Cambodia Tour 10 days : "Passion journey"

For those who fall in love with this country and wanting to know a bit more about the country, this “Cambodia passion” tour is designed just for you.

9 days 8 nights

Cambodia

Classic Highlights

Attractions

Phnom Penh - Kratie - Siem Reap

Duration

9 days 8 nights

Code

CAC5

Overview

Overview

The Cambodia Passion tour is a 9-day adventure through the cultural and historical wonders of Cambodia. The tour starts with a visit to the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, National Museum, and Tuol Sleng Museum in the capital city of Phnom Penh, followed by a leisurely cruise along the Mekong River with a sunset view over the Royal Palace.

The tour continues with a visit to the charming town of Kompong Cham, where you can explore historic temples, lush countryside, and interact with friendly locals. You'll also get a chance to see the rare freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins near Kratie and explore the mighty Mekong River and its falls.

The tour includes a visit to the World Heritage Site of Angkor Wat, where you'll explore the ancient capital city Angkor Thom and other attractions inside its walls, and dine in the Crystal Restaurant with an Apsara performance. You'll also visit the pretty temple of Banteay Srei, the ruined temple of Beng Mealea in the jungle, and climb up to the top of Kulen Mountain to see the River of One Thousand Lingas and take a refreshing swim in the waterfall.

The tour concludes with a half-day hands-on cooking class to discover the secrets of authentic Khmer cuisine. This tour is perfect for those seeking adventure and culture in Cambodia.

Highlights

Learn more about the culture & historic of the capital Phnom Penh by visiting the most famous sites Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, National Musem, Tuol Sleng Museum
Witness the sun set over the Royal Palace and the Mekong River; enjoy a leisurely cruise with soft drink, local beer and BBQ dinner
Soak up the charms of Kompong Cham, a bustling town on the Mekong and gateway to historic temples, lush countryside and friendly locals
Sneak a peek at the rare freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong river, near Kratie
Explore Mekong river and its mighty falls
Explore Siem Reap & World Heritage Site Angkor Wat. Visit the ancient capital city Angkor Thom and many attractions inside its walls
Enjoy the dinner in Crystal restaurant with Apsara Performance.
Travel to the pretty temple of Banteay Srei “Citadel of the Women”.
Escape from the bustling city, take 30-minute old mean vehicle ox-cart ride through the rice paddies to see the local family’s activities & take part in family lunch to know more about the village life
From Oct to Feb, get to know the Mechrey village by our special activity – Kayaking through houses, schools and even shops all sit bobbing on the water
Discover the ruined temple of Beng Mealea in the jungle.
Climb up to the top of Kulen Moutain by car, visit the River of One Thousand Lingas and take a refreshing swim of the magnificent waterfall close to it
Take part in a half-day hand on cooking class to discover the secrets of authentic Khmer cuisine.

Itinerary

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Upon arrival, meet and transfer to hotel for check-in or dropping off your luggage (Early check-in is NOT included & subject to hotel’s availability). set out on a city tour to visit the Royal Place built in 1866 by King Norodom; Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5,000 silver tiles and located within the Royal Palace compound, National Museum and visit Tuol Sleng Museum, a reminder of the Khmer Rouge regime.

Optional for Sunset Dinner on boat
A small cruise boats will take you out onto the river from a different perspective.Witness the sun set over the Royal Palace and the Mekong River; enjoy a leisurely cruise with soft drink, local beer and BBQ dinner; take in the sights along the river bank including many local Cambodian families and friends socializing. Cruise back to the port and transfer back to your hotel.

After breakfast, departure from Phnom Penh to Kratie province which takes about 6 hours dive through one of the biggest provinces in Cambodia, Kampong Cham. En route stop to visit the Rubber Plantation and some activities of the farmers, on arrival in Kratie lunch at restaurant in town and embark on local boat off to the village of Koh Trong to observe and participate in local life of their inhabitants and farmers. Visit the market where the local people trading of vegetables, fruits, fish and so on as long as visit primary school where you will learn the system of education in Cambodia and also visit to local pagodas by interaction with Buddhist Monk and getting the monk blessing ceremony.

Breakfast at hotel, today we will embark on the local boat to visit the Mekong Dolphin in Mekong River and it will take about 45 minutes view this amazing creature. And continue driving to Stung Treng where you will stop visit the local market and learn about the different lifestyle of Khmer Villagers. Lunch will provided in local restaurant and process to Saem district where located in Preah Vihea province for overnight at Preah Vihea Boutique Hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel
Today will be the high of the trip, we start to visit the Preah Vihea temple in the early morning by pickup truck (maxi 6pax/truck). Preah Vihear is a Khmer temple situated atop a 525-metre cliff in the Dangrek Mountains in Cambodia close to the Thailand border, but most notably in Cambodian territory. As a key edifice of the empire’s spiritual life, it was supported and modified by successive kings and so bears elements of several architectural styles. Affording a view for many kilometers across a plain, it has the most spectacular setting of all the temples built during the six-century-long Khmer Empire. Long been the subject of intense ownership disputes between the two neighboring countries, Cambodia was officially awarded control of Preah Vihear in 1962 by the International Court of Justice and it is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lunch en route at local restaurant (own account) and continue to Beng Melea temple before we reach to Siem Reap town.

Boeng Mealea built during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century. Its primary material is sandstone and it is surrounded by moats. The basic layout is three enclosing galleries around a central sanctuary. Causeways have long balustrades formed by bodies of the seven-headed Naga serpent. Smaller in size than Angkor Wat, the king’s main monument, Boeng Mealea nonetheless ranks among the Khmer empire’s larger temples.

