jungle-lux vibe. Enjoy five nights here doing as much or as little as you like. The Spa here is one of the best we’ve ever seen with just about every treatment you can imagine, all tucked away within the jungle setting. Experiences abound at Six Senses with a range of under and over-water activities, including snorkelling, diving and kayaking. Reminiscent of the Seychelles, the island’s gorgeous beach is hidden amongst giant boulders in a small cove, with crystal clear waters and a small off-shore reef.

Cruise back to the mainland this morning and travel by road to Phnom Penh where on arrival you’ll check-in to the Rosewood (approx. two and a half hours depending on the traffic). Rosewood is a beautiful modern high-rise hotel with amazing views of the city, if you prefer something a little more traditional, Raffles is another beautiful hotel, completely different in style. We love both and find it hard to choose between them.

Today you’ll explore the stunning Royal Palace complex, home to the Cambodian royal family and a symbol of the nation, followed by a visit to the nearby National Museum, home to the world's finest collection of sculpture from the Angkor period. The exquisite building was completed between 1917 and 1920 and features a lush courtyard garden surrounded by collections from the pre-Angkor, Angkor and post-Angkor periods.

For lunch travel to the School of Hospitality and Tourism of Pour Un Sourire d' Enfant (PSE), a French NGO supporting children from the garbage dump. Take a tour of the PSE facilities where both schooling and work/life skills are available to the children and youths as a way of escaping the poverty of their lives spent on the city’s main garbage dump. Take lunch here, where their Lotus Blanc restaurant serves excellent international and Asian cuisine.

This afternoon visit Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. Come face to face with the horrific crimes of the Khmer Rouge. Tuol Sleng was a former high school that the Khmer Rouge turned into a centre for interrogation, torture and death. Today it is a museum of torture and serves to remind visitors of the terrible atrocities that came to pass in Cambodia. 17,000 people passed through the gates of this prison and only seven lived to tell the tale. Then travel out of town to the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. Prisoners from Tuol Sleng followed this same route to their fate. An old Chinese cemetery, Choeung Ek was turned into an extermination camp for political prisoners. The remains of 8985 people were exhumed from mass graves and are kept in a memorial stupa here. Despite the horrors of the past, it is a peaceful place to go and a tranquil spot to reflect on the tragic events that engulfed Cambodia and its people. This afternoon’s visits are completely optional.