Cambodia Overland

• Arrive in Phnom Penh and transfer to your hotel. Take some time to settle in and let it sink in — over the next few days, you won’t just see Cambodia, you’ll experience it from the road.

• In the evening, meet your fellow travellers and the AO team, the people who’ll share highways, hidden routes, local stops, and stories with you. We’ll walk you through the drive, the convoy, and what lies ahead.

• The day ends with a relaxed welcome dinner; easy conversations, new connections, and that quiet excitement knowing that tomorrow, the journey truly begins.

• We fire up our vintage jeeps and roll out of Phnom Penh, cutting through the city’s early chaos before the roads begin to open up. Soon, asphalt fades into rural trails; winding past rice fields, wooden homes, and villages where life moves at its own pace.

• Our first real taste of adventure takes us off-road to the secluded Rovieng Temple, an 11th-century temple built under King Suryavarman I, known for its remote location and deep-rooted Hindu influences. The terrain is raw, the drive is thrilling, and the reward is a place few travellers ever reach.

• From here, we continue deeper into the countryside towards Budh Kiri—the “Mountain of Buddha,” where thousands of golden statues blanket the hillside. A climb of 199 steps leads to a towering 10-metre Buddha and sweeping views that make it all worth it.

• The day winds down with a scenic uphill drive into Kirirom National Park—cooler air, forested roads, and a fitting end to our first day on the road.

• We leave behind the cool forests of Kirirom and get back behind the wheel, heading towards the wild, untouched expanse of the Cardamom Mountains. The roads begin to twist and turn, with river crossings and rolling terrain setting the tone for a proper off-roading adventure.

• The drive starts along Highway 48, but the real journey begins as we turn off at Andeung Tuk and head towards the remote village of Chi Phat. To get there, we load our jeeps onto a local ferry and cross the river.

• Beyond Chi Phat, the route gets raw. Once considered nearly impassable, this stretch now offers one of the most exciting off-road trails in Cambodia; narrow dirt tracks, dense jungle, and the kind of terrain that makes every kilometre feel earned.

• By evening, we arrive at our quiet riverside retreat where you settle into safari-style tents and retire for the night.

• We set off deeper into the Cardamom Mountains, a region that once felt almost impossible to cross, where the sense of remoteness hasn’t faded even today.

• While a new highway connecting Koh Kong to Battambang now cuts through these mountains, we take the road less travelled; seeking out raw trails, hidden detours, and stretches that will solely belong to you and your vintage jeeps.

• Along the way, we cross the Techo Santepheap Russey Chrum Bridge—the highest bridge in Cambodia suspended high above the valley, where the drive briefly feels like it’s floating through the mountains.

• The drive keeps shifting. One moment you’re cruising past plantations, the next you’re winding through narrow backroads, with every turn revealing a different side of Cambodia.

• The day ends with an off-road climb into Veal Veng, where your hilltop stay opens up to sweeping valley views—well earned after a drive like this.

• We leave Veal Veng behind and ease back onto the road, the landscape opening up into rolling hills lined with banana, durian, and mango plantations. It’s vibrant, alive and best experienced from behind the wheel.

• Midway, we pause by a quiet riverside to take a breather, soak in the surroundings, and enjoy the stillness before getting back on the road.

• The drive picks up again as the tarmac fades and the trail turns raw. You follow narrow countryside tracks, the kind that pull you deeper into the surroundings, passing by the rural retreat of Angelina Jolie almost unexpectedly along the way.

• The final stretch into Battambang takes us through lush backroads and local villages, with a quick stop for fresh coconuts before we roll into the city, ending the day on a high note, with stories from one of the most varied drives yet.

We leave Battambang behind, following riverside roads that ease us into the day, serving as a reminder that some of the best drives are the simplest ones.

Along the way, we pause in a small village where life moves gently. Watch locals prepare rice paper by hand, share a few smiles, and soak in a slice of everyday Cambodia that feels personal and unfiltered.

We continue towards Blue Beret Hill—a place tied to Cambodia’s recent history, once used by UN peacekeepers and now offering sweeping views of the surrounding landscape.

For the final stretch, we leave the main road behind one last time, taking on off-road trails through villages and countryside before rolling into Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor Wat, where the journey shifts from roads to ruins.

• Today feels special from the moment we set out. We drive out of Siem Reap in our vintage jeeps, leaving the usual routes behind for narrow tracks through rice fields and quiet countryside.

• The drive continues, and then almost unexpectedly, Prasat Banteay Ampil reveals itself—a remote 12th-century temple tucked deep in the jungle. Walking through its weathered corridors, it feels like a discovery that’s entirely your own.

• By afternoon, we arrive at Angkor Wat—the largest religious monument on Earth. Spread across 300 acres, its five lotus-like towers rise above you, and as you walk through, the scale of it all slowly sinks in.

• We end the day at Angkor Thom and the Bayon temple, known for its 54 serene stone faces, before heading back to our accommodation for the night.

Your final morning in Cambodia begins at a slower pace, with a private transfer to the airport for your journey onward.

As you leave, it’s not just the places you take back, but the drives, the moments, and the feeling of having experienced Cambodia in a way few do. Until the next road calls.