Tour Code  : KGA Price  : From US$1,759/Adult
Trip Style : SINGHA Duration  : 14 Days
Country Visit  : Cambodia
Region Visit: : Siem Reap, Battambang, Kampong Chhnang, Phnom Penh
Start Location  : Siem Reap  
End Location : Phnom Penh  
     
GREAT LAKE ADVENTURE

DAY 1:  ARRIVAL SIEM REAP 

You can fly into Siem Reap in Cambodia from many international destinations including Bangkok, Singapore, and Malaysia. According to your arrival time, our guide will be pleased to give you some suggestions what to do on your first day or afternoon in Siem Reap. In the evening we will welcome you at a special dinner for your first night in Cambodia. Overnight in Siem Reap

Meals: Welcome dinner 

DAY 2:  GREAT LAKE TONLE SAP

After breakfast we will collect you from your hotel and travel to Tonle Sap lake where  we board a local boat and go for a lovely trip onto the Tonle Sap Lake through the floating village of Chong Khneas. Passing floating houses, school, sport hall, and even pig and crocodile farms, we will continue the boat trip to the fishermen’s village of Kompong Phluk.

Here we will visit the village, the pagoda on the only butte (the only building which is not on stilts) and see the activities of the villagers before doing a traditional boat cruise. Small canoes, paddle by villagers, will take you deep into the dense flooded forest - a peaceful quiet and special place. 

Our last destination today is Kompong Khleang, where you will be able to observe the fishermen at work on the lake, drying their catch or preparing smoke fish. Overnight in Homestay

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner with family

DAY 3:  BENG MEALEA TEMPLE 

Early morning is the perfect time for taking great photos so you will have this opportunity while we spend more time in the village learning about the daily life in rural Cambodia.

 A 2 hour drive will take us to the jungle temple of Beng Mealea which was built during the 12th century, at about the same time as Angkor Wat.  The layout and style is very similar however, Beng Melea is completely ruined and largely overrun by vegetation. This temple is very lightly visited and offers plenty of wonderful photo opportunities. Overnight in Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 4-5:  ANGKOR COMPLEX 

These two dayswill be an amazing time of exploration of the whole Angkor Complex starting from Angkor Thom, Angkor Wat and a jungle temple of Ta Phrom. Our expert guide will manage the best times to  timing to see the grand circle and small circle temples complex. Also we will drive for about thirty minutes to visit the beautiful pink sandstone temple of Banteay Srei and visit the Cambodian Landmine museum and Rehabilitation Centre which promotes mine awareness and education for both tourists and Cambodian people. Overnight in Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 6:  PREK TOAL BIRDS' SANCTUARY

Today you will have to rise early as we are off to discover the wonders of the Tonle Sap Lake in the Prek Toal area, a critical site for the survival of several endangered species of water bird. Cruising on the Lake to the village of Preak Toal we will then go in search of the bird sanctuary in the flooded forest. We will visit some floating villages and other points of interest such as the crocodile farm, a pagoda and observe some local fishing techniques. Overnight in Trek Toal (Stay with Environmental office)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7:  BATTAMBANG

Our boat trip will begin early for our journey to Battambang.  There is wonderful landscape and the floating villages along the way as well as the daily life along the river. Upon arrival in Battambang we will firts check in at our hotel and then continue our journey to drive 18 km to Phnom Sampeu. This mountain is the site of two caves formerly used by the Khmer Rouge to torture and kill some of their victims. A memorial holding some of the victims' remnants has been created.

At the top are two Wats, one which was used as a prison during the Khmer Rouge era, and a small, colourful modern one from where you can enjoy a spectacular view of the countryside. At around 5.30pm we will come down to the foot of the mountain to wait and see the giant bats fly out from their cave to the sky during sunset time. Overnight in Homestay

Meals: Breakfast, Family Dinner

DAY 8:  KHMER COOKING CLASS & BAMBOO TRAIN

After breakfast, we will go to Smokin’Pot cooking class a friendly local restaurant, where you will attend an initiation to the Khmer cuisine.  Although quite similar to Thai cuisine Khmer food is less spicy, with accents from Indian, Vietnamese and Chinese food. You will learn about the specific products used in our cuisine and choose your menu before joining the cook who will teach you how to prepare and cook these meals.

