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Cambodia In Depth

Location: Cambodia
  • Overview
  • Itinerary
  • Gallery
  • Trip Dates
  • Highlights

    • Bond with fellow travellers over dinner at the Friends restaurant, combining an excellent local cause with a memorable dining experience
    • Your 4-night feature stay at Navutu Dreams Resort & Wellness Retreat will allow you to relax and rejuvinate whilst exploring stunning Siem Reap, Angkor Wat and surrounds
    • Travel to Kampot, where an unforgettable sunset river cruise is only the beginning. Wander the surrounding countryside, visit the Kampot Pepper Project, stop by a 7th-century cave temple and stroll along Kep Beach
    • Discover local tastes and sights in rural Battambang on a remork (motor-rickshaw) ride
    • Join monks in their sacred water blessing ritual, burning incense and offering lotus flowers, in a working monastery near Phnom Penh
    • Witness the magic of Angkor, the legendary Khmer temple complex. Ample time at the site allows for in-depth viewing of marvels such as the Bayon, Ta Prohm and the incredible Angkor Wat
    • Learn kitchen secrets from local Khmer, with a Cambodian cooking class and three course meal out in the countryside around Siem Reap

    Trip Overview

    From the wondrous temples of Angkor to the dark legacy of the Khmer Rouge, Cambodia is a country that exudes history from every corner. Between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, this journey takes you away from the well-worn tourist trails and into the provinces, where the heart and soul of the country is found in smiling Khmer villagers, hidden temples and sun-kissed fields of rice and bamboo. Taste and cook traditional culinary delights, witness farmers on their daily rituals and join Buddhist monks in their sacred blessings on this inspiring 12-day journey.

  • Itinerary

    Day 1: Phnom Penh

    Sua s'dei. Welcome to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. You'll be transferred to your hotel – check with hotel reception for more information about your important group meeting this evening. If you have free time in the afternoon, perhaps stroll the streets of Phnom Penh and explore the city, taking in the interesting French colonial architecture. The National Museum, with its collection of classic Khmer craftsmanship, is well worth a visit. Dinner tonight will be at the restaurant run by Friends International. You might decide to go for a drink at the Foreign Correspondents' Club afterwards. 

    Notes: The restaurant run by Friends International is closed on public and school holidays. Alternative dinner arrangements will be made at these times.

    Day 2: Phnom Penh

    Today a full city tour introduces you to the sights of Phnom Penh, a city that lies near the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. The private quarters of the Royal Palace are home to King Sihamoni and are closed to the public. You will, however, be able to visit the Silver Pagoda that lies in the palace complex, which is the most sacred temple in the country. Confront Cambodia's tragic past today with a guided tour of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a former school which served as a Khmer Rouge torture centre. It's estimated that more than 20,000 people were held and tortured here. You will also head out to the Choeung Ek Memorial, where a stupa made up of some 8,000 human skulls marks the site of the infamous Killing Fields, the execution ground for the torture victims of Tuol Sleng. Today you also travel out of town to a working monastery to learn more about the life of a monk and Theravada Buddhism. Meet the monks and hear about their daily life and why they joined the Pagoda, make merit by burning incense and offering lotus flowers, enjoy a sacred water blessing for good luck and prosperity, receive a red band around your wrist to keep you safe in your travels, and see the pagoda art depicting the life of Buddha and his teachings.

    Day 3: Kep

    Drive south along National Road 2 in a private vehicle through the town of Takeo towards Kampot, one of Cambodia's most attractive old towns, (approx travel time is 4 hours) . Arrive in Kampot, where the afternoon is free for your own relaxation – perhaps enjoy some coffee on the riverfront. Then, in the late afternoon, you will take off on a local river boat up the Kampot River. See fishing boats returning home and people’s daily life on the banks of the river. As the sun sets over the Elephant Mountain Range, the engines will be turned off so the sounds of rural Cambodia can be enjoyed. As you head back to town you may be lucky enough to see fireflies in the bushes lighting up the night sky.

    Day 4: Kep

    Enjoy a day out in the countryside. You will visit the Kampot Pepper Project and learn why Kampot pepper has been acknowledged by international chefs as the world’s best. Also visit the Kampot salt field, the only salt field in Cambodia. A short walk through the rice fields, and a climb, provides a lovely outlook over the surrounding countryside. A few steps later and you enter the mouth of Phnom Chhnork limestone cave which has a small 7th-century brick temple inside it. You will also enjoy a walk along the beach at Kep, and explore the old buildings near the ocean front. The town was Cambodia's most popular and prestigious beach town from the early 1900s until the 1960s. During the Khmer Rouge years many of Kep's mansions and villas were destroyed but the ghostly remains of many still stand as a silent reminder.

    Day 5: Phnom Penh

    Enjoy free time in the morning. Return to Phnom Penh by private vehicle (approximately 5–6 hours, including stops). After lunch, it's time for an essential Phnom Penh experience – a cyclo ride through the city's streets. This exhilarating activity allows you to see Phnom Penh from a different angle, through the eyes of the locals. The town is an interesting mix of romantic Indo-Chinese influences, modern bustle and friendly folk, and you will notice things on two wheels you wouldn't otherwise.

    Day 6: Battambang

    Travel by private bus through the countryside to Battambang (approximately 4.5–5 hours). There will be stops along the way to see local pottery-making and silversmithing. You will also gain an insight into claypot making in Kampong Chhang en route. Cambodia's second-largest city, Battambang, (pronounced Battambong) is an attractive riverside town with traces of French elegance, friendly Khmer people and well-preserved colonial architecture.

