Intense Experiences in the Khmer Kingdom(16D/15N)

Welcome to the Kingdom of Cambodia!
Arrival in Siem Reap and transfer by air conditioned vehicle to the hotel.
Cambodia is much more than temples. Its history is both inspiring and sobering, uplifting and heartbreaking. Visit Siem Reap’s magnificent temples, abandoned centuries ago by the Khmer kingdom and now surrounded by its lush forests.

Upon clearing Customs and Immigration, your guide will present you with a welcome packet including all necessary documentation and all contact information of your guide and local offices.

18:30 - 21:30: Welcome Dinner with a Cambodian Set Menu featuring a traditional Khmer Dance Performance at Por Cuisine (incl. one drink, choice of beer, soft drink, soda water, mineral water or juice.)

Overnight in Siem Reap
Meal(s): Dinner

Be prepared to be overwhelmed as today is all about Angkor. No doubt you've seen photos of the epic Angkor Wat, the largest and most important of the Angkor Temples, full of courtyards and carvings. Then there's the mysterious Bayon Temple with its giant smiling stone faces. And let's not forget the haunting beauty of Ta Phrom - left to the clutches of the jungle, bound by the roots of massive trees. But nothing can prepare you for the sheer scale and the spiritual atmosphere that you will experience when seeing these ancient monuments in real life.
We will of course, visit all the above, plus many more renowned and lesser known temples. To end a perfect day, we'll climb to the upper terraces of one of the ancient temples to view the sunset.

Overnight in Siem Reap
Meal(s): Breakfast

Morning and explore how the Cambodian people are making Khmer rice noodles or Nom Banh Chok.
Preah Dak village is one the most beautiful villages nearby the temples. The village is popular in the entire region for its rice noodles. Enjoy a bowl of Nom Banh Chok for your traditional breakfast before we will continue to another small village where we will observe street vendors preparing palm sugar. Palm trees are very important for Khmer people as they use most of the plant including the stem, leaves, trunk, fruits and flowers. They create a palm juice with a distinct smell and flavor that is mainly for local consumption.

Later-on we will visit Banteay Srei, which is one of the most romantic temples in Angkor. Built from pink sandstone, the walls are covered in exquisitely preserved carvings of unusual delicacy.

All you need to do today is sit back on a boat, relax and enjoy the views of Kampong Kleang, a fishing community on the edge of the Tonle Sap Lake. We'll cruise past wooden houses built on towering stilts, submerged forests and fish farms. Today's Highlights: Family interaction, Banteay Srei temple and Boat trip around Kampong Kleang. (4 hours)

Overnight in Siem Reap
Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch

Excursion to Koh Ker and Beng Mealea
Beng Melea is the ultimate Indiana Jones experience! Located in the middle of the Cambodian jungle, it's vast, overgrown and mysterious. Full-grown trees have wound their way around the ancient ruins giving it a haunting jungle atmosphere. Clamber over piles of stone blocks, under hanging vines and past tentacle-like tree roots and beautiful classical bas reliefs. Meanwhile, the seven-tiered pyramid of the main temple at Koh Ker would not look out of place in Mexico! Koh Ker is a remote temple and ancient capital dating back to the 10th century. Today's Highlights: Beng Melea, Koh Ker.

Overnight in Siem Reap
Meal(s): Breakfast

Today we will proceed by private vehicle from Siem Reap to Battambang (3 hours).

Visit the Visitor Center of APOPO
Witness how Giant African Pouched Rats are being trained to save lives! APOPO's visitor centre gives us the chance to discover the history of conflict in Cambodia and the impact of landmines on the local communities. We'll even get the opportunity to meet and see the 'hero-rats' in action.

Visit Pouk Silk Farm
This half day tour will introduce the visitor to the traditional Khmer skills on silk production. Leaving from the hotel to PUOK SILK FARM, located in the countryside. Visitors are shown the different steps in silk production from mulberry tree planting to silk weaving, from cultivation of mulberry bushes, to the silk worms, to cocoons, to spinning, to weaving, to finished products which are on sale.

Visit Phnom Sampeau, a sacred mountain dotted with interesting pagodas and stupas. There is also a moving memorial to Khmer Rouge victims who were thrown into one of the many caves that pepper this holy mountain. Visit Battambang Bat Caves during the sunset. - witness 15 million bats leaving a cave to hunt insects at night.

