CAMBODIA

Mekong to the Coast

NEXT TRIPS (13 DAYS):
FROM 23.12.2026 - 04.01.2027
FROM 09.01.2027 - 21.01.2027
FROM 20.03.2027 - 01.04.2027

MAXIMUM 6 PEOPLE

MONDULKIRI AND KAMPOT

GUIDE IN ITALIAN & ENGLISH

OVERVIEW

From the Mekong to the mountains and the coast, the authentic soul of Cambodia
13 days / 12 nights · Mondulkiri and Kampot

One of the most special itineraries in Southeast Asia: it begins and ends in glittering Phnom Penh, crossing eastern Cambodia towards the Vietnamese border — through green valleys fed by the Mekong, mountains still to be discovered and small rural villages. A slow pace, to taste the country's true essence and meet a people who welcome you with a genuine smile — a contrast you grasp from the very first days, when you learn their harder history.

From Kampong Cham, three days alongside the local NGO OMW, you head down to Kratie to sail in search of the rare freshwater dolphins, then climb to the cool air of Mondulkiri among treks, waterfalls, ethical elephants and Bunong villages. A night bus closes the journey in the south, at Kampot, among pepper, salt flats and Bokor National Park.

Route map of the Cambodia trip from the Mekong to the coast
Route map of the Cambodia trip from the Mekong to the coast
Nature

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Culture

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Adventure

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Relax

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City

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Effort

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ITINERARY

  • Flight from Italy to Phnom Penh. Overnight on board.

    With flight included: departure from Italy on 23 December 2026, 9 January 2027 or 20 March 2027, depending on the departure.

    Own flight: you must arrive in Phnom Penh on 24 December 2026, 10 January 2027 or 21 March 2027 respectively.

  • Once we land in Phnom Penh, we head to the hotel to officially form the group, then go out for dinner in the Cambodian capital — a trip briefing and a chance to get to know our travel companions before heading to Kampong Cham. (Night in Phnom Penh)

  • Before leaving the capital we visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, an essential stop for understanding Cambodia today. We then transfer to Kampong Cham for our first authentic taste of rural Cambodia: we walk across the famous bamboo bridge, discover temples along the Mekong and meet the local NGO OMW (On My Way) for the first time, at a restaurant run by the young people who grew up within it. (Night in Kampong Cham)

  • Today we explore the rural world around the town aboard a typical Cambodian means of transport, visiting wonderful temples — including the site where today's Angkor Wat was originally to be built, and the "Hill of the Man and the Woman" temples tied to a local legend — along with Kampong Cham's most iconic spots. (Night in Kampong Cham)

  • In the morning, together with the OMW team, we explore the remarkable island of Kaoh Samraong, known for its tobacco and cotton plantations, where the NGO works every day to give local schoolchildren an environmental education. A transfer then takes us to Kratie, where we enjoy a relaxing sunset on the banks of the Mekong and wander the local market. (Night in Kratie)

  • The day begins with a visit to Koh Trong island, just opposite the town, and continues after lunch with local temples and a cruise on the Mekong aboard electric boats, in search of the freshwater dolphins that live in the waters near Kratie. (Night in Kratie)

  • Waking in Kratie, a transfer leads us to Sen Monorom, set at the foot of the Mondulkiri National Park mountains. The drive takes much of the day, but on arrival the cool climate welcomes us with a first short walk to discover this beautiful park. (Night in Sen Monorom)

  • Our first full day in Sen Monorom is dedicated to elephants: an ethical experience designed not to disturb these majestic animals' way of life in any way. Venturing deeper into the forest, we have a picnic lunch among the waterfalls, in a spot renowned for its rich wildlife. (Night in Sen Monorom)

  • Our last day in Sen Monorom is given to the Bou Sra waterfall — Cambodia's most spectacular, set over several tiers — followed by local coffee plantations and the villages of the Bunong minority, all interspersed with walks in this timeless corner of the world. In the evening we board a night bus, with sleeping berths, that will bring us to Kampot the following morning. (Night on the night bus)

  • Once in Kampot, we take the whole morning to relax and enjoy a good breakfast, before heading up to the top of Bokor National Park: we drive the scenic roads that lead to the summit of this magnificent massif, returning at sunset. (Night in Kampot)

  • We spend the day on the plains east of Kampot: we visit a local plantation for a pepper tasting, sample fresh fish at the Kep market and, at sunset, reach the salt flats for a breathtaking spectacle, before returning to Kampot to enjoy the evening on the riverfront. (Night in Kampot)

  • A transfer brings us back to Phnom Penh, where we discover the lively, festive soul of the capital and hunt for last souvenirs to remember this wonderful journey, before a final dinner all together ahead of the return. (Night in Phnom Penh)

  • A day for goodbyes, then off to the airport to fly home and bring this unforgettable experience to a close.

