Images Of Cambodia

Day 1: Phnom Penh Arrival

WELCOME TO CAMBODIA!
Phnom Penh is the capital and most populous city in Cambodia. Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonization of Cambodia and has grown to become the nation’s economic, industrial, and cultural center.

Upon arrival inside the arrival terminal of Phnom Penh International Airport, look for our representative who will be holding the signboard with your names on it. Our Representative will assist you with the immigration and lead you to the baggage claim where you can pick up your luggage while waiting a bit to get your passport back after it is stamped. Then, our representative will accompany you to meet the guide, who is waiting outside the arrival terminal. You will be then transferred to your hotel for check-in (early check-in is not included and is subject to the hotel’s availabilities)

Included for the day:
Transport: Private vehicle and drive
Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: No
Accommodation: Le Royal Hotel or a similar standard resort

Day 2: Phnom Penh – City Tour & Dinner Sunset Cruise

Breakfast at the hotel.

Our guide and driver pick you up from the hotel and start the tour by visiting to Tuol Sleng Museum.
Toul Sleng was a high school prior to 1975, an interrogation prison known as S-21 during the Khmer Rouge era, and today it is a genocide museum. It tells the sad story of the thousands of innocent Cambodian people who were tortured on its grounds. Walking through the narrow corridors and former classrooms of the buildings will give you an eerie feeling of being part of Cambodia’s turbulent past. The stories of the victims are documented and some torture devices are on display for visitors to learn about the suffering the people endured. Photographs were taken of each prisoner passing through the prison and hundreds of the haunting black and white photos are now on display in the museum. While this experience may be depressing, it is recommended to visit in order to truly understand the cruel methods of control the Khmer Rouge implemented over the country. And then we continue to visit the Russian market and return to your hotel for lunch. Lunch on your own.

Pay an afternoon visit to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, two of the finest examples of Khmer architecture in the capital. The Royal Palace was built in 1866 by the French for King Norodom. The grounds of the palace are also home to the Silver Pagoda, which received its name because its floor is made up of 5,329 silver tiles. The palace has been inhabited by kings at all times with the exception of the period when the radical Khmer Rouge party took control in 1975.

Next, enjoy the boat ride for the dinner cruise along the Mekong River.
Phnom Penh is situated between two rivers, the Mekong River and the Tonle Sap River. At night when the sunlight fades and the neon lights appear along the river banks, small cruise boats will take you out onto the river to take in the city from a different perspective. Witness the sunset over the Royal Palace and the Mekong River while enjoying a cocktail. A catered dinner from one of Phnom Penh’s well-established restaurants is served shortly after sundown. Enjoy a leisurely cruise while enjoying dinner and taking in the sights along the river bank including many local Cambodian families and friends socializing. Cruise back to the port and transfer back to your hotel.

Included for the day:
Transport: Private vehicle and drive
Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Accommodation: Le Royal Hotel or a similar standard resort

Day 3: Phnom Penh – Siem Reap (fly) – Monk Blessing

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Phnom Penh Airport to fly to Siem Reap.
Welcome to Siem Reap. Siem Reap is a sleepy backwater serving as a gateway to the ancient capital of Angkor. It is hard to believe that at its peak in the 12th century, this was one of the most advanced civilizations in the world and home to more than 1 million inhabitants.

Upon arrival at Siem Reap Airport, meet the guide, who is waiting outside the arrival terminal. You will be then transferred to your hotel for check-in (early check-in is not included and is subject to the hotel’s availabilities) – Free at leisure

At 3.00 pm, our guide and driver pick you up from the hotel for a Siem Reap Orientation Tour and drive through the world heritage city of Siem Reap to visit the main local main shrine Preah Ang Chhek Preah Ang Chhom. Get to one of the local coffees for a drink, our guide will get you more detailed information about Siem Reap and the country. Next, drive to Wat Damnak, one of Siem Reap’s most beautiful pagodas. The French colonial architecture reflects its history and serene-looking Buddhist statues positioned around the spacious grounds create a tranquil atmosphere. Bring candles and incense sticks to the pagoda to participate in a private blessing ceremony, performed by the resident monks. Sit on a hand-woven mat while the monks chant ritual blessings and sprinkle holy water (believed to offer good luck) before tying a sacred thread around your wrist. The monks will offer you a small keepsake to remind you of this special moment. Dinner at Chanrey Tree Restaurant

Included for the day:
Transport: Private vehicle and drive
Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Accommodation: Phnom Baitang Resort or a similar standard resort

Day 4: Ta Prohm – High Tea – Angkor Thom

Rise early and beat the crowds at the photogenic Ta Prohm temple of “Tomb Raider” fame, the temple that had nearly disappeared into the jungle and remains overgrown, an oddly haunting and exotic scene. The magnificent roots of a tree, pushing between the huge stone blocks of the temple in a sort of embrace, evoke feelings that you may remember forever. Undisturbed by crowds of tourists you can better appreciate the interplay of man and nature at this magical site. Then, walk through the Sra Srong village – just behind Ta Prom temple exploring the villagers making wooden carvings and palm leaf weaving. Enjoy a coffee break at one of the villagers’ houses and the opportunity to interact with the local family. Back to the hotel after the visit for a late breakfast

Afternoon, we drive to explore the mysterious Royal city of Angkor Thom. Its 50-tower temple is an awesome sight. At first glance, it seems a shapeless mass of stone, but further scrutiny reveals a face, and then another and another until suddenly you are engulfed by the silent, heavy, enigmatic, silent gaze through half-closed eyes, staring out from a primitive and remote time. Enter at the Victoria Gate before uniquely walking along the 8m high wall through the forest to the less touristy Death Gate. Passing behind the Terraces of Elephants and Leper King walk through the shaded parkland to Phimeanakas and Baphuon temples, learning about the trees and fruits used locally. End our sightseeing this afternoon with a visit to Bayon temple with its iconic carved faces.

