Cambodia In Depth 08 Days/ 07 Nights

Upon arrival at Techo International Airport you will be met by your tour guide and transferred to your hotel.

Please note that hotel check in time is from 14:00. Early check in is subject to hotel availability and with extra fee.

The rest of the day is at your leisure to relax, enjoy your hotel’s facilities, and explore the city. Your local guide will make arrangements for the following day.

Included meals: None

After breakfast, you will visit Phnom Penh including the Royal Palace complex. This palace dates from 1866 and was the last one built during the French colonial period.  The same complex houses the Silver Pagoda, named for the over 5000 silver tiles that cover its floors. Its original name is Wat Prakeo, meaning Temple of the Emerald Buddha. In this temple you will see a collection of Buddhas in gold, silver, crystal, and bronze. 

Then we continue to visit National Museum, built in 1917.  Housed there are over 5,000 statues, lingas and others artifacts arranged according to pre- Angkor and post –Angkor periods of Cambodia history.

After that, we continue to visit Wat Phnom is situated near the northern boundary of the city. The original temple was built in 1372 by a rich Khmer lady named "Penh" who found a collection of statues of the Buddha washed up on the river bank and decided to house them on a nearby hill "Phnom". The site contains some good examples of Khmer architecture and statues. Wat Phnom is frequented by the locals as a place of worship and a favorite weekend picnic spot.

In the afternoon, we going to visit Toul Sleng (S-21). In the years before 1975, Toul Sleng was a high school in Phnom Penh, but when the Khmer Rouge came to power it was converted into the notorious prison known as S-21.  During the Khmer Rouge regime, around 20,000 people were kept in prison here, and tortured to confess their ‘anti-revolutionary’ behavior. Some died under the torture and were buried in a shallow mass grave on the prison ground, but most prisoners were executed at the Killing Fields. Only 7 inmates survived the Toul Sleng prison.

After that, we continue to visit Choeung Ek (Killing Field) the site of a former orchard and mass grave of victims of the Khmer Rouge killed between 1975 and 1979 about 15 km south of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, is the best-known of the sites known as The Killing Fields, where the Khmer Rouge regime executed over one million people between 1975 and 1979. Mass graves containing 8,895 bodies were discovered at Choeung Ek after the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime. Many of the dead were former political prisoners who were kept by the Khmer Rouge in their Tuol Sleng detention center. Here, was the place where victims transported from Toul Sleng or S-21 and other places in the country were detained.

Included meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, depart Phnom Penh for Battambang by private vehicle and escort by your local guide. This trip takes about 5 hours by driving including technical toilet stop.

In the afternoon, we will take the Bamboo Train. On the bamboo train you can see the countryside and small villages. After that, we taking the countryside road and we stop for a while to explain you about how the people are living around the countryside.

After that, we are going to visit Phnom Sampov mountain (killing cave) and you have to climb up or take a motorbike the mountain to see the killing cave, big cannon, gun, monastery and Stupa. The view on the scenery from the top of the hill is very beautiful. When you come down, we will wait about 5 or 10 minutes for the bats. They are flying out from the cave and between we wait for bats (millions of them), we will explain you about the Pol Pot, killing cave and the mountain.

Included meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we will drive along the small road (dirty road) to see one of the activities which is called Blacksmith. Here we can have a look at how they make knives, sickle, axes, hoes…etc. We keep going on the same road line for few km until our second stop at the factory which is called Sticky rice bamboo cake (khrolan). Here we can see how they are made using fresh ingredients like sticky rice, coconut milk, sugar, salt, black soy beans and so on. Then we have the opportunity to taste this delicious cake.

After that, we turn around and enter the pagoda, killing field (Wat Samrong Khnong) nearby. This is the oldest pagoda in Battambang, more than 300 years old. And you will get to know more about Buddhism and the history of Khmer Rouge from our tour, it is possible to take the picture inside.

Then we move on to the countryside where we can see nice scenery and the activities of growing and harvesting rice depending on the season and learn how to grow or harvest it by

the farmer as available. There are some more sights to enjoy on the way such as local school and fruit farm.

Next stop, we drive across the ruined bridge to visit the Cambodian cheese factory (fish paste). There is a lot involved in the fish making process like smoke fish, dry fish, fish paste etc. It is a very important ingredient in local cooking, and without it, the foods would not be the same! It is an incredibly strong smell that you may not have experienced before.

Let’s take a break for a while. Now we have time to relax at the place which is called Rice paper. You can see the rice paper being made for fresh spring rolls and deep fried spring rolls and learn how to make them from the owner. Then sit down and enjoy some of them freshly made and delicious!

