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Phnom Penh · Cambodia

Where the Wild Things Roam: A 10-day Ethical Animal tour of Cambodia

Starting From From $1,802.94 per person Current Project Expedition rate
11 Days 4.07 / 5 0 reviews Easy activity level Multiday Trip Operated by Adventure Travel Co.
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The Experience

What your day looks like

Learn where the wild things roam in Cambodia when you come on this escorted journey through the Kingdom of Wonder. Join as a single to meet other like-minded animal lovers or come as a group to share the experience with friends and family. With regular departures available, you can choose the time that works best for you to experience the true beauty of Cambodia's animal world.  Including visits with Sun and Moon Bears, the endangered Irrawaddy Dolphins in the Mekong River, the rescued Asian Elephants of Angkor, and the incredible, life-saving African Pouch Rats at Apopo Humanitarian Demining, this guided journey will introduce you to the wonders of Cambodian wildlife and show you how important conservation and ethical animal treatment is to the local people.  

At a Glance

The experience, in brief

  • Midrange accommodations with highend, ethical animal experiences
  • Explore some of Cambodia's most incredible species on a unique journey
  • You will be collected by tuktuk from your hotel most of the time
  • See the entire process of weaving beautiful Cambodian silk
  • Private bus from Phnom Penh to Kratie with some stunning countryside scenery
  • Wat Preah Prom Rat, the city's largest pagoda and reclining Buddha
Your Itinerary

Your day, step by step

Day 1

Phnom Penh

Welcome to Cambodia! You will be collected from your incoming flight to Phnom Penh International Airport and transferred to your hotel to check in. At 6pm, join your group to make your way through the crazy Cambodian traffic in a traditional cyclo to your welcome dinner along the city's most impressive boulevard where you will have the chance to take in your new surroundings at a leisurely pace.  Your first meal together will be traditional Cambodian fare in a small local restaurant that is a favorite amongst our guides and tour leaders. After dinner, you will be collected by tuk-tuk to return to your hotel for the evening. Meals Included: Dinner

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Phnom Penh

Accommodation.

Day 2

Phnom Penh

Eco Tour. Bear Care Tour: Free the Bears To kick off your ethical animal experiences in Cambodia, you will become a bear keeper for the day, working with the incredible team at Free the Bears. You will be collected by tuk tuk from your hotel this morning and transferred to the meeting point for your group transport to the sanctuary, located within the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Park.  Today you will enjoy a fun and fascinating behind-the-scenes tour learning more about the Sun and Moon Bears in the Cambodian sanctuary and finding out what it takes to care for them. Hear the moving stories of the rescued bears, meet the bears and help the Bear Care Team prepare food and enrichment treats. You'll be delighted watching the bears search and gobble down the treats you've hidden. After this exciting and unique once-in-a-lifetime experience, you will be transported back to Phnom Penh to your hotel for the evening. Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

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Phnom Penh

Accommodation: Single or Double Room

Day 3

Phnom Penh

Local Flavor. Silk Island Experience Today you will journey across the river by tuk tuk and local ferry with your Cambodian guide who will introduce you to one of Phnom Penh's most incredible industries. The aptly named Silk Island is home to many local silk production farms where visitors can see the entire process of weaving beautiful Cambodian silk from start to finish. Enjoy a relaxing and informative tour around the island, stopping in at local homes and enjoying a traditional Cambodian lunch along the way.

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Phnom Penh

Boating. Sunset River Cruise Returning to your hotel in the early afternoon, you will have some time to relax before rejoining your group for a stunning sunset river cruise on the Tonle River complete with a live commentary on the sights around the central city area of Phnom Penh. After the cruise, your tour leader will walk with you to the Phnom Penh night market where you can enjoy some dinner, shop for souvenirs or just soak up the ambiance along the stunning riverside area.

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Phnom Penh

Accommodation: Single or Double Rooms

Day 4

Phnom Penh

Kayaking. Sunset Kayaking with Irrawaddy Dolphins After an early breakfast, you will set out by private bus from Phnom Penh to Kratie with some stunning countryside scenery along the way. Arrive in Kratie at around lunchtime and get yourself settled in your accommodation before joining the group in the adjacent cafe for a tour briefing and safety talk. Set out with your professional kayaking guide to the river and paddle along while the dolphins come to find you!

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Phnom Penh

Accommodation: Single, Twin and Triple Rooms

Day 5

Phnom Penh

Sightseeing. Koh Trong Island Tour Walk together with your group from the hotel after breakfast to the local ferry where you will cross the river to Koh Trong Island. Here you will be greeted by your local host and tuk tuks which will be used to provide a slow journey around the local area, exploring Koh Trong Island at the heart of the Mekong River. A tour takes three hours and allows you a chance to view local villages, fruit orchards, rice fields, and pagodas, stopping for lunch in a local home along the way. Today's tour also includes sponsoring 1 tree per person which you will plant on the island as part of the island's conservation project. After your tour, return to your hotel for a free afternoon.

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Phnom Penh

Accommodation: Single, Twin and Triple Rooms

Day 6

Phnom Penh

Local Flavor. Kampong Cham Homestay After breakfast make the journey to Kampong Cham, the third-largest city in Cambodia, located along the banks of the Mekong River. Today we will arrive at Chiro Village where we will be greeted by the local community and welcomed into their village. We will spend this afternoon exploring the area by tuk tuk including a visit to Koh Paen bamboo bridge, and Koh Paen island, where you will visit a Cham village and a Khmer village to see how the villagers weave traditional wedding clothes. Enjoy an afternoon cycle around Chiro Village with a local guide to experience more of the village life. In the evening, relax with your homestay hosts. You will have the chance to practice your Khmer over an evening meal of traditional Khmer food. Sleep soundly in a traditional wooden house with basic bedding and mosquito net. Today's activities are arranged in partnership with local NGO, OBT (Organisation for Basic Training), which provides English and computer training to local villagers for community empowerment.

