Insights into Cambodia

Welcome to Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia!
Met and greeted at the airport and transfer to the hotel for check in (check in time is 14.00).

This afternoon, if time permits, we will take an orientation walk then enjoy an atmospheric sunset cruise on the Tonle Sap and Mekong River and watch how Phnom Penh’s popular riverfront awakens to life.  
Evening is free to explore the town at your own pace.

Summary of inclusions

Private airport transfer

sunset cruise mekong river

Hotel in phnom penh

After breakfast, we start the tour today with our visit to the National Museum that has a great collection of Khmer art with over 5000 objects are on display.
Following is the Royal Palace that contains the Royal Residence, the Throne Hall, the Silver Pagoda which is more like a repository for cultural treasures such as 90 kg golden Buddha encrusted with 2086 diamonds and has its floor paved by silver tiles.
End the morning with visit to the Wat Phnom Temple, one of the most important pagodas in Phnom Penh, built in 1373 on an artificial hill by the wealthy widow Penh from whom the city got its name.
This afternoon we will visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum also called the S-21 Prison, converted from a secondary school,  that used by Khmer during the bloody rule from 1975 to its fall in 1979. There was an estimate of 20,000 people were imprisoned, tortured, coerced to confess what so called “revolutionary reaction crimes” before being taken to be executed at the extermination camp – the “Killing Fields” of Choeng Ek, located 15 km south of Phnom Penh which we will visit after the Toul Sleng.
This excursion may prove distressing however, it is an important piece of this country’s historical and cultural puzzle.

Remainder of the day is free at leisure.  

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

Sightseeing phnom penh

Breakfast

Hotel in phnom penh

Travel by private vehicle over scenic back roads to Cambodia’s former capital, Oudong, about 40km from Phnom Penh. You will pass rural villages, local pagodas, and scenic rice paddies before reaching the main hill of Oudong. Make a climb to the top of the stupa-filled hill of Oudong for great views over the rural plains.

Continue to Battambang with stops to visit silversmith village, pottery manufactories in Kompong Chhnang.
Check in hotel upon arrival in Battambang and remainder of the day is free to wander around explore the charming and relaxed river town full of fine examples of French-colonial architecture. Even though Battambang is Cambodia’s second largest city, you will find that the atmosphere is very laid-back.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

Sightseeing en route

Breakfast

Hotel in battambang

This morning, after breakfast, we will spend time to visit some interesting sights in the town including the Provincial Museum (closed on Saturdays / Sundays), Wat Ek Phnom, a local market where Prahoc - the Cambodian fish paste is made and drive along the picturesque Sangker River to Wat Slaket Pagoda, the residence of the provincial Buddhist patriarch.
In the afternoon we head towards Phnom Sampeau, meaning “Ship Hill” in Khmer, due to its distinctive shape, and one of only few hills standing out in this otherwise pancake-flat plain. From the small temple on the top, you will have a fantastic view over the typical landscape of paddy fields, pagodas and sugar palm trees.
Later, we will take a fun ride on the famous bamboo train that, called "norry" by the locals, through beautiful landscape and rice paddies. The bamboo train is a unique and creative form of transport set up by the villagers that consists of a small motorcycle engine-powered bamboo platform riding on the railway tracks that runs through the village.  
Evening is at your leisure.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

Sightseeing battambang

Breakfast

Hotel in battambang

After an early breakfast, embark on a speed boat ride that will take you on a fascinating journey along the Sangker River, across Tonlé Sap Lake to Siem Reap. Ride passing Cheur Khmao Pagoda, “Black Wood Pagoda”, flooded forests of the Prek Toal Biosphere Reserve, unspoiled landscapes and traditional daily-life scenes of floating villages all portraying life on this body of water that forms Cambodia’s heart.

Check in hotel upon arrival and enjoy some time to rest.
Later of the day we will take a fun tuk tuk cruise around the Siem Reap town to catch common scenes of local life and get a blessing ceremony by Buddhist monks for your journey safety, prosperity and happiness.

