Siem Reap and the spectacular ruins at Angkor will surely be the highlight of this new Cambodia tour. Take a cycling trip around the vast complex and watch the most beautiful of sunsets. You can also visit ancient temples and shrines nearby Battambang and enjoy the sandy white beaches and warm waters of Sihanoukville, a relaxed tropical beach resort. A city tour of Phnom Penh, now a fashionable place with restaurants, shops and a buzzing night scene, will include a stop at Choeng Ek, the site of the notorious ‘Killing Fields’. Charming locals, stunning temples, wonderful scenery and enchanting markets make this the perfect choice for a great value Cambodian adventure!

TOUR SUMMARY

Day 1: Siem Reap

Day 2: Siem Reap

Day 3: Siem Reap

Day 4: Siem Reap - Battambang

Day 5: Battambang

Day 6: Battambang - Udong - Phnom Penh

Day 7: Phnom Penh

Day 8: Phnom Penh - Yeay Peah - Ta Prohm (At Tonle Bati) - Phnom Chisor - Kep

Day 9: Kep

Day 10: Kep - Bokor Mountain - Sihanoukville

Day 11: Sihanoukville

Day 12: Sihanoukville - Pich Nil - Phnom Penh

Day 13: Phnom Penh

DAY 1: SIEM REAP

Welcome to Cambodia! Your tour starts in Siem Reap, where you can use your hotel room from check in time (12 pm at noon) on Day 1. Your travel companions will also arrive this first day, the exact time will be depending on their flight schedule. You will meet your English speaking tour leader at 12 pm noon on Day 1 in the lobby of your hotel. There is plenty to do in this town that is the base for explorations of famous Angkor in the coming days. Pub Street is buzzing in the evening and a visit to the night market is highly recommended.

Overnight in SIEM REAP. Hotel Accommodation is included in this package.

DAY 2: SIEM REAP

Full day is free at leisure. Overnight in SIEM REAP. Hotel Accommodation is included in this package.

OPTIONAL - ANGKOR WAT

Today we travel to Siem Reap, the ‘gateway’ to the famous Khmer holy site of Angkor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On arrival you may want to ease your weary limbs with a massage at the Angkor Massage Institute, prior to visiting the charming covered market and trying some of the fantastic Cambodian cuisine from the numerous small kiosks. We recommend trying ‘amok’, a creamy fish curry served up in half a coconut shell.

Angkor, the capital city of the powerful Khmer empire in the 10th century is an enormous complex of 110 temples and one of the wonders of the architectural world. The temples were built over the course of hundreds of years by various Khmer rulers and Angkor has been ‘disappearing’ into the jungle for many years. To visit the site fully you will need two full days, and the best way is by moped-taxi or by remorque, a moped with a side car. Some of the temples have been restored but others have been overwhelmed by the jungle. There are many temples to visit, but make sure you see Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Banteay Srei.

You can also take a trip to the beautiful Banteay Srei complex 20 miles away through the rice fields. The many sculptures in the complex are some of the best in Angkor and when you have seen enough of the temples, the tour guide can organise an excursion to the nearby bird sanctuary of Preak Tuol. From a motorboat you can observe the traditional fishing villages and schools, shops and restaurants on the water. The strange ‘flooded forests’ are also a spectacle to behold.

DAY 3: SIEM REAP

Full day is free at leisure. Overnight in SIEM REAP. Hotel Accommodation is included in this package.

OPTIONAL - ANGKOR WAT

You have another day to explore the expansive temple complexes. At dusk you can go up to the Bakheng temple, near Angkor Wat, where you have beautiful views of Angkor Wat as the sun sets. Angkor Thom is the best example of a Bayon temple, built by King Jayavarman VII at the end of the 12th century. Its’ intrusive rock faces look down at you. In the middle of the Bayon temple you will see a statue of Buddha with both Shiva and Vishnu by his side. This temple is best seen at sunrise.

Note: To visit the temple complex of Angkor Wat you need to buy a ticket at the entrance. An access pass for one day costs 20 USD or for 2 or 3 days you pay 40 USD (prices subject to change).

DAY 4: SIEM REAP - BATTAMBANG

Today we board our private bus and travel for approximately 6 hours to the riverside city of Battambang.

Overnight in BATTAMBANG. Accommodation is included in this package.

DAY 5: BATTAMBANG

Today you can explore Battambang’s culture and history. Take an optional trip to Kor village passing by old colonial buildings before reaching Wat Kor (Kor Pagoda). Spend some time listening to the monks chanting and offer some small alms in exchange for a blessing from the traditional Jasmine flower, for happiness and good health. Stroll along the Stung Sangker River visiting villages with traditional Khmer style stilted houses before seeing local products being made such as rice paper, Khmer noodles, rice wine and bamboo sticky rice.

Continue onwards to Batt Salar village to see the local winery. Upon arrival you will be given a short presentation from the vintner (wine maker) and then you can taste the wine before being shown around the grape plantation. You will also have the chance to take the Bamboo train, a unique contraption that was initially built by the French to transport goods. By the evening you will be back at the hotel, where you can relax after a long days sightseeing.

Overnight in BATTAMBANG. Hotel Accommodation is included in this package.

DAY 6: BATTAMBANG - UDONG - PHNOM PENH

This morning after breakfast the bus will collect you for the journey to Phnom Penh (approx. 6 hours not including stops). Along the way you will stop at Udong, the former capital of Cambodia in the early 17th century. Here you will find several temples, stupas and other structures that span three hills. From Udong you have an impressive view of the countryside. You then continue to Phnom Penh, stopping at several silver-manufacturing villages along the way.

Overnight in PHNOM PENH. Accommodation is included in this package.

