Flight: TG580 Bangkok - Phnom Penh 07.55 - 09.05

Private transfer: On arrival in Phnom Penh, you will be welcomed to Cambodia by your local guide and transferred to the I-Roha Garden Hotel in a chauffeur driven car for a two-night stay.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Palace Gate Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Half day ‘Living History’ of Phnom Penh tour: This morning, take a look at the living fabric of Phnom Penh at the very beginning, Wat Phnom. The city's first pagoda was erected here in 1373 at the behest of the city's founder, Madame Daun Penh. You will then seek out some of the iconic buildings of the city, the national library (Le Bibliotheque), the classic Raffles Hotel Le Royal and the deserted Railway Station before heading north along Monivong Boulevard to the French Embassy, the site of the final evacuation of foreigners still in the city when the Khmer Rouge took over in 1975. Returning south, head to the former European Quarter for a look at the gorgeous French colonial-era buildings that have been restored near the Post Office such as Van's Restaurant and to see the locations used in the film City of Ghosts. Continue along Norodom Boulevard for a visit to Lycee Sisowath, first established in 1873 before sweeping onto The White Building, built in the New Khmer Architecture style of the 50s and 60s, to find out more about the current living conditions of the city's residents. Finish your look at the city's living history with a view over the capital from one of its highest points and a bird's eye look at the renovated art deco-styled Central Market.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Palace Gate Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Phnom Penh to Kampot: This morning, depart the capital for the journey to the riverside town of Kampot with optional sightseeing en route. The first stop can be made at Tonle Bati, to visit a series of temples including Prasat Neag Khmao, dating from the 10th century. Continue to Phnom Chisor for spectacular view over the surrounding plains from the 11th century brahmanic temple. After lunch at a local restaurant at own account, continue to Takeo and take a speedboat to Phnom Da Hill to explore caves with shrines carved into the walls, a pre-Angkorian tower and an Indian-style sandstone temple like no other in Cambodia. A direct journey will take around 3-4 hours, or longer depending on your sightseeing preferences.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at The Columns (Deluxe Balcony Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Guided tour of Bokor Hill Station: Drive a short distance from central Kampot and ascend the snaking road that winds its way up through the dense jungle of Bokor National Park. This is a beautiful road with an ugly past, as many hundreds of indentured labourers perished during its construction after the First World War. Emerge on a plateau and see the remains of the Black Palace, one of King Sihanouk's former residences up here. The views are incredible, as the jungle tumbles away to the coastline below. Continue to the abandoned hill station of Bokor, a cool retreat from the heat of the Cambodian plains for the French colonials. Explore some of the decaying buildings here, including the old Catholic church which sits eerily on the hillside and the shell of the Bokor Palace Hotel, once the most salubrious address in town. There are also the remains of an old casino here and a Le Corbusier designed house. After exploring the historic remnants of Bokor drive to the Popokvil Falls, a lovely waterfall set amid the jungle. After some time to relax in this scenic spot descend the mountain and return to your hotel in Kampot.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at The Columns (Deluxe Balcony Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Kampot to Kep: After breakfast this morning, depart Kampot and travel towards the old French seaside resort of Kep with sightseeing en route. The first stop will be made at Phnom Chhnork, a large cave that contains a 7th century brick temple in remarkable condition, this hidden temple is a very sacred place for local Khmers. Next, we continue to the little town of Kompong Trach. For a long time this place was forgotten, as the civil war kept it off the map, but the new border crossing with Vietnam has seen a bit of a boom. We stop to visit the interesting cave temple of Wat Kirisan, built into the base of Phnom Sor. We travel through a small cave to a hidden chamber open to the elements, the sheer walls dripping with foliage. There are several hidden shrines here, as well as the Cave of a Thousand Ricefields, where locals claim the limestone looks like terraces. Continue to your hotel in Kep, arriving in time for lunch.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Knai Bang Chatt (Garden View Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Day at leisure in Kep: Today your time is your own to relax at the hotel or explore independently. Optional day trips include visits to Rabbit Island, a Kampot Pepper farm or hiking in the Kep National Park - please ask for more details.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Knai Bang Chatt (Garden View Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Kep to Phnom Penh airport: After breakfast this morning, depart Kep and travel northeast to Phnom Penh airport, a journey of approximately 4 hours.

Flight: K6109 Phnom Penh - Siem Reap 13.55 - 14.40

Private transfer: On arrival in Siem Reap, you will be met by your local guide and taken to the Pavillon d'Orient for a three-night stay.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Pavillon d'Orient (Junior Suite)

Meals: Breakfast

Full day tour of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom & Ta Prohm: Probably the best time to visit Angkor Wat, the largest and most famous of the Angkor temples, is early in the morning, when the light is good and it is relatively quiet. Angkor Wat is visually, architecturally and artistically breathtaking. It is a massive three-tiered pyramid crowned by five beehive-like towers rising 65 metres from ground level. At the apex of Khmer political and military dominance in the region, Suryavarman II constructed Angkor Wat in the form of a massive 'temple-mountain' dedicated to the Hindu god, Vishnu. Angkor Wat is surrounded by a moat and an exterior wall and the walls of the temple are covered inside and out with bas-reliefs and carvings. Nearly 2,000 distinctively rendered apsara carvings adorn the walls throughout the temple and represent some of the finest examples of apsara carvings in Angkorian era art.