Included for the day:
Transport: Private vehicle and drive
Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Phnom Baitang Resort or a similar standard resort

Day 5: Countryside Cycling – Village Cooking Class – Floating Village Boat Ride

Breakfast at the hotel.
Our guide and driver pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to the outskirt, the cycling spot.
Start cycling to the beautiful green village of Krobey Riel, which means Wild Buffalos. Stop at the village and our guide will walk to view the organic vegetable garden venture. The ladies apart from usual house care – make their living by weaving cane baskets which sell for $2–$3 each, and the men farm their plots in the village. During this interaction, you can have greater insights into how these farmers live their lives. Get to one of the Khmer Traditional Houses and get ready to cook some Khmer gourmet food (for your lunch). The organically grown vegetables are grown in the home’s garden or bought directly from villagers in order to support the local community. Our highly regarded chef will take you step by step through the correct method of preparing some delicious Khmer foods. After completing this cooking journey – you get to enjoy your own meal (don’t worry – if it’s a disaster, we’ve got you covered). Transfer back to your hotel in Siem Reap by a support vehicle and relax.

Afternoon, drive towards the Tonle Sap Lake and make a brief stop at Wat Athvea. This 12th-century temple was used as a training ground for workers who would later build Angkor Wat. Continue to Chhong Kneas floating village where your boat awaits you for a trip onto Tonle Sap Lake. In the wet season, the lake expands to 16,000km², making it the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. Cruise through the floating village where you can observe the local way of life and champagne and canapés are served on board. Return to the port after sunset and head back to your hotel in Siem Reap by car. Dinner on your own

Included for the day:
Transport: Private vehicle and drive
Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Breakfast, lunch (village cooking class)
Accommodation: Phnom Baitang Resort or a similar standard resort

Day 6: Sunrise – Angkor Wat with Scholar – Food tour & circus

Wake before sunrise this morning and make the 15-minute journey with your guide for Sunrise at Angkor Wat. Your guide will take you to a serene viewpoint where you can experience the dramatic sunrise as the first rays of the day kiss the magnificent temple’s good morning. It is certainly one of the most unique places in the world for sunrise but be forewarned, you won’t be alone!
Angkor Wat, a legendary UNESCO World Heritage Site. Said by some to symbolize the soul of the Khmer people, the magnificent temple was built during the reign of King Suryavaman II in the early 12th century. Historians believe that many of the fascinating basreliefs and stone carvings immortalize many of the mighty king’s wars. Images of Apsara dancers decorate the five famous towers which replicate the universe according to Hindu mythology.

After sunrise, continue to explore the site with a renowned scholar who works with the Angkor Temple Conservation Institute. He will draw on his vast knowledge to provide you with a concise overview of Khmer history and culture through the lens of archeology. Learn about some of the unanswered mysteries that face contemporary scholars, as well as the challenges of archeological conservation. Take a stroll through the elaborately carved hallways of Angkor Wat as the Khmer Empire is brought to life through the stories contained in each of the bas-reliefs and murals. Drive back to your hotel in Siem Reap for a late breakfast, and relax.

At around 05:00 pm, depart by tuk-tuk with your guide (~ 1.5 – 2 hours) for an orientation tour around the town. You will enjoy your tuk-tuk through the city, and stop at FCC bar for a glass of cocktail or one drink before we ride onto Angkor Kyung Yu Road, otherwise known as Road 60 where busy street food stalls well away from the cozy tourist bars line up along the streets. This area is hugely popular with local families who come out to dine in the early evening; it’s a real feast of the senses. You will see a range of exotic fruits, grilled meats, and if you’re brave enough fried insects. Cambodians love to eat and virtually anything is on the menu. Your guide will show you how to eat all kinds of bugs, large and small- don’t worry you don’t have to try, but you might be surprised and have a new favorite snack and fruits you never knew existed! You will rejoin your tuk-tuk to the town as well as take a walk through the alleys and side streets around the Old Marker area, and enjoy your dinner at Red Piano.
Next, you are transferred to the theater to enjoy Phare Ponleu Selpak Circus (from 08:00 pm to 09:00 pm), Siem Reap’s most unique, authentic, top-rated evening entertainment. More than just a circus, Phare performers use theater, music, dance, and modern circus arts to tell uniquely Cambodian stories; historical, folk, and modern. The young circus artists will astonish you with their energy, emotion, enthusiasm, and talent. Drive back to the hotel, and relax.

Included for the day:
Transport: Private vehicle and drive
Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Breakfast, dinner (during the food tours)
Accommodation: Phnom Baitang Resort or a similar standard resort

Day 7: Siem Reap – Departure

Breakfast at the hotel
Free until transfer to the airport for departure

Included for the day:
Transport: Private vehicle and drive
Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Breakfast