After about 10 more minutes, we reach the banana chip (dry banana) where you can see how they make dried banana from one family who is working together with children. You will be able to try it and learn how to make it by following them.

Included meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we depart Battambang for Seam Reap by private car and escort by your local guide. This trip takes about 3 hours by driving including technical toilet stop.

Upon arrival in Seam Reap, transfer to hotel for check in.

In the afternoon, we will visit Artisans d’Angkor. Artisans d’Angkor was established in 1992 in order to support Cambodian arts and crafts, and to help young people find work in their local villages by continuing the practice of traditional arts. Among the workshops available for visit are wood and stone carving, wood and stone lacquering, gilding, and silk processing.

Enchant by the beautiful sunset and fascinating view of the whole Angkor Wat at Bakheng Mountain Temple (if weather permit).

Included meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we will visit the ancient city of Angkor Thom. A short stop at South Gate. Angkor Thom was the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of King Jayavarman VII. This city is surrounded by an 8 meters high wall, drawing a perfect square. Enter the city through the ancient South Gate, an impressive stone gate carved with Elephants and four giant faces. On each side of the entrance path a row of 54 Gods or Demons is holding the sacred Naga snake.

From here, we continue to visit Bayon Temple in the exact center of the city. This 12th century masterpiece is a study in grandeur and is well-known for its 54 towers with enigmatic faces representing the 54 provinces of the Great Khmer Empire. Baphuon Temple, Phimean Akas Temple, Elephants Terrace & Leper King Terrace, Royal Palace, Woman and Man Pond are also must-visits as they are both known for their intricate bas-reliefs.

In the afternoon, we proceed to visit Ta Prom Temple built in the Bayon style largely in the late 12^th and early 13^th centuries. It has been left in much the same condition in which it was found, the photogenic and atmospheric combination massive fig and silk cotton trees grow from the towers and corridors, offering some of the best ‘tree-in temple’.

After that, we will visit the famous Angkor Wat. Built during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, it is constructed following the model of the temple mountain symbolizing the Mount Meru, home of the Gods. Inside the temple, the walls are covered with stone carvings and bas-reliefs depicting Hindu mythology and the wars King Suryavarman II fought during his reign. Moreover, Angkor Wat is well known for the more than 2,000 Apsara dancers decorating the temple. Construction is thought to have taken around thirty years of intensive labor. Today, Angkor Wat is figured on Cambodia's national flag as the temple symbolizes the soul of the Khmer people.

During sunset, Angkor Wat is less visited, and the Apsaras will shine in the most beautiful light. Return to your hotel, where you can enjoy the evening at leisure.

After breakfast, we travel to the “gem” of the Angkor area, the pretty temple of Banteay Srey, about 35 km from Seam Reap city which is best viewed in the warm morning light. The so-called “Citadel of the Women” remains the best preserved temple in Cambodia. It displays some of the finest examples of classical Khmer art as this small temple is noted for its truly remarkable fine bas-reliefs. Banteay Srey is unique in that it is constructed of pink sandstone, which is seen nowhere else in Angkor.

On the way back, we will have the possibility to stop at local communities along the way and your guide will help you to interact with the local community to learn about the way of life here. Seize the opportunity to taste Palm Wine and Palm Sugar (seasonal) and other popular local products.

After that, we continue to visit Banteay Samre. Banteay Samre is a temple at Angkor, Cambodia located east of the East Baray. Built under King Suryavarman II and King Yasovarman II in the early 12th century, it is a Hindu temple in the Angkor Wat style. It is one of the most complete complexes at Angkor due to restoration using the method of anastylosis. Unfortunately, the absence of maintenance over the past 20 years is evident.

In the afternoon, the driver transfers to the boat pier. Take the private boat and reach to Kampong Pluk, it’s about 20 Km locates on the Southeast of Seam Reap city.
Over 3,000 inhabitants are real Khmers, their households made of wood and bamboo built on stilts of about 6 to 7 meters high. During dry season when the level of the water is low and lack of water those buildings look like the skyscrapers. At this time of the year many of villagers move out onto the lake and build a provisional stilted houses. In wet season while the water level rising up again, the dwellers move back to their permanent houses on the flood plain, the stilts now hidden under the water. People made a living by catching fishes produce as well as smelly fish paste, fermented fish, smoked fish, dried fish, dried prawn etc.
Upon arrival this village we will explore the above activities and we can have a chat with children at private English class, then stop at Buddhist Island to see Buddha paintings.

Included meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at hotel. Free at leisure.

Your tour guide and private car will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.

Please note that hotel check-out time is by noon 12:00. Luggage can be deposited at hotel after check-out. Hotel late check-out is subject to hotel availability and with extra fee.

Included meals: Breakfast