Siem Reap and the spectacular ruins at Angkor will surely be the highlight of this new Cambodia tour. However, also Phnom Penh also has a rich recent history and you will get first-hand information about the cruel rule of the Khmer Rouge and the shocking sights of Toul Sleng prison and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. This trip will take you around Cambodia to show you the horrors of the past and the promises for the future. You will get to take in all the culture and history that Cambodia has to offer. You’ll get to meet charming locals, see stunning temples, cycle amongst wonderful scenery, visit museums, watch spectacular sunsets and go shopping at quaint yet enchanting markets!

TOUR SUMMARY

Day 1: Phnom Penh

Day 2: Phnom Penh

Day 3: Phnom Penh

Day 4: Phnom Penh - Siem Reap

Day 5: Siem Reap

Day 6: Siem Reap

Day 7: Siem Reap

DAY 1: PHNOM PENH

Upon arrival Phnom Penh airport, your tour leader will meet with you and transfer you to the hotel. Your tour leader will brief you on everything you would like to know about the area, from the history and culture to distinctive and enlightening curiosities. Phnom Penh has a charm of its own. Repopulated after Vietnam ousted the Khmer Rouge in 1979, the rebuilding and development of this vibrant city continues to pick up pace. It is now a safe place to move around and day-/nightlife are flourishing, as is the local arts scene.

After checked into your hotel, the remainder of the day is free at your own leisure or personal exploration.

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

DAY 2: PHNOM PENH

After breakfast at the hotel, we take a closer look at the genocidal past and learn why Cambodia was referred to as the Killing Fields. Although the Khmer Rouge only ruled the country for a period of 3 years, 8 months and 21 days, this chapter of history devastated the county, its heritage and its people. Toul Sleng is a former high school that the Khmer Rouge used as a centre for torture and interrogation; it now serves as a museum of torture. Of the 17,000 people who passed through the gates of S21 only 7 survived to tell the tale. We also visit the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek; where prisoners from S21 were taken to be executed. Formerly a Chinese cemetery Choeung Ek became a mass grave where the remains of 8985 people were found. This is a sobering experience and although it’s very interesting it may not be for everyone.

When we finish this morning’s tour we make our way back to the capital. En-route we recommend to stop for lunch at PSE (Pour un Sourire d’Enfant). This is a fantastic project that has rescued thousands of children from scavenging on the rubbish dumps around Phnom Penh. We learn more about their excellent work and have a look around the project. Hundreds of smiling students great us on our way as we move away from the horrors of the past, and focus on the promise of the future.

This afternoon we visit the Royal Palace, which is the current Cambodian Monarch King Sihamoni’s home. Inside the Palace complex we will explore the manicured gardens and the Silver Pagoda with its floor made from over 5000 silver tiles. Inside is a life sized Buddha encrusted with 9584 diamonds.  

We then take an alternative mode of transportation and experience a local cyclo tour including some of the architectural landmarks of the city. We’ll travel along the Tonle Sap River, Past the Post Office and Le Royal Hotel (The Raffles) and circumnavigate Wat Phnom. The cyclo is the ideal way to enjoy the frenetic pace of Phnom Penh’s street life; actually you become a part of it, from the relative comfort of one of South East Asia’s iconic modes of transportation.

We conclude our afternoon with a refreshing drink on the balcony of the FCC (Foreign Correspondents Club) overlooking the river and the busy streets.

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

DAY 3: PHNOM PENH

This morning we leave the busy streets of the city behind and go to enjoy Koh Dac a quiet little island in the Mekong River. Also known as Silk Island, a large percentage of the inhabitants weave silk on traditional looms. We take a local Tuk Tuk to get the ferry trip to get there and then have the option of walking around the island for an insight into local weaving traditions but equally an insight into daily rural life away from the hustle and bustle of the city, a life still enjoyed by the majority of Cambodia’s population.

We return in the afternoon with time to visit some of Phnom Penh’s markets or time to soak up the last hours of the day watching the world go by from one of the many great cafes and bars in the city. You are free at your own leisure. For those who have strength to explore further on their own, we recommend visiting the National Museum and/or Wat Phnom.

At the National Museum we find the world’s finest collection of Cambodian sculpture. Many of the pieces here pre date the Angkorian period and follow its history to the 18th Century.

