Cambodia Experience

Day 1 – Arrival Bangkok
On arrival at Bangkok International Airport you will be met by a representative and taken to your hotel in the city. No activities are planned for today as your fellow travellers will be arriving throughout the day.
No meals included.

Day 2 – Welcome to Cambodia!
We leave Bangkok early in the morning today and head to the border town of Aranyaprathet; after completing the immigration formalities and obtaining the necessary entry visas, we venture into Cambodia and get our first glimpses of what this magical country has to offer.

Our first port of call is Banteay Chhmar where you will be able to experience true Cambodian hospitality by staying with a local family in a traditional Khmer wooden stilted house. After time to relax and settle in, our local guide will take us to the Banteay Chhmar temple, clambering over rocks and through shaded woodland you will catch a glimpse of the fallen walls and towers of this beautiful temple. On the western wall you will be able to see some of the intricate carvings that still remain, many depicting scenes of daily life during the Angkorian Period and magnificent 32-armed god Avalokiteshvara.

As the day draws to a close and the sun sets over this tranquil temple, a traditional Khmer dinner will be served by torch light, with the local community in the grounds of the temple; this is a great opportunity to gain a unique insight into village life in Cambodia. After a lovely evening it will be time to return to your host family in the village where you will stay the night.
Breakfast and dinner included

Day 3 – Banteay Chhmar to Siem Reap
In the morning you will be greeted by splendid views of rural Cambodia along with paddy fields typical of many countries in Asia. After a local breakfast you will be able to take an ox-cart ride to visit the local rice fields and the village bee-keeper, explore the grounds of the village pagoda and pay a visit to a local organization that is reviving the intricate silk weaving industry. After a picnic lunch you will set off for Siem Reap, on the way stopping off at Banteay Top to visit a beautiful remote ancient temple. Continuing on towards Siem Reap you will stop off at a Silk farm in Pouk to learn about how this exquisite fabric is produced. When you reach Siem Reap you will be taken to your hotel accommodation to settle in; for the rest of the day you will have free time to explore and get a feel for this wonderful city that is packed with history and ancient sites.
Breakfast and lunch included.

Day 4 – Explore Siem Reap
Today is a great day for soaking up some culture and really getting to know what life in ancient Cambodia was like. We start the day by visiting the Rolous Group along with Lolei, Preah Kô and Bakong which are located in the centre of the first large-scale Baray, constructed by an early Khmer king. These beautiful temples will give you a taste of what is in store for you later on in this enchanting journey.

Later on you will visit Banteay Srei, a firm favourite among the many travelers, with its intricate carvings and decoration which remain in remarkable condition after so many years; Banteay Samre with its rose-coloured sandstone walls, carvings and bas-reliefs which are some of the best that Angkor has to offer. Finishing off the day, you will be able to visit the Cambodian Landmine Museum giving you the opportunity to learn a little more about this country’s tragic past with it's fascinating displays.
Breakfast included

Day 5– Explore Siem Reap
Today you will be up bright and early, ready to jump on your bike and set off on a leisurely cycle ride through the jungle, passing through local villages on the way to the world heritage areas. Today will be very active and is bound to be one of the most memorable of your trip, as you explore some of the most beautiful temples that Angkor has to offer. The highlights of today’s activities include:

• Ancient capital of Angkor Thom dating back to the 12th century
• West gate of Angkor Thom which is very much undiscovered by mass tourism
• South gate of Angkor Thom moving on to Bayon Temple
• Baphuon temple
• Phimeanakas and the Royal Enclosure
• The Elephant Terrance
• Terrace of the Leper King

After all that sightseeing you will no doubt be ready for a nice lunch and a rest. You will be having lunch at ‘Salabai Hotel School’ which is training restaurant for budding local chefs. One person having lunch at this restaurant will pay for one day of training for one student at the school, so you will be actively contributing to the success of the students at the school! Having recharged your batteries you will spend the afternoon visiting the world famous Angkor Wat, which was made a World Heritage Site in 1992. You will also visit the Bakheng Temple before witnessing a beautiful sunset from Bakheng Hill. In the evening, you can go shopping in the bustling night market of Angkor.
Breakfast and lunch included.

