Captivating Cambodia

Upon arrival in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, you will be met by a local guide and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day will be free to relax and settle into your hotel (the room is available after 2:00 pm).

Phnom Penh sits at the confluence of the Mekong, Bassac, and Tonle Sap rivers and is considered one of the loveliest of the French-built cities in this part of the world. It was founded as a small monastery in 1372 by a rich Khmer woman named “Penh.” She set up the monastery on a nearby hill, or “Phnom” in Cambodian, after she found four Buddha statues in a tree trunk on the banks of the Mekong.

Later this afternoon, we recommend you head up to the hotel rooftop to watch the sunset over cocktails in one of the best possible locations. You’ll be sure to enjoy the breathtaking views of the Royal Palace and the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers.

After breakfast, you will head out on a guided tour of the city beginning with a visit to the Royal Palace, built in 1866 by King Norodom and housing a remarkable collection of Khmer art. Here you’ll find the Silver Pagoda, whose key works include a golden Buddha encrusted with 9584 diamonds and weighing 90 kgs, and a Buddha featuring emeralds and Baccarat crystals dating back to the 17th century. You’ll then travel to the south of the city to learn about the darkest period of Cambodia’s history: the regime of the Khmer Rouge. Visit the genocide museum of Tuol Sleng, an old secondary school that was transformed into a detention center under the Khmer Rouge. The prison was called “S21” and thousands of prisoners were detained, tortured and killed here.

Afterwards, visit the infamous Killing Fields, one of the numerous sites where thousands of people were killed and buried by the Khmer Rouge communist regime. This is a part of the heritage of Cambodia and this regime ruled the country, as Democratic Kampuchea, from 1975 to 1979.

Notes:
*Visits to the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda will be led by guides on-site as our guides are not authorized to do so.
*The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda are sometimes closed without notice for official ceremonies. If this is the case, the visit will be replaced with another option if possible.

Optional Sunset Cruise on the Mighty Mekong (additional cost): Enjoy a memorable sunset cruise in Phnom Penh. Watch the city lights from the quiet waters along the riverfront and witness often unseen local life on the other side of the mighty Mekong River. Cruise down the vibrant promenade of the bustling capital, pass the spectacular Royal Palace and get to where the Tonle Sap meets the Bassac and the two arms of the Mekong. Observe the local fishermen at work and locals gathering along the riverside while enjoying a fantastic atmosphere and a spectacular sunset over the Phnom Penh skyline.

Start your day early just like Cambodians do and really maximize those early hours at dawn. Participating in a public aerobics session with the local ladies of Phnom Penh will give you a sportive and fun early morning workout – perfect to jump-start a productive day in the active capital!

Then after breakfast at the hotel, you begin the day with a Khmer architecture tour by tuk-tuk – an excellent way to discover Phnom Penh’s diverse building styles and bustling city. While the city is still awakening, head west to the Olympic Stadium sports complex. Stroll around the complex and witness the locals doing their morning exercises, which makes for a great candid snapshot! Proceed to Orussey Market, one of the largest and most important markets of the city. It’s crowded and sometimes hectic, but definitely a one-of-a-kind experience. Return to the tuk-tuk where your next stop will be the National University. Your guide will lead you through the campus of the biggest university in the country and its buildings. The open-air canteen is quiet and inviting at this time of day, so feel free to have a seat and take a coffee break. After some refreshments, continue your tour past the monumental government buildings and the old railway station, through the side-streets, to a place where you can see street art created by numerous local and international artists. Continue to the National Library, where you can browse through the old books in this beautiful historic building. Or if you’d prefer to get out of the city today by tuk-tuk, discover ‘Silk Island,’ locally known as Koh Dach, in the middle of the mighty Mekong River, just a few kilometers upstream from the bustling Phnom Penh. Witness the huge difference between life on the island and in the capital by visiting the untouched Cambodian Mekong islands and local village. The journey from downtown Phnom Penh to Koh Dach Island shows quickly how the landscape and views change from an energetic city to a simpler, rural life of farms, wooden houses and small, charming pagodas.

Then in the early evening, discover the capital – one flavor at a time! Street food always was, and still is, an essential part of Phnom Penh’s daily life and culture. This private tour, led by local aficionados, allows experiencing another part of the rich diversity of traditional Khmer cuisine and habits. Explore the intricacies of local life during the evening by strolling through a bustling market and sampling an array of dishes from diverse stalls. The culinary delights guarentee a flavorful beginning to any night, offering a rich and diverse taste experience.

