•Superior:
Sakmut Boutique Hotel | Deluxe
•First Class:
Anjali by Syphon | Anjali Deluxe
•Deluxe:
Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort | Superior
-
Destination
-
Trip duration
8 days, 7 nights
-
Availability period
1 Nov. 2023 - 31 Dec. 2024
-
Accommodation
Well-selected hotel
Cambodia, Siem Reap, Angkor Wat complex. Monks inside Bayon temple (MR)
Cambodia is an enchanting land where the ancient and modern converge. As the location of the former Khmer Empire, it is blessed with immense historical attractions. During the Angkorian period the Khmer dynasty ruled much of what is now Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. This can be witnessed at the fabled temples of Angkor – monuments unrivalled in scale and grandeur anywhere else in Asia. Phnom Penh is a charismatic capital with colonial heritage, a smart riverside promenade and a gleaming Grand Palace. Siem Reap has luxury hotels that cater for visitors to the Angkor temples.
Day 1
Siem Reap – Arrival (Morning flight suggestion around 11:00)
We will be met at Siem Reap International Airport and drive to the hotel for check-in. We then have some time to settle into our surroundings with lunch at our leisure. Siem Reap is packed full of tasty options, ranging from local to international cuisine. In the afternoon, discover the history of conflict in Cambodia, the impact of landmines on local communities, and the opportunity to meet and see the HeroRATs in action at APOPO Visitor Centre. Experience the realities of humanitarian demining where rats are trained to save lives. Learn about the mine clearing process from the guides, enjoy a series of videos showing the Centre's work and read about how Cambodia became one of the most mine-affected countries in the world. Then we head to the globally renowned Phare Cambodian Circus. This is much more than a conventional circus, with a focus on performance art and a deep social message behind each act. Beyond the amazing acrobatics and stunning stunts in a traditional big top tent, Phare helps the marginalized achieve better lives. Show starts at 8pm. Dinner is at leisure.
Food
-/-/-
Accommodation
Overnight in Siem Reap
Day 2
Siem Reap
Take a step back in time with the family and delve into the jewel of Cambodia’s crown, the temples of Angkor Wat Archaeological Park, by tuk tuk. We start the day exploring the Archaeological site in depth with Temple Photo and Scavenger Hunt at the Angkor Thom zone. Each participant will receive an explicative booklet. We will have the challenge to do 10 specific pictures in the temple area and bring them back at a local pagoda.
ASIAN TRAILS TIP: A nice picture of your family will be offered to each participant as a souvenir of this day!
We continue the visit with the incredible 12th century Angkor Wat. The architectural feat stood at the heart of the Khmer Empire. Our next stop is root-riddled Ta Prohm, made famous after featuring in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider starring Angelina Jolie. We have lunch in a local restaurant.
Dinner is at leisure.
Food
B/L/-
Accommodation
Overnight in Siem Reap
Day 3
Siem Reap
Get an amazing insight into an inspired elephant conservation programme during a visit to the Kulen Mountain foothills. The 4,500,000 sq-m of protected forest is home to 14 elephants who for 26 years gave rides to visitors within the Angkor Archaeological Park. The Kulen Elephant Forest (KEF) is now a safe haven where retired jumbos can enjoy total freedom to roam and interact with each other. With 75 captive elephants remaining in Cambodia, the protection of this amazing animal is critical and a visit to the forest will help the KEF’s long-term preservation goals. Our tour is kept intimate – 12 people including the staff and this can be reduced to eight for private tours. After a one-hour scenic drive to the site, highlight activities include a 2-km observation trek and time spent by a pond watching the elephants rest and play. We also feed the animals healthy snacks. After lunch, we drive back to the hotel. The afternoon is free at leisure. Dinner is at leisure.
Food
B/L/-
Accommodation
Overnight in Siem Reap
Day 4
Siem Reap – Battambang
Experience life on the revered Tonle Sap Lake before diving into Cambodian culture. After breakfast, we hit the road to the Tonle Sap Lake to enjoy a gentle cruise to one of the fishing villages that dot the water. Here, we can see how life is lived as we sail past homes, schools and shops that bob on the water. We then head to Battambang. We have lunch on the way then check-in at the hotel in Battambang and the rest of the day is free at leisure to discover our new surroundings. Dinner is at leisure. Please note: The high-level water season is from mid-July to mid-February and the low-level water season runs the rest of the year.
Food
B/L/-
Accommodation
Overnight in Battambang
Day 5
Battambang
After breakfast, we transfer to the Bamboo Train Station where we take a ride on a train made from bamboo. We then stop at Wat Kor village to meet the owners of a traditional Khmer house that dates back to the 1920s. Here, we find out how this stunning wooden stilted home survived the Khmer Rouge regime. Then we set off on a discovery of the local countryside and explore surrounding Cambodian villages. We will see first-hand artisans, such as sculptors, rice wine brewers and noodle and rice paper producers open up their homes and workshops so we can watch them at work. Lunch is at a local restaurant, followed by an afternoon visit to Phare Ponleu Selpak, a non-profit association that helps to support the lives of children, young adults and their families. After climbing the 337 steps to Phnom Banan Temple, we enjoy a stupendous view over the surrounding plains. We end our tour by heading to Sampov Mountain for the spectacular view of thousands of bats on the hunt and fly like clouds in the sky. Dinner is at leisure. Please note: There is a maximum of four people per bamboo train. Tour activities are subject to seasonal changes. Phare school will be closed every weekend and public holiday.
