13D/12N INDULGENT DISCOVERY OF CAMBODIA

Cambodia’s enthusiasm is infectious.  It’s a country looking forward to the future and is delighted to share its future with new visitors. It is the rising phoenix of Asia. Cambodia is a country shaped by tragedy following the ravages of the Khmer Rouge, and yet its people are some of the most friendly and hospitable that you will find anywhere in the world. Experience the motor-taxis, bustling markets, royal palaces and pagodas and lose yourself in Cambodia’s magnificent cultural splendor. The temples of Angkor are exhilarating - unmatched in Asia for beauty, atmosphere and grandeur.

Highlights

  • Taste test a cooking class that spices up your taste buds with the local culinary tastes
  • Cycle and soak up the rural discoveries of Cambodia’s countryside with stops along the way with smiles and greetings from locals 
  • Introduce yourself with the culture of Cambodia through its Silk Farms, the Khmer history and the country’s Buddhist homage 
  • Explore the city centre of the prior  French colonized Phnom Penh and its fascinating architecture
  • Paddle board along the Kompot River passing pepper plantations and salt fields in Kampot

Start your journey today!

Inquire
  • Duration

    13D/12N

  • Destinations

    Siem Reap - Battambang - Phnom Penh - Kep

Our Services Include:
  • The services of English/German speaking tour guide
  • Transfers and travel in a private air-conditioned vehicle, Tuk Tuk, bikes, helmets, boat, kayak as mentioned in the program
  • Meals are included as mentioned
  • Entrance fees as per program
  • All tours and excursions included in the program
  • Bottled Mineral water and face tissue for excursions each day
Our Services Exclude:
  • Cambodian Visa Arrival Fee (USD30/person, cash on arrival). 
  • Please bring one passport photo
  • International flights
  • Cancellation / travel insurance - repatriation and baggage
  • Certain drinks/meals and personal expenses outside of the program
  • Tips and services not mentioned above
  • Luggage handling
  • Additional surcharges during peak season
icon-schedule

ITINERARY/SCHEDULE

Upon arrival at Siem Reap International Airport, you will be met and welcomed by your tour guide (with name sign) and then transferred directly to your hotel for check in.

Transfer to Siem Reap  for a guided orientation, with a visit to an old market, stroll around the market to see local culture and daily activities. After that we will transfer you to Chanrey tree restaurant to enjoy the delicious Khmer food. 

After your dinner, you can either go back to your hotel or stay a bit longer in town to experience Cambodian nightlife as well as having a look at Angkor Night Market.

After breakfast, we will depart the hotel by air-conditioned vehicle or biking to visit the capital of Jayavarman VII known as Angkor Thom.  This complex includes the South Gate of Angkor Thom, the Bayon Temple complex, the Terrace of Elephants, the Terrace of the Leper King, and Baphuon.  Continue biking within Angkor complex and jungle to explore the famous Ta Prohm jungle temple while the crowds are gathering at Angkor Wat temple. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Ta Prohm has been left in  the same condition in which it was found: the photogenic and atmospheric combination of trees growing out of the ruins and the jungle surroundings have made it one of Angkor's most popular temples with visitors. You may recognize this amazing temple complex as it has been featured in several Hollywood films including Tomb Raider and Two Brothers.

This afternoon we will bike to  one of the Seven Wonders of the World – the legendary Angkor Wat Temple. This incredible complex was built by Suryavarman II in the middle of the 12th century and was considered to be the spiritual, political and geographical heart of the Great Khmer Empire. When you finally get to Angkor Wat, you'll be blown away by the almost 2000 distinctively rendered Apsara carvings that adorn the walls throughout the temple. In addition, the exterior walls of the lower level display the most extraordinary bas-reliefs, depicting stories and characters from Hindu mythology, and the historical wars of Suryavarman II.

Evening, we will transfer to the Cambodian Circus called Phare Circus. It is an amazing blend of traditional and modern theater with music, dance, acrobatics, juggling and beautifully choreographed performances about Cambodian lives, customs, and society. The purpose of Phare Circus is to improve the development of local communities by providing education as well as encouraging the practice of art.