Overnight in Battambang
Meal(s): Breakfast

Walk through the Hidden Heritage of Battambang
"What better way to explore Battambang than by foot. Together with an expert guide with a background in archaeology and history we'll take a stroll around the town uncovering hidden history and fascinating legends. Our first stop is at Wat Sangker, an old pagoda once used as a weapons depot for the Khmer Rouge. We'll continue to the old colonial bridge and the huge abandoned swimming pool that was once a glorious sports complex. We'll stroll past the residence of the Thai Lord Governor; the 'Naga for Peace' statue created from parts of a rifle; the remains of an old boxing ring; and the beautiful White Elephant Pagoda. Last and by no means least, we'll actually get to enter inside the Golden Temple cinema, as this is the only tour allowed access to this historic movie theatre. We'll end with a cold drink at an exquisite French colonial building that takes us back to the grand old days of Battambang."

Enjoy riding the Cambodia Bamboo Train
Bamboo train called "norry" by the locals, it is a unique and creative form of transport. It consists of a small motorcycle engine-powered bamboo platform that rides on the railway tracks picking up and dropping off passengers, cargo, animals and motorcycles along the way. Virtually all visitors to Battambang have a go on the bamboo train - it is an unforgettable experience and best done in the early evening when the sun isn't so high. Catch it while you can as plans are afoot to upgrade the line and introduce a more conventional train service!

Khmer Rice Noodles Making
Num Banh Chok is the name of the noodles that are laboriously made by hand in heavy stone mills from fermented rice, but it's also what the dishes made with these appetizing noodles are called.

Rice Paper Making
The drive out through some beautiful countryside, you will notice locals making rice paper which is used for spring rolls.

Prahok Making (Fish Paste)
Making the fish paste is a slow, labour intensive process. Many different varieties of fresh fish arrive and are cleaned, chopped and sun-dried or otherwise treated before being smoked or soaked. Large wooden, stone or steel vats are filled with bits of fish mixed with herbs spices, and heaven-only-knows what else, and sit quietly fermenting in the shaded alleys of the factory/market. These pungent smelling stews are occasionally stirred with large wooden paddles, then pounded with a wooden plunger before being forked into bags for weighing and marketing.

Overnight in Battambang
Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch

By vehicle from Battambang to Phnom Penh with a visit to pottery village and Oudong (291 km).
Oudong was the former capital of Cambodia between 1618 and 1866. The twin ridges of Phnom Oudong feature several stupas containing the ashes of former Khmer kings. On the larger hill are the remains of Vihear Preah Ath Roes, Vihara of the 18-Cubit Buddha. After exploring the temples, enjoy the panoramic views of the Cambodian countryside. En route, stop at an ethnic Cham Village and Kompong Luong, a silversmith village. Enjoy a brief tour of a local workshop, before returning to Phnom Penh.

Overnight in Phnom Penh
Meal(s): Breakfast

Let's see what Cambodia's capital city has to offer! The riverfront promenade that lines the mighty Mekong is a hive of activity, from the chaotic traffic to busy pavements full of street-side vendors and pedestrians. We'll visit the National Museum and the Silver Pagoda, and then rub shoulders with the royals in the Royal Palace, where King Norodom Sihamoi still lives today.
And of course, there's time for shopping for exotic souvenirs in one of the city's fabulous markets. We'll either visit the art-deco Central Market or the sprawling Russian Market to barter for locally made silk, crafts, jewelry and lots more.

Enjoy a cyclo ride around Phnom Penh during the sunset.

Overnight in Phnom Penh
Meal(s): Breakfast

The city still bears the scars left by the Khmer Rouge. In particular the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum. Formerly the high school, it became the main interrogation and torture facility. Largely unchanged, it bears witness to the thousands of victims that passed through the doors - only seven of whom survived. Just outside the city, in a peaceful rural setting, we find the Killing Fields. Thousands of people were killed here between the years of 1975 and 1978 and buried in mass graves. These are distressing places to visit, but it's necessary to get a clearer idea of how Cambodians have suffered and how they have survived.

Transfer by private vehicle and English-speaking guide from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville (230 km.)
Depending on which category of accommodation you prefer, boat transfer either to Koh Rong or Koh Krabey.

Overnight on Koh Rong or Koh Krabey
Meal(s): Breakfast

All days at leisure.

Overnights on Koh Rong or Koh Krabey
Meal(s): Breakfast

Boat transfer to the jetty in Sihanoukville. Transfer by vehicle from Sihanoukville back to Phnom Penh together with your English-speaking guide (230 km). Drop off at your hotel.

Overnight in Phnom Penh
Meal(s): Breakfast

Transfer to the airport by air conditioned vehicle for your departure from Cambodia.

Meal(s): Breakfast