Food
B/L/-
Accommodation
Overnight in Battambang
Day 6
Battambang – Phnom Penh
Leave behind laidback Battambang as we head to the charismatic capital. After breakfast, we set off on our road trip to Phnom Penh (291 km/ eight to 10 hours, including stops). The journey takes us through the provinces of Pusat, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Speu and Kandal. We will stop at Kampong Chhnang to learn about the traditional handmade pottery the province is famed for. During harvest season, we can see crops being harvested and sugar palm collected. We then hit the road, stopping for lunch at a local restaurant. About 50 km before reaching Phnom Penh, we make another stop to visit Koh Chen, a small island on the Tonle Sap River. It is populated by talented artisans who specialise in silver and copper carving. We can watch them as they handcraft trays, ornaments, boxes and jewellery. Upon arrival in the capital, we check-in at the hotel with the evening at our leisure.
Food
B/L/-
Accommodation
Overnight in Phnom Penh
Day 7
Phnom Penh
Jump straight into city life with a cyclo tour of Phnom Penh. We on a one-hour cyclo tour of the bustling capital. The three-wheel bicycle rickshaw has been used to transport people and goods since French colonial times. Tour highlights include Independence Monument, an impressive structure that sits at the centre of a roundabout. Dating back to 1958, it was created to mark the country’s independence from France in 1953. We also stop at Wat Phnom, an ancient hilltop temple and compact park that marks the official centre of the city. We visit Champey Academy of Arts, a non-profit school that delivers Cambodian traditional performing arts training programmes. We then return to the hotel with the afternoon at our leisure. Please note: Guests will have to sign a disclaimer form before taking part in the cyclo activity. This will be provided by the guide in Phnom Penh. Champey Academy of Art will close every Sunday and public holidays. Spend a memorable evening soaking up the sunset while cruising along the revered Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers. We will be picked up from our hotel and drive to Phnom Penh’s floating pier to board our boat. We will then embark on a gentle cruise along the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers, which confluence in the capital. As the sun sinks into the horizon, we can enjoy a fresh coconut juice and watch the vibrant capital spring to life as the city’s lights start to twinkle. On our cruise, we will pass by fishermen finishing for the day and working boats cruising the waterway as we leave the capital behind. We then return to the pier and transfer to our hotel. Please note: This excursion is on a joining cruise basis.
Food
B/L/-
Accommodation
Overnight in Phnom Penh
Day 8
Phnom Penh
Free time before heading to Phnom Penh International Airport for your next destination.
Food
B/-/-
Siem Reap
Battambang
•Superior:
Battambang Resort | Garden Room
•First Class:
Maisons Wat Kor | Frangipane
•Deluxe:
Maisons Wat Kor | Frangipane
Phnom Penh
•Superior:
Palace Gate Residence | Studio Room
•First Class:
Palace Gate Resort | Apsara Deluxe
•Deluxe:
Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra | Superior
Create the experience of your dream with our travel experts
Make your own trailIncluded
- Tours and transfers with licenced English-speaking guiding services / assistance. Other languages are on request and are subject to availability
- Accommodation in sharing twin / double room
- Transportation for tour and transfers by air-conditioned vehicle, unless otherwise stated
- All entrance fees for visits as mentioned in the program (3 days Angkor Pass)
- GTS (Group Tour System) for 3 days during temple tour from 10pax up
- All meals as indicated in the program (food only)
Not Included
- Personal expenses such as other meals, drinks, tips and gratuities, shopping, portage fees and optional tours/ visits, unless otherwise stated
- Any domestic / international airline tickets, airport taxes, visa fees, specific camera / video fees, additional transportation cost from and to the general pick-up / drop-off regions (such as airports, out-of-town resorts, ports, harbours and accommodation in surrounding towns)
- Any accommodation expenses of a personal nature. This includes (compulsory festive) meals and drinks, mini-bar consumption, laundry, room service, any telephone or other communication cost not mentioned in the program
- International travel and medical insurance coverage for customers
- Voluntary carbon emission compensation: USD 1.50 per person per day
Payment and Cancellations
- Full payment is due 30 days prior to departure. We reserve the right to release all services in case of payment default.
- Intermediate bank charges and fees are the responsibility of the client.
- Cancellation policy: In case of cancellation, the following cancellation fees will apply:
• Between 30-15 days prior to departure - 25% of total price
• Between 14-7 days prior to departure - 50% of total price
• Less than 7 days prior to departure – 100% of total price