Cambodia

Day 1. Siem Reap – Arrival

As you enter the terminal at Siem Reap International Airport, your personal immigration officer will greet you with a welcome sign and fast-track you through the visa application and immigration process. Your expert tour guide will meet you as you exit the terminal with a waiting vehicle to transfer you to your hotel of choice. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Included meal: Not included

Day 2. Siem Reap – Angkor Wat Sunrise - Angkor Thom (B)

Early: Angkor Wat Sunrise and Exploration

A sunrise tour starts at pre-dawn to witness the breathtaking view of Angkor Wat temple, the best place for photography. Continue to explore the central complex and bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat [AD1113]. This architectural masterpiece was constructed in the 12th century and covers an area of about 210 hectares. With many galleries with columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and ponds full of water, carved low-reliefs about Ramayana Story and day-to-day life at the time of Angkor's construction. Return back to the hotel for having breakfast and relax.

Afternoon: Angkor Thom – the world’s largest city in the 12th Century

Continue to the "Great City" of Angkor Thom, visits the Jayavarman’s state temple of Bayon Temple at the center of the city, then pass Phimeanakas with its beautiful lake and the imposing Baphoun, the state temple of King Udayadityavarman II  Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King.

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Included meal: Breakfast

Day 3. Siem Reap – Banteay Srei - Grand Circuit - Small Circuit (B)

Morning after breakfast, we travel to Banteay Srei temple (10th century) which is regarded as the jewel in the crown of Classical Khmer Art. Continue to visit Banteay Samre, built in the third quarter of the 12th century. It consists of a central temple with four wings preceded by a hall and accompanied by two libraries, the southern example remarkably well preserved. Two concentric walls enclose the ensemble. Our next destination is 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.

In the afternoon, we continue our temple visits to Preah Khan. Built by the King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, the temple of Preah Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation. Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake), Ta Som. 

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Included meal: Breakfast

Day 4. Siem Reap – City Tour - Lifestyle of the Tonle Sap - Ella Boat Sunset Cruise (B)

This morning Join us at the Visitor Center APOPO and experience the realities of humanitarian demining and how we train rats to save lives. You will learn about landmines, how we clear them, and see a live demo of the HeroRATs. Learn about how Cambodia became one of the most mine-affected countries in the world. Then visit Theam Gallery, exquisite visual arts space features a professionally curated showroom exhibiting all artworks conceived and produced onsite. It gives visitors an authentic insight into the distinctive world of Cambodian art.

Life on South-East Asia’s largest freshwater lake has adapted in ingenious ways to the annual rise and fall of water caused by the phenomenal back flow of the Mekong River feeding the lake during the monsoon. The communities that live around the margins of the lake cope with huge seasonal variations in water levels by building their homes on floating bamboo rafts or 10m stilts.

Today you have the opportunity aboard Ella, our custom traditional wooden boat, to explore this unique, ever-transforming landscape. Cruise through Meachrey floating village, cocktail in hand, listening to bird calls and watching rural life pass you by as the sun sets across this glistening water world. Choose to either sit inside the boat, or on the roof for more panoramic views.

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Included meal: Breakfast

Day 5. Siem Reap – Free and Easy – Afternoon Countryside Dining Tour (B/D)

Free and leisure on your own relaxation at the hotel or discover the city.

Beyond the temples lies a rural landscape which is often little changed since the days of Jayavarman VII. To depart Siem Reap having seen only the temple ruins is to miss contemporary Khmer culture.  As infrastructure and technology encroaches upon the countryside this opportunity will soon be lost. 

After a short drive from Siem Reap visit a colourful contemporary pagoda to learn more about the importance of Buddhism in rural communities and seek a blessing from the monks.

This evening join us at country villa Chandara, situated in a beautiful and tranquil village to the north of the Western Baray. An impressive engineering feat, this man-made reservoir was once integral to the complex Angkorian rice irrigation system.  You will travel to Chandara by boat (depending on water level) late this afternoon.

To relax here a while is an opportunity to slow down and just watch, cold drink in hand.  The tempo of the Cambodian countryside is truly meditation in motion. At the end of the day you will likely see ox-carts returning from the fields, children washing their water buffalos, or playing and laughing as they jump from the bridge into the stream.

