Authentic Cambodia
DAYS
DAY : 01
DAY : 02
DAY : 03
DAY : 04
DAY : 05
DAY : 06
DAY : 07
TOUR
Arrival – Transfer in – Siem Reap
Siem Reap
Siem Reap
Siem Reap – Battambang
Battambang
Battambang – Udong - Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh – Departure / Transfer to airport
Overnight
Siem Reap
Siem Reap
Siem Reap
Battambang
Battambang
Phnom Penh
Day 1: Arrival transfer to the hotel – Siem Reap
Arrive at Siem Reap International Airport and transfer to the hotel (rooms may not be ready until the afternoon).
This afternoon, hop on Tuk Tuk visit Wat Preah Prum Roth Pagoda and you can chat with the Monks to learn more about Buddhism. A monk will perform a 5-minute cleansing ceremony by pouring bowlfuls of water over you, after which you will feel remarkably calm and cleansed. Then, visit “Les Artisans d’Angkor – Chantiers Ecoles”, this centre is working with young artisans; the team creates, produce and market a unique collection of ornamental sculpture, lacquer ware, silk weaving and silk painting. The company promotes fair, sustainable development in order to provide benefits to the rural communities. Time at leisure at the local market.
Overnight stay in Siem Reap
Day 2: Siem Reap
Breakfast at hotel.
In the morning, hop on Tuk Tuk to visit the South Gate (with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk), the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century), Bayon temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), Baphuon (recently re-opened after years of restoration), the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Then end your morning visit to visit Ta Prohm, one of the area’s most beautiful temples, Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Its appeal lies in the fact that, unlike the other monuments of Angkor, it was abandoned and swallowed by the jungle, looking very much the ways most of the Angkor temples appeared when European explorers first stumbled
Afternoon, visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat’s five towers symbolize Meru’s five peaks – the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond. Sunset at Angkor Wat.
Overnight stay in Siem Reap
Day 3 : Siem Reap
Breakfast at hotel
Kulen Mountain Range: Morning, drive through the typical Khmer countryside to the holy Kulen Mountain range which provided some of the stones used to build the Angkor temples. With beautiful sceneries to admire on the way up, our vehicle will bring us on a steep dirt road to the top of the mountain. There we first will see the site of the Lingas carved in the riverbed by successive kings of the Angkor period and a walk further will bring us to the site of a huge natural rock with on top a big reclining Buddha carved in the rock. Our walk will also bring us to a waterfall, don’t forget your swimsuits and join the locals! More carvings in the riverbed can be discovered above the waterfall. This is also a very popular place for Khmer people to come and enjoy their weekend with a picnic.
In the afternoon, drive to the typical Khmer countryside and visit Banteay Srei temple (10th century), regarded as the jewel in the crown of classical Khmer art. Stop at a local village to visit families who are producing palm sugar. Then return to Siem Reap.
Overnight stay in Siem Reap
Day 4 : Siem Reap – Battambang by overland
Breakfast at hotel
Take an ox-cart through the country side and visit a floating village. Take an excursion in a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle Sap Lake, the “Great Lake” of Cambodia, one of the wonders of Asia. Continue to the Silk Farm at Puok.
Lunch at local restaurant on site
Then continue to drive to Battambang via Sisophon by overland. Make a stop at Preah Net Preah to see the village of stone carving.
Arrive in Battambang, the second largest city in Cambodia, located on a rich and fertile plain which provides much of the rice and other important crops for the country. The Sangker River cuts through the town center, which is filled with colonial and shop house architecture.
Enjoy Battambang’s truly unique form of local transportation and take a ride on the Bamboo Train through the picturesque countryside.
Check-in at the hotel.
Overnight stay in Battambang
Day 5 : Battambang
Breakfast at hotel
Drive along the picturesque Sangker River to Wat Slaket pagoda, the residence of the provincial Buddhist patriarch. Visit a Khmer Ancient House and make a stop to see the production of rice paper used for making spring rolls. Continue to visit Wat Ek Phnom. Visit a market where Prahoc, the Cambodian fish paste, is made. Return to town for a beautiful Architecture-Walking Tours.
Drive to Phnom Banon, with its five sandstone towers on top of a hill and enjoy the magnificent view. Continues your visit to Phnom Samphov, a hill with the Killing Caves of the Khmer Rouge, a few others caves adorned with Buddhist statues, and a monastery with two Buddhist Stupas on the hilltop. You can see a cave about 100 metres or so up the rock face. Before sunset, you can witness a steady stream of bats exiting the cave. It takes about 40 minutes for all the bats to leave. There must be tens of thousands of bats that make this journey every night.
Overnight stay in Battambang
Day 6: Battambang – Phnom Penh
Breakfast at hotel
Early morning departs Battambang for the overland transfer to Phnom Penh (duration 5½ hours not including stops)
Stop to visit Udong, Cambodia’s former capital. Visit first the colorful Vipassana Dhura Buddhist Meditation Center where you will hear about the school of Vipassana or Insight Meditation. After that walk up the steps to the various temples and the three large stupas where the ashes of three former kings are preserved. You will be rewarded by wonderful views of the plains below. Picnic lunch will be served on the site. En route to Phnom Penh, stop to visit the silversmith village of Kompong Luong. Once the royal port for Udong, the village has been home to generations of silversmiths.
Arrive in Phnom Penh, enjoy a joint Sunset Cruise on the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers.
The boat will pass past floating villages, providing great views of the city’s rapidly changing skyline. Transfer to hotel for check-in.
Overnight stay in Phnom Penh
Day 7: Phnom Penh - Departure
Breakfast at hotel
Phnom Penh city tour: start your city tour with Cyclo to visit to Wat Phnom temple, Phnom Penh’s namesake. Founded in 1373, the pagoda was built to house Buddhist relics washed ashore by the river. Then continues to visit the National Museum, also called Musee des Beaux-Arts. A French archaeologist and painter, Georges Groslier, designed it in Khmer style in 1917. The museum contains a collection of Khmer art – notably sculptures – throughout the ages. Walk to visit the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda. Located within the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5,000 silver tiles. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90 kilograms and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha.
Then, continues to visit the notorious Tuol Sleng Museum. In 1975 Tuol Svay Prey High School was taken over by Pol Pot’s security forces and turned into a prison known as Security Prison 21 (S-21). It soon became the largest such center of detention and torture in the country. More than 17,000 people held at S-21 were taken to the extermination camp at Choeung Ek to be executed; detainees who died during torture were buried in mass graves in the prison ground. Room after room the museum displays photographs of men, women and children covering the walls from floor to ceiling; virtually all the people pictured were later killed.
End your morning visit to the Russian Market (Psah Tuol Thom Pong), a lively outdoor market where you will find antiquities, silver and gold jewelry, gems, silk, kramas, stone and wood carvings, as well as T-Shirts, CDs and other souvenirs.
Transfer to Phnom Penh International Airport for departure flight to the next destination.
“WE WISH YOU AN ENJOYABLE JOURNEY”
SERVICES
Includes:
- Accommodation in half twin/double sharing room with daily breakfast
- Transport by an Air-Conditioned vehicle with local English-speaking guide
- Meals as specified above
- Entrance fees to mentioned sites
- Drinking water during transfers
- 1 FOC for TL in SGL room starting from 15paying pax up
Excludes:
- International flight to and from Cambodia
- Cambodian Visa Fee
- Bank chargers
- Items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone and beverages
- Lunch & Dinner where not included in the itinerary
- Cost of optional tours and excursions
- Photo & video permits where required
- Tips & Porterage
- Drinks with meals
- Early check-in and late check-out at hotels, if not mentioned in the program
- Travel Insurance