This evening, we transfer you to visit Phare Cambodia circus at 8:00pm, Phare Circus is an amazing blend of traditional and modern theater, music, dance, acrobatics, juggling and contortion beautifully choreographed and performed around stories about Cambodian lives, customs, and society.   The purpose of Phare Circus is to improve the development of local communities by providing education as well as encouraging the practice of art.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up by our guide and driver and transfer you to Treak village where you have a short guided walking tour in the village and learn local culinary dishes and observe food customs and local superstitions. Return to Khmer thatched hut where you will personally experience Cambodian cooking class with a local chef. Following its fresh ingredients and traditional culinary, you will love and enjoy your own creation at the end of the class.

Afternoon, we will resume our journey towards Kbal Spean, the River of a Thousand Lingas. A 1.5 Km walk among the steamy forests and some curious rock formations, will bring you to discover the riverbed carvings, which were created to bless the waters of the Siem Reap river flowing into Angkor.

Our tour will proceed to reveal the exquisite pink sandstone temple of Banteay Srey – considered to be a Jewel of Khmer art which features elaborate decorations and fine detail. Banteay Srey is a 10th century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, and when translated it means “Citadel of the Women”, or “Citadel of Beauty”. If we have enough time on our way back, we will continue on to visit local village that specializes in making palm sugar, palm leaf products, and other various local handicraft souvenirs, near the end of the journey, we will visit and spend the evening to view sunset over the rice paddies from Pre Rup temple.

Cycling distance: 21km approximately

Breakfast is at the hotel, we will depart from the hotel in the morning with a transfer out of the central city about 7km to the cycling point. We start our ride through beautiful rural countryside, see huge rice paddies as well as farming activities and enjoy your life in the rural encounters of Cambodia. You can have as many stops as you want during the cycling. There are many chances to capture beautiful photos of local people especially the kids saying hello to you. Arriving at a village house, we will have 15mins sightseeing on the oxcart ride to interact with local people and you would be welcomed by little kids with the word “hello” to you. Enjoy a picnic lunch break and seasonal fruits at the site.

Afternoon, we will continue by an air conditioned vehicle to Mechrey village where you take an excursion on a private sheltered boat to explore Tonle Sap Lake. The Tonle Sap is the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia and is an ecological hotspot that was designated as a UNESCO biosphere in 1997. We will visit floating houses with lifestyles animated by fishing activities, witness how lives work in the floating community and also learn about the Tonle Sap ecosystem.

In the evening we will depart from the hotel for an hour of Aromatherapy Massage at our selected massage spa “Bodia Spa”, the best massage spa in Siem Reap. For those who don’t like Aromatherapy Massage, you can get an hour of foot reflexology instead. Please inform us 1 day before (Move from Day5).

After breakfast, we depart the hotel around 8am, we will continue to visit the Silk farm and discover how high quality silk products are made as well as observe how people feed the worms and get the silks from those.

Around 10am we continue overland for 2 hours to Battambang, situated in a tranquil by Sangkae River, is well-known as “Battambang” – the most important rice bowl of Cambodia and its nice picturesque setting. There are remains of Cambodia and French colonial architecture, charming countryside and rice paddies.

In the afternoon, we have a highlight of Battambang town where many French colonial buildings can still be found. Resume visit ancient Khmer traditional houses before you’ll have an opportunity to experience a very unique and creative form of local transportation which can only be found in Cambodia – the Bamboo Train. Instead of a train with carriages, the Battambang bamboo train is in fact a metal frame with bamboo slats that sits on two axles with wheels.  It is used to transport people and goods up and down the railway. The bamboo slats form the base on which the passengers, goods and livestock sit. It can carry anything that will fit on it, even motorcycles. It is also used to transport the rice in the harvest season. 

Our journey will last approximately 40 minutes as we cruise past paddy fields and charming local villages. After we return to visit grape farm and observe the winery before traveling back to the hotel.

Dinner at Jan Bai Restaurant in Battambang. Overnight in Battambang.

After breakfast, we will depart the hotel to Visit Ta Dam Bang Kro Nhoung, the symbol status of Battambang Province as well as holy status, Cambodian people who pass by this place will always pop out of their car to show some respect and pray for a safe trip and happiness.

We will keep on our journey to Phnom Banon mountain, its Angkor era mountain top temples. At the top of this mountain you will see the beautiful view of the winding Sanke River set amidst sugar palm trees, rice fields as well as a mountain range and a beautiful temple.  

After that, we will carry on our trip to visit the dragon fruits farm, experience how the locals grow dragon fruits, Lunch break (pay at your own account). 

