Tour Code  : KAH Price  : From US$849/Adult
Trip Style : SINGHA Duration  : 7 Days
Country Visit  : Cambodia
Region Visit: : Siem Reap, Battambang
Start Location  : Siem Reap  
End Location : Phnom Penh  
     
ANGKOR WITH YOUR HEART

DAY 1:  ARRIVAL SIEM REAP

Arrive at your hotel at anytime in the morning. In the afternoon, our heartfelt tour begins with a visit to the incredible the complex of Angkor Wat, the largest and most impressive of all the temples. It is the best preserved of all the temples. The layout and scale are simply breathtaking, the wall surrounding the enclosure measures 1,000 by 800 meters and the moat, said to represent the oceans of the world is 200 meters wide. This amazing temple has the longest continuous bas relief in the world, which runs along the outer gallery walls telling the tales of myths and legends of the Gods.  As the end of the day approaches, (weather permitting) your guide will bring you to the hilltop temple of Phnom Krom, for a truly memorable sunset. Overnight in Siem Reap

Meals: Welcome Dinner 

DAY 2:  ANGKOR COMPLEX 

After breakfast, we will go to a friendly local restaurant, for an initiation to the Khmer cuisine. Khmer cuisine is quite similar to the Thai cuisine but less spicy, with accents from Indian, Vietnamese and Chinese food. You will learn about the specific products used in Khmer cuisine and choose your menu before joining the cook who will teach you how to prepare and cook these meals to be enjoyed as your delicious lunch.

The afternoon, will be another temple visit - to Ta Prohm, a monastery largely consumed by the jungle. As you climb through the dilapidated stone structures you will see many giant trees growing out of the top of the temple itself. Ta Phrom looks as many of the monuments did when European explorers first laid eyes on them. It is truly a magical place. 

Then we will go to visit an exhibition on the Tonle Sap located at the school for blind children directed by the NGO Krousar Thmey. They also provide massage services with professionally-trained blind masseurs at the school behind the exhibition centre. This is a perfect way to relax after the visit of the temples. This place is close to the Jayavarman VII Children’s hospital, a state-of-the-art hospital which provides free medical care to children. Like every hospital in Cambodia, the medical staff is always in need of blood to save lives. We will be able to stop there for the ones who would like to give blood. Overnight in Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 3:  TONLE SAP LAKE 

Today we will rise early for a full day boat tour discovering the wonders of the Tonle Sap Lake with the non-profit association Osmose. This association has implemented a pilot conservation and development project in the Prek Toal area of the Tonle Sap Lake, a critical site for the survival of several endangered species of water bird. They aim to link preservation of water bird colonies to the sustainable development of local communities. You will cruise on the Lake to the village of Preak Toal and then go in search of the bird sanctuary in the flooded forest with the assistance of a specialist guide for this area.
After a traditional lunch of fresh fish,  we visit some floating villages of the Tonle Sap and other points of interest such as the crocodile farm, a pagoda and watch the locals with their fishing techniques. We will arrive back in Siem Reap in the late afternoon. Overnight in Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 4:  ANGKOR THOM 

After breakfast, we will head out west of Siem Reap and drive through the countryside across villages to reach the Sangkheum Center for Children, an NGO providing a home for orphaned, abused or neglected children, as well as a general education and selected vocational training. We will learn more about their work and see the children training in the workshops in agricultural farming or practicing dance and music.

Lunch will be at le Jardin des Délices (the Paul Dubrule Training Restaurant) where students of the Paul Dubrule School of Hotel and Tourism gain valuable experience through serving you. After lunch one of the teachers or the Director will take us on a guided tour of the school and its facilities.

