SPRIT OF CAMBODIA 10 DAYS 9 NITES

Day 1: Welcome Cambodia - arrive Phnom penh 

 

Fly into Phnom Penh, the city that retains its traditional Khmer and colonial charm. French villas along tree-lined boulevards remind the visitor that the city was once considered the ‘pearl’ of Southeast Asia. Recent political changes have triggered an economic boom, with new hotels, restaurants, bars and nightclubs springing up across the city.

Begin with Wat Phnom is a Buddhist temple located in center of Phnom Penh City. It was built in 1373, and stands 27 meters above the ground. It is the tallest religious structure in the city. We will stop at Central Market is located in the heart of the Phnom Penh. The Khmer name of the market is Phsar Thmei, which translates to “new market”. The Central Market was built in 1937 during the French colonial period, in Art Deco style, and is painted bright ochre. We enjoy our cyclo ride along the riverside. This laidback tour gives us a different perspective of the streets and sights of the city. We will enjoy a cruise for view sunset on the Mekong and Tonle Sap River (1 hour). Situated at the “Four Arms” where the Mekong meets the Tonle Sap River before splitting into tow branches, Phnom Penh offers the ideal location to discover the mighty Mekong.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.
 

Day 2: Phnom Penh past & present ( B/L) 

Visit to the Royal Palace compound build in 1866 by the Predecessors of King Norodom, is the most conspicuous feature and also one of impressive colorful Khmer-style Palaces. Nearside the Royal Palace is Silver Pagoda (The Emerald Buddha temple), display plenty of Buddha Statues that were decorated and made by diamond, emerald, gold and silver, continuing visit to National Museum, the distinctive red building with a beautiful Khmer architecture was build since 1917 and contains more than 5000 art objects made of sandstone, bronze, silver, copper, wood and others. Travelers will proceed to visit Independence Monument, which was constructed in 1954 after Cambodian took their country back from French colony. We will learn about the dark side of Cambodia – Its more recent turbulent and harrowing history. Initially you visit the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum (also known as S21), ironically a former school, located in a quiet Phnom Penh suburb, this was the infamous Khmer Rouge prison / torture center. Once you have gained an initial insight of the brutality of the Khmer Rouge regime you will be driven 15km from Phnom Penh to visit the 'Killing Fields'. This is where Toul Sleng prisoners were forcibly marched and then executed; it is now a memorial site located in a beautiful tranquil setting.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.
 

Day 3: Buddhist Meditation Centre & Meditation class ( B/L) 

This morning we visit Wat Botum in Phnom Penh to learn more about the traditions of the city’s Royalist pagoda that has been connected with the Royal family for hundreds of years. As well as touring the compound, we have the chance to meet the English-speaking monks at the Wat. After lunch we depart for Udong to visit the Vipassana Dhura Buddhist Meditation Center at the foot of Udong Mountain, the largest Buddhist teaching center in the country. Here we will remain for meditation instruction by the English-speaking monks as well as undertaking a class of yoga instruction from a teacher from Phnom Penh. We will enjoy a community dinner at the temple and our overnight accommodation will be in rooms at the Centre, which will be clean and simple.
Overnight in Meditation Center.

Day 4: Phnom Udong & Floating village ( B) 

After breakfast at the pagoda, we will visit the Royal stupas of Udong Mountain, some of the most revered shrines in the country, containing the remains of former kings and the bones of Buddha himself. We then continue to the busy riverside town of Kompong Chhnang where we stop to enjoy a local lunch. There may also be the opportunity to visit a local pottery village, as Kompong Chhnang is famous for producing undecorated items for the Cambodian home. Then we drive to Kampong Loeung Floating Village. This is a large floating village on the south side of the Tonle Sap and is beautifully situated between the rice fields and wetlands. Most residents are of Vietnamese origin. The boat ride of about 1 hour going through a network of floating houses, shops, petrol stations and schools. We travel northwest through Pursat province, passing through typical Cambodian landscapes of endless rice fields dotted with sugar palms. We arrive in Battambang late afternoon and check into our hotel. Overnight in Battambang.

Day 5: Battambang local lifestyle ( B) 

After breakfast, we drive to the Bamboo Railway Station. The Bamboo Train has been set up by the villagers to facilitate the transportation of goods and people. The train in itself is very basic – one platform on 4 wheels activated by a small motor. Sitting on the platform we travel the 8km to the next station through beautiful landscape and rice paddies. We travel further to the well preserved 11th century mountaintop Angkorian temple of Phnom Banan. After climbing the 350+ steps you are treated to a wonderfully peaceful setting with superb views across the surrounding countryside, with small villages dotting the endless rice paddies, punctuated with the characteristic sugar palm trees a wonderful sunset location. Departure to Phnom Sampeu Mountain to catch the bats! As darkness falls, we will begin to see thousands of nocturnal bats taking flight from the surrounding caves in a massive formation of dark, black clouds. Be sure to photograph this amazing and staggering sight! Overnight in Battambang.
 

