Travel Style
Culture - History
Destinations
Siem Reap, Battambang, Phare Circus Show, Tonle Sap Lake, Angkor Temples, Koh Dach Island
Highlights Itinerary Accommodation Inclusions/Exclusions
The fanciful 10-day vacation in Cambodia suggests exotic travel places in Cambodia for you to explore the country's culture and history. This tour program responds to the desire for Cambodian places to visit by including the country's most highlighted areas: Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Battambang. Besides the main tourist attractions of Cambodia like stunning Angkor Temples and Tonle Sap Lake in Siem Reap, Royal Palace and National Museum in Phnom Penh, you shall take a thrilling bamboo train in Battambang, have a cycling trip to Silk Island and visit the originated place of the renown show Phare Circus. Phnom Penh witnessing the vivid ups and downs of Cambodia's history. Due to its location as the meeting point of the Mekong River and the country’s gigantic lake Tonle Sap, Phnom Penh was chosen as the capital remaining many royal buildings and palaces. Siem Reap province is less modern but pretty vibrant and a must-see when traveling in Cambodia because its ancient Angkor Temples in the jungles will draw your attention. The last province is Battambang which is just roughly a 3.5-hour drive from Siem Reap featuring breathtaking countryside and wonderful opportunities to interact with the local people and gain authentic experiences. This province is also the hometown of the extraordinary Phare Circus Show.
The first destination in your Cambodia history and culture tour program is Phnom Penh – Cambodia’s capital. This city was the “Pearl of Asia” during French colonial time; then suffered from fierce killing by the Khmer Rouge since 1975. Phnom Penh City shows a combination of Khmer and French-colonial cultures and architectures.
Upon your arrival at Phnom Penh Airport, your driver and local tour guide will welcome you; and then travel to the hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is on your leisure to get off jet lag.
Take a full day sightseeing in Phnom Penh and delve into Cambodia's history and culture. Begin with the visit to Royal Palace which was constructed over 150 years ago. Stroll inside this graceful place, you can admire Khmer architecture with the layered roofs, and gilded ornation and detect some national treasures. They display the valuable relics 90-kilo gold Buddha encrusted with 9,584 diamonds and the emerald baccarat crystal Buddha since the 17th century. Nearby are the Silver Pagoda or Wat Preah Keo whose floor is covered by 5 tons of glistening silver; and the Temple of Emerald Buddha. Next, admire the Khmer fine arts at the National Museum in Phnom Penh. Displaying 14,000 relics of variant sculptures, bronze and sandstone statues, ceramic artifacts, etc. the dedicated National Museum is staggering to find in-depth of Cambodia's culture and history.
This afternoon, you will see another aspect of Cambodia's history with a stroll in Toul Sleng which used to be the secondary school but lately turned into the notorious prison S21 by the Khmer Rouge. The prison reveals a dark and fierce time in the country from 1975 - 1979. Thereupon, drive to the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek which is a site of execution and burry for victims of the Khmer Rouge Regime. Lastly, take a pleasant hike to Wat Phnom Temple located on a peaceful hill at 27m (88.5 feet), and cast a nice view of Phnom Penh.
Leave behind the modern city, you shall escape to Silk Island in Phnom Penh today with an exciting cycling trip. Heading to Diamond Island, you then take the local ferry to cross the river and kick off the biking to rural villages with stops to see the local houses, and their luxuriant gardens and enjoy the peaceful scenes. The next ferry shall transfer you to Koh Oknha Tei Island for you to observe more of the local lifestyle in the countryside of Phnom Penh. On this island, you will find Buddhist pagodas, farming plantations, and off-the-beaten paths. Carry on the cycling journey to Koh Dach or Silk Island where local villagers earn their livings by traditional handicrafts of silk weaving. You shall behold how they manually make silk products and get some as souvenirs. Afterward, you will cycle to get back to the pier. Have chilling time in Phnom Penh for the rest of the day.
This morning, you will take a 50-minute flight from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, a stunning Cambodian destination to explore thousand years of Angkor Temples and the countryside landscape. Upon arriving, you will be welcomed by your local guide; then travel to the hotel in Siem Reap for check-in.
This afternoon, embark on a journey to an exotic place in Siem Reap to see the floating lifestyle in Kompong Khleang Village on Tonle Sap Lake. Traversing around 50km (31 miles) passing by the rural regions in Siem Reap, you will board a local cruise for incredible views of the giant lake and gain authentic experiences in the village of stills houses and houses on the water. The landscape is varied differently according to seasonal water levels you can find floodplains or dried plains. After the excursion, you shall return to Siem Reap and pay a visit to Mr. Theam's house, a privately owned studio displaying collective historical and cultural artifacts at the high aesthetics of Cambodia.