Ruins of an ancient stone temple
  • Bamboo bridge over the Mekong at Kampong Cham
  • Ancient stone statues at a temple
  • Stone stupas in a temple garden
  • People sitting in front of a large seated Buddha statue
  • Cows beside a village house
  • White seated Buddha on a tiered pedestal
  • Golden Buddha statues in a temple garden
  • Buddha statue under colourful prayer flags
  • Sunset over the river
  • Painted columns and murals inside a Buddhist temple
  • Ornate temple towers against the blue sky
  • Green countryside with palm trees
  • Long staircase through the forest to a temple

How much it costs?

With flight: return flight from Italy included

3’590 CHF

Without flight: book your own flight and meet us there

2’690 CHF

Everything you need to know

    • Cambodia requires a visa

    • Easiest: tourist e-Visa at 36 USD, issued in 3–5 working days, valid 30 days

    • Alternative: Visa on Arrival (~30 USD cash, longer queues)

    • Passport valid 6+ months, with at least 2 blank pages, + 1 recent passport photo

    • Complete the free Cambodia e-Arrival form online within 7 days before arrival → QR code

    • Travel insurance with cancellation and assistance cover, valid for the whole trip, is compulsory and not included in the price

    • Accompanied by a coordinator from Switzerland throughout

    • 60–70 L travel backpack + a daypack (all overland, no strict flight weight limits)

    • Light summer clothing + one light fleece for cool evenings

    • Light rain/wind jacket

    • Comfortable trekking shoes + light footwear

    • Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen

    • Sarong for temples

    • Strong insect repellent + after-bite

    • Universal adapter, torch, power bank

    • Wet wipes, earplugs, sleep mask (useful for the night bus)

    • Personal medication with original prescription

    • Optional: something to donate (clothes, medicines, school supplies)

    • Dress modestly at temples (shoulders and knees covered); remove shoes where required

    • Always ask before photographing people, especially in villages and NGO settings

    • E-cigarettes/vapes are banned — best left at home

    • Carry and declare the original prescription for any psychiatric medication

    • Tipping is appreciated

    • A calm, respectful manner is always best

    • Duration — 13 days / 12 nights

    • Where — Phnom Penh, Kampong Cham, Kratie, Mondulkiri (Sen Monorom), Kampot

    • Pace — slow and relaxed; medium physical effort (3/5)

    • Getting around — overland by van, night bus and train

    • Guide — coordinator from Switzerland (local official guides where required)

    • Health — no mandatory vaccinations; recommended: typhoid, hepatitis A/B, rabies, Japanese encephalitis, tetanus; malaria risk in rural/forested areas — see a travel-medicine doctor

    • Money — USD + Cambodian Riel (KHR) in parallel (~4,000 KHR = 1 USD); bring clean USD notes; cards only in cities

    • Electricity — 230 V, plug types A, C, G; universal adapter

    • Welcome dinner + final group dinner

    • All breakfasts

    • All accommodation

    • Stage-to-stage transport + transfers to hotels, stations, airports

    • Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (Day 3)

    • "Viva la Pizza" dinner (Day 3)

    • Exploration around Kampong Cham (Day 4)

    • Kaoh Samraong island visit (Day 5)

    • Mekong dolphins + temples at Kratie (Day 6)

    • Elephant experience + forest trek with lunch, Sen Monorom (Day 8)

    • Pepper tasting + Kep market (Day 11)

    • Coordinator from Switzerland throughout + full assistance

    • Meals and all extra food expenses

    • Drinks

    • Personal expenses (tips, porterage, laundry, extras)

    • Any extras at lodges/hotels

    • Visa (e-Visa ~36 USD)

    • Travel insurance with cancellation and assistance cover (compulsory)

    • Anything not expressly listed under "What's included"

  • Per person:

    • Without flight: 2’690 CHF

    • With flight: 3’590 CHF

Meet your guide:

Andrea Arnoldi

Nice to meet you!

For me travelling means discovering the world through the eyes of those who live it every day. I believe there's a deep difference between travelling and taking a holiday: travelling means being moved, sharing, and connecting with a smile even when there's no common language.

I've explored Europe, North and Central America, Asia and North Africa, always in my favourite way: on the road, living each place to the full. But the journey that changed my life was leaving everything behind for nine months in Southeast Asia — Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia — an experience that made me grow as a traveller and as a person.

Andrea Arnoldi at a mountain viewpoint
Andrea Arnoldi, WUJ tour leader
Andrea Arnoldi at a fruit stall
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