8 days Self drive jeep adventures Cardamom Mountains

The wait is finally over! It's time to fire up our vintage jeeps and escape the city. While we'll navigate the morning traffic at first, the world will change dramatically as we leave the main road behind. The asphalt gives way to rural paths that wind past endless rice fields and through tranquil villages where life moves at a different pace.

We'll take on our first off-road challenge to reach the secluded Rovieng Temple. Because this hidden gem is so difficult to reach, you’ll find hardly any other travelers here. But our jeeps are built for adventure, allowing us to conquer the terrain and discover a temple shrouded in history. Built in the early 11th century by King Suryavarman I, the temple is dedicated to the Hindu deities Shiva and Vishnu, and its lack of tourists only makes it more thrilling to explore.

From there, we'll continue our journey, piloting our vintage jeeps toward the magnificent Budh Kiri, The "Mountain of Buddha," a site that truly lives up to its name. This is no ordinary pagoda. The sprawling hillsides are a sight to behold, lined with tens of thousands of shimmering, gold-plated Buddha statues that seem to stretch as far as the eye can see. The ultimate adventure awaits at the heart of the complex. To reach the towering 10-meter Buddha, you must first conquer a climb of 199 steps. Your ascent is watched over by a breathtaking sea of 2,000 gold-plated statues, each a silent companion on your climb to the top. This is just the beginning of a monumental quest, as the founders' ultimate goal is to have an astonishing 84,000 statues, symbolizing a grand legacy of enlightenment.

We forged ahead, navigating our jeeps along winding country lanes—this is the perfect playground for our vehicles, a breathtaking landscape to drive through! The final stretch is a climb uphill into Kirirom National Park. This is our destination for the night, and our reward is a simply spectacular view that awaits!

Leaving the refreshing landscapes of Kirirom National Park behind us, we climb back into our trusty jeeps. Today, an exhilarating journey awaits as we venture towards the majestic Cardamom Mountains, the road ahead winding gracefully through rolling hills. Our adventure will include the unique experience of fording four picturesque rivers, each presenting its own distinct charm and fantastic photo opportunities.

The initial leg of our drive will take us along the smooth expanse of the new Highway 48. However, our true exploration begins at Andeung Tuk, where we'll turn off the highway and delve deep into the heart of the Cardamom Mountains, our destination being the remote village of Chiphat. Before reaching this hidden gem, we'll enjoy a scenic river crossing by ferry boat, adding another layer to our adventure.

Historically, the terrain between Chiphat and Areang was considered impassable, defying even the efforts of motorbikes. But recently, a new dirt road has been carved through this challenging landscape, offering an exciting and exclusive jeep trail. While reaching this area requires a bit of effort, those who are keen can seize the opportunity to trek to a hidden waterfall nestled deep within the lush jungle.

As the late afternoon sun casts long shadows, we'll arrive at the tranquil Kravanh La Vallee. Here, you'll settle into comfortable safari tents, immersing yourselves in the natural surroundings. The inviting restaurant, conveniently located beside the gently flowing river, will be the perfect place to unwind and share stories of our day's discoveries.

We wave goodbye to Kravanh La Vallee, and adventure calls us further into the Cardamom Mountains, where our jeeps feel right at home. Not long ago, this area was impenetrable for regular cars. Since 2013, we've been braving the dusty dirt roads here with our jeeps, with a 150-kilometer journey taking almost a full day – a true expedition!

Now, a brand new, smooth asphalt road winds its way from Koh Kong to Battambang. But don't let that fool you! For us, the thrill of traversing this breathtaking landscape in our jeeps remains as strong as ever. We consider this one of the absolute gems of Cambodia. And believe it or not, we've still discovered some fantastic off-road routes that make our hearts beat faster.

Especially the final leg of the journey to your accommodation is a real treat for the adventurer in us. With our vintage jeeps, we rumble along narrow dirt tracks, past sprawling plantations and through picturesque villages – an authentic experience! Our destination for tonight is a unique place, strategically built on a hilltop. Prepare yourself for a spectacular view of the surroundings, a reward after this exhilarating day.

We drive through beautiful landscapes and hills with vast plantations of bananas, durian and mangoes. We have lunch at a small river where it is also possible to swim. Today, we're also leaving the paved world behind as we delve deeper into the unknown! We've discovered a magnificent, rural route that will take us right through the heart of the surroundings, with a special endpoint: the legendary countryside residence of Angelina Jolie. Prepare for an adventurous ride along winding paths, where the real Cambodia will present itself to us in all its rugged beauty. Unfortunately, we are not allowed to enter Angelina Jolie's house, but a sneaky view from the fence gives us a little peek into her summer residence.