Wat Phnom, translated as “hill temple”, is the tallest and most important temple in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. The temple was erected on a manmade, 88-foot-tall mound overlooking the city. Wat Phnom is heart of Phnom Penh. It became an important religious site since Daun Penh, a wealthy widow who lived in the west bank of Chrap Chheam River (Tonle Sap River), found five Buddha statues in the hole of Koki trunks which were floating on the water to stuck at Daun Penh high land. Then, in AD 1372, Daun Penh ordered people to pile up earth at northeast her house and used those trunks to build up a temple on the hill to keep the five Buddha statues; since then the temple was named as Wat Phnom Daun Penh (Wat Phnom).

Today Wat Phnom is one of the most important tourist destinations in Phnom Penh for both locals and foreigners. Local Cambodians believe that Wat Phnom is a very sacred religious site. They always come here to pray for good luck, with the strong believe that their wish will come true one day. Wat Phnom is a beautiful place with many tall trees surrounding the temple area; these trees are the home of hundreds of monkeys and bats. To watch the sunset from the top of the hill is sublime with a stunning view over the tree-lined avenues of the city.

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

DAY 4: PHNOM PENH - SIEM REAP

In the morning you say farewell to Phnom Penh and travel by private vehicle to Siem Reap. You will journey alongside the Tônlé Sap River which flows into the shallow Tônlé Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake of Southeast Asia. Numerous streams feed the lake and it then drains by the Tônlé Sap River west to the Mekong River. During the wet monsoon season of June to November, the high waters of the Mekong River reverse the flow of the Tônlé Sap River and increase the size of the lake from about 2,600 to 10,400 square kilometers. As it begins to recede again, the lake’s huge stocks of fish are easily trapped in nets and bamboo traps or simply caught in the branches of trees.

A couple of hours north of Phnom Penh, we make a stop at the town of Skuon, where the local delicacy of fried spiders is offered! We also make a stop at Kampong Kdei to visit the Ancient Bridge, the highest and longest of the 800 years old ancient bridges, spanning approximately 85m in length and 14m in height. Though it was originally agreed by competent authority that the ancient bridge was to be rehabilitated without any bypasses, cultural heritage considerations soon took precedence. The bridge was built in the 12th century during the reign of King Jayavarman VII. It is one of the few Khmer empire era bridges to have survived to the modern day.

Before reaching Siem Reap we will make another stop at Kampong Pluk, visiting the local life to enjoy the stilted and floating village. Here hundreds of families live on the shores of this mighty lake. Fishing is the main source of income and as the afternoon grows old we can see many fishermen returning from their hard day’s work. We also have the chance to visit the flooded forest, another magical site! If you wish, we can stay here to see the sunset before we make our way to our hotel in Siem Reap.

Upon arrival in Siem Reap, we drive directly to the hotel and the remainder of the evening is free time for personal exploration and relaxation.

Siem Reap is the former capital of the great Khmer Empire and now a town full of ambling lanes full of stalls offering local food and interesting handicrafts which will have you mentally trying to find more room in your suitcase.

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

* During low water season (around from March/April to September/October), the boat is not operated and we offer the trekking around the mangrove forest, visit the local villages including the styles of high houses, market, experience of the local lifestyle, and chat to the local people, …etc. for the alternative.

DAY 5: SIEM REAP

Today we immerse ourselves in one of the most astounding archaeological sites in the world. The magnificent Angkor complex of temples scattered over an area of 200 square kilometers, with only Egypt’s Nile Valley providing any kind of comparison in terms of such a vast array of monuments. The Khmer kings ruled from this ancient seat, reigning over the largest, most prosperous and sophisticated kingdoms in the history of South East Asia. At the height of their power, the kings of Angkor controlled territories that extended from the tip of the Indochina peninsula, northward to Yunnan and from Vietnam, westward to the Bay of Bengal.

We start early at Ta Prohm when the birds and parrots outnumber the tourists. Ta Prohm is especially serene and beautiful in the early morning. It is one of the highlights of any visit to Angkor, giant trees spread their roots across the temples giving the impression that nature is very much in control. Shrouded in dense jungle the temple of Ta Prohm is ethereal in aspect and conjures up a romantic aura. It was built about mid-12th century to early 13th century (1186) by the King Jayavarman VII, dedicated to the mother of the king (Buddhist). It gained worldwide fame by the movie Tomb Raider as one of the movie’s locations.

