The essentials of Cambodia

Arrival Phnom Penh international airport. Meeting with your guide and your driver and transfer to your hotel in air-conditioned private vehicle.

Your first day of exploration will start with a city tour of Phnom Penh which includes a visit to the royal palace and the famous Silver Pagoda. From there you will be taken to the National Museum where you will learn about the ancient Cambodia history. After the Museum you will visit Wat Phnom which is a beautiful Pagoda set atop a hill where we can see a traditional Buddhist celebration. You will see many other hidden gems/places during your city tour. At the end of the day, you will climb aboard a cruise to enjoy the sunset on the Mekong river! During the cruise you will have scenic views of the Royal Palace before continuing down the river where you will be able to observe the life on the river with families going about their daily activities.

This morning, you will leave the capital city and get on to the road to go to the charming city of Battambang. You will be stop at Kompong Chhnang, the city of orange plantations and one of the largest ports on the Tonle Sap Lake. From there you will have a tour on a traditional boat to enjoy a visit to the original lake villages weaving your way through the floating houses. On the way you will stop at the pottery factories in the city of Pursat. You will reach Battambang in the late afternoon where we will transfer you to your hotel.

Today we will take you on an exploration of Battambang city and its old colonial buildings before heading out of the city to visit the Phnom Banan hill and the old temple set amongst the jungle. You will follow along the river, on the way you can discover the numerous orchards which line the rivers as well as the vineyard of the Cambodia where we produce the wine of Phnom Banan, numerous small villages at the traditional houses and the lifestyle remained unchanged for centuries. We will also take you on a tour to hidden places that include traditional houses, pagodas and where you can interact with the locals in an area that other tourists do not visit. During the afternoon we will take you on the famous bamboo train riding through the rice fields and nature and enjoying local life. At the end of afternoon we will arrange transfer you back to your hotel.

This morning you will say goodbye to the Charming city of Battambang for the Siem Reap. On your road trip you will visit a small district of villages that are not visited by many tourists. Here you will see the locals growing the silk worms and weaving using the traditional handmade looms. One of the local ladies from the village will join you to visit each of the farms to help you talk with and have direct contact with the farmers. You will also enjoy a picnic on the banks of the Ang Trapeang Thmor Lake (9 km by 12 km) which is a natural park where more than one hundred species of bird live. Arrive to Siem Reap in the late afternoon.

Today you will enjoy your visit by local transport: The tuk tuk. You will start your visit with the old Angkor Thom city and its great monuments which was, under the regency of king Jayavarman VII, the last capital of the great Khmer empire. This city is surrounded by an 8 meters high wall and each side of the wall is 4 km long. You will enter through the south door which is decorated with huge sculptures depicting elephants. Once inside you will visit the Bayon with 54 towers with the famous 4 faces smiles. Your tour will finish with the Elephant Terrace and the Leper’s King terrace – famous for their amazing carvings. In the afternoon you will continue your temple exploring where you will visit the beautiful Srah Srang, Banteay Kdei, Ta Keo, Thommanon, Chau Say Tevoda, and Ta Prohm. Ta Prohm is a stunning temple which has been left mainly in its original condition and is a fascinating site to visit due to the large tree roots growing through the ruins.

Discover life on the water as we take you on a boat cruise of the Tonle Sap – Cambodia’s largest natural body of water and the livelihood of the many floating villages who have built their homes and lives to adjust to the change in seasons when the lake expands during the rainy season. You will have the opportunity to meet with locals and see how life on the lake works. Lunch on a floating house made by Osmose NGO. On the afternoon we will take you on a city tour of Siem Reap where you will visit the local old market, admire the beautiful river side, visit the workshops of “artisans d’Angkor” and enjoy the relaxed and interesting vibe of Siem Reap.

After breakfast you will be taken on a scenic tour 37 kms from Siem Reap where you will end up at the beautiful Banteay Srei. This temple is known as the citadel of the woman, a magnificent jewel of the 10th century. This temple is considered one of the most beautiful examples of Khmer architecture. On the way back visit Banteay Samre Temple. In the afternoon we will take you to the famous and visually breathtaking Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat is the prime example of the classical style of Khmer architecture and is visually breathtaking. Inside walls are all covered with sculptures depicting Hinduism mythology, wars of King Suryavarman II and of course the well known 2000 Apsara dancers. Enjoy sunset at Angkor Wat temple.

After breakfast, start the visits with the early-Angkor era temples of the Roluos Group. The Roluos was the first town created by the king of Cambodia. The first edifice to be built was the temple of Preah Ko in 879 AD by King Indravarman I. This temple is composed of 6 brick tower still partly covered by stucco and was dedicated to his predecessor Jayavarman II. The king is represented as the god Shiva. The second temple of the Roluos is the Bakong temple, built in 881 Ad by the same king. This was the state. Temple and also the largest of the city. The temple is the representation of the Mount Meru home of the gods. Finally the third temples is the Loei, built in 893 AD and built by the successor of Indravarman I. In the afternoon visit The Angkor National Museum, where the exhibits and interactive media explain the golden age of Khmer Culture, when the temple of Angkor were built.

After breakfast we will take you on the road back to Phnom Penh. Along the way you will stop at the archeological remains of Sambor Prei kuk, where you can see the Pre-Angkorian temples close to Kampong Thom.For lunch there will be a picnic before going to enjoy the market of Skoun and perhaps try the specialty of the grilled trap-door spider!! You will arrive in Phnom Penh in the late afternoon.

Today free until transfer you to the Phnom Penh airport for your departure flight