 

Day 6: Travelling to Angko - Tonle Sap Lake ( B/D) 

We leave Battambang and drive towards Siem Reap. Stopping at Puok District to visit the National Silk Centre, a fascinating way to learn about Cambodian silk. Here we will spend some time and witness start-to-finish silk creation, growing and harvesting mulberry and the breeding process and the life cycle of the silk worm. We will enjoy a boat ride on the Tonle Sap Lake. This is the largest permanent fresh-water lake in South East Asia and flows into Tonle Sap River, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. We will see a fishermen's ``floating village`` with floating schools, floating police station, etc. It is same as a big village floating on the lake, and the ``village`` move from place to place following water levels and current. Dinner with Apsara Dance show at local restaurant. For those travelers thirsting for cultural highlights of Cambodia, No visit to Cambodia is complete without attending at least one traditional Khmer dance performance, often referred to as 'Apsara Dance' after one of the most popular Classical dance pieces. Traditional Khmer dance better described as 'dance-drama' in that the dances are not merely dance but also meant to convey a story or message.
 

 

Day 7: Butterfly Cente - ACCB - & l Spean ( B/L/D) 

 

Leaving Siem Reap, travel out for the local village of Preah Dak where we sample a local specialty, Nom Banh Chuk rice noodles. Then continue to the Banteay Srei Butterfly Centre where it is possible to see the life-cycle of these arthropods from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly. Continue to the Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB) for the 9am morning tour. Following the tour of ACCB, it is time to explore Kbal Spean and the ‘River of a Thousand Lingas’, an intricately carved riverbed deep in the foothills of the Cambodian jungle only discovered in 1969. A trip to Kbal Spean is one of the easiest ways to experience a short jungle trek in the Angkor area.

Later in the afternoon, we continue to Banteay Srei Village for our local homestay experience. We meet the host family and settle into our temporary home before enjoying a local dinner.

 

 

Day 8: Banteray Srei - Phinom Kulen ( B/L) 

 

After waking early in local village, we take a short village walk to learn about local life and agriculture or start with an early morning visit to Banteay Srei to beat the crowds and then enjoy quiet moment at ancient temple. We will participate in another course on Buddhism with a local Buddhist leader accompanied which will focus on the life of Buddha, history of Buddhism and different Buddhist schools in Southeast Asia.

We depart for Kulen Mountains national Park, also referred to as Phnom Kulen (“Mountain of the Lychees”) by locals. The sandstone from this mountain was the main supplier of construction materials for the Angkor Kingdom. We’ll stop at the sacred site of The River of a Thousand Lingas, which features hundreds of lingas carved in the sandstone bed of the river, which date back to the 9th century. Further downstream, large blocks of stone, also under water, are carved with Apsaras dancers and Vishnu figures. Next on the agenda is a wander around the mountain-top pagoda which is home to relics, statues and a large reclining Buddha. The last mountain stop will be Kulen Waterfall, featuring a natural pool which is the perfect place to cool off on a hot day and a great picnic spot too, so that’s what we’ll do.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

 

 

Day 9: Angkor Thom & Ta Prohm & Angko Wat( B) 

 

After meeting our tour guide, then we drive to Angkor Thom that was the masterpiece of King Jayavarman VII. Following the occupation of Angkor by the Chams from 1177 to 1181, the new king decided to build an impregnable fortress at the heart of his empire. We begin to visit Bayon Temple. At the exact center of Angkor Thom, this is an eccentric expression of the creative genius and inflated ego of Cambodia’s most celebrated king. Its 54 towers are each topped off with the four faces of Avalokiteshvara (Buddha of Compassion), which bear more than a passing resemblance to the king himself. From there we walk to the Baphuon temple, once of the most beautiful temples at Angkor, dating from the reign of Uditayavarman 1 in the 11th century. Continue to visit Terrace of the Leper King. Along the Terrace of Elephants, originally used as a viewing gallery for the king to preside over parades, performances and traditional sports. Visit Ta Prohm `Tomb Raider` fame. Ta Prohm has been abandoned to the elements, a reminder that while empires rise and fall, the riotous power of nature marches on, oblivious to the dramas of human history. We journey out to the Mother of all temples, Angkor Wat. Believed to be the world's largest religious building, this temple is the perfect fusion of symbolism and symmetry and a source of pride and strength to all Khmers.

Overnight in Siem Reap.
 

 

 

Day 10: Siemriep Departure( B) 

Transfer to Siem Reap airport for departure to next destination. It’s time to say goodbye, we thank you for traveling with us and warmly welcome you to come again.

EXCLUSION: 

 

Cambodia Visa stamp fee: 30$ (Passport valid more then 6 months, enough space for visa stamp (1 free space), 1 passport photo (4X6), cash 30$)
All International air ticket
Other meal, drink, personal expenses, tip, Travel insurance, all bank fees
Other thing not mentioned in included
*International bank transfer commission (we will charge you 40 USD for bank charges for each transfer)