Today in Phnom Penh

Discover the most amazing water reserves of Asia
Tour code N°: LA3BTT-A - 3 days / 2 nights
Private guided tour

LOLEI TRAVEL is offering a new overland tour to Siem Reap driving along the national route 5 visiting the ancient capital of Udong heading to Battambang and by boat trough the river roads to Siem Reap. The journey start’s from Phnom Penh and is a three days extension instead to fly to Siem Reap. 
This program can be attached to the Classic Cambodia Tours on day 2 for LA4-A, LA5-A and on day 3 for tour LA6-A. For the total price just add the extension price to the Classic Tours LA4-A, LA5-A and LA6-A (LA3BBT-A + LA4-A or LA5-A or LA6-A / not possible for LC2-A & LC3-A).

Day 1: PHNOM PENH – BATTAMBANG
Morning / Afternoon: Early morning departure to Battambang by a four wheel drive car. You drive along the river banks of the Tonle Sap and enjoy the surroundings with rice paths and palm trees. Before arriving in Battambang, you will visit the ancient Capital of Cambodia – Udong. In 1434 the royal Khmer court under Poneayat moved to Phnom Penh, where a replica of the cosmic Mt. Meru was built. There was a short-lived period of revival in the mid-15th century until the Siamese invaded and sacked the capital again in 1473. One of the sons of the captured king Suryavarman drummed up enough Khmer support to oust the invaders and there were no subsequent invasions during the 16th century. The capital was established at Lovek and the moved back to the ruins of Angkor. But a Siamese invasion in 1597 sent the royal court fleeing into Laos; finally, in 1603, the Thais released a captured prince to rule over their Cambodian vasal. In 1688 the capital was moved again south from Lovek to Udong. On the top of the mountain are situated the stupas of King Monivong and King Sorypor – founder of Udong. Enjoy a great view over the surrounding landscape. Then continue to Battambang. Check-in at the hotel, and visit the city.

Day 2: BATTAMBANG
Morning / Afternoon: 
Battambang is the second largest city in Cambodia. It still retains much of the architecture of its colonial past and has palm-lined streets, and the surrounding offers many sights to be visited, such as the famous temple Wat Ek dated back to the 11th century build by Suryavarman I. The mountain Phnom Samphou, one of the most popular places for Buddhist pilgrims in Cambodia. The top of the mountain (154m) is offering a great view over the rice paths of Battambang and the mountains of Pailin (on the border to Thailand), or explore the caves of Laan Thom and Laan Kirirum. Overnight in Battambang.

Day 3: BATTAMBANG – SIEM REAP by boat
Morning / Afternoon:  
Early morning transfer to speedboat ferry and drive by boat trough the river roads of Battambang to Siem Reap. This river cruise is one of the most rewarding experiences in Cambodia: a four-hour journey that offers spectacular views of one the largest most pristine wetland areas in all Southeast Asia. The boat is a scaled-down version of the craft that service the Phnom Penh - Siem Reap route, but similarities between the two journeys are banished minutes after departure. As the boat move down the relatively narrow Stung Khiev river passing many villages where the local people still sparks spontaneous waves and smiles. Arrival in this remote areas of Cambodia, the sound of the boat still causes groups of waiving, cheering children to line of the riverbank on both sides. After the first forty minutes driving, the landscape is changing drastically. Suddenly the riverbanks on both sides merge with the water and the land falls away. Stretching far into the distance on all sides are shimmering water. The triumph of the water over land is broken only by patches of mangrove and houses build on high stilts. It’s a beautiful landscape in which soil is an abstraction and the lives of the people who live here is determinated by the seasonal rise and fall of the water, that feed and isolate them. No happy waves and cheering children can be heard in this part of Cambodia. They ignore resolutely the intruder. There is a good reason for these people to be skeptical. For more then two decades this area was an unchallenged stronghold of the Khmer Rouge guerrillas. 
After 1979, sporadic government efforts to take control of the area were successively frustrated by an enemy that could seemingly attack and disappear at will through slits in the trackless marshy brush. Only since the defection and surrender of the Khmer Rouge forces in the last year has this area been judged safe.
While the years of being cut off from much of the rest of Cambodia, the environment in which they live has remained insulated from ravages of modernity visited upon numerous other of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
As the channel narrows to a mere four meters between high stands of mangrove, an impressive array of bird live takes flight overhead. At several points in this section the boats slows down as it passes families of fishermen setting fish traps and laying nets. Suddenly, the channel opens up into a far wider river, passing nomadic floating communities. 
The last half hour of the journey involves a brief dash across a section of the Great Lake itself, docking beside where the boats to and from Phnom Penh embark.
Meet with your guide and transfer to your hotel. 
Continuing Classic Tours LA4-A, LA5-A or LA6-A.