top tours factsheet CAMBODIA

Transcription

1 top tours factsheet CAMBODIA

2 Contents Essence of Siem Reap: Angkor & Ox Carts Cambodian Community Village Life Master Class: Portraits of Angkor Siem Reap Monk Blessing The Lost Temple of Beng Melea Siem Reap Sunrise Quad Bike Tour Classic Kompong Khleang Half Day Tour Essence of Phnom Penh: Pearl of Indochina Essence of Battambang: Cultural and Street Food Tour Something Special: Behind the Scenes at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Kep Boat Trip to Rabbit Island

3 Essence of Siem Reap : Angkor & Ox Carts - Ta Prohm, Bayon and Angkor temples - Chansar village - Sunset cruise on the moat Tour timing: Hrs Wake early to watch sunrise at Angkor Wat - the largest religious monument in the world and a testament to the power and ingenuity of the people who once worshipped here. In the afternoon, take a 30-minute ride along dirt tracks aboard an ox-cart, the traditional form of transport. Pass by emerald green paddy fields, watch children playing and water buffalo's grazing. - Combine temple highlights with an authentic afternoon experience with a local farmer family. - Give back to the community by visiting smaller villages. - Enjoy a wide range of eating options including a picnic breakfast, lunch, sticky rice and a cold beer during the sunset cruise. - Watch both sunrise and sunset in Angkor complex in one day. 01

4 Cambodian Community Village Life - Local Market - Floating village - Farming and animal husbandry Tour timing: hrs This one-day tour allows you to see Cambodian village life while also supporting a proven model of responsible tourism. Highlights include riding an oxcart into a village, receiving a blessing at a local monastery and participating in fishing, farming or animal husbandry. This is feel good tourism at its best! - Explore the village by foot and local transport - very low impact. - Visit a floating village on Tonle Sap lake. - Receive a blessing from monks at a Buddhist temple. - Interact with locals throughout the day. - Funds from the tour go directly back to the community. 02

5 Master Class: Portraits of Angkor - Angkor Wat - Ta Prohm - Bayon Tour timing: 04 hrs Capture the very best of Angkor and greater Siem Reap through the camera lens, alongside a professional photographer based in Siem Reap. Capture the temples from unique angles, snap portraits of smiling locals and gain a deeper understanding of Siem Reap along your photography journey. - Enjoy a prime location for sunrise photos. - Get a glimpse of the contemporary temple culture. - Travel to surrounding countryside and into the lives of rural farmers. - Learn a wide scope of photography skills. 03

6 Siem Reap Monk Blessing - Traditional Buddhist ceremony - Receive a monk's blessing and the lucky red thread - Donate to the monastery Tour timing: Half Day Gain a first-hand insight into Buddhist culture by traveling to one of Siem Reap s most famous pagodas and receiving a monk s blessing. This unique travellng experience includes chanting, prayers, incense and flower offerings. You will leave with a keep sake that is meant to bring luck and prosperity. - Learn more about Cambodia's central religion, Buddhism. - Experience a traditional monk s blessing. - Visit one of Siem Reap s most famous pagodas. 04

7 The Lost Temple of Beng Melea - Beng Melea - Angkor Complex Tour timing: Full Day Embrace your inner explorer as you discover the ancient ruins of Beng Melea, a forgotten and lost jungle temple on the outskirts of the Angkor Complex. Located 40km away from the main temples, you will likely find this overgrown temple emptier and more enchanting than any other. - Step off the beaten path to visit Beng Melea, one of Angkor's largest and most remote temples. - Scramble through the complex to find hidden spots of fallen masonry and sculpture overgrown with roots. - Learn the history and secrets of this lost temple from your knowledgeable guide. 05

8 Siem Reap Sunrise Quad Bike - Phnom Krom - Tonle Sap Lake views - Monastery and market visits Tour timing: hrs Wake early to make the 12km drive by quad bike to the remote temple of Phnom Krom. On arrival, trek 140m uphill to reach the temple, which is the perfect place to watch sunrise over rural Siem Reap. Take in beautiful panoramic views as the sun makes its way into the sky. Visit a local monastery and market in the area before heading back to your hotel mid-morning. - Feel the wind in your hair as you ride along the empty morning streets. - Watch sunrise from one of the more remote temples of Siem Reap for panoramic views of rice paddies, villages and Tonle Sap lake. - Visit the local monastery as the monks begin their day. - Stop by a local market on the way to your hotel to sample some fruits. 06