In the afternoon we will continue our journey to Komping Puy reservoir which is used primarily for agriculture. This reservoir was made by the Khmer Rouge regime which resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people. After that we will move ahead to Phnom Sampeu. Your tour guide will take you up the winding path to explore the mountain to visit some breathtaking sites: the 'natural caves', the killing caves and the Wat Sampeou. As you take in the spectacular views your guide will tell you the well-known Khmer folk legend of 'Neang Rumsay Sok' - the girl who let down her hair. Many of the local geographic features are named after aspects of the legend, including Phnom Sampeou (Boat Mountain).

Head back to the hotel and overnight in Battambang.

Cycling (25km)

Breakfast at the hotel, after breakfast, you will be spending your half day exploring a quiet town on a bike cycle and visit a Cambodian family who produce traditional products such as rice paper, dried bananas, rice wine & bamboo sticky rice, you will also discover the infamous Prohoc market where most of fermented fish comes from. Prohoc is typically used to flavor Cambodia traditional food which is rarely found in many restaurants but quite often found in remote villages. Continue to visit a small killing field where a thousand people lost their lives during the Khmer Rouge’s regime. 

There are chances for you all to test various local fruits and fresh coconut at the end.

Rest of the day is at your leisure and overnight in Battambang.

After breakfast, you will be transferred with a 6 hours drive directly to your hotel for check-in in Phnom Penh city. Relax at your own free time by the pool.

This evening, we will depart the hotel to embark on a private boat to discover the Mekong River and visit the beautiful Sunset from the boat. You also have time to enjoy soft drinks and Angkor beer while the sun is setting. We disembark the boat to enjoy a classic Khmer-style set menu dinner at our chosen restaurant.

Overnight at the hotel in Phnom Penh.

Breakfast is at the hotel, then we will journey out to witness Cheung Ek, the site of a former orchard and mass grave of victims of the Khmer Rouge - killed between 1975 and 1979 - about 17 km south of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The Killing Fields, where the Khmer Rouge regime executed over one million people. 

At the site, you’ll have a guided tour walk around the field and your tour guide explains to you the tragic and unforgettable history. We will return to the city to explore the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda which were both built in 1866 under King Norodom. The Royal Palace is a complex of buildings which serves as the royal residence of the King of Cambodia. The 'Silver Pagoda' sits next to the Royal Palace, separated by a walled walkway, but within the same larger walled compound. 

Continue along the riverfront to visit Wat Phnom with the legendary founding place of Phnom Penh, which nowadays is known as the active Buddhist monastery Wat Phnom. After that you will have a guided walking tour at Russian market. 

Once the walking tour is over, you will have free time for the rest of the day.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Breakfast is at the hotel. We will leave Phnom Penh in the morning and transfer with a 3 hours drive to Kep. 

Kep is a small unspoiled beautiful city and is well-known by its nature, national parks and fresh seafood. It was founded in 1908 during French colonial rule and was originally named Kep Sur Mer. Many of the French style villas are overgrown and run-down, but Kep is slowly being redeveloped and tourism is reemerging. The colonial influence is noticeable in the city's Provencal-style architecture and French cuisine.

After check-in hotel, transfer to the boat pier and embark on a local boat, which takes approximately 45mins to Rabbit Island. 

Enjoy lunch (grilled fish, seafood with Kompot green pepper etc) on a picnic mat by the beach on the island. Then it's free time for relaxing and swimming until the evening time.

Embark the boat and transfer back to the hotel in Kep.

Breakfast is at the hotel. We begin our journey in the morning with highlights of Kep, visit Crab Market where you have a guided walking tour around. Continue our trip and with sightseeing of Kompot’s countryside landscapes before we have a visit at pepper plantation and salt field. Resume our journey to enjoy 2-3 hours paddle boarding along Kompot River, discover the beautiful, diverse fauna, flora and natural surroundings.

Kompot is a small quiet riverside town situated by the southern coast. It’s a beautiful home for relaxing by the white sandy beaches or on the sunset cruise. 

Overnight in Kep.

Breakfast is at the hotel. It’s free leisure at your own time for the rest of the morning and afternoon. 

In the evening, our guide and driver will transfer you to enjoy your farewell dinner. 

Kep - Phnom Penh 3:30hrs (161km) 

Breakfast is at the hotel. It’s free leisure at your own time.

In the afternoon, our tour guide and driver will transfer you by air conditioning transport with 3 hours and a half hours to Phnom Penh international airport for your flight departure to your country or the next destination.