Cambodia on a Shoestring

DAY 1 – SIEM REAP – ARRIVAL

Upon arrival to Siem Reap, our guide and driver will be waiting to provide transport to the hotel for check in. After checking in, enjoy the remainder of the day free at leisure.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

DAY 2 – SIEM REAP CITY

After breakfast, begin the Angkor explorations (via remork) with a visit to Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire. This city is surrounded by an 8 m high wall, drawing a perfect square around its perimeter. Upon entering, take note of the impressive stone gate, marked by mythical Naga snakes, carved elephants and giant faces.

Next pay a visit to Ta Prohm temple, built in the mid-12th to early 13th centuries. Ta Prohm is unique in that it has been left largely as it was found: overgrown by jungle trees and vines, with many parts of the temple crumbling to the ground. This makes Ta Prohm one of the most picturesque and memorable of the Angkor temples.

Return back to Siem Reap for lunch at the Yellow Mango before this afternoon visiting the magnificent Angkor Wat Temple. The largest religious complex in the world Angkor Wat was constructed to represent Mount Meru, a mythical home of the gods. Inside the temple the walls are covered by carvings, bas-reliefs and over 2,000 Aspara dancers. After the visit, head back to town.

Optional: Phare Ponleu Selpak in Siem Reap – (evening)

This evening attend a performance of ‘Phare, the Cambodian Circus’. Starting at 7pm, professional artists perform an inspiring show mixing traditional and modern theater, music, dance, acrobatics, juggling and contortion telling stories about Cambodian lives and society.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

DAY 3 – SIEM REAP CITY

Breakfast at the hotel and enjoy the day at leisure. Alternatively take part in some of the optional activities:

Optional: Tonle Sap Lake (half day)

Embark on an interesting boat trip on the Tonlé Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Tonle Sap covering an area of around 250,000 hectares in the dry season and swells to over four times in size during the wet season.

Board a local boat and visit Kompong Phluck, a village where houses on stilts become submerged when Tonlé Sap Lake extends. Along the way, pass floating houses and impressive flooded forests, portraying life on the water. (Note: Green Season is the perfect time to visit this site!)

Optional: Beng Mealea temple visit (half day)

After breakfast, head into the beautiful Cambodian countryside for the drive to Beng Mealea. Feel like an explorer approaching a completely overgrown temple. Undiscovered for centuries, Beng Mealea has only recently been made accessible and remains entirely unrestored. It is one of the very few temples that actually give the opportunity to climb through it. After the adventurous exploration, return to central Siem Reap.

Optional: Banteay Srei and Golden Silk Farm (half day)

Head out of Siem Reap for the beautiful temple of Banteay Srei. The so-called “Citadel of the Women,” Banteay Srei remains the best preserved temple in Cambodia with its fine bas reliefs. Banteay Srei is also unique in that it is constructed of pink sandstone, which is seen nowhere else in Angkor.

Return back to Siem Reap stopping at the Golden Silk Pheach Farm, a local NGO which helps to revive the ancient Khmer know-how in silk activities and provides job opportunities to more than 100 local staff. The farm area, mulberry trees and weaving ateliers can be seen as part of the guided tour.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

DAY 4 – SIEM REAP – BATTAMBANG

Begin the morning with a drive to Battambang along a tree-lined highway that cuts through rice paddy and maize fields. Stop off for lunch along with way at a local restaurant.

This afternoon, embark on a short walking tour through Battambang’s colonial heart before heading to the Bamboo Train station. The Bamboo Train has been set up by the villagers in order to facilitate the transportation of goods and persons as there are no regular trains running any more. The “train” itself is very basic: one bamboo platform on 4-wheels is activated by a small motor. Sitting on the platform (cushions will be provided), travel 8 km to the next station through beautiful landscapes and rice paddies (depending on the season).

End the day at Phnom Sampeau, meaning “Ship Hill” in Khmer, due to its distinctive shape. Ship Hill is one of the few hills standing out in this otherwise pancake-flat plain. From the small temple on the top, soak in fantastic views over the typical landscape of paddy fields and sugar palm trees. Phnom Sampeau is also home to the notorious killing caves, which are cruel reminders of Cambodia’s troubled past. Serenity and inhumanity represented in one place make this an interesting visit.

The visit will last until dusk – a time when millions of bats emerge from a cave and create patterns as they fly in tandem across the sky – a nightly spectacular show of nature!

Overnight in Battambang.

DAY 5 – BATTAMBANG – PHNOM PENH

Spend the morning at leisure with the option of taking a cycling tour around the surrounding countryside villages.

Optional: Village cycling tour (half day)

Enjoy a fun morning cycle around local villages with Soksa Bike, a social enterprise initiative set up to provide scenic and informative bike rides through the local countryside. During the 30km cycle tour there are plenty of entertaining stops: learn how the locals produce rice paper, prahok (typical Cambodian fish paste), grolan (sticky rice stuffed in bamboo) and other Cambodian treats. The local countryside is beautiful and the Battambang area is known for the high quality rice and also oranges grown in the area.

Enjoy lunch at Jaan Bai, meaning ‘rice bowl’ in Khmer, a social enterprise run by the Cambodian Children’s Trust.

Then continue the journey through Cambodia to Phnom Penh.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

DAY 6 – PHNOM PENH CITY

This morning, our guide and driver will be waiting to provide a day tour to the most remarkable sights of Phnom Penh. Take off on this unique tour via cyclo, the best means of exploring this lively city.

First, head to Wat Phnom temple, the founding place of the city on a small hilltop. Then continue along the riverfront to the Royal Palace. This palace dates back to 1866 and houses the Silver Pagoda, named for the over 5000 heavy silver tiles that cover its floors. Its original name is Wat Prakeo, meaning Temple of the Emerald Buddha. In this temple, take note of the grand collection of Buddhas in gold, silver, crystal, and bronze.

The afternoon is free at leisure to explore the lively capital and its markets independently.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

DAY 7 – PHNOM PENH – KEP

This morning head out of Phnom Penh and travel southwards to the coast at Kep. Cambodia’s prestigious seaside resort of the 1960s, Kep is now awakening to its former glory. The small town offers reminders of the past and a growing choice of activities including island trips, a national park and the famous crab market.

Enjoy the afternoon free at leisure to relax or to explore Kep independently. Don’t miss out on the popular crab market for some crabs with Kampot pepper.

Overnight in Kep.

DAY 8 – KEP

Enjoy a full day at leisure to relax with the optional excursion to Rabbit Island:

Optional: Rabbit Island trip (full day inc. lunch)

Take a short tuk tuk ride followed by a 30 minute journey by private fisherman’s boat to the rustic shores and sandy beaches of Koh Tonsai (Rabbit Island), located 4.5km off the coast of Kep.

A truly relaxing and seemingly remote destination, Koh Tonsai is blissfully undeveloped and is the perfect place to enjoy snorkeling in the shallow waters, read a book in the shade, or simply relax and soak up the sun whilst a BBQ feast of fresh seafood is served on the beach.

In the afternoon return to the hotel by boat where the rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight in Kep.

DAY 9 – KEP – PHNOM PENH – DEPARTURE

This morning, transport will be provided (driver only) back to Phnom Penh for the departing flight.