    Day 7: Battambang

    On a remork (tuk-tuk) ride in the countryside, visit the village of Wat Kor. The village is known for its historic stilted wooden houses some of which pre-date French colonial times. The large wooden floor boards are shiny from generations of feet walking across them and the owner’s small collection of antiques and agricultural tools paint a picture of Cambodia in the early 1900s. Then it's off to see some small cottage industries producing rice paper, dried banana, sticky rice cooked in bamboo, and fish paste (Cambodia’s equivalent of vegemite or marmite). In the afternoon, visit Prasat Phnom Banan Winery, Cambodia’s first winemaking enterprise, and perhaps enjoy a tasting. Nearby, a modern temple, Wat Bai Dom Ram, is interesting to visit for the large fruit bats that hang from a great tree at the entrance. There are often bats at the cave around sunset.

    Day 8: Siem Reap

    Drive from Battambang to Siem Reap by private vehicle (approximately 4 hours). In the afternoon, at around 4pm, take a trip into the Cambodian countryside and show off your cooking skills with a hands-on culinary adventure. You prepare a three-course gourmet meal, get to experience local village life, and enjoy your culinary creations afterwards.

    Day 9: Siem Reap - Angkor Wat

    Spend a full day among the amazing temples of Angkor on a guided tour. Angkor Thom, the 'Great Royal City', is famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone. The impressive Bayon temple is the centrepiece. The famous Angkor Wat is the largest and most complete structure, whereas Ta Prohm, with trees embedded in its stone structure, has a different kind of beauty.

    Later, if you have time, perhaps indulge in a traditional Khmer massage back in town – a great way to unwind after a day's walking.

    Day 10: Siem Reap - Angkor Wat

    Embrace a very early start today if you wish to experience a sunrise visit to the Angkor complex. Spend further time touring this incredible site throughout the day. You might see temples such as Banteay Srei. You'll see it's not a huge temple, but thanks to its intricate stone carvings it is sometimes referred to as ‘the jewel in the crown of Angkorian art’. Preah Khan is another interesting structure to observe. This temple contains a maze of vaulted corridors and is another complex that has been largely reclaimed by the jungle. 

    For lunch today, enjoy a meal prepared by students at the Sala Bai Hotel School. In the evening, you have the option to attend a performance of Phare, the Cambodian Circus, a riveting way to end the day.

    Notes: The Sala Bai Hotel School is closed on public holidays and school holidays. On these days, an alternative restaurant will be used.

    Day 11: Siem Reap

    This morning, travel into the countryside to a local village, take a walk through the rice fields and learn about Cambodian stilt homes and life in a typical farming village. Watch as farmers work with buffalo and cows in the fields, and (season depending) see how rice and other crops are grown. Enjoy a break for tea and coffee. Afterwards, return back to town for a free afternoon before an included dinner at a great local restaurant.

    Day 12: Siem Reap

    Your trip comes to an end today, with no further activities planned.
  • Gallery

  • Trip Dates

    Start date - End date Trip Status Price
    23/MAR/2019 - 03/APR/2019 FS DGAU$3250
    (single supplement $905)
    06/APR/2019 - 17/APR/2019 FS DGAU$2580
    (single supplement $905)
    01/JUN/2019 - 12/JUN/2019 FS DGAU$3035
    (single supplement $905)
    21/SEP/2019 - 02/OCT/2019 FS DGAU$3035
    (single supplement $905)
    05/OCT/2019 - 16/OCT/2019 FS DGAU$3035
    (single supplement $905)
    19/OCT/2019 - 30/OCT/2019 FS DGAU$3035
    (single supplement $905)
    23/NOV/2019 - 04/DEC/2019 FS DGAU$3155
    (single supplement $905)
    30/NOV/2019 - 11/DEC/2019 FS DGAU$3155
    (single supplement $905)
    21/DEC/2019 - 01/JAN/2020 FS DGAU$3280
    (single supplement $905)
    28/DEC/2019 - 08/JAN/2020 FS DGAU$3280
    (single supplement $905)
    04/JAN/2020 - 15/JAN/2020 FS DGAU$3390
    (single supplement $905)
    01/FEB/2020 - 12/FEB/2020 FSAU$3390
    (single supplement $905)
    15/FEB/2020 - 26/FEB/2020 FSAU$3265
    (single supplement $905)
    21/MAR/2020 - 01/APR/2020 FSAU$3265
    (single supplement $905)
    28/MAR/2020 - 08/APR/2020 FSAU$3265
    (single supplement $905)
    04/APR/2020 - 15/APR/2020 FSAU$3140
    (single supplement $905)
    02/MAY/2020 - 13/MAY/2020 FSAU$3140
    (single supplement $905)
    06/JUN/2020 - 17/JUN/2020 FS DGAU$3140
    (single supplement $905)
    19/SEP/2020 - 30/SEP/2020 FSAU$3140
    (single supplement $905)
    03/OCT/2020 - 14/OCT/2020 FSAU$3140
    (single supplement $905)
    17/OCT/2020 - 28/OCT/2020 FSAU$3265
    (single supplement $905)
    21/NOV/2020 - 02/DEC/2020 FSAU$3265
    (single supplement $905)
    28/NOV/2020 - 09/DEC/2020 FSAU$3265
    (single supplement $905)
    19/DEC/2020 - 30/DEC/2020 FSAU$3390
    (single supplement $905)
    26/DEC/2020 - 06/JAN/2021 FSAU$3390
    (single supplement $905)

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Trip Map

Trip Map

Trip Overview

  • Trip code: PACE
  • Prices from: AUD$2579.00
  • Start: Phnom Penh
  • End: Siem Reap
  • Duration: 12
  • Min. group size: 12

Trip Status Legend

FS = freeSell
OR = onRequest
LR = lateRequest
BC = bookingClosed
DG = departureGuaranteed

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