Heart Of Cambodia

1-Join tour Phnom Penh; afternoon sightseeing
Arrive Phnom Penh and check-in at the hotel. Located on the Mekong River the city has been the capital since 1440s. It is now lively city with many French colonial buildings, busy markets, art galleries, temples and museums. This afternoon we’ll enjoy a guided visit to the National Museum, which houses some of the best works of art rescued from Angkor, along with an exciting remork (tuk tuk) trip to Wat Phnom temple.
Overnight: Standard Hotel
Single Room option available

2-In Phnom Penh, travel to Kampot via Angkor Borei
This morning we head south from the capital and stop at the town of Takeo and board our speedboats. Phnom Da is spectacular in its remoteness, a small hilltop with the main shrine overlooking the flooded plains below. Sometimes during dry season (Mar- Apr), when the water levels are low, it may not be possible to visit Phnom Da. We pass through a pre Angkorian system of canals that spreads right up to the Vietnam border. Hundreds of kilometres of canals were dug out around the 8th century and provided water to the Funan Kingdom. Before reaching the sight, we stop at the small museum in the old capital Angkor Borei exhibiting a few of the uncovered finds from this pre-angkorian era. Returning by boat to Takeo we continue south by bus for about 2hrs to Kampot town.
Overnight: Standard Hotel
Single Room option available

3-To Kep
In the morning we swap our bus for rural ‘remorques’; a peculiar local form of transport based on a cart pulled by a motorbike. We spend the morning travelling through the fascinating countryside, observing typical Cambodian scenes on our journey, to Phnom Chnork Prassat. Our presence in this little visited area never fails to amuse the friendly locals! We then continue a short distance by bus to Kep in time to enjoy sunset in this small seaside town.
Overnight: Standard Hotel
Single Room option available

4-In Kep; day trip to Rabbit Island
Today we head out by boat to the small island Ko Tonsay, or Rabbit Island as it is commonly known. Rabbit Island, located just 3 miles off shore from Kep, is a small and peaceful island with a fishing hamlet, a handful of low scale tourist developments and two sand beaches. The sea here is shallow and has a long slope, making it excellent for swimming. We spend our time exploring the island by foot, just 2km square, relaxing and swimming. Kep Crab with Kampot pepper is a local speciality and we recommend trying it at one of the local seafood restaurants. Rick Stein featured one of these shack restaurants and the marvellous food on TV. We return to Kep by boat in the late afternoon.
Overnight: Standard Hotel
Single Room option available

5-Drive to Phnom Penh
After an early departure we leave the coast behind and head back to Phnom Penh. En route to the city we stop at the ‘Killing Fields’ of Choeung Ek (the memorial stupa is a huge glass tower filled with human skulls – a sombre reminder of the scale of Pol Pot’s atrocities). We’ll also visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, also known as S-21 (a High School which became the Khmer Rouge’s main torture and interrogation centre), accompanied by one of two remaining survivors providing us with a unique insight. You should be aware that many people find Tuol Sleng and the ‘Killing Fields’ quite an emotional place to visit. The afternoon is free to enjoy the vibrant capital.
Overnight: Standard Hotel
Single Room option available

6-Drive to Kompong Cham
We spend the morning visiting the impressive Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda. After lunch we continue our adventure and drive to the town of Skoun, where we can try the local delicacy of fried spiders! Our journey then continues by bus to Kompong Cham. Later we aim to organise a cycle ride (optional) to visit the villages on the beautiful island of Koh Paen, which is joined to the mainland by a bamboo bridge. Alternatively you may choose to hire a local tuk tuk to drive up to Phnom Pros and Phrom Srei; two hills which offer great views along the Mekong.
Overnight: Standard Hotel
Single Room option available

7-Drive to Kratie via Wat Nakor PM visit Irrawaddy Dolphins
This morning we board our bus and drive to Wat Nakor, which is interesting as it houses a modern working wat inside the 11th century Khmer temple ruins. Originally constructed as a Mahayana Buddhist Shrine, it was rebuilt in the 15th century and converted to a Theravadan temple. We reach our overnight stop at Kratie which was quite well preserved during the wars and one can still see an array of older Khmer and French houses around the town. This afternoon we will have a unique opportunity to spot the rare ‘Irrawaddy dolphins’. These are some of the last freshwater dolphins that live in the Mekong River and we take to small boats for a peaceful sighting session.
Overnight: Standard Hotel
Single Room option available

