Cambodia trip | Luxury glamping trip Cambodia

Siem Reap was once a small rural town, but is now the gateway to the magnificent temples of Angkor. The town has grown into a pleasant tourist destination with excellent facilities and a relaxed atmosphere!

Once you have reached the arrivals hall, you will be greeted by your VIP immigration officer. Hand your passport to the officer, who will handle the visas (payments) and stamping. You can proceed straight to the baggage carousel to collect your luggage. As soon as the immigration officer has returned your passports, you will meet your guide and driver outside the arrivals hall and be taken by private vehicle to your glamping site, situated in the countryside to the north of the Angkor complex.

On arrival at the glamping site, you will be offered a welcome drink and will spend around 30 minutes with your guide going through your itinerary. Check in at the hotel and enjoy some free time to settle into your new surroundings. Later in the afternoon, you’ll walk to Sampov Temple and meet a local monk at this small, forgotten temple. The monk will bless your journey through Cambodia and tell you more about Buddhism. A welcome dinner will be served for you at the glamping site.

The next day, you’ll be woken up by the birdsong and enjoy your breakfast. You’ll begin your stay in Cambodia with a wonderful exploration of the area around Siem Reap. Your guide will be waiting for you with a military jeep from the 1960s, in which you’ll drive through the Cambodian countryside towards Phnom Kulen. The Kulen Hills are a sacred site and rise about half a kilometre above the plains of Siem Reap.

Stop along the way to soak up the atmosphere of rural Cambodia and reach the Kulen Waterfall by mid-morning for a swim. The small lake at the foot of the waterfalls is cool but clean and a lovely way to cool off after climbing the hills. Be sure to visit the River of 1,000 Lingas too. Walk to the top of the hill and have your future predicted by a local monk at the reclining Buddha statue.

In the early afternoon, you’ll drive back down the hill and stop at a local pagoda where a chef will meet you in person. The chef has prepared a wonderful three-course lunch for you, which you can enjoy at your leisure on the grounds of an ancient religious building.

After lunch, you’ll continue on to Banteay Srei. The carvings in this temple are well preserved and serve as a fine example of Khmer artistry. Return to The Beige in the late afternoon. You may choose to round off the day by watching the sunset from Pre Rup Temple.

Escape the hustle and bustle of Angkor with Avila and follow our trail past the most beautiful temples. Start early in the morning with a tuk-tuk ride to Ta Prohm. Built in the Bayon style between the late 12th and early 13th centuries, Ta Prohm has been left virtually untouched by archaeologists. The trees growing out of the ruins create a mysterious atmosphere full of photogenic opportunities. Leave the temple at the back and make your way to the rear entrance of Banteay Kdei, also known as the ‘Citadel of the Monks’.

If you leave the temple via the east side, you’ll find yourself at Sras Srang, where a refreshing drink awaits. You’ll walk through a typical Khmer village with its wooden houses from Sras Srang to the Batchum Temple. The tuk-tuk will be waiting at this small temple, which dates from the mid-10th century. An early lunch is served in a nearby local house. You’ll travel on to the East Gate of Angkor Wat. King Suryavarman II built this magnificent temple, designing it to become the largest religious monument in the world. The temple’s bas-reliefs are considered the largest known linear arrangement of stone carvings and depict magnificent scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata epics.

Leave Angkor Wat via the West Gate and continue by tuk-tuk to the South Gate of Angkor Thom. Take the opportunity to photograph the impressive entrance to Angkor Thom, which translates as ‘Great City’. The tuk-tuk will drop you off at a small temple, beautifully overgrown with trees, called Palilay. From here, you’ll walk through the forest to Phimeanakas and Baphuon, both pyramid-style structures built in the 11th and 10th centuries respectively. You’ll arrive at the centre of the city: the Bayon, which served as a Mahayana shrine dedicated to the Buddha. Its most distinctive features are the 216 serene stone faces that seem to gaze out in every direction.

Finally, visit the Victory Gate, from where a short walk takes you to the East Gate, also known as the Gate of Death. This gate remains beautifully unspoilt in a very peaceful part of the complex, surrounded by woodland. It is the perfect place to round off the day with a bite to eat and a cool drink before returning to The Beige by tuk-tuk.

Together with your guide and tuk-tuk driver, you’ll go on a lovely tour and walk today, taking in the city’s well-known and lesser-known highlights. You’ll visit the Independence Monument, Independence Park with its statue of the king’s father, and the monument commemorating the friendship between Cambodia and Vietnam. You’ll also visit the Central Market, which was built by the French in 1937.

Climb the steps of one of the oldest buildings on Monivong Boulevard and enjoy a superb view over the capital’s busiest district and most famous street. You will then walk past the railway station, built in 1932, the National Library and the famous Raffles Hotel, where a delicious High Tea is served. You will continue on to Wat Phnom and the ‘Old Quarters’, where the post office takes centre stage.

In the afternoon, you’ll walk north along the boulevard and explore the narrow alleys that form part of the old Chinese and Vietnamese quarters. The alleys are sometimes so narrow that it feels as though you’re walking through people’s living rooms. Here you’ll find small markets, chicken farms and all sorts of activities taking place.

You’ll round off the day with a tuk-tuk ride to Wat Ounalom, from where you’ll walk to the Conference Hall Building. The building is situated in Chaktomuk, where the four rivers that flow around Phnom Penh all converge. A wonderful day ends here, after which you’ll be taken back to The Bale.

After breakfast, you’ll travel with your guide and driver to the Cardamom Mountains. Here, you won’t be checking into just any hotel – this is where a whole new adventure begins! The Shinta Mani Wild is an amazingly designed tented camp and epitomises the fusion of luxury glamping and nature conservation. Your stay here makes a difference and helps to protect unique and endangered plant and animal species.

On arrival, you’ll be welcomed by the local team and can choose to enter the camp via a zipline. Choose your activities for the day. All food, drink and activities are included. In the evening, you can enjoy a delicious dinner in the atmospheric restaurant or by your safari tent.

The next day, you’ll wake up in the serene jungle and enjoy breakfast. Plan your day with the team of rangers and guides. Go for a guided walk through the jungle, or join a ranger on a poacher patrol. Take a stroll through the forest and spot birds and butterflies. Mountain biking and taking an expedition boat (depending on the river’s water level) are also among the options. Anything is possible, and you can enjoy delicious meals and local snacks wherever you go. Round off the day with a sundowner or a kayak trip (depending on the water level) and enjoy the sunset.

This morning, before you check out, you can choose to have breakfast by a waterfall or by the pool. Round off your stay with a relaxing activity such as fishing or a cookery class. In the late morning, your guide and driver will take you back to Sihanoukville. The city has developed enormously in recent years, but is still less developed than the Thai or Vietnamese seaside resorts. Upon arrival at the harbour, you’ll board a speedboat that will take you to Krabey Island, one of the smaller islands off Sihanoukville. The Six Senses resort is the only resort on this island.

Over the next few days, you can enjoy a leisurely breakfast and then choose whichever activity takes your fancy. You can opt to go diving, take a boat trip, enjoy a spa and wellness package, go kayaking or snorkelling at sea, go on an island or marine safari, or join one of the island’s experts for a private tour around the islands to learn more about the biodiversity of the waters or the rainforest surrounding the resort; alternatively, you can simply enjoy the resort’s facilities, including the swimming pool, the gym or in-villa film entertainment.