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Phnom Penh

Accommodation: Wooden house single mattress

Day 7

Phnom Penh

Hitting the road Enjoy an early-morning home-cooked traditional breakfast before grabbing some snacks from the market and hitting the road, making the 4.5-hour journey to Siem Reap through some of the country's most beautiful countryside. On arrival, check into your accommodation and relax for a while before joining your group on a 1.5-hour walking tour of Siem Reap.

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Phnom Penh

Local Flavor. City tour Stroll along the picturesque riverside to visit the Made in Cambodia market for some sustainable souvenir shopping. Continue on to Wat Preah Prom Rat, the city's largest pagoda and reclining Buddha, where your guide will give you an introduction to how pagodas and Buddhism factor into daily Cambodian life. Then move on to Psar Chas (Old Market) which serves as a hub for everything from clothing and souvenirs to fresh produce and food stalls. This tour is a wonderful way to explore Siem Reap and gain insights about the town.

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Phnom Penh

Accommodation: Twin Rooms

Day 8

Phnom Penh

Eco Tour. Kulen Elephant Sanctuary & Apopo Hero Rats After breakfast, you will be collected by tuk tuk to take you to the Apopo Visitor Centre for a 1-hour demonstration of how these incredible African Pouch Rats are utilized as the fastest method of clearing landmines from the Cambodian countryside. Enjoy a leisurely 1 hour drive to the Kulen Elephant Forest where you will be greeted with tea and coffee on arrival before meeting the elephants and heading into the forest together for your half-day experience. The Kulen Elephant Forest is a haven where these retired elephants can interact freely, and are treated with the greatest care and attention. At the reserve, there are no tricks, no riding, and the elephants are free to roam and socialize as they please. You will enjoy a leisurely walk through the jungle, letting the elephants lead you where they want to go before returning to the sala by the elephant pool where you have the best vantage point to watch the elephants enjoy some play time. While the elephants frolic and bathe themselves in the purpose-built pool, you will assist the team in preparing some healthy elephant snacks for them to enjoy later and enjoy an afternoon picnic yourself. Return to your accommodation for a free evening.

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Phnom Penh

Accommodation: Twin share rooms

Day 9

Phnom Penh

Local Flavor. Angkor Wat Sunrise Temple Experience An early start this morning, you will be collected at 4:30am to make your way to the world-famous Angkor Wat to witness a spectacular sunrise over this ancient wonder. Arrive here in time to get yourself into position for the sunrise, your guide knows all the best locations. Watch as the sun ascends from behind the spires of this magical site and continue with a tour inside the temple. After your first temple of the day, you will find a nice spot outside the temple to relax on the lawn and enjoy your packed breakfast together. After breakfast, you will move on to the Hollywood portion of your tour with a visit to Ta Prohm, the temple featured in Angelina Jolie's Tomb Raider movies. Wander through these spectacular grounds before the crowds arrive for the day, our guide will not only tell you the history of this impressive structure but will present you with some mystery when you visit the famed dinosaur carving. From here it is an easy graduation onto the next UNESCO World Heritage Listed temple, called Bayon. This temple is famous for its many carved faces looking out over the ancient city of Angkor Thom. After your tour is complete, return to your hotel for a relaxing afternoon to enjoy some time in the swimming pool or take a nap before your evening activities. This evening you will be collected from your hotel at 6:15 pm to make your way to Phare Circus where you can enjoy a leisurely dinner of Cambodian street food options (own expense). After dinner, make your way into the big top for the show… The circus in Siem Reap is a social enterprise supporting Phare Ponleu Selapak, an art school in nearby Battambang that educates over 1200 children in the arts every year, for free! Your night out will not only provide you with a thrilling display of Cambodian artistry, but you will also be supporting an organization created by Cambodians to educate Cambodians. At the conclusion of the show, your transport will be waiting to take you back to your hotel for the evening or to drop you in town to explore a little more of Siem Reap’s nightlife

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Phnom Penh

Accommodation: Twin Rooms

Day 10

Phnom Penh

Sightseeing. Sambour Prei Kuk After breakfast, you will depart from your accommodation, bound for Phnom Penh. About halfway through this 6-hour journey, you will stop at a small local temple called Sambour Prei Kuk where you will enjoy a picnic lunch and some free time to explore the ruins at your leisure.

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Phnom Penh

Upon arrival in Phnom Penh, check into your accommodation to freshen up before joining the group for a farewell dinner at Kravanh Restaurant.

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Phnom Penh

Accommodation: Single or Double Rooms

Day 11

Phnom Penh

Thank you for visiting! Today is the end of our tour. Your tour leader can help you to arrange onward travel or to book transfers to the airport as required.

Before You Go

What to know before booking

Included

Airport pick-up in Phnom Penh English-speaking tour guides English-speaking tour leader All touring as specified in the itinerary including private transport around the country Angkor Temple Passes Circus tickets

Not Included

Personal expenses Visas International flights Meals not noted in the itinerary guide and driver tips

What to Bring

We highly recommend bringing sturdy footwear Please note that clothing that covers both your shoulders and knees is required to enter the temples for both men and women when visiting temples and other religious sites. Protection from the sun (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen) is highly advised and a rain jacket/waterproof gear is suggested.

Meeting & Pickup

You will be collected from your incoming flight to Phnom Penh International Airport

Planning Notes

Hotel pickup offered: Yes Confirmation: Manual By Business

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