DAY 1: Siem Reap to Kompong Thom via Sambor Prei Kuk
After breakfast, we depart Siem Reap and head southwest along National Highway 6 towards Kompong Thom. We continue to the junction town of Kompong Thmor where we leave the main highway and pass through the rubber plantations of Chamkar Leu District. We eventually come to the Mekong River at Stung Trang, where we experience a local lunch. We continue north until we reach a local ferry crossing to traverse the Mekong. Our road journey continues on east bank, passing through the old river port of Chhlong, home to some of the best examples of French colonial architecture in the country. We then reach Kratie, a sleepy Mekong port and gateway to an encounter with the rare freshwater Irrawaddy dolphin that inhabit the upper reaches of the Mekong in Cambodia. We board a boat and travel out to our island camp in the Mekong. The camp is set on a beautiful sandbar, surrounded by flooded forest and abundant birdlife. We enjoy a private dinner on the island.
DAY 2: Kampi and the river dolphins, on to Si Phan Done
We enjoy a private breakfast on our island before heading off to encounter the rare Irrawaddy dolphin which inhabits this stretch of river. We use our motorized boat to access the deep pools where the dolphins are found before switching to local paddle boat to avoid disturbing these gentle creatures. Viewing is commonplace, although it is easier to see the dolphins in the shallower waters of the dry season, than in the swollen river of the wet season. After spending some time alone with these rare creatures, we return to the mainland for our onward journey.
We then continue north on the new National Highway 7 towards Stung Treng. We travel to the Mekong Blue weaving centre to learn about traditional silk production in northeast Cambodia. Originally established to help vulnerable women in the province, the Mekong Blue project is now the largest employer in Stung Treng.
After lunch in Stung Treng, we head north towards the Lao-Cambodian border at Dong Kralor where we complete the immigration formalities. Please note that Lao visas are not available at this crossing (Cambodian visas ARE available on arrival), so you need to arrange a visa in advance. Hanuman can assist with this during a stay in Phnom Penh. Once across the border, we stop to visit Khone Phakpheng, a huge waterfall on the Mekong that is sometimes referred to as the Niagara Falls of Southeast Asia. We continue on to Don Khone or Don Khong where we check into a local hotel.
Hanuman is a member of the Cambodian Association of Travel Agents and the Cambodian Community-based Ecotourism Network. Hanuman was cited in ‘The Guide to Responsible Tourism in Cambodia, Laos & Vietnam'.