Angkor Thom (Big Angkor) is a walled and moated royal city and was the last capital of the Angkorian Empire. After Jayavarman VII recaptured the badly damaged Angkorian capital from the Cham invaders in 1181, he began a massive building campaign across the empire, constructing Angkor Thom as his new capital city. He began with existing structures such as Baphuon and Phimeanakas and built a grand enclosed city around them, adding the outer wall and some of Angkor's greatest temples including his state-temple, Bayon, set at the centre of the city. There are five entrances (gates) to the city, one for each cardinal point, and the victory gate leading to the Royal Palace area. Each gate, as well as much of Jayavarman VII's architecture is crowned with four giant faces. The giant stone faces of Bayon have become one of the most recognizable images connected to classic Khmer art and architecture. There are 37 standing towers, most sporting four carved faces oriented toward the cardinal points.

End the day at Ta Prohm, a hugely atmospheric due to the fact that has been left in the same state that many of the temples were first ‘discovered’ by French explorer Henri Mouhot in 1860. The tentacle-like tree roots here appear to be slowly strangling the surviving stones, a reminder that while empires rise and fall, the riotous power of nature marches on oblivious to the dramas of human history.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Pavillon d'Orient (Junior Suite)

Meals: Breakfast

Full day tour to Koh Ker & Beng Mealea: After breakfast travel to the lost temple of Beng Mealea, the titanic of temples, a slumbering giant lost for centuries in the forests of Cambodia. It is the most accessible of Angkor’s lost temples, a mirror image of Angkor Wat, but utterly consumed by the voracious appetite of nature. Constructed by Suryavarman II (1113-1150), the builder of Angkor Wat, the forest has run riot here and it is hard to get a sense of the monument’s shape amid the daunting ruins. Here it is possible to enjoy an Indiana Jones experience clambering about the vast ruin. For those who want a more gentle adventure, there is also a sturdy wooden walkway running right into the heart of the temple. It is also possible to visit a nearby Angkor-era quarry from where stone was cut to build these massive monuments.

Lunch will be taken in a local restaurant and afterwards you will head into the bush to the remote Angkor capital of Koh Ker. The history of Cambodia is riven with dynastic spats and political intrigue and one of the most memorable came in the 10th century when Jayavarman IV (928-942) fell out with his family, stormed off to the northwest and established the rival capital of Koh Ker. Although the capital for just 15 years, Jayavarman IV was determined to legitimise his rule through a prolific building programme that left a legacy of 30 major temples and some gargantuan sculpture that is on display in the National Museum in Phnom Penh. Return to your hotel in Siem Reap late this afternoon.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Pavillon d'Orient (Junior Suite)

Meals: Breakfast

Full day private boat trip across Lake Tonle Sap to Battambang: This morning, depart Siem Reap by road for the Tonle Sap Lake. On arrival at the lake board your private wooden boat for the fascinating 6-7 hours cruise to Battambang, crossing the lake before travelling up river. Enjoy views of the Cambodian landscape and the daily life along the river. A stop will be made en route at Cheur Khmao, or “Black Wood Pagoda”. A packed lunch is included on board.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the La Villa Hotel (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Morning Battambang Heritage Walking Tour: Battambang has a rich cultural heritage with a wide variety of interesting historical architecture representing the different phases of the city’s history. Start your walking tour at the Art Deco market, Psar Nath, constructed in 1936. Nearby, and facing the Sangker River, are examples of Chinese-French influenced shophouses, the only surviving Chinese temple, built 150 years ago, and buildings constructed during the period of New Khmer Architecture in the 1960s. Take time to visit the 1904-built Wat Damrei Sor (White Elephant Pagoda) before we visit the substantial collection of stone carvings and artefacts housed at the 1968-built Battambang Provincial Museum. Further south are the former homes of the Lord Governor and the Royal Residence, built by Cambodia’s celebrated architect, Vann Molyvann in the 1960s. It is also possible to visit the 1960s Cercle Sportif, still used as a popular public swimming pool today.

Afternoon tour of Battambang: This afternoon drive a short distance out of town to the Bamboo Train "station". The train comprises of a simple bamboo platform on 4 wheels with a small motor, and was created by local villagers to facilitate the transportation of goods. Travel 8km on the train to the next village through beautiful landscape and rice paddies. On arrival at the village visit a workshop specialising in wooden sculpture. Continue to the hilltop temple of Phnom Sampeau, a sacred mountain dotted with interesting pagodas and stupas. There is also a moving memorial to Khmer Rouge victims who were thrown into one of the many caves that pepper this holy mountain. Finish the tour with the dramatic spectacle of thousands of bats leaving one of the caves in streaming dark clouds as dusk descends.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the La Villa Hotel (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Battambang to Pailin: Set off from your hotel this morning for the drive to Pailin, a journey of around 1.5 hours.

Road journey from Pailin to Rayong boat pier: After crossing the border, meet your Thai guide and driver and set off on the drive to the boat pier at Rayong, a journey of approximately 3.5 hours. There will be opportunities to stop for refreshments en route.

Private speedboat transfer from Rayong to Koh Samet: Board your private boat for the 30 minute journey direct to your beach resort.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Ao Prao Resort (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Days at leisure: Free days to relax at your hotel, or explore more of the local area independently.

Accommodation: Stay these nights at the Ao Prao Resort (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Speedboat transfer: This morning, join a shared speedboat for the journey back to the mainland.

Private transfer: Back on the mainland, you will be met by your private guide and driver and transferred to the airport for your flight back to London Heathrow.

Meals: Breakfast