9 Classic Kompong Khleang Half Day Tour - Kompong Khleang Village - Tonle Sap Lake boat trip - Floating forest Tour timing: Hrs Head out of Siem Reap for a 1-hour drive to Kompong Khleang. This picturesque village, built on stilts 10m high, is home to about 6,000 people who earn their living mainly through fishing on the Tonle Sap lake. During the monsoon season which starts in May, the streets fill up with water and become canals that are navigated by boat! Take a 3 hour boat tour to thoroughly explore this beautiful area, including more floating villages and a floating forest. - Understand the unique and innovative ways that locals live their lives in this watery landscape. - Enjoy a fun local boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake, stopping along the way to visit villages and beautiful natural spots. 07

10 Essence of Phnom Penh: Pearl of Indochina - Royal Palace - Silver Pagoda complex - National Museum. - Friend s International Restaurant Tour timing: Hrs Meeting Point: Hotel in Phnom Penh Ending Point: Hotel in Phnom Penh Explore the fascinating capital city of Phnom Penh. Sitting on the banks of the Ton Le Sap and Mekong Rivers, Phnom Penh is a city rich in history and exotic post-colonial culture. Embark on a guided walking tour through the busy streets of central Phnom Penh. Start from the water front and explore some of the city's best-preserved colonial architecture. Finish at the magnificent Phsar Thmey central market, an Art Deco masterpiece that dominates the old city. - Beat the crowds with a unqiue walking route to explore Phnom Penh's beautiful architecture. - See the everyday lives of the local people. - Support Friends-International and their work with youth and families in the community as you dine at one of their restaurants. - Explore the city by traditonal tuk tuk! 08

11 Essence of Battambang: Cultural and Street Food Tour - Lunch and dinner at local hotspots - Provincial museum and temple visits - Bamboo train ride Tour timing: hrs Meeting Point: City centre hotel Ending Point: City centre hotel Start your day of food and cultural discovery with a visit to a local market. Spot beautiful French colonial architecture along the way and observe the busy morning rush in the streets and market. Continue on to the Provincial Museum as well as a Buddhist temple to gain a better understanding of local life in Battambang. Next up is the famous Battambang bamboo train through the countryside. Take time to freshen up at your hotel before a street food tour of Cambodia s best dishes. - Experience local life in a peaceful town. - Learn about Cambodia s history in its museums, streets and homes. - Ride the unique bamboo train through the beautiful countryside. - Taste the best of Battambang in local restaurants and street food stands. 09

12 Something Special: Behind the Scenes at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue - Wildlife rescue centre - Elephant art souvenir - Donation to the rescued animals project Tour timing: hrs Meeting Point: City centre hotel Ending Point: City centre hotel O Head off in the morning to the outskirts of Phnom Penh, toward the Wildlife Rescue Centre in nearby Phnom Tamao and meet the two resident elephants, Chhouk and Lucky. Learn how the rescue centre s employees help care for these magnificent beasts and all the other animals in the zoo. Visit the animal nursery to learn how baby animals are cared for. End the day with a forest stroll and river bath with Lucky. - Go behind-the-scenes to experience parts of the wildlife sanctuary that are normally off limits to the public. - Understand how the animals at Cambodia s largest zoo are rescued and cared for. - Hand feed a female elephant and get up close to other endangered animals. 10

13 Boat Trip to Rabbit Island - Tuk tuk ride - Private boat trip - Snorkelling - Seafood BBQ on the beach Tour timing: hrs Meeting Point: City centre hotel Ending Point: City centre hotel In the morning travel out of Sihanoukville town by Remork (Tuk Tuk) to a nearby dock and a private fisherman s boat. Hop aboard and set sail toward the rustic shores and sandy beaches of Koh Tonsay, or Rabbit Island, just 5 kilometers off the southern coast of Cambodia. Spend the afternoon lounging on the pristine and quiet shores, wander through the blissfully undeveloped forests or dive into the clear waters for some snorkeling. - Enjoy a private boat trip in a local fishing boat. - Spend the day at your leisure on one of the most beautiful beaches on Cambodia s coast. - Feast on a seafood BBQ right on the beach. 11