Explore Cambodia Tour

Explore Cambodia Tour

Country: Cambodia

Styles: Scenic,Local colour

Tour type: Add-on - If you're planning a holiday in one of our destinations in Southeast Asia and want to get more from your holiday, an add-on tour is for you. Get a feel for the country's culture and experience some amazing sites of interest.

 

Day by day guide

Day 1

Arrive in Phnom Penh: Be met at the airport by your local English speaking guide. Travel by private car to your hotel. The rooms are at your disposal from 14h00. Then discover Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, with a visit to the Royal Palace and the splendid Silver Pagoda. A couple of hundred metres further on, experience ancient Khmer art at the National Museum, a major architectural monument which now houses the magnificent art which once adorned in the temples of Angkor. To round off the day, get to know Phnom Penh's origins with a visit to Wat Phnom. Return to the hotel. Dinner at your own expense. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2

Phnom Penh - Battambang: Early morning departure through the Cambodian countryside on a good quality road, heading to the city of Battambang. During the drive, you'll see magnificent scenery of rice fields dotted with sugar palms and traditional wooden houses on stilts. After about two hours, you'll arrive in Kompong Chhnang, a provincial town where you can walk through traditional potting villages and see local artisans at work making braziers for domestic cooking along with many other utensils and decorative pieces for the home. An hour later back on the road, we'll stop at Ponley village where a small traditional boat able to take four people will motor around the lake allowing you to view community life of a real floating village and all its unique characteristics. Afterwards, cross a large lake to visit another village, Kompong Luong. Here you'll get back into the car after a picnic lunch on board, should the fishing season allow. Otherwise, lunch at a local village. Continuing on the road, then arrive at Battambang and your hotel in the late afternoon. Dinner at your own expense. Overnight at the hotel.
Note: Battambang is not highly developed for tourism. Its restaurants, hotels and general services are still quite local.

Day 3

Visiting Battambang: Discover the charming town of Battambang, beginning with a tour by local Tuk-Tuk from which you'll be able to see the elegant colonial French-style houses along the river. A visit the provincial museum and a pretty wooden pagoda precedes your arrival at an 11th century temple, Wat EK Phnom, the road to which bypasses many traditional villages. On the way, help a family make rice pancakes and talk with local Cambodians about their daily life. In the afternoon, travel along the river whose suspended bridges join all the villages together. Crossing the orange orchards, you'll arrive at the superb 12-13th century temple Prasat Banon which towers over the peak of the hill you have just climbed up. From here, you can enjoy the beautiful village countryside scenery, the plains and their pagodas. If you are still interested in further exploring, take a stroll through the huge papaya fields which surround the temple and appreciate the serenity of this marvellous spot. Dinner at your own expense. Overnight at the hotel.
Option: As an alternative to visiting the temples, you could take the Bamboo Train. Join this enchanting train and tour for 20 minutes across the countryside taking the railroads built long ago by the French. On arriving, take a walk inthe countryside to experience local life, returning then to Battambang to visit one of the oldest traditional houses in town.

Day 4

Battambang - Siem Reap Day Cruise
Option 1: A day cruise from 7 to 9 hours depending on the season - possible from August to February, depending on weather Transfer to the wharf and then in a private traditional boat take a superb cruise along the Sangke River. Bordered by stilt houses and local vegetation, the river takes you to a floating fishing village, Bak Prea. From here you'll be able to spot the black wood Chheu Khamu pagoda while you enjoy a picnic lunch onboard. At the mouth of the river, where it meets Tonle Sap Lake, you'll pass by Prek Toal village. Here you will see schools and floating pagodas and a myriad of fishing methods, including fishponds and crocodile farms. Continuing to cruise along this great lake, you'll arrive at Chong Khneas village, the point of disembarkation at the end of the afternoon. Transfer to your hotel for check in. Dinner at your own expense. Overnight at the hotel.
Note: The small traditional Cambodian boats are noisy and do not have toilets. Rest stops are planned at villages along the way. The cruise's remarkable beauty overrides these small inconveniences.

Day 5

The Temples of Rolous - Angkor Thom: In the morning, about half an hour from Siem Reap, discover one of the most ancient sites in the region: the Temples of Roluos. Begin the visit with the impressive Bakong, a 9^th century temple. Follow this with Preah Ko and Lolei which today houses a small monastery. This is an ideal introduction to Angkor because it allows a full understanding of how the Khmer city was marvelous. In the afternoon, visit Angkor Thom (Grand City) beginning at the south gate and the famous Bayon of the 12^th and 13^th century dedicated to Buddhism and made of 54 gigantic towers featuring 216 smiling faces of Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva embodying the compassion of all Buddhas. Continue on then to the Terrace of Elephants which, at 350m, used as a giant reviewing stand for public ceremonies and served as a base for the king's grand audience hall; and then see the Terrace of the King of Lepers, 12^th century, a raised platform featuring many sculptured Apsaras (celestial dancers). Dinner at your own expense. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6

Angkor Wat - Banteay Srei - Ta Prohm: Meet your guide at reception to head off to the marvelous temple of Angkor Wat, a world heritage site featuring the most extraordinary bas-reliefs. This is one of the most astonishing monuments ever conceived by mankind, and was erected in the 12th century (1112-1152) in honour of Vishnu. In the afternoon, leave for Banteay Srei, one of the most impressive jewels in the world of Khmer art. Built in the 10^th century, this little pink sandstone temple whose name signifies 'the citadel of women' houses remarkable sculpted lintels in very good condition. Andre Malraux made it famous at the beginning of the 20^th century after removing one of its Apsara heads. He restored it to Banteay Srei in 1923. On the road home, visit the ancient Ta Prohm monastery where immense branches have taken root in the stones. Here you will find splendid sculptured devatas (guardian angels) and experience an atmosphere entirely suited to this temple and all those built under the reign of Jayavarman VII generally. Dinner with Apsara dance show at a nice restaurant in the town. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7

Siem Reap - departure: Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.