Cambodia Birding Tours

TOUR DETAILS

This 7-day Cambodia birding tour starts and ends in Siem Reap, with visits to waterbird sites like Prek Toal, Ang Trapeang Thmor, and Angkor Park. Join Merry Travel Asia Birding Guide for an immersive experience exploring Cambodia’s diverse avian species.

Brief itinerary
Day 1: Siem Reap – Arrival
Day 2: Siem Reap – Angkor Temples Birding
Day 3: Ang Trapaeng Thmor Birding
Day 4: Kbal Spean Birding and Banteay Srei
Day 5: Tonle Sap Lake Kayaking and Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary
Day 6: Koh Ker Birding and Beng Mealea
Day 7: Siem Reap – Departure

Tour inclusive of:

Private tour with A/C vehicle
Professional local guide/birder
All entrance fees as per program
Boat ride, cycling, and kayaking
Meals as mentioned in the program
Accommodation in twin sharing

Tour exclusive of:

Visa fee to USD30 per person
Personal insurance
International flights
Other personal expenses

Day 1: Siem Reap – Arrival

Upon arrival at Siem Reap International Airport, you will be greeted and transferred by our birding guide to your hotel in Siem Reap for check-in. The best time to ride a tuk tuk with our guide to explore the entire city of Siem Reap as the locals do after dark. Enjoy tasting a variety of street foods, local beers, and visiting the night market.

Transportation: Private vehicle and driver
Guide: English-speaking guide
Meals included: Dinner
Accommodation: Lynnaya Urban River Resort (deluxe garden view) or a similar standard hotel

Day 2: Siem Reap – Angkor Temples Birding

After breakfast at the hotel, today we will trek through the jungle of Angkor to observe a variety of bird species native to the region, including woodpeckers, kingfishers, hornbills, and the endangered spot-billed pelican, making it a paradise for birdwatchers. We will visit key sites such as Angkor Wat, renowned for its stunning architecture and reflective pools where herons and kingfishers can often be seen; Phnom Bakheng, offering panoramic views and attracting songbirds and raptors; Angkor Thom, with its lush surroundings home to woodpeckers and orioles; Ta Nei, a secluded temple where hornbills and bulbuls are common; and Preah Khan, a dense, jungle-covered complex where tropical species like barbets and canopy-dwelling birds can be spotted, offering a rich blend of cultural exploration and wildlife observation.

Transportation: Private vehicle and driver
Guide: English-speaking guide
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Lynnaya Urban River Resort (deluxe garden view) or a similar standard hotel

Day 3: Ang Trapaeng Thmor Birding

After breakfast, we will transfer to Phnom Srok Village, which takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes by car, for birding at the lake of Ang Trapaeng Thmor, a renowned Ramsar Wetland and a key habitat for migratory and resident bird species. The area is home to a variety of waterfowl, including herons, storks, and red-crowned cranes, as well as raptors like brahminy kites and baitings. We will then ride local motorbikes into the more protected and dense jungle to spot additional bird species. If we’re fortunate, we may also see wildlife such as wild pigs and deer. After lunch, we will transfer back to Siem Reap.

Transportation: Private vehicle and driver
Guide: English-speaking guide
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Lynnaya Urban River Resort (deluxe garden view) or a similar standard hotel

Day 4: Kbal Spean and Banteay Srei

Breakfast at the hotel, then we drive approximately 60 minutes from Siem Reap to Kbal Spean Mountain, where we’ll hike about 2 kilometers uphill, enjoying opportunities to observe various bird species along the way. Upon reaching the top of the hill, we will visit the famous 1,000 Lingas carved into the riverbed and enjoy the scenic waterfall. Afterward, we will have lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we return to Siem Reap, stopping en route to visit the Banteay Srei temple and Banteay Samre, two renowned Khmer temples known for their intricate carvings and exquisite architecture.

