Cambodia Adventure

Sousadei! Welcome to Cambodia.



This evening there will be a welcome briefing with your leader followed by an

optional group dinner at a local restaurant.

Leaving Phnom Penh we travel into rural Cambodia to Kampot which sits on a

picturesque river. On the way we stop at Phnom Chisor mountain temple set on

a hill with a magnificent view. The temple was built in the 11th century by

King Suryavarman I. It is made of laterite, bricks and carved sandstone. Upon

arrival we check into our centrally located hotel, our base for the next two

nights, before boarding a local boat for sunset trip on the Kampot River. The

river runs through the centre of the town and can flow in both directions as

it is closely connected to the sea.

Today we venture out into the countryside to discover the highlights of the

Kampot Province including local salt fields, rice fields, fruit and pepper

plantations, and the Phnom Chhnork caves. Kampot is also famed for being one

of the largest producers of the durian fruit; the durian, once opened, has a

smell so pungent it is illegal to take indoors in some South East Asian

countries!



After exploring the countryside we visit Kep “ghost town” - previously a

popular seaside resort Kep now houses old resort buildings which have bullet

holes from the Khmer Rouge period, a reminder of the not so distant past. Kep

is once again regaining popularity with local tourists and you might like to

join them in having lunch in the simple crab shacks that line the beach.

Serving up the freshest seafood around the crab in Kampot pepper sauce is not

to be missed!

After breakfast we drive approx. 2.5-3 hours from Kampot to Sihanoukville,

before taking a speed boat ferry transfer (approx. 45 min to 1 hour) across

to beautiful Koh Rong Island, our home for the next 2 nights.



Upon arrival you will have free time to relax, refresh with a swim in the

beach, or sip cocktails as the sun sets. 

Our resort is located on one of the island's most mesmerising and secluded

white sandy beaches. Today you will have free time to relax on the beach and

enjoy the crystal-clear ocean waters, try your hand at various optional

activities on offer such as snorkelling, kayaking, and other water sports or

just soak up the exotic tropical surroundings. Your leader will be able to

advise during the trip of all options available to make the most of your free

day.

This morning we transfer back to the mainland by speed boat (45 min. to 1

hour) and drive on to Phnom Penh (approx. transfer time 5-6 hours) with a

stop for lunch.



Located on the banks of the Tonle Sap and the Mekong River, Phnom Penh is

home to 2.2 million of Cambodia’s residents. Despite being the capital, it

still retains a laid-back, typically Cambodian feel where the pace is slower

than some might expect.



We set out on a sunset cyclo (bicycle rickshaw) lap of the town giving us a

unique view of this bustling city and providing us with an easy orientation.

Stopping to see some of the local street food being served on the waterfront,

here we have the chance to try some local specialities. We continue on to

finish at a restaurant serving tasty Khmer cuisine. There are also many

waterfront bars worth a visit; the Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC)

overlooking the Tonle Sap River is recommended.

Phnom Penh still retains a frontier atmosphere and today we have a full day

of sightseeing in Cambodia's capital city.



The day of sightseeing will include the beautiful Royal Palace and Silver

Pagoda, so named for the solid silver tiles that make up the floor.

Thankfully the complex escaped the worst excess of the Khmer Rouge rule.

Similar in style and scale to the Grand Palace in Bangkok, the Royal Palace

has significantly fewer visitors and there is plenty of time to wander among

the traditional buildings. There is also time today to shop at either the

impressive Central Market or the sprawling Russian Market, a souvenir

hunter's paradise!



We visit Tuol Sleng museum or S21 (Museum of Genocide), which graphically

displays the horrors of the 4 years when Pol Pot systematically ordered the

murder of between 2 and 3 million Cambodians. Tuol Sleng was originally a

school but was used as a torture and interrogation centre between 1976 and

1979. It is a sobering and disturbing place to visit. Please be aware that

the images at the museum are very graphic. We complete our day with a moving

late afternoon visit to the 'killing fields' of Choeung Ek. A

football-field-sized area surrounded by farmland, the killing fields contain

mass graves for perhaps 20,000 Cambodians, many of whom were tortured before

being killed.