Transfer to the airport for your morning flight to Siem Reap, where you’ll meet your local guide and transfer to your hotel for check-in.

This afternoon, set out to explore the world-famous Angkor Wat Temple Complex. This temple was dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu by King Suryavarman II and constructed over a period of 30 years. It illustrates some of the most beautiful examples of Khmer and Hindu art and features the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which runs along the outer gallery walls narrating stories from Hindu mythology. Return to your hotel where the rest of the day is free.

Optional evening activities (additional cost):
1. Apsara Show with Dinner:
End the day with a traditional dance show, one of Cambodia’s most famous arts. The dancers take you on a journey from the Angkorian palaces to villages today. The troupe, featuring live singers and musicians, present eight Classical and folk dances.

2. Phare Circus show:
Attend a Circus Art performance at Phare Ponleu Selpak – “the brightness of art” school – an NGO that supports community development by providing social, educative, and cultural services to children and their families. More than just a circus, Phare performers use theater, music, dance, and modern circus arts to uniquely tell Cambodian historical, folk, and modern stories. The young circus artists will astonish you with their energy, emotion, enthusiasm, and talent.

3. Aperitif at Theam House Gallery: 
Late in the afternoon, travel to Theam’s House, an artist’s studio that includes a workshop and a gallery where Theam’s collections are displayed. Enjoy an apertif while viewing Cambodian aesthetics and culture. Aperitif included.

4. Dinner in the countryside:
Take a journey through the countryside to Chandara Villa, a beautiful place kept largely inaccessible to the mass tourist crowds and nestled among lovely gardens. Enjoy a romantic walk to a private spot for a pre-dinner cocktail before dinner is served. The evening will be made all the more special by the candlelight and surrounded by lush rice paddies.

In the morning, you’ll take part in a monk blessing ceremony in one of Siem Reap’s pagodas or temples. Before the ceremony, your guide will reveal some interesting facts about Buddhism in Cambodia, the daily life of the monks, and the disciplines they observe. While you are receiving the blessing by the monks, they will chant and sprinkle holy water on you. After giving a donation to the monks, a piece of red Cambodian string will be tied around your right wrist to represent the fading away of negative thoughts and deeds from your life and to bring you good luck, health, and protection in return. After the ceremony is complete, you’ll have a chance to chat with the monks and exchange some thoughts and ideas with the help of your tour guide as translator.

Afterwards, visit Angkor Thom, “the big city”, a fortified royal city with five monumental gates, that is encircled by a moat more than 325 feet wide. In the center of Siem Reap are the city’s most important monuments, including the 11th century Baphuon; the Bayon Temple, built around the 12-13th century with an amazing collection of towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces; the Terrace of Elephants, once used for royal audiences and public ceremonies; and the 12th century Terrace of the Leper King with its magnificent Apsara sculptures.

Next, visit Srah Srang, which means “the Royal Bath”, a large water reservoir situated at the east of Banteay Kdei temple. It is a gorgeous spot to end the day in the Angkor complex watching the sun go down. The baray (or reservoir) was originally constructed in the 10th century and two centuries later remodeled by the famous King Jayavarman VII (who also built the famous Bayon). You will enjoy a tasty white wine or beer and exotic finger food on the grass with a mat while watching the sunset over the water.

Finish the day by visiting Ta Prohm, a 12th century temple that is in pretty much the same condition as it was found – hidden by the jungle.

You’ll have the day free to explore Siem Reap on your own. If you are still interested in learning more, consider one of these options (additional cost):

Option 1 – Cooking & culture experience: Early this morning, travel further into the Angkor Archeology Park, where another beauty will be waiting for you. Banteay Srei (“The Women’s Citadel ”), though not the largest of the temples in the Angkor complex, it is perhaps the most refined. This 10th century temple is dedicated to the Hindu god, Shiva. It is mostly built of red sandstone with elaborate and distinctive carvings. Afterwards, you will have the special opportunity of making your own traditional breakfast by preparing rice noodles under the guidance of a local family. Enjoy your finished product together with the family. Then continue to another village specializing in bamboo sticky rice production and harvesting coconut. Assist in the preparation of the bamboo dish while tasting delicious Cambodian snacks and a fresh coconut. Along the way, explore sugar palm stallsand learn how villagers process the fruits in many different ways. Give it a try! The next and last of your village stops leads you to a house where a family creates palm leaf handicrafts as a source of income. The villagers will teach you to make one that you can take home as a souvenir. Return to your hotel where you have the rest of the day free to do as you like. Includes lunch.