Summary of inclusions

private vehicle

sangker river & tonlesap lake cruise

Breakfast

Hotel in siam reap

Breakfast is at the hotel. 
This morning we will spend time to explore the Angkor Thom, the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer Empire with visits to the South Gate of Angkor Thom, the Bayon Temple that consists of 54 towers featured with multitude of Buddha’s serene and mysterious smiling faces, the Royal Enclosure, the Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.
Following is the jungle covered temple of Ta Prohm, the famous sights known in the movie ‘Tomb Raider’ by Angelina Jolie, with enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers embracing over stone foundations of the temple’s structure giving the impression of man's creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces and make it one of the most picturesque and memorable of the Angkor temples

In the afternoon we will enjoy our discovery of Angkor Wat, the largest religious monuments in the World, symbol of the Great Khmer Empire, with its five impressive towers representing the 5 holy peaks of the Mount Meru, the home of the Hindu gods. It is well known for the more than 2,000 Apsara dancers decorating the temple. Construction is thought to have taken around thirty years of intensive labor. Today, Angkor Wat is figured on Cambodia's national flag as the temple symbolizes the soul of the Khmer people.
During sunset time, Angkor Wat is less visited, and it is a magical time to see the Apsaras shine in the most beautiful light.  
Evening is at your leisure. 

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

discover angkor complex

Breakfast

Hotel in siam reap

Breakfast is at the hotel and this morning we will explore the Preah Khan temple complex, built by King Jayavarman VII to honor his father, right on the site of his victory over the invaders. The name of the temple means ‘Holy Sword’ derived from the meaning of the original ‘the Holy City of Victory’. This huge temple complex was served as a Buddhist monastery and school, engaging over 1000 monks.
Continue to Neak Pean, a small island temple located in the middle of the last Baray, representing Anavatapta, a mythical lake in the Himalayas whose waters are thought to cure all illness.

In the afternoon we will visit the Roluos Group once the seat of Hariharalaya, first capital of Khmer Empire dating back from mid of 9th century. Temples here were built with different material from bricks, laterite to sandstone. Spend time to explore some prominent temples within the group such as Bakong – the stepped pyramid temple mountain with wonderful carvings on the false doors and lintels, Lolei – once an island temple with exquisite carvings and inscriptions representing the Mount Meru surrounded by the world ocean in Hindu mythology, Preah Ko – the Sacred Bull temple that built to honor the King’s ancestor.

Back to the hotel and remainder of the day is at your leisure.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

angkor discovery

Breakfast

Hotel in siam reap

Breakfast at the hotel then say goodbye Siam Reap and embark on our drive along fascinating country landscapes toward Preah Vihear in the area of Cambodia – Thailand border.
Along the way we will have several stops for photos of the landscapes, visiting local villages and enjoy local interaction.
Visit Anlong Veng that located near the border with Thailand. This place used to be the last lair of the Khmer Rouge in the 1990s before it was totally broken off and dismissed. Here holds the graves of this regime’s two notorious leaders: Pol Pot and Tamok.
Here we will learn some information about the grim past and this genocidal organization, visiting ruined houses as well as the remnants of the structure where Pol Pot was convicted of crimes against the Cambodian people. The visit might otherwise be distressing but it helps us to understand more about a dark page in Cambodia’s history as well as the value of peace.
Drive further to Sra'aem you will find redeemed by the stunning mountain landscapes and for sure we will have ample opportunity to take pictures of the exceptional scenery.
Check in hotel and remainder of the day is to relax or wander around sightseeing the town.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

Sightseeing en route

Breakfast

Hotel in sra'aem

Get up early and a drive on spectacularly steep mountain road will take you to the Preah Vihear Temple at sunrise.

Located at the most stunning location of any Khmer site, the temple is perched on the top of Poy Tadi, a steep cliff in the Dangrek Mountain range which is the natural border between Cambodia and Thailand, dividing the Khorat Plateau from the lowland Cambodian plain below. It is about 550 meters from the ground level of Cambodia side. From here you will be rewarded with fabulous views over Cambodia’s and Thailand’s fertile plains. The Temple was mainly dedicated to the supreme god “Shiva” and took over 300 years to complete the construction by a few famous Khmer kings from Yasovarman of the 10th century to Suryavarman II of the 12th century so it bears elements of several architectural styles. The spectacular location paired with a unique temple design is the reason UNESCO enlisted Preah Vihear as a World Heritage Site.
Enjoy an unforgettable sunrise and spend time to explore this imposing temple then descend and return to the hotel.
Take overland-transfer to Stung Treng, the provincial capital of the same name province.
This is a friendly, quiet country town situated on the confluence of the Sekong River and the Mekong River. It actually sits on the banks of the Sekong River, with the mighty Mekong coming into the picture on the northeastern outskirts of the town.
Upon checking in hotel, free at your leisure to wander around and explore the town with its charms and laid back atmosphere. Overnight at a scenic nature lodge with view over the river.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

Preah vihear sunrise

Breakfast

Hotel in stung treng