While our chef prepares your Classic Dinner, you can wander across the levees of the rice paddies, look for fish traps, or walk to a viewpoint over the ancient reservoir.  Listen to the elegance of traditional Khmer music played by local musicians, before being seated for your evening meal.

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Included meal: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6. Siem Reap - Phnom Penh by Private Car (B)

Breakfast at hotel

Transfer from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh by private car (314km) around 5 – 6 hours. Along the way we will stop to visit Spean Praptos Bridge, Khmer-era bridge that straddles a small river at Kampong Kdei, a small town about sixty kilometers southeast of the Angkor Archaeological zone. Then stop at Spider Market. The region gets its big reputation thanks to its spider market. Seasoned and deep fried, the spiders are put on hundreds of plates, forming the most terrifying mounds for those of arachnophobia. Upon arrival, you will transfer to your hotel for check in. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh

Included meal: Breakfast

Day 7. Phnom Penh City Tour (B)

Breakfast at hotel

A begin of the step to explore Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. Enjoy cyclo riding 45 mins to visit the private quarters of the Royal Palace built in 1866 by King Norodom and the Silver Pagoda the most sacred shrine in the country. Discover the Tuol Sleng Prison 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). S-21 has been turned into the Tuol Sleng Museum, which serves as a testament to the crimes of the Khmer Rouge..

We continue to the National Museum, dedicated exclusively to Khmer art and sculpture which houses the world's foremost collection of Khmer art. The majority of the exhibits are from the Angkor period (9th to 15th Century). Enjoy shopping at Central Market. End your afternoon with a visit to Wat Phnom, a peaceful temple situated on a hill for which the city is named. According to legend, a 14th-century woman named Penh found sacred Buddhist objects in the nearby river and placed them here on the small hill.

Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh

Included meal: Breakfast

Day 8. Phnom Penh - Sihaknouk Ville - Song Saa Island (B)

Breakfast at hotel

Overland transfer by private car (with driver only) to Sihaknouk Ville, around 2 hours drives via Express Road. Then continue to the pier to take the boat to Koh Rong Island.

Free and leisure enjoys at the beach. Overnight in Songsaa Private Island.

Accommodation: Resort in Songsaa Private Island

Included meal: Breakfast

Day 9. Song Saa Island - Free and Easy (B)

Breakfast at the hotel

Transfer by boat to Songsaa Private Island. Free and leisure and overnight in Songsaa Private Island.

Accommodation: Resort in Songsaa Private Island

Included meal: Breakfast

Day 10. Song Saa Island - Free and Easy (B)

Breakfast at the hotel

Transfer by boat to Songsaa Private Island. Free and leisure and overnight in Songsaa Private Island.

Accommodation: Resort in Songsaa Private Island

Included meal: Breakfast

Day 11. Song Saa Island - Free and Easy (B)

Breakfast at the hotel

Transfer by boat to Songsaa Private Island. Free and leisure and overnight in Songsaa Private Island.

Accommodation: Resort in Songsaa Private Island

Included meal: Breakfast

Day 12. Song Saa Island - Sihaknouk Ville - Phnom Penh International Airport (B)

Breakfast at the hotel

Take boat to Sihanoukville (1 hour) to take your private road transfer back to Phnom Penh for your onward flight (2-3 hours via express way).

Accommodation: Check out time is before 12.00PM

Included meal: Breakfast

Tour Inclusion:

• Transportation with A/C as program
• Accommodation with daily breakfast as program
• Local English speaking guide as program
• Meals as stated in the itinerary 
• All sightseeing tickets as program
• Tissues and water on coach
• Boat trip as program (if any)

Tour Exclusion:

• Personal expenses, tips and gratuities (suggest 5- 7 USD/client/day for tour guide and driver)
• Domestic & international flight tickets (on request)
• Travel insurance, personal insurance
• Beverage
• Cambodia Visa service (35 USD/pax/single entry; if any)
• Other services not mentioned above
• International flights & departure taxes (if any)
• Peak season or public holidays surcharge (if any)