Essence of Cambodia

Upon your flight arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport. Our driver will be waiting for you and greeting you at the exit hall of the airport after completing check-in & immigration formalities in Cambodia. Loading your luggage on the vehicle and then transfer to the check-in hotel & drop-off official. (Normal check-in time is 2pm).

Overnight in Siem Reap.

After breakfast from the hotel. Our tour guide & driver will pick you up and then go to visit the Royal Palace of Cambodia. The compound, built in 1866 by the Predecessors of King Norodom, is the most conspicuous feature and also one of the most impressive colorful Khmer-style palaces. Nearside the Royal Palace is the Silver Pagoda (the Emerald Buddha temple), which displays plenty of Buddha statues that were decorated and made by diamonds, emeralds, gold, and silver. Next, we continue our tour to visit Toul Sleng Genocide Museum (also known as S21), ironically a former school located in a quiet Phnom Penh suburb; this was the infamous Khmer Rouge prison/torture center. A meal is included. After that, we proceed with a tour to visit Wat Phnom. “Mountain Pagoda” is a Buddhist temple that symbolizes the name of Phnom Penh, located on the hill. According to legend, the first pagoda on this site was erected in 1372 to house four statues of Buddha deposited here by the waters of the Mekong River and discovered by Lady Penh. Wat Phnom is the most popular place for local people to come to play healthy spots or pray for their good luck as well as admire the sunset.

Afternoon, we will visit Killing Field or Choeung Ek, is the site of a former orchard and mass grave of victims of the Khmer Rouge – killed between 1975 and 1979 – in Dangkao Section, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, about 17 kilometres (11 mi) south of the Phnom Penh city centre. It is the best-known of the sites known as the Killing

Fields, where the Khmer Rouge regime executed over one million people between 1975 and 1979. After that, we will return to the city and enjoy a tour at the Russian Market in Phnom Penh, which is located in the south part of Phnom Penh and is known to the locals as Phsar Toul Tom Poung. The reason why it is called Russian Market is because it was a popular market among the Russian expats during the 1980s, when most of the western expats in Phnom Penh were Russian, and then we continue our tour to visit the Independence Monument, built in 1958 to memorialize Cambodia’s independence from France in 1953. It stands on a roundabout at the intersection of Norodom Boulevard and Sihanouk Boulevard in the centre of the city. Late afternoon, we will enjoy Sunset Boat along the Mekong River (1-hour boat tour). Next, transfer back to the hotel and drop off. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

After breakfast in hotel. At 8:00am, our English-speaking guide & driver will pick you up and then depart for Kampong Cham, a former port town of French trade. Immerse in the rural landscape of Cambodia when we drive through the plantations of cashew, rice fields, and traditional villages. Tours to the city center before visiting Wat Nokor, a Buddhist shrine of sandstone dating back to the ‘eleventh century. The distance of driving from Kampong Cham to Kratie will take around 3 hours; it is 135 km far away from each other.

Upon arriving to Kratie, we will have a short tour to Phnom Sombok—a must-see Attraction in Kratie is a small Buddhist temple perched high on a hillock, which is located 10 km north of Kratie Town. Being built in the 15th century, the temple is dedicated to a Buddhist monk named Neak Voan, who resided, meditated and taught his disciples here. Next, we will take a boat to Koh Trong Island and then check in to your comfort resort. Free your leisure & overnight on Koh Trong Island (Note: Accommodation has no air-conditioner; local people use fan to cool the room).

In the after breakfast in the resort today. At 8:00am, our tour guide will pick you up and then start a half-day cycling tour on Koh Trong, depending on the water levels of the Mekong. Walk over the sandy beach to the left bank of the island or go by bike to see many traditional Khmer houses built on stilts with rooftop decorations. There is a homestay facility close to the northern part of the island, just before heading inland, that serves Khmer food in the house or under the trees overlooking the Mekong River.

Afternoon, we take