8-Drive to Kompong Thom
This morning we travel to Kompong Thom, passing through Kompong Cham and across the Kizuna Bridge en route. We also get to visit a Santuk Silk Farm to learn more about the silk production process and visit a specialty stone masons village.
Overnight: Standard Hotel
Single Room option available

9-Visit Prei Kuk; drive to Siem Reap
This morning we drive to the beautiful pre- Angkorian temples at Sambor Prei Kuk. Sambor Prei Kuk was the capital of the Chenla kingdom around the 6th-7th century. Today over 100 temples are scattered around the forest giving one the sense of a ‘lost city’. We continue our journey towards Siem Reap and visit one of the floating villages of the massive Tonle Sap inland lake at Kompong Khleang. We enjoy a boat trip to see how the water is so important in the lives of these predominately fisherfolk. We arrive at Siem Reap, where we base ourselves in the small town for the next three nights, a few kilometres south of the incredible temple complex of Angkor.
Overnight: Comfortable Hotel
Single Room option available

10-In Siem Reap
Over the next three days we will explore this fascinating ruined city (actually a series of cities), built between the 9th and the 13th centuries by the Khmer kings. Situated deep in the Cambodian jungle it is spread out over some 155 square kilometres, scattered with magnificent carved stone temples, elegant sculptures and highly detailed bas reliefs. We start today with a dawn visit to Ta Phrom – a temple half consumed by the Cambodian jungle and famous in the west as the spectacular film location for ‘Tomb Raider’. Afterwards we make our way to Takeo, built in 975 this imposing sandstone temple was never finished due to a lightning strike being perceived as an unlucky omen. After a break from the midday sun we return to the temples to visit Preah Khan, a massive 12th century ruined temple complete with moss covered stonework, carvings and dark corridors. Nearby we visit Neak Pean, a small Hindu temple that was originally dedicated to Buddha it is located on an island in a ‘baray’ or pool.
Overnight: Comfortable Hotel
Single Room option available

11-In Siem Reap
Today we drive a little way outside of Siem Reap to make a visit to Banteay Srei, also known as the ‘ladies temple’ – with the most stunning carved lintels at Angkor. We also stop at Banteay Samre, a fortified temple built by Suryavarman II and located far away from the normal temple crowds. We return to Siem Reap to visit the Cambodian Landmine Museum, where education and support are provided for dozens of children whose bodies, hearts and minds have been affected by landmines. This afternoon our sightseeing will take us to the 2nd Angkor capital which includes the temples of Prasat Kravan, Sra Srang, and Banteay Kdei.
Overnight: Comfortable Hotel
Single Room option available

12-In Siem Reap
This morning we visit the iconic Angkor Wat for sunrise – the best known and most breath-taking of all the sights and a highlight of any visit to Angkor. Originally built as a funerary temple for Suryavarman ll in honour of Vishnu, the temple is unique as it faces west – symbolically the direction of death. It is a very grand and imposing structure but its most stunning features are the extensive and intricately carved bas reliefs that stretch throughout the galleries and inner temples. Here we have the chance to enjoy a monk blessing – a moving experience for some. This afternoon we continue our exploration with a visit to the temples of King Jayavarman Vll, reputedly Angkor’s greatest king. The fortified city of Angkor Thom which he had built at the end of the 12th Century is enclosed by a square wall 8 metres high with five 20 metre high monumental gates decorated with stone elephant trunks. Originally the moat was said to be inhabited by crocodiles and each gate was protected by huge statues of 54 different gods. The city contains another of Angkor’s true gems – The Bayon. Not nearly as impressive as Angkor Wat from a distance, The Bayon is nevertheless incredible for its maze of corridors, gothic style towers and magical central temples with 1200 metres of the finest bas reliefs depicting scenes of everyday life in 12th Century Cambodia. From Angkor Thom we will walk to Phimeanakas, located in the middle of the old Royal Palace area, and to the Terrace of the Elephants and the Leper King.
Overnight: Comfortable Hotel
Single Room option available

13-Tour ends Siem Reap
Tour ends after breakfast. If you have time you may choose to browse the Old Market for some last minute bargains.

Tour includes:

12 Breakfast
Transport:
Bus, Boat
Accommodation:
8 nights Standard Hotel
4 nights Comfortable Hotel
Tour Staff:
Driver(s), Explore Tour Leader, Local Guide(s), Boat Crew
Group Size:
Generally 10 – 16

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