Cambodia Cultural Adventure

Our guide will pick you up at your hotel and start a half-day city tour including the Victory Monument and the National Museum (known as Musee des Beaux-Arts). Next, you’ll visit a French archaeologist and painter, Georges Groslier, who designed it in Khmer style in 1917. The museum contains a collection of Khmer art - notably sculptures – from throughout the ages. You’ll also discover the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda, located within the grounds of the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90 kilograms, and a small 17th-century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha.

We continue to visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21), followed by the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, which is approximately 15 kilometers from the city. You’ll witness Cambodia's horrible recent past. We will also visit the Russian market (Psah Tuol Thom Pong), a lively outdoor market where you will find antiquities, silver and gold jewellery, gems, silk, kramas, stone and wood carvings, as well as T-Shirts, CDs and other souvenirs. End of the day, back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Phnom Penh

After breakfast, transfer to Battambang. It takes around 5 hours to drive the distance of 291 kilometers. Along the way, you will visit Oudong, which was the royal capital between 1618 and 1866 before the capital was moved to Phnom Penh, several temples and stupas cover three hills. These huge stupas can be seen from miles away and contain the remains of several Khmer kings including King Monivong (1927-1941) and King Ang Duong (1845-1859). The walk up the hill over 500 steps provides excellent exercise, especially with the countryside view.

Next, you will stop at Kampong Chhnang visiting Pottery Village to see the different aspects of pottery-making and to also experience the production of traditional rice wine.

Continue the road to Battambang you transfer to start your Bamboo Train ride, a fun experience and also a great opportunity to see the countryside. It’s like a childhood dream come true. (The best time for experience is Sunrise or Sunset). After that, arrive in Battambang and be dropped off at your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Battambang

Morning, visit Phnom Banon, the 11th-century mountaintop Angkorian ruin of Phnom Banan is the best preserved of the Khmer temples around Battambang. As you approach, you will see the distinctive five towers pointing skyward, like a smaller version of Angkor Wat. At the base of the mountain, you are faced with a steep laterite staircase flanked by Nagas. After climbing the 350+ steps, you are treated to a wonderfully peaceful setting. The temple was built by Udayadityavarman II, son of Suryavarman I. After visiting Phnom Banon, you may take a picnic lunch (local food) near the temple (at your expense).

After lunch, continue to visit Wat Sangker Slaket Pagoda, the former residence of the provincial Buddhist patriarch. Next, visit the village along the Sangker River, stop at a village in the countryside that produces rice paper.

After the visit, transfer to Siem Reap. You will expect to arrive late evening for your drop off at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Siem Reap

Breakfast at the hotel, and visit the antique capital of Angkor Thom (12 century): the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, and the Bayon Temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, the Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Continue to visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor, Angkor Wat, the temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag, and the 12th-century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture.

Afternoon, visit Ta Prohm, one of the area’s most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. After the visit, Ta Prohm if time and energy permitted visit Old Market for some souvenirs for friends and families.

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Siem Reap

Morning, we visit Kulen Mountain in Phnom Kulen National Park. It is an isolated mountain massif located in Svay Leu District and some 48 kilometers from Siem Reap. Its highest point is 487 meters. This is widely regarded as the birthplace of the ancient Khmer Empire. During the construction period of the ancient temples in the Ninth century, sandstones were brought from this sacred mountain to Angkor. It was here at Phnom Kulen that King Jayavarman II proclaimed independence from Java in 802 A.D. After exploring the surrounding nature, pay respect to the reclining Buddha statue. Picnic lunch near the waterfall at your own expense.

On the way back to Siem Reap, stop by and visit an ancient Hindu temple in the countryside, BANTEAY SREI (citadel of women, 35 kilometers north of Siem Reap), which was built from 968-1001 AD, is dedicated to the Shiva God. In Cambodia, there is a unique pink sandstone temple that has the most beautiful deep carvings.

After the tours, transfer back to Siem Reap and drop off at your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Siem Reap

In the afternoon, you will take a Boat Trip to the Tonle Sap, about 16 kilometers from the southeastern city of Siem Reap. Here is a good choice for you to visit the floating village. This is a relatively small village, providing a good insight into the Tonle Sap village lifestyle. The village is almost entirely in fishing and related activities. If time permits, before returning to the hotel, we will stop at Old Market. You will find artifacts, gold and silver jewellery, precious stones, silk, stone, and wood carvings, as well as shirts, CDs, and other memorabilia. Then, back to the Hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Siem Reap

Breakfast at the hotel, free until time to transfer to Siem Reap Airport to take a departure flight.

Meals: Breakfast