Cambodia
Birds and temples

Wednesday 1 - Saturday 11 February 2012 (11 days)

Endangered Bengal Floricans, Greater & Lesser Adjutant Storks and Giant Ibises are among the treats in store for us on our pioneering trip to Cambodia - together with some of the most impressive historic sites in the world, including the magnificent temples of Angkor Wat. Our trip will also help local conservationists protect the vulnerable forests of the area.



The Angkor Wat temples in Cambodia are justly famed as one of the top must-see historical sites on earth. But Cambodia's historical riches don't stop there - many other ancient temple complexes can be found, often overgrown by the luxuriant rainforests.

In addition, Cambodia is also increasingly being seen as one of Asias's top wildlife destinations, with its wetlands nearly as important for birds as its jungles.

We've teamed up with one of Cambodia's top ecotourism organisations, the Sam Veasna Center (SVC). The aim of SVC is to provide sustainable alternative livelihoods for local communities in the provision of eco-tourist services.

On this tour we naturally start with Angkor Wat, but continue to a complex of similar size, but much less renown: Banteay Chmar. Next day will see us at one of the country's best wetlands, followed by a visit to one of the most remarkable places we've ever been to - a floating village, where the houses move up and down according to water levels! We'll have lunch in one of the floating houses.

We then travel to a grassland area look for one of the country's most charismatic birds - Bengal Florican, extremely difficult to see and highly endangered over most of its range, before finishing the tour with a stay at Tmatboey Lodge, with endangered Giant Ibis in one of their only two Asian breeding sites nearby.

Although there are several long days on this tour with early starts, this is partly to make the most of the cooler times of day when bird life is at its most active, but is also due to a lack of suitable accommodation near to some of the best sites. During the middle of the day we will be resting.

Price: £ 2,995
Single supp.: £ 145
Deposit: £ 400 per person

The price is per person and includes scheduled return flights London/Siem Reap, airport taxes, ground & boat transportation as described, accommodation on a full-board basis, local taxes, incidental tips, and the services of the leaders.

The price excludes holiday insurance, optional tips to local drivers/guides, drinks and other personal expenses.

* Please note that guaranteed single rooms are not available for the three nights at Tmatboey

Cambodia map

Accommodation
Accommodation in Siem Reap will be a 'boutique' hotel with all rooms en suite. Other accommodation at Tmatboey is as described in the text.

Climate
The cool dry season lasts from December to March. This is the best time to visit Cambodia when the daytime temperatures are low thirties and the heat is dry

Walking
 Bird watching is from the car, by boat and on foot. Hiking boots are recommended for the forest walks which will be very gently paced.

Leaders: Paul Harvey with local guides

Numbers: Max. 14 clients

Outline Itinerary
Day 1We leave London on an overnight flight to Kuala Lumpur, arriving the next day and connecting with a flight to Siem Reap in Cambodia.
Days 2-3We arrive at Siem Reap in time for lunch and a late afternoon trip to Angkor Wat. Next day we'll make early morning and evening visits to Angko . Two nights Siem Reap
Day 4We make a very early start for the Sarus Crane Reserve. After a morning here we drive back via the temples of Banteay Chmar. Overnight Siem Reap
Day 5We make an early start and transfer to a small covered boat for the journey to Prek Toal where we transfer to local small covered 'long-tail' boats. The village of Prek Toal, adjacent to the reserve, floats at the mouth of the Sangke River where it flows into the lake Overnight Siem Reap
Days 6-8The critically endangered Bengal Florican and many other water-birds are found in the grasslands around the Tonle Sap Lake. After visiting the Florican grasslands we will head for the temples of Beng Melea which we visit in the afternoon. We continue on to Tmatboey Lodge for a three night stay. The village is renowned as one of only two known nesting sites in Asia for the Giant Ibis that use large trees in the forest away from the village. Three nights Tmatboey Lodge
Day 9After a last morning's birding and breakfast at Tmatboey, the group will return to Siem Reap via Koh Ker Temple. Overnight Siem Reap
Day 10We travel to the airport for our return flight to London via Kuala Lumpur, arriving on Day 11.

Click here for a full, printable itinerary