The Jewels of 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 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 vehicle

Sunset mekong cruise

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

Ou dong ancient capital explore

visit traditional villages

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

local market visit

battambang country discovery

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

Boat cruise

private vehicle

Breakfast

Hotel in siam reap

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

Sightseeing the angkor

Breakfast

Hotel in siam reap

Breakfast is at the hotel then drive out the town to visit to the Banteay Srei that was constructed in the late 10th century and is a masterpiece of religious architecture and carving with its no space left undecorated with unique and wonderful bas-relief on pink sandstone. Along the way there we will make stops to visit the local village of Preah Dak where we have chance to learn something about local life and enjoy local interaction, the Banteay Samre temple which is adorned with impressive relief’s depicting scenes of Vishunu and Krishna legends.

In the afternoon 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.

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

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

Sightseeing angkor

Breakfast

Hotel in siam reap

Breakfast is at the hotel.
Free at your leisure to explore the town and enjoy last minute sightseeing, shopping at your own pace. Check out time is 12.00.
Transfer to the airport for flight to onward destination.
Safe travel and see you again!

Summary of inclusions

Private airport transfer

Breakfast