We're taking an exciting detour into a charming little village famous for its abundance of coconuts! This isn't just a rest stop—the wonderful locals are preparing a fresh coconut specifically for you, allowing you to taste the most refreshing, delicious juice imaginable! Just one more hour of cruising and we'll reach tonight's destination. Get ready for the final stretch!

You will start your tour in the morning with a ride on the famous bamboo train. The bamboo train is a 2.5m x 4m raft-like device that is made from bamboo for local villagers to transport their goods. There is really no other way to describe it other than “simple but inspired”. There is only one track used for both directions so if you see someone coming in the other direction the drivers you will have to decide which train has the lightest load. The train with the lighter load or fewer passengers must be ready for a little exercise as you will have to unload the goods and people and remove the train from the track to let the other train go by. On the way we will stop to visit the villagers and see how they produce local products such as fish paste, sticky rice, rice wine, rice papers, noodles, and clay pots which are commonly used in the countryside to collect rainwater. You will also get a chance to learn more about the Khmer Rouge when you visit the Well of Shadows, taking a monument to honour the people killed during the war. Near the monument you will get the opportunity to visit the hundreds of Fruit Bats that hang on trees producing a loud and interesting noise. During lunch you will have the opportunity for a cool and refreshing swim. After lunch ride traverses through small villages and criss-crosses between rice fields towards Phnom Sompov Mountain. The mountain is about 140 meters high and has more than 800 steps to reach the top. You will avoid climbing up all the steps by taking a motorbike up the first part of the mountain to visit the temples, shrines, and killing caves used during the Khmer Rouge period. Once at the top you will also have a beautiful view over all of Battambang and enjoy a truly vast and beautiful scenery. You will end your journey before sunset by walking down the mountain steps and visiting the “bat army” – thousands of bats flying out of their caves in the mountain side at dusk. Afterwards you will return to your hotel to eat, rest and reflect on what has been a full and fascinating tour.

We are rolling out of the resort and following the scenic river that flows right through Battambang! This riverside area is a hub of traditional craftsmanship, and we're making a fantastic stop to see it up close.

We'll visit a wonderful local family who produce delicate rice paper for spring rolls completely by hand every single day—a mesmerizing process! You absolutely must try the local snack, sticky rice cooked inside bamboo (Kralan). It's an unforgettable culinary experience! Our journey also includes a stop at a truly unique sight: an entire army tank monument sculpted completely from stone!

Just before reaching Siem Reap, we'll immerse ourselves in the beautiful world of silk at a traditional silk farm. Get ready to learn the entire fascinating process, from the tiny cocoon all the way to a finished, luxurious silk scarf!

Finally, we complete our expedition the only way we know how: taking the adventurous route! We'll tackle the last stretch into Siem Reap on exhilarating small dirt tracks, ensuring a memorable, off-road arrival into the city.

Embark on an expedition in a vintage jeep. Our vintage jeeps are ready to take you on an unforgettable adventure. Just like Henri Mouhot, who rediscovered the temples of Angkor in 1863, you too can begin your own expedition in a vintage jeep. Leaving Siem Reap, we'll catch a final glimpse of Angkor before venturing off the beaten path. We'll turn onto a tiny, sandy track that's impossible for buses or tuk-tuks to navigate. Our jeeps will carve a path through rice paddies and palm trees. And then, suddenly, a laterite stone wall will appear, revealing a hidden temple deep in the jungle. This temple has stood for over a thousand years, weathering the test of time. Explore its ancient halls and feel like Indiana Jones or Lara Croft.

In the afternoon you will visit the talismanic temple of Angkor Wat, the biggest of all the temples, which has survived the sands of time and remained in marvelous condition. Here you will be able to marvel at its dominating towers and sheer presence, as you take your rime walking around inside. Next you will continue to Angkor Thom, with the spectacular Bayon temple. Here 54 intricate and visually stunning four-headed Buddha statues will eye you as you walk round this quite magnificently preserved temple, truly one of the most impressive sights of the temple complex.

The final journey of your trip in Cambodia will be a private transfer to the airport in Siem Reap to catch your flight. We hope that you have enjoyed a wonderful trip through this truly beautiful country, and that you are leaving with happy memories which will last a lifetime. Cambodia has so much more still to offer, and we would be delighted to welcome you back anytime to show you more of this fantastic country and its charming people. If your flight departs later in the afternoon you will have the opportunity to visit the Angkor National Museum, Theams Gallery or Apopo Hero Rats.