Continue further to Siem Reap, the gateway of Angkor Temples, for hotel check-in and overnight.

7am, drive to the rural outskirt 35km from Angkor area to visit the smallest, but magnificent, Banteay Srei built in the 10th Century and dedicated to Shiva. The temple was the birthplace of Khmer classical style architecture and the pink sandstone structure bears a series of striking and beautiful sculptures, lintels, pediments and friezes. Drive on to Chau Srei Vibol which is a small charming temple on top of a hill which hardly sees any visitors - very few non-locals have heard of it, and it is set just far enough away from the main tourist routes.

Lunch will be provided at a local restaurant (Own account)

Continue to the ancient Khmer civilization site of Hariharalaya which flourished in the late 9th and earlier 10th centuries. These are the earliest temples in the Angkor area and are referred to the Rolous group we visit the main one called Bakhong temple.

Optional for sunset champagne (USD25/pax):
Enjoy sunset with a bottle of champagne in the rice paddies (Place to set up the table is flexible depend on season and suggestion from guide). Enjoy the dinner in Crystal restaurant with Apsara Performance.

Beat the crowd early morning by 7am, visit the picturesque Ta Prohm. The magnificent roots of a tree, pushing between the huge stone blocks of the temple in a sort of embrace, evoke feelings that you may remember forever. And continue to visit the intricately carved Khmer ruins at Angkor Wat - one of the world’s most impressive ruins. The temple still owns fine Apsara carvings in Angkorian era art. Lunch is own account.

Afternoon, explore the mysterious Royal city Angkor Thom. City & Bayon Its 54-tower temple is an awesome sight. At first glance it seems a shapeless mass of stone, but further scrutiny reveals a face, and then another and another until suddenly you are engulfed by the silent, heavy, enigmatic and silent gaze through half-closed eyes, staring out from a primitive and remote time. Further, visit to the surroundings of the complex including the Baphou, Elephant Terraces, Lepper King Terrace and Royal Place area and visit one more ruin in Angkor Area of Preah Khan temple, built in 12th century by King Jayavarman VII and it is the same style to Ta Prohm Temple.

Morning transfer out of the Siem Reap town to a beautiful village in the countryside, you will start to walk through the village houses, witness with very nice and different activities from the locals for their daily life. Just as some examples: how the locals wash vehicles, selling gasoline in whiskey bottles or the small shops where the locals sell food on the side of small streets.

On the way, you can take some fruits from the plants, enjoy a view of this wonderful area and interact with very kindly people in the village, a 30-minute old mean vehicle ox-cart ride through the rice paddies to reach at one big local house to see how this family doing daily work such as making rice wine and handicraft works meanwhile the member of the family will offer you of fresh coconut and some manmade rice wine to taste. Lunch is served at this clean and basic hygiene village house while chatting with the family to get in-depth understanding of the village life. Hop in your van for driving onward to the next destination, a floating community, Mechrey village where you take Kayak through houses, schools and even shops all sit bobbing on the water — though not in the dry season — as locals paddle around in traditional wooden boats. (Recommended from October – February)

Located 40km north of Angkor Wat, the Phnom Kulen mountain range provides Siem Reap with water and dominates the skyline of the flat plains surrounding it. Although the highest peak of the mountain range lies at only 487m, Phnom Kulen has much to offer visitors. The Cambodian people regard the site as the birthplace of the ancient Khmer Empire. King Jayavarman II claimed independence from Java there in 802 A.D. Travel in the morning by car through the countryside to Phnom Kulen and start the rather steep climb up by car. On top of the mountain you will visit a modern style pagoda that offers stunning views over the Angkor area. Visit the eight meter tall statue of a reclining Buddha and wash your hands at the Linga statue to purify your mind and body. Continue to visit the River of One Thousand Lingas and the magnificent waterfall close to it. Take a refreshing swim in the stream and pool of the waterfall. If time allows, take a stroll around the area with your guide and venture off the beaten track to take in the impressive forest and scenery. Return to Siem Reap in the late afternoon.

Breakfast at the hotel
Experience a hand on Cambodian Cooking Class instructed by a chef. First visit local market to choose the ingredient for the cooking class. The chef will explain the many varieties of ingredients and vegetable used in Khmer cooking. Learn to make three Cambodian dishes with instruction and demonstration by the chef and enjoy your creation following the class. Free in the afternoon for relaxation in the pool or walking around the old market. Transfer for departure.

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Trip notes

Tour includes:

Accommodation in a double or twin share room with daily breakfast
Private air-conditioned vehicle during all tours and transfers.
Entrance fees for all visits as mentioned in the itinerary
Experienced English speaking guide during all tours and transfers
Meals as specified in the itinerary
Ox-Cart ride
Local private boat, Kayak
Cooking class
Water & cool towels
Government taxes & service charge

Tour excludes:

Cambodia Visa stamp fee: USD 30/ person
International airfare and departure taxes
Meals, if not specified in the itinerary
Early check in/ late check out
Domestic flights and domestic airport taxes
Gala dinner on 24th and 31st December if any
Surcharged for Peak season: USD80 per room per night from 27 Dec 2018 – 04 Jan 2019 & 04 – 09 Feb 2019 in Angkor Palace Resort
Drinks and meal not mentioned
Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone, drinks … etc.
Personal travel insurance (we highly recommend that you purchase adequate insurance).
Gratuities/ Tipping
All other services not specified in the itinerary