Day 5: Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary

Early in the morning, we will leave the hotel around 6 a.m. with a breakfast box and drive to Tonle Sap Lake. Upon arrival, we will embark on a local boat and cruise to Mechrey Floating Village, where we can enjoy the breakfast box, explore the floating village, and then gently kayak in the mangroves, observing various waterbirds. Afterwards, we will continue by boat to Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary, a renowned protected wetlands area known for its diverse and occasionally rare avian species, including the vulnerable giant pelican, spot-billed pelican, painted stork, black-faced spoonbill, and raptors such as the white-shouldered eagle and eastern imperial eagle. We will have lunch at a local community before returning to the boat pier in the afternoon. From there, we will transfer back to Siem Reap by our vehicle and driver.

Day 6: Koh Ker Birding and Beng Melea

We begin with an early pick-up at 5:30 AM from your hotel in our air-conditioned 4×4, guided by an English-speaking bird expert. As we drive through fields and villages toward Koh Ker, we stop at scenic birding spots to enjoy a packed breakfast amidst the local wildlife. Upon arrival around 7:30 AM, we head into the surrounding dry and semi-evergreen forests to observe a variety of bird species and enjoy the natural habitat around the ancient temples. By 11:00 AM, we will explore the main Koh Ker temple complex, where you can marvel at its stunning architecture while spotting butterflies, dragonflies, and numerous bird species. After a local lunch outside the site at 12:30 PM, we continue our journey to Beng Mealea, where we spend a couple of hours exploring this beautiful, jungle-overgrown temple and its surrounding forest, enriching our birdwatching experience and enjoying the scenic ruins before returning to Siem Reap in the late afternoon.

Day 7: Siem Reap – Departure

Breakfast at the hotel, free at leisure until transfer to the airport for departure.

    
 
 
       Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Linda W 
 
 
 
 Verified Small agency with a personal touch
We have used Merry Travel for two trips now in Cambodia and will use them again for future travel to Southeast Asia. Staff is exceptional. The lovely Sreylin was endlessly patient with my MANY itinerary changes. We spent 8 days here in Cambodia in May and decided to return this January / February for a 45 day trip throughout the country ending with a long stay in Siem Reap. The hotels were exceptional - often held we would never have found on our own. The tours were all incredible and the transport top notch. We have used the always-smiling Vuthy often to guide us with excellent temple vista it’s. Highly recommend this small agency. The personalization is unparalleled.
  
 
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   Sarah W 
 
 
 
 Verified Great service!
We used Merry Travel services to assist with booking our accommodations & tours for a 2-week vacation in Cambodia. Communication was prompt, and we were very happy with the service provided!
  
 
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   Navigator18215729963 
 
 
 
 Verified If you're planning a trip to Cambodia, look no further than Merry Travel
If you're planning a trip to Cambodia, look no further than Merry Travel. This exceptional local company in Siem Reap operates with genuine pride for their beautiful country, and it shows in every aspect of their service. What sets Merry Travel apart is their commitment to creating personalized experiences. Every tour we took was specifically curated to match our interests, and each one authentically connected us to the city's rich history, vibrant culture, and wonderful people. This wasn't cookie-cutter tourism—it was meaningful travel. Sam from Merry Travel goes above and beyond in ways that truly matter. He works directly with local communities and makes a conscious effort to support Siem Reap's infrastructure and families. Throughout our travels, we felt the deep respect Sam and his team have for the Cambodian people and their culture—they ensure that tourism enriches rather than exploits the community. When you book with Merry Travel, you're not just getting an incredible experience—you're directly contributing to the local economy and helping the people who call this special place home. If you want a travel experience that's authentic, thoughtful, and genuinely supportive of the local community, Merry Travel is the only choice. Highly recommended!
  
 
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   TDK 
 
 
 
 Verified Surreal 14-day group bicycle tour of backroads Cambodia - Siem Reap to Phnom Penh
Our charity group of 18 over 14 days were led by Zil and his experienced team from the Siem Reap tour company - Merry Travel - beginning at the Siem Reap temples then northeast to the mighty Mekong River, then following the Mekong southward towards Phnom Penh - our cycle paths meandered through the authentic Cambodian countryside which tourists will never see - truly surreal and the best way to learn about the Cambodian history, people, food and their culture. Merry Travel team followed us with exemplary support - highly recommend this tour company based in Siem Reap for your Cambodian travel adventure. The bicycles were fantastic also. Thanks to Merry Travel and Mr Biker Saigon cycle tour teams.
  