Today, you will venture the hiding Angkor Temples from the 9th to 15th centuries. Head to the south gate of Angkor Thom, which means “Big City” with defensive walls up to 12 km, you will walk along 2 terraces of 54 figures in the Hind myth Churning of the Ocean and 54 demon gods pulling a snake’s tail. Right walking through the gate, you will behold the fascinating Bayon Temple best known for its gigantic sculptures of smiling Buddha faces representing the protection of the Citadel from four directions. The Venturing in Angkor Complex Siem Reap will lead you to Baphuon Temple dating back to the 11th century, Phimeanakas Temples, the Terraces of Elephants and Terraces of Leper Kings of 360m long wall as the eastern boundary of the Royal Palace.
In the afternoon, explore the astonishing Angkor Wat Temple, the largest temple with its highest tower at the center of 65m; and the only temple whose entrance faces toward the West in association with Vishnu. Getting around the temple walls, you will discover plentiful elaborate sculptures, and a gallery of the nation’s religions, cultures, and histories. Angkor Wat remains a significant religious venue in Siem Reap and Cambodia. Lastly, visit the renowned and interesting Ta Prohm Temple which has a tight embrace of the jungle. Have a delightful walk and follow the footsteps of Lara in the movie Tomb Raider.
This morning, you will travel 40km (25 miles) passing by the peaceful countryside with sugar palm gardens and rice fields to the north of Siem Reap for Banteay Srei Temple. By its elaborative sculptures and carvings, Banteay Srei Temple is also called the citadel of women, Bantey Srei is another unique architecture of Angkor Temples in Siem Reap as it’s the only one built in red sandstone. Arriving at the Bong Thom Village, you will meet up with local people and learn more about their daily lives. Learn the processes of making Cambodian traditional noodles and prepare a local breakfast bowl yourself. Next, travel to the other villages and observe their work on making bamboo sticky rice, and harvesting coconuts. You also visit palm palm sugar stalls to learn more about making palm sugar and handicrafts from palm leaves. Afterward, return to your hotel in Siem Reap for free and easy relaxation.
Traveling 3 – 3.5 hours by land from Siem Reap, you will visit Battambang, one of the most impressive exotic places in Cambodia - presenting amicable countryside, the disrepair of colonial architecture, and a riverside setting. In the afternoon, board a tuk-tuk to explore the Battambang Town renowned as the second largest city in Cambodia. Start with a stop at Wat Ek Phnom, an ancient temple from the 11th century. The expedition then will have your up-close observation of the region's typical houses, small streams, local people, and their daily work of preparing sticky rice, making knives, and the traditional fish paste prahok.
Today, you will take a pleasant cycling journey with a visit to a local market with regional goods on offer. You also find the old French colonial architecture with riverfront buildings and then Wat Tahm-rai-saw. Visit the Governor’s House in Battambang and learn about the city’s history; and then the Provincial Museum of Battambang. Have a traditional lunch with a local family of 3 generations, and you will have a more insightful understanding of cuisine and local cultures.
After lunch, visit the Phare Poneak school founded in 1994 which supports and trains the poor, young Cambodians with artistic skills and formal education. The trainees there perform extraordinary circus and dancing in both Battambang and Siem Reap. You will spend 1 hour learning more about this school's mission and stories. In the evening, enjoy the Phare Circus Show in the place where it was born. The show begins at 7 pm and will last for 1 hour.
Experience the local bamboo train in Battambang this morning, you will see further of the rural landscape and the countryside along Banon hills. Then back to the main town and have free time for chilling out at a riverside café or relax at a hotel. At a good time, check-out hotel, you will travel by land back to Siem Reap. The rest of the day is at your leisure. You might enjoy yourself at the pub street, have some spas, or buy Cambodia souvenirs at Siem Reap night market.
The last day of your 10-day trip in Cambodia will be at your leisure. At a good time, you will see your tour guide and have a transfer from Siem Reap City to the airport for your flight to your next destination.
Inclusions:
Accommodation in double/twin sharing basic
Daily breakfast at the hotel and meals as indicated in the program
Private air-conditioned transfer
Excellent English-speaking guide (other language on request)
Entrance fee, boat trip, cycling for sightseeing as mentioned
Phare Circus school visit and show in Battambang
2 bottles of water per person per day
Exclusions:
International and domestic flights
Cambodia Visa
Tips and gratuities for guide, driver, etc.
Personal expenses and services not mentioned
Remark: Tour price is applied for group of 4 guests staying in 3-star hotels. Contact us for a quotation if you have a different group size and other hotel categories.
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