At lunch, you will enjoy what we have cooked with the family at their house in Battambang. In the afternoon we visit the cultural and agricultural villages of Wat Kor commune. These villages are known for their ancient wooden houses and you will have the chance to visit inside and around, guided by their owners who will share their life stories with us. We will continue this insight into the Cambodian way of life by enjoying an ox-cart trip and travel the traditional way from village to village, learning about traditional agricultural practices such as rice planting in Kompong Seyma and fruit growing in Ksach Puoy where you will enjoy the variety of unusual fruits available. By the end of the day a real life experience on the bamboo train for sunset which is the best highlight of the tour today. Overnight in Homestay 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Family dinner 

DAY 9:  KOMPONG LUONG FLOATING VILLAGE

Say goodbye to our host family and continue our journey to the floating village of Kompong Luong. This area is rich in bird-life and the daily waterway life can be captivating. We will spend the afternoon in the village where we can hire a boat to venture through the village and surroundings. Overnight in Kampong Luong (Homestay)

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 10:  KOMPONG CHHNANG

We spend some time at the village to take advantage of the beautiful morning light for photos before leaving our hosts and go aboard a local boat to continue our journey onto Tonle Sap. We will stop at the provincial capital city of Kompong Chhnang, famous for its manufacture of clay pots. Lunch will be in the main part of the town called Psar Leu (upper market) with many well-preserved colonial buildings. In the afternoon, we will make a boat tour through the floating villages to see the market activity on the lakeside and to visit some old temples from the 7th and 8th centuries across the river. Overnight in Kampong Chhnang

Meals: Breakfast only  

DAY 11:  PHNOM PENH CAPITAL 

Fast travel today as we catch a speedboat to Phnom Penh capital. And then we slow to explore the capital city by Cyclo, the traditional mean of transportation of Indochina.
We will visit the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda. In this amazing place the floor is covered with 5000 silver plates, and it houses the Preah Keo or emerald Buddha, made of Baccarat crystal. In front stands a 90 kg golden Buddha studded with 9584 diamonds. Following this visit, we will walk a short distance to the National Museum. Built around a central courtyard, the galleries, arranged chronologically, present a collection of Khmer art, mostly sculptures.

Finally in the evening we will enjoy a drink on the rooftop of FCC (Foreign Correspondents Club) restaurant, a great spot to enjoy a panoramic view of Phnom Penh. Overnight in Phnom Penh

Meals: Breakfast only

DAY 12:  KOH DACH ISLAND 

We will take a small boat to Koh Dach, an island situated 15 km north of the city on the Mekong River. The five villages of this 12-km-long island are home to farmers who cultivate beans, corn, sesame seeds, peanuts and banana crops. However, Koh Dach is also famed for its weaving and it is pleasant place to observe the weavers, and also the resident carvers and the potters at work. We will go back to Phnom Penh during the afternoon and the rest of the day will be free at leisure. Overnight in Phnom Penh

Meals: Breakfast only 

DAY 13:  KILLING FIELDS & GENOCIDE MUSEUM

Wat Phnom, a temple on the top of the only hill (27 meters high) of Phnom Penh is our destination this morning. We will continue to Choeng Ek killing fields and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum - a mass gravesite and a former primary & high school converted to a detention and torture centre by the Khmers Rouges when they came to power in 1975. Choeung Ek also serves as a memorial to those killed under the Khmer Rouge rule. In the afternoon, we will be free at leisure to enjoy yourself around this charming capital or you can explore some NGOs such as Cambodia Trust Centre, Pour Un Sourire D’enfant, Nyemo, which works to support underprivileged children who work and live in the streets and around the Stung Meanchey garbage dump in Phnom Penh. Tonight we will enjoy our farewell dinner at a local restaurant, Overnight in Phnom Penh

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 14:  ONWARDS HOME 

The tour ends after breakfast when you will have free time to explore the central town or relax at the hotel before your departure.  There are international flights to Bangkok, Vietnam and many other Asian destinations.

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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