In the afternoon we will explore the complex of Angkor Thom. Our visit will begin at the South Gate, a beautiful introduction to Angkor Thom with well-restored statues of asuras (demons) and gods lining the bridge. Inside the complex, we will stop at the famous Bayon, a pyramid temple decorated by about 200 gigantic carved heads. We will also visit the Royal Enclosure, the Elephant Terrace, Terrace of the Leper King and then we continue to visit Preah Khan temple, a labyrinth of pavilions, halls and chapels in a vast area encloses by four walls. Overnight in Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 5:  BANTEAY SREI & KBAL SPEAN 

This morning, we will drive 50 km north through the countryside to reach The Angkor Center for Conservation Biodiversity, at the foot of Mount Kbal Spean.

We will visit Phnom Kbal Spean then after a 30 mins walk in the forest, we will arrive at Sahasralina, the River of a Thousand Lingas. These remarkable 11th-century riverbed rock carvings display a gallery of gods and celestial beings including Vishnu reclining on the serpent Anata, Shiva, Brahma, Lakshmi, Rama and Hanuman.

After lunch, we will drive to the magnificent Banteay Srei temple – the Citadel of women - decorated with superbly intricate reliefs of male and female divinities, carved from pink sandstone contrasting with the main walls made of laterite. On the way back, we will stop at the Cambodian Landmine Museum and Rehabilitation Centre which promotes mine awareness and education for both tourists and Cambodian people.
Finally we will visit Banteay Samre, one of the most complete complexes at Angkor, restored with the method of the anastylosis. Built under the reign of Suryavarman II during the mid 12th century, its unique feature is the interior moat covered with a laterite paving. Not many tourists visit here so you will appreciate its peaceful atmosphere. Overnight in Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 6:  HANDICAP INTERNATION & SALA BAI SCHOOL 

After breakfast, we visit Handicap International, an NGO (non governmental organisation) which provides a range of support activities to disabled people, many of whom are victims of leftover weapons. We will have lunch at Sala Bai, a hotel and catering school for disadvantaged young Cambodians created by the French NGO Agir pour le Cambodge in 2002.
This afternoon, we will visit some more temples of the Angkor complex. Our first stop will be at the temple of Prasat Kravan which contains some remarkable brick bas-reliefs. Then, we will visit Banteay Kdei and the opposite Srah Srang Royal Bath. Banteay Kdei is a temple enclosed by a large laterite wall (700 m by 500 m) and which contains three main enclosures with laterite towers, connecting galleries and beautifully frontons and lintels. Our last stop will be the pyramid temple of Pre Rup which offers a brilliant panoramic view of the surrounding countryside and is a popular spot to enjoy the sunset.
Tonight we will enjoy our farewell dinner with a traditional dancing show at the Apsara Theatre where you will see a mixture of Classical and Theatrical Folk dances. Overnight in Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner with traditional dance show

DAY 7:  ROLUOS GROUP & ONWARDS HOME  

In the morning, we will drive about 15 km southeast of Siem Reap to reach the temples of the Roluos group, a collection of monuments representing the remains of Hariharalaya, the first major capital of the Angkorian-era Khmer Empire.
On our way back to Siem Reap we visit Preah Prumroth and Wat Bo, a temple founded in the 18th century. It is a large, highly respected pagoda. In this holy place, your guide will give you some information about Khmer Buddhism and religious observance.

No activities are planned in the afternoon and you are free to leave at any time.

Meals: Breakfast only

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Experience Indochina, the local way…

Our adventures are designed to be flexible with comfortable accommodation arranged depending on the itineraries and the areas visited.  We use a combination of Guesthouse, Motel, Homestay, Camping, Boutique Hotel and 3, 4, 5 star hotels with swimming pool depending on your choice of journey.  Each will be suitable to your choice and stay during your holiday.  All accommodation is carefully chosen - hotels are clean, with unsuited bathroom, air-conditioning and television.   The Guesthouse, homestay and camping will have shared bathroom facilities.  All are clean and comfortable.  We really care about your accommodation during your holiday and as we are local Khmer people ourselves, we understand the accommodation that we will choose for you and your family. 

Choosing locally owned facilities helps the Indochina people in their lives - and will support our local families during your journey.  These people are friendly welcoming and exceptionally hospitable.  We are sure you will sleep soundly and eat very well.

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