DAY 7: PHNOM PENH

According to legend it was founded in 1372 by a rich lady called ‘Penh’. And the ‘Phnom’ part of the name is the Khmer word for ‘mountain’. During the reign of Pol Pot, Phnom Penh became a ghost city and was largely destroyed. The Tuol Sleng-prison and the Choung Ek, better known as the Killing Fields, bear testament to this tragic past.

In recent years Phnom Penh has become a fashionable, sparkling city with a broad boulevard along the Tonle Sap River, with many restaurants, terraces, local shops and pumping nightclubs.

You can have a massage from the blind masseurs known as the ‘Seeing Hands’, visit the National Museum with its beautiful collection of history from the Khmer period and Wat Pra Keo a unique building incorporating 5,800 kg silver and home of a Buddha made from ninety kilos of pure gold encrusted with ten thousand diamonds. Nearby you can visit the Royal Palace and its ‘silver temple’ and at the Russian market you will find everything from earthenware bowls and hammocks to gold and jewelry. A visit to the Art Deco central market is a must.

Sustainable Tourism: The Apsara Art Association in Phnom Penh strives to preserve traditional Cambodian art and culture through teaching. This includes teaching disadvantaged children Cambodian dance and music. The Apsara Art Association also provides education, housing, food and other daily necessities to orphans and poor children. During weekdays you can see how the kids practice their dance and music. On Saturday you can see a performance. This association is supported by our local partners by paying the annual salary of 2 teachers.

Overnight at the PHNOM PENH. Hotel Accommodation is included in this package.

DAY 8: PHNOM PENH - YEAY PEAH - TA PROHM (AT TONLE BATI) - PHNOM CHISOR - KEP

Following breakfast you will depart Phnom Penh for Kep. Along the way it is possible to stop to explore the seldom-visited temples of Yeay Peah, Ta Prohm (at Tonle Bati), and Phnom Chisor (a hilltop pagoda). After arriving in the forgotten seaside town of Kep, transfer to your hotel and take the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in KEP. Hotel Accommodation is included in this package.

DAY 9: KEP

If you choose, you may join an optional excursion to visit Kep’s famous crab market and relax on Koh Tonsay. Travellers often overlook Kep but it is a real gem nestled in Cambodia’s coastline. Should you join the trip, your day will begin with a visit to Kep’s teeming crab market, known for the sweetest crab-meat in all of Cambodia!

Next, hop on a local boat for the 30-minute journey to Rabbit Island (Koh Tonsay), where secluded white sand beaches and coconut trees await. Koh Tonsay or ‘Rabbit Island’ is located about 4.5 kilometers southwest of Kep. The sea here is shallow, making it excellent for swimming and also for snorkeling, where there is a good variety of coral, sea animals and plants. Enjoy a day of relaxation before boarding the local boat to the mainland, returning to Kep just in time to see the sun set over the sea.

Overnight in KEP. Accommodation is included in this package.

DAY 10: KEP - BOKOR MOUNTAIN - SIHANOUKVILLE

This morning you will make the short trip (approx. 3 hours) to Sihanoukville. Along the way you will visit the imposing Bokor Mountain. Bokor used to be home to French colonial villas and even an old church, the remains of which can still be seen today. After this stop you will continue on to Sihanoukville.

Overnight in SIHANOUKVILLE. Accommodation is included in this package.

DAY 11: SIHANOUKVILLE

Sihanoukville is the perfect place to relax, at the end of your trip. Take to the white sand beaches and enjoy eating the fresh seafood on offer. You may also like to join a boat excursion for a day on an uninhabited island where you can go snorkeling.There are plenty of barbeque spots and beach bars to keep you entertained in the evening. Hop on a tuk-tuk for a cheap and easy way about town.

Overnight on SIHANOUKVILLE. Hotel Accommodation is included in this package.

DAY 12: SIHANOUKVILLE - PICH NIL - PHNOM PENH

This morning you will leave Sihanoukville to return to Phnom Penh. The journey will take about 4 hours. Along the way you will have a short stop at Pich Nil where you will see dozens of spirit houses line the road. Many houses are maintained for Yay Mao (Lady Mao), the deity who oversees the southern coastal region of Cambodia. Most Khmer travellers make a short stop to pray for Yay Mao and offer bananas and a little money in return for their safe passage. Early this afternoon you will arrive back in Phnom Penh where you can enjoy the evening as you please.

Overnight in PHNOM PENH . Hotel Accommodation is included in this package.

DAY 13: PHNOM PENH

Today is the last day of your tour where you can spend some more time exploring Phnom Penh before you leave to travel home. We wish you a comfortable journey home and are sure you will take with you some wonderful memories of Cambodia.

When booking your tour, please check to see whether you need any post-tour nights, bearing in mind that accommodation for the night of the final day of the tour (Day 13) is not included.

Note: The above journey time per day is of course approximate.

* Hotel check-out times are midday. Late check-out is not included.

PRIVATE TOUR

*Accommodation & Transportation is subject to availability at booking moment & Tour price is subject to seasonal fluctuations

Included:

• All transportation with air conditioned (mini) bus
• Hotel accommodation with breakfast
• Visit Udong, Yeay Peah, Ta Prohm, Phnom Chisor and Pich Nil
• English speaking tour leader

Excluded:

• International flights
• All other meals
• Personal expenses (drinks, laundry, telephone, tips etc.)
• Gratitude to guide and driver
• Other services not clearly indicated in the package inclusions above
• Optional excursions
• optional trekking from Sapa (reservation should be done at time of booking tour)
• All entrance fees
• Booking fee
• Airport transfers
• Travel insurance
• Visa Fees, airport taxes or any other government fees or additional surcharges