Day 6 – Explore Siem Reap
Today really gives you the opportunity to make a difference and see a completely different side to life in Cambodia. After breakfast, you will visit Handicap International, a fascinating NGO which provides a range of support to people with disabilities, many of whom are victims of weapons that have been left from the war including landmines and such like. We also visit the center for Khmer Studies, a non-profit, non-governmental organization promoting the social sciences, arts and humanities as they relate to Cambodia and Southeast Asia and giving vital support to emerging Cambodian scholars, writers and artists, following the near disappearance of these dynamic creative leaders during the Khmer Rouge regime.

Later on in the day you will be able to visit the Artisan Angkor which is a local handicraft center, along with Sangkheum Center for Children where you have the opportunity to join the children in language or handicraft classes. The backgrounds of the children do vary, some are from poor families, others are street children or have been orphaned.

Arriving in a nearby village later on, you will meet your host family for the day and travel by ox cart to visit the Khmer Village and enjoy views of the rice fields and endless palm trees. This excursion provides the villagers with a sustainable stream of income, and creates opportunities for the entire village. We head to a local school and temple, this is a great chance to meet some very friendly children and give them the chance to practice their English skills. We then board a boat on Tonle Sap Lake and enjoy a leisurely cruise past floating villages complete with schools, restaurants, and hospitals.
Breakfast included.

Day 7 – Siem Reap to Phnom Penh
We have an early start today as we take the express bus from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, the journey time is approximately 6 hours. On arrival in Phnom Penh you will be taken to your hotel accommodation where you will have time to settle in and relax after your long journey. You will have free time for the rest of the day, when you may like to take the opportunity to explore the captivating city.
Breakfast included.

Day 8 – Explore Phnom Penh
We begin the day with a visit to the Royal Palace, built in 1866, it is one of the most impressive and ornate Khmer-style palaces in Cambodia. Following this you will move on to the Silver Pagoda, the Independence Monument built in 1954 and the National Museum which is a beautiful red building in traditional Khmer architecture built in 1917.

Afterwards you will visit an NGO which works with local children and provides them with free vocational training and schooling, during the visit you may have the option to either join a lively class or see a documentary detailing the life of children in Cambodia.

There are still reminders of Cambodia’s tragic past in Phnom Penh; in the afternoon you will be taken to visit the Tuol Sleng prison also known as S-21 (Genocide Museum), which was the secret heart of Khmer Rouge Regime. S-21 stands for ‘Security Office 21” and was the premier security institution during the regime and was specially designed for the interrogation and extermination of anyone who opposed the Khmer Rouge Regime. During the visit to S21 you will be able to see some of the tiny cells that prisoners were held in and view countless photographs of unfortunate victims of regime. After a thought provoking visit to the Genocide Museum, you will move onto Choeung Ek museum (more commonly known as the Killing fields); between 1975 and 1978 approximately 17,000 men, women and children were detained and tortured at S-21 prison before being taken to the extermination camp of Choeung Ek. It has now been made into a museum and monument to those who lost their lives.

After a moving afternoon, we will take a walk to the only hill in Phnom Penh where the sacred temple of Wat Phnom stands, walking through a riverside park before continuing along the banks of the Mekong River with breathtaking views of the beautiful city of Phnom Penh by night.
Breakfast and lunch included.

Days 9 to 13 – Volunteering in the local Orphanages of Phnom Penh
For the next five days you will have the opportunity to volunteer in a local centre for children in Phnom Penh, the centres provide children, many of whom are orphans, with much needed care and support by giving them a safe home to live in, vocational training and education, food, clothing and medical care. As a volunteer at one of these centres you will be assisting the staff with daily duties but more importantly providing care and attention to these wonderful children. You may be able to help educate these children through performing arts, maths, sport, art and language lessons.
Breakfasts included.

Day 14 – Phnom Penh to Tonle Bati to Phnom Penh
This morning you will depart Phnom Penh and head south to visit Tonle Bati where you can explore the small yet picturesque Angkorian temple of Ta Prohm. Ta Prohm was built by King Jayavarman VII (ruled 1181 to 1201), on the site of a 6th century Khmer shrine, the main sanctuary consists of five chambers. On the banks of a nearby river you’ll find a line of bamboo shacks with hammocks which make a great place to chill out, enjoy a nice drink or take a swim in the fresh water!
Breakfast and lunch included

Day 15 – Phnom Penh then departure
After what we hope has been a truly memorable trip, you will be taken to Phnom Penh Airport in time for your flight home, alternatively if you continuing your travels independently you will be free to go today.
Breakfast included