Leaving this amazing jungle temple behind, we drive towards to Bayon, for most visitors it is Angkor’s most moving temple. The base reliefs are among the most interesting in Angkor and offer an insight into the past. They show re-enactments of the war against the Chams and also scenes of daily life depicting childbirth, pig fights, drinking and farming. There are also 54 standing towers each bearing four faces of a figure believed to represent both Loksvara (the Bodhisittva of compassion) and the great King himself. These faces literally come to life with the changing light of the rising sun. We time our visit when most other visitors have departed to encourage a truly magical experience!

We continue our visit to the ancient city of Angkor Thom, built by the most prolific of all temple builders King Jayaverman VII. Having expelled the marauding Chams from Angkor, the king set about building a huge walled city, surrounded by a wide crocodile infested moat and entered through 5 enormous ornate gates. Within the great walls were numerous temples, palaces and residences. We take an in-depth look at the Terraces of the Elephants, the Leper King, the Royal Palace, and Baphoun. We then move on to the best preserved South Gate and return to our hotel for a refreshing rest or a swim in the pool.

In the afternoon we return to visit some of the most well preserved carvings in the region at Angkor Wat, one of the world’s most impressive temples constructed between the 9th and 13th centuries and the largest Hindu structure in the world. The temple is home to hundreds of fine carvings of Apsara and Hindu mythology. Stroll around the massive hallways to discover small shrines still in use today by the local people. Return to one of the grass terraces in front of the five massive towers of Angkor Wat to watch the sunset before transferring back to your hotel.

This evening we enjoy a wonderful dinner performance of traditional Apsara and Folk dances. Although not as famous as Thai dance, Khmer Apsara dance is actually where Thai dance originated from. Tonight we are entertained by dances originally saved for Royal audiences in Siem Reap’s most beautiful surrounding.

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

DAY 6: SIEM REAP

This morning we leave Siem Reap behind and travel north through villages and rice fields to the holiest of all mountains in Cambodia, Phnom Kulen. It is believed that the founding father of Angkor, King Jayavarman II, proclaimed himself a “God King” and the ruler of an independent Cambodian Kingdom in 802. As a result, this is a place of pilgrimage for locals and gets very busy at weekends and public holidays. However, it receives few international tourists and spending a day away from the hordes can be a highly rewarding experience. Khmers take time to visit the modern pagoda, sacred statues and waterfall. It’s very easy to spend the full day here!

This holy mountain is littered with interesting sites and the order of our visit today will depend on your preferences. We arrive after travelling on a wonderful winding road carved through the surrounding jungle. A look back reveals where we have just come from, a landscape blessed with giant prehistoric boulders.

Today we plan to visit a large reclining Buddha carved into a massive sandstone boulder. There are also hundreds of lingas carved into the rock bed of a waterfall that runs into the Siem Reap River, this distributed holy water to the irrigation channels that supplied the ancient cities. We will stop around noon at a stunning waterfall. Here we can take a cooling splash and relax for a while. Just across the stream are other ruins creating a fantastic atmosphere!

Later we prepare for our return back to the civilization to Siem Reap town. Having some time to refresh, we invite you to walk around the town itself, and we will suggest the best dining options available, from international restaurants to hidden Cambodian culinary gems. The Pub Street (and the surrounding alleys) offer a wide variety of restaurants and bars to choose from in the evening, or you may continue to the Night Market for some great souvenir shopping or perhaps a “Dr Fish” massage.

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

DAY 7: SIEM REAP

Today is the last day of your tour where you can spend some more time exploring 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.

* 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:

• Transfer from and to the airport
• Accommodation in hotel
• Daily breakfast, Dinner show on Day 5
• All transfers with private air-conditioned (mini)buses if not stated otherwise
• Local English speaking tour leader (full escort in Siem Reap)
• All entrance fees for the sites

Excluded:

• International flights
• Personal expenses (drinks, laundry, telephone, etc.)
• All other meals not specified in itinerary
• Gratitude for driver and guide
• Visa fees
• Travel Insurance, airport taxes or any other government fees or additional surcharges
• Optional excursions