Option 2 – Roluos Temple ruins: After breakfast, set off to the Roluos group of temples, located about eight miles east of Siem Reap. Once the first capital of the Khmer Empire, this group of temples contain some of the earliest permanent structures built by the Khmer. Some temples date back to the ninth century and were built of bricks, laterite, or sandstone. These group of temples include Bakong, Lolei, and Preah Ko, along with tiny Prasat Prei Monti. The 9th century Bakong temple was the first temple made of sandstone and served as the official state temple of King Indravarman I in the city of Hariharalaya, known today as Roluos. This temple is shaped like a stepped pyramid, similar to the Borobudur temple in Java, a feature of early Khmer architecture. It is thought that perhaps Borobudur was a prototype of Bakong, indicating there may have been exchanges between the Khmer’s and the Sailendras in Java. Lolei is another 9th century temple dedicated to Shiva and members of the royal family. The temple features some decorative carvings including the sky-god Indra mounted on the elephant, Airavata along with makaras (serpent-like monsters), and multi-headed nagas. Your final Roluos temple visit takes you to Preah Ko and Prasat Prei Monti. Preah Ko was the first temple built in ancient Hariharalaya in 879 to honor members of King Indravarman I’s family. Its name, Sacred Bull, comes from the three statues of sandstone in from of the temples central towers representing Nandi, a white bull that serves as the mount of Shiva. Next, visit the Grand Circuit, which include Preah Khan, Neak Pean, Ta Som, East Mebon and Pre Rup. The Preah Khan Temple was built in 1191 by Jayavarman VII in honor of his father. This temple, once a place for Buddhism studies, has been left largely unrestored, with trees and other vegetation growing among the ruins. Another interesting 12th century temple is Neak Pean, the only island temple of the Angkor temples known as “Entwined Nagas”. One of the most interesting features of this site is the superb statute of Balaha, representing the legendary saviour of shipwrecked boats. Ta Som is a small, 12th century temple that has also been large left unrestored. Next up is the East Mebon, a 10th century temple built on an artificial island in the center of the now dry East Baray reservoir. Dedicated to the Hindu god, Shiva, this temple was built of durable Khmer construction materials including sandstone, brick, laterite, and stucco. There is a central tower on a square platform at the top from where you can look out and imagine the vast expanse of water that once surrounded the temple. Close to the East Baray is Pre Rup, another 10th century Hindu temple built as the state temple of Khmer king Rajendravarman. It is thought that funerals were conducted here with the ashes of the body ritually rotated in different directions. Includes lunch.

Option 3 – Follow the Kulen Elephant Forest: The elephants at the Kulen Elephant Forest have spent most of their lives working in the tourism industry and are enjoying a long-awaited and well-deserved retirement. The Kulen Elephant Forest is a new retreat where the 14 retired elephants can interact freely and be treated with excellent care and attention. There are no tricks, no riding at the reserve, and the elephants now roam and socialize unburdened within 400 hectares of lush forest. Here, they will rediscover relationships and natural foods they haven’t eaten in years.

Option 4 – Participate in the Local Village Life: Experience the authentic Cambodian countryside by visiting multiple local farming villages and witness typical local activities. The tour offers the chance to actively participate in the creation of local products all while engaging and getting up-close with the welcoming villagers and their unique & traditional farming lifestyle.

Today you’ll make your way about 25 miles (1 hr drive) outside of Siem Reap to the village of Kompong Khleang. All the houses are built on stilts amid a natural environment with breathtaking views. Depending on the season and the level of water, you will enjoy floodplains, rice fields, and water as far as the eye can see, or impressive stilted houses. Travel by boat over the canals to a large lake where people live on the water, their houses moving with the rhythm of the seasons. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the village.

Return to your hotel where you have the rest of the afternoon free to relax.

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight, or extend a few days to relax at Sihanouk Beach, located on the southern Cambodian coast. Or, consider extending to Vietnam, Laos, or Thailand to discover other cultures and sites.