Our destination today is Battambang (pronounced Battambong). Cambodia's

second-largest city, Battambang, is centred around an attractive riverside

hub with traces of French elegance, friendly Khmer people and well-preserved

colonial architecture. There are also some striking examples of Art Deco

architecture; Central market, the Victory swimming pool and the train station

to name a few. En route to Battambang we have the chance to stop at a pottery

village, a silversmith village and a marble handicraft workshop for an

insight into local handcrafts and industry. In the evening we’ll enjoy an

orientation walk along the Sangke River bank and observe daily life of the

local people.

Today we cycle through countryside to explore Cambodia’s rural way of life.

Stopping at villages to see local cottage industries, traditional scarf

weaving and traditional farming, there will be countless opportunities to

interact with the villagers who may be surprised to see us travelling as they

do, on a bicycle! We’ll reward our morning’s efforts with fruit and a

refreshing coconut. The cycle is easy riding on flat terrain with lots of

stops along the way. If you would like to opt out of the cycling and hop on a

tuk-tuk instead please let the leader know at the beginning of the trip so

alternative arrangements can be made.

After breakfast we head to the town of Siem Reap with stops at the local

market at Pouk. Cambodian markets tend to be fragrant affairs – on offer

here is Cambodian ‘cheese’; one of the strongest smelling cheeses around

- perhaps because it is made entirely of fish! The local market is

nonetheless a great insight into the daily life of the Cambodian people. We

will also make a brief stop at the Angkor Silk Farm for a introduction into

the life of a silkworm and the production process of this fine textile. This

afternoon we walk past the Royal Gardens and along the Siem Reap River front

to the Old Market helping us get our bearings in this charming small town.

You may like to finish with a visit to the Artisans DÁngkor workshop – a

not-for-profit organisation which provides vocational training for young

people in traditional Cambodian arts.

Our first full day of temple touring is by private bus so we can visit some

of the outlying temples such as Banteay Srei. Known as the Women’s Citadel

this small temple complex with intricate carvings is devoted to Brahma.

Particularly impressive are Banteay Kdei and Ta Prohm, still covered in

jungle, similar to how it was when it first came to light. Discovered for the

world in the 1870s, (although always known by the local people), and famously

described as being 'grander than anything of Greece or Rome' by the French

explorer Henri Mouchot, this world heritage site stands alongside the

Pyramids and Machu Picchu as one of the world's most spectacular

archaeological sites.



Tonight is free to enjoy one of the many restaurants on the famous 'Bar

Street' boulevard in central Siem Reap. You may also wish to marvel at the

skills of the Phare Cambodian Circus troop for an entirely different option

or chose to watch some traditional Apsara dancing.

This morning we get set up on mountain bikes for an easy but active ride

around the Angkorian ruins that are closer to town. On the bicycle we can

avoid some of the crowds and get a unique perspective on this amazing site.

If you want to rise early you can arrange with your leader to take in Angkor

at sunrise prior to the day’s cycling.



We will visit the incredible Angkor Wat, the many temples inside the Royal

City of Angkor Thom, including the magnificent Bayon, which is comprised of

54 intricately carved towers in one single temple. The Bayon certainly left

an impression on an early traveller in 1925 who stated 'we stand before it

stunned. It is like nothing else in the land.'



Angkor is a truly magical experience and a photographer's paradise, one of

the real highlights of our trip. The ride will be approx. 25km with plenty of

opportunities for refreshment stops and to take photos. If you would like to

opt out of cycling and instead cool down in the support vehicle, please let

your leader know who will be able to arrange the logistics of this and the

rest of the group.

For land only clients, the tour ends this morning in Siem Reap after

breakfast.