 
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   Curiosity46430862428 
 
 
 
 Verified Championship
Bike trip in Bangkok Chiang Mai, it was an amazing trip professional and reliable company, the staff was very professional and did everything to make it a perfect trip, I would like to thank Sam the owner of the company I have no doubt we will meet again. thank you
  
 
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   Charlotte 
 
 
 
 Verified RECOMMEND
Professional, flexible and good organization. Cambodia is an amazing land to see by bike!!! Thank you for the good care
  
 
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   MB100Bxlls 
 
 
 
 Verified Amazing self-guided bike tour in Cambodia!
Just completed an amazing self-guided bespoke ebike tour with Merry Travel/Cambodia bikes. We are both 60 plus regular cyclists who normally travel ourselves, however with little planning time and this being our first visit to the region sought local guidance. So glad we did. The planning, which was initially done through Mr Biker Saigon, as we were doing similar tours in Vietnam, was seamless and provided for a more interesting tour than had we planned it ourselves. We provided a rough 'request list' and timings and they proposed routes incorporating several additional activities including trekking, kayaking and dolphin watching. Routes were provided on Bike with GPS and also a list of accommodation. All of which were in interesting places and local commmunity orientated, which we liked. The routes, which were generally on quiet and always interesting side roads and often gravel tracks - took us through amazing countryside, small villages and finally on a beautiful journey following the Mekong into Phnom Penh. We also had a vehicle which loosely followed us and our driver Makara - himself a cyclist - supported us with everything from transfers, bike maintenance when needed and interpretation. He also found us some nice coffee and food stops!! Overall a fantastic adventure. We loved the space and adventure afforded by self-guiding, but with the excellent backup support provided by Sam at Merry Travel and Makara throughout the journey. Thank-you!
  
 
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   Joanne G 
 
 
 
 Verified Best bike trip ever in Vietnam and Cambodia !!!
we had a wonderful trip with Cambodia cycling tour ; Southern Vietnam and then to Siem Reap . Sam did a great job planning this trip; it was a perfect balance of biking and cultural experiences and lots of fun . Our guides and crew in both countries were amazing ; knowledgeable and always helpful and went beyond our expectations to create and unforgeratble experience . Everyone was so welcoming and cant say enough about the food !! We really appreciated eating in local places . The hotels were nicer then we usually stay and the pools were amazing Thanks to Merry travel and Cambodia cycling for the trip of a lifetime !!!
  
 
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   Vicki M 
 
 
 
 Verified Amazing experience.
A group of friends spent 10 days with Merry travel cycling in Vietnam and Cambodia. It was the best trip I have ever had. We cycled thru neighborhoods in the Mekong delta. Our guide expertly provided insight and info. He was a perfect cycling guide adding a rich cultural experience as well as great biking.
  
 
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   Trev 
 
 
 
 Verified 5 stars out of 5. Everything was perfect.
We did a tailor made cycle tour with Merry Travel. From our communication with Sam, through to the actual tour with Zil and 'T', everything was brilliant. Sam listened to what we wanted to do, the sport of places we wanted to stay and organised everything from beginning to end. We didn't want to use tourist style chain hotels, and Sam found wonderful smaller locally run hotels. Perfect for us. Zil, our cycle guide and 'T', our driver couldn't have been better. All the places we stopped for lunch and snacks were just great. Just when we thought we couldn't cycle any further, 'T' appeared out of nowhere with fresh fruit, cold water and cold towels. Absolutely fabulous.

One of our travel specialists will customize an itinerary for you within 24 hours. Tailor-made service is free of charge and we will work together with you until every detail is satisfied by you.

Welcome to Cambodia, one of the hottest destinations in Southeast Asia offers an incredible amount of history and culture and its nature is simply amazing, to say the least; ranging from the gorgeous National Parks to the pristine beaches and relaxing islands, the flavors of Cambodia are not only in the exotic cuisines but also its overall ambiance.

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