8 days – Discover Cambodia
DAY 1 – PHNOM PENH – ARRIVAL (D) Arrival in Phnom Penh. We welcome and transfer you to hotel. Rest of the day is your leisure time to explore the city on your own. Overnight in Phnom Penh.
DAY 2 – PHNOM PENH (B,L) Morning, visit the notorious Choeung Ek Killing Fields, 15km southwest of Phnom Penh. This one is the site of brutal executions of more than 17,000 individuals, most of whom first suffered through interrogations, torture and deprivation in Toul Sleng Prison during Pol Pot regime (From 1975–1979). Continue your visit to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21 prison). This prison was a high school, and used as a prison by Pol Pot’s security forces and became the largest center for detention and torture during the rule of the Khmer Rouge. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, take some minutes at Independent Monument for photo taking. We then visit the opulent Royal Place, home to Cambodia’s Royal family. The Royal Palace is built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town. Continue at 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. Leaving the Royal Palce, you will visit at The National Museum with its superb collection of Khmer art. The last place to visit today is Wat Phnome, the most famous buddhist temple in Phnom Penh. Wat Phnom was built in 1373, and stands 27 metres above the ground. It is the tallest religious structure in the city. The pagoda was given the name of Wat Preah Chedey Borapaut. Overnight at hotel in Phnom Penh.
DAY 3 – PHNOM PENH – KAMPONG CHAM – KRATIE (B) Head to Kampong Cham, a former French trading post town and soak in the scenery of rural Cambodia as you drive past cashew nut plantations, rice fields, and traditional villages. Tour the town center before continuing to Wat Nokor, an evocative 11th century sandstone Buddhist shrine. Leaving Wat Nokor and continue the journey to Kratie. Arrive in Kratie. Enoy lunch at a local restaurant. Spend the afternoon at your lesiure in the sleepy riverside town of Kratie. Enjoy a spectacular Mekong sunset with perhaps a cold drink this evening. The Kratie stretch of the river is particularly famed for its striking sunsets. Overnight at hotel in Kratie.
DAY 4 – KRATIE (B, L) Morning, stroll through this laid-back northern town, visiting the local market where vendors sell everything from fresh fruits and meats to motorbike tires and helmets. Set out for a countryside tour and then board a boat in the afternoon to try and catch a glimpse of the endangered, freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins. Continue towards the village Sambo for a visit of Wat Sorsor Mouy Roy Pagoda with a scenic lunch served amongst the grounds. Afternoon, cross the river to the island of Koh Trong and experience typical Cambodian village life. Upon arrival, you can decide whether you would like to take a local horse cart or pedal yourself around the island on a bicycle. Visit the island’s Wat where you will take part in a tree planting project initiated by a local farmer, in order to recultivate the once densely forested island. Continue with a visit to the Vietnamese floating village on the southern tip of the island. Return to Kratie by boat this afternoon. Overnight at hotel in Udom Sambath, Kratie.
DAY 5 – KRATIE – KAMPONG THOM (B) Depart for Kampong Thom passing through lush grasslands- home to a plethora of waterbirds- and watch out for ox-carts along the road, the main form of local transportation in this region. Although there are almost 1000 steps, climbing up Phnom Santuk Mountain offers spectacular vistas of the surrounding countryside and houses a small pagoda at the top. After soaking in the view, descend the steps and continue by road to Kampong Thom. This afternoon, spend your time at leisure in Kampong Thom. Overnight at hotel in Kampong Thom.
DAY 6 – KAMPONG THOM – SIEM REAP (B,L) Leaving Kampong Thom for Sambor Prei Kuk. Sambor Prei Kuk, 30 kms north of town, is a jungle-enclosed temple complex that receives very few tourists due to its remote location. However, a visit to these Pre-Angkorian ruins should not be missed. As you travel through the ruins on bike and foot, you will be awe-struck at the melding of architecture and nature, as the brick structures here blend seemlessly with the nature surrounding them. You will have the chance to visit and contribute to the sustainability of the people’s livelihood as the local community will prepare a simple but tasty lunch for you near the temples. After lunch, continue our journey towards Siem Reap. On arrival in Siem Reap, check in to the hotel and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure. Overnight in Siem Reap.
DAY 7 – SIEM REAP – Explore Angkor Wat & Angkor Thom (B,L) In the morning, visit to the antique capital of Angkor Thom (literally: “Great City”), located in present day Cambodia, was the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire. Continue your visit at the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, 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 your visit to Ta Prohm, one of the most beautiful temples in Angkor. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake), Ta Som, built in late 12th century C.E. the most distant temple on the grand circuit, small but classic. In the afternoon, visit Angkor Wat the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor. 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. Before ending the tour today, enjoy a wonderful sunset scenery from the Top of Phnom Bakhen Hill. In the evening, enjoy a delicous dinner at a nice local restaurant in Seam Reap. Watch a Apsara dance show while dining. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.
DAY 8 – SIEM REAP – Tonle Sap lake – Departure(B,L) Morning, enjoy breakfast at hotel. Visit Angkor National Museum at 7.30am. Angkor National Museum is an archaeological museum dedicated to the collection, preservation and presentation of Angkorian artifacts, also to provides information and education about art and culture of Khmer civilization, with collections mainly dated from Khmer Empire’s Angkor period circa 9th to 14th-century. Most of the artifacts are discovered in and around the Angkor archaeological sites nearby. The museum is located in Vithei Charles de Gaulle No. 968, Siem Reap, Cambodia, on the way between downtown Siem Reap to northern road leading to Angkor ancient city. After that, take a boat trip for sight-seeing on Tonle Sap Lake, the Great Lake of Cambodia. It is one of the largest lakes in Asia. Here, enjoy a brief cruise past floating villages complete with schools, restaurants, and hospitals. Leave the lake and head to downtown to visit Artisan’s D’angkor, the caving art school. Continue your visit to Wat Thmei. Wat Thmei near Charles de Gaulle Boulevard in Siem Reap, Cambodia where you will find a small memorial stupa which contains the skulls and bones of victims killed during the regime of the Khmer Rouge during 1975 – 1979. Transfer to Siem Reap airport for your departure flight. our Includes: Hotel stay during the tour. Meals mentioned (B,L,D). Transfers as per itinerary. English speaking guide. All entrance fees. Tour Excludes Drinks Tips Personal expenses