CLASSIC CAMBODIA 10 days

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1 10 days

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3 Countries visited Cambodia ID P a g e 2

4 Tour Highlights Learn to cook traditional Khmer cuisine Explore the heritage of Phnom Penh The grisly history of the Killing Fields Hindu mythology and Khmer architecture of the Angkor Temples Colonial architecture of Kampot and Kep ID P a g e 3

5 Places visited Phnom Penh The Killing Fields Battambang Udong Siem Reap Angkor Wat Bantaey Srei Kampot Kep Ta Phrom Phnom Chisor ID P a g e 4

6 What's included Airport pick-up & drop-off Ground transport Accommodation Entrance fees to sites Breakfasts and some other meals (refer to itinerary for meal plan) Drivers and guides All accommodation subject to availability. Final accommodation choices will be confirmed after booking. ID P a g e 5

7 Your Itinerary Map ID P a g e 6

8 Your Itinerary Explained Date Place visited B: The first part of the text in each day is the itinerary schedule and will explain what you will Breakfast normally see/do during this day of your itinerary. --L: The part of the day s text in italics (and comes after the three dashes --- ) is background Lunch information on the places or sites on that day of your itinerary. It is not part of your D: itinerary and may mention places that will not be visited on your itinerary. If you have any Dinner questions please ask us. Travel times where noted are only meant as a guideline. Tour Itinerary Day 1 Phnom Penh - Arrival Arrive in Phnom Penh, where you will be met by a Travel The Unknown representative and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to enjoy at your leisure. Overnight in Phnom Penh. N/A Overnight in Villa Langka, Phnom Penh Phnom Penh Day 2 Phnom Penh Phnom Penh In the morning enjoy a foodie tour. In the afternoon, depart on a traditional cyclo tour around Phnom Penh. Stop to visit Tuol Sleng, the genocide museum & Killing Field. Overnight in Phnom Penh. --Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city in Cambodia. Founded in 1434, the city is a significant tourist destination and was once considered the Pearl of Asia. Phnom Penh s colonial heritage is evident through the many French-style buildings scattered along the grand boulevards. The city sits on the banks of the Tonle Sap, Mekong and Bassac rivers and is home to over two million people. The city s main sights include the National Museum, the Royal Palace, Tuol Sleng Genocide museum and the killing fields. B Overnight in Villa Langka, Phnom Penh ID P a g e 7

9 Day 3 The Killing Fields Killing fields - Udong - Battambang Drive from Phnom Penh to Battambang. Along the way, stop first at the infamous Killing Fields and then at Udong, the former capital of Cambodia. Overnight in Battambang. --In the 1970s, Cambodia's Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, held a regime of terror over the country. The regime arrested anyone who had committed minor or political crimes; if a person received two warnings, they were sent for "re-education" - which meant torture, and in the majority of cases, execution. The Killing Fields are a series of mass graves containing the bodies of an estimated 2 million such victims. Some of the graves were dug by the victims who were so weak they could only manage to dig shallow graves; as such, in rainy weather, bones and clothing often make their way above ground. There is a museum at Tuol Sleng commemorating the genocide, as well as a Buddhist memorial at Choeung Ek. B Derived from the Sanskrit word "uttunga", meaning 'supreme', Udong was the former capital of Cambodia. Founded in 1601 by King Srei Soryapor, the city really flourished under King Ang Duong with the construction of canals, bridges and hundreds of pagodas. Today you can visit the site which is made up of a row of stupas and shrines in a variety of conditions, some well-preserved but little more than piles of stones. Overnight in Au Cabaret Vert Hotel, Battambang Day 4 Battambang Take on your private Remok (tuk-tuk) with your local guide and ride about 5 km from town to the Bamboo train, you will have the chance to ride this unique contraption on train tracks that were initially built by the French to transport goods. Battambang BL Continue to to Ek Phnom, an ancient and seldom visited temple. Along the way we pass small villages where people are making bamboo sticky rice (korlan), fish paste, rice paper and banana paper. Enjoy your lunch at a scenic local restaurant along the river. Afterwards visit the site of the "Killing Caves" at Phnom Sampeou. There is a Khmer Rouge memorial as well as an interesting temple on top of this hill. When at the top, you will have a commanding view over the Cambodian countryside. If you choose to stay until sunset you will see countless bats exit from the cave down below, while enjoying a cold drink from a comfortable chair set up by enterprising locals. After sunset, you will be dropped off at your hotel. --An important trading centre since the 18th Century and home to some of the best preserved French architecture in Cambodia, Battambang is well-known for its rice production. It is also famous for its statues and a fine selection of art deco buildings. Overnight in Au Cabaret Vert Hotel, Battambang Day 5 Siem Reap Today you will be driven to Siem Reap. The rest of the day is free to enjoy at your leisure. Overnight in Siem Reap. B ID P a g e 8

10 Overnight in Natura Resort, Siem Reap Siem Reap ID P a g e 9

11 Day 6 Siem Reap Angkor Temples This morning you will visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom and the temples of Bayon, Baphoun, Phimean Akas, The Royal Enclosure and the terraces of Elephant and Leper King. Lunch will be at a local restaurant. The whole afternoon will be set aside to visiting Angkor Wat, one of mankind's greatest achievements. Finish the day watching the sunset on top of Bakheng Hill. Overnight in Siem Reap. --Angkor Wat, which translates as the "City of Temples" in Khmer, is the largest religious monument in the world. Dating back to the early 12th Century, the complex was constructed by the Khmer King Suryavarman II as a Hindu Temple dedicated to the god Vishnu. In the late 13th Century, Angkor Wat became a Buddhist place of worship, and has remained so ever since. Built on a rectangular man made island surrounded by a 190 metre wide moat, the temple structure is in the classical style of Khmer architecture. The moat helped prevent Angkor Wat from being submerged by the encroaching jungle; the only access is by an earthbank to the east and a sandstone causeway to the west. Angkor Wat is famed for the intricate carvings on almost all of its surfaces - walls, columns, lintels and roofs illustrate miles of scenes from Indian literature; the gallery wall alone depicts almost 1,000 square metres of bas-relief freezes. Detailed decorations include carvings of mythical beasts such as unicorns, griffins and winged dragons, as well as warriors on elephants and dancing girls. Because of its unique architecture, the temple complex has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status. B Overnight in Natura Resort, Siem Reap Day 7 Siem Reap Bantaey Srei - Tonle Sap - Siem Reap Early morning visit to Banteay Srei. In the afternoon enjoy an excursion to Mechrey Village. Stop at Ampil Peam en route to stroll through traditional villages. Board a localstyle boat to further explore the area and Tonle Sap Lake. Continue on to the Handicraft centre 'Artisans d'angkor' to learn more about silk weaving and stone and wood carving. Overnight in Siem Reap. --Tonle Sap is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. Unusually, the direction of its flow changes twice a year (known as the turning of the waters) and the lake also expands and shrinks dramatically depending on the season. BL Mechrey Village is a floating village located on Tonle Sap Lake, which can only be visited by boat. During the rainy season, the whole village seems to float and bob on the water. Banteay Srei is a ruined Hindu temple built in the 10th century and dedicated to Shiva. It is made of red sandstone which is easy to carve and some of the elaborate wall carvings are still visible today. The buildings themselves are small in size by Angkorian standards. In the 11th century the temple was subject to expansion and at some point came under the control of the King and its dedication changed. The temple was rediscovered in 1914 and was the subject of an art theft in 1923, when four devata statues were stolen. Overnight in Natura Resort, Siem Reap ID P a g e 10

12 Day 8 Phnom Chisor Kampot - Kep After breakfast you will drive to Kampot. En route, stop at Ta Prohm Temple, Yeay Peau Temple and Phnom Chisor. Continue to Kep. Overnight in Kep. --Over 130 metres tall, Phnom Chisor offers exceptional views over the surrounding landscape. On top of the hill sits a temple constructed in the 11th century which is dedicated to the Hindu gods Shiva and Vishnu. BL 7th Century Ta Phrom was built by the King Jayavarman VII. Superb sculptures of Apsaras and low-reliefs from Angkorian period can be seen. Nearby Yeay Peau Temple, which is surrounded by a modern pagoda, was built in the 7th century and named after King Ta Prohm's mother. Kep is a sleepy seaside resort famed for its seafood, white sand beaches and crumbling colonial architecture. It is slowly being rediscovered by foreign travellers, but remains one of the country's best hidden gems. Famous for its aromatic black pepper, the relaxed riverside town of Kampot is a great escape from the larger, busier cities of Cambodia. Kampot's French colonial past is still evident in much of the remaining architecture. The excellent Epic Arts Café in Kampot, a non-profit that helps deaf and disabled artists through employment and selling art pieces, is well worth a visit. Overnight in Kep Lodge, Kep Day 9 Phnom Kampong Trach - Phnom Penh Today you will travel through the countryside to Phnom Kampong Trach cave. Later, continue your journey and visit a pepper plantation and salt fields. Drive back to town, stopping at colonial buildings along the river. Sample local Khmer coffee as you have lunch on the riverbank. After lunch, take a local boat along Stung Kampong Bay. Enjoy a superb view of the sunset. Overnight in Phnom Penh. --Phnom The limestone caves of Phnom Kampong Trach, carved into the mountain, are a popular Kampong Trach tourist site. The roof of the large central cave collapsed some time ago, leaving a small, enclosed jungle. It has a magical and slightly unreal feeling about it. BL Overnight in Villa Langka, Phnom Penh Day 10 Phnom Penh - Departure After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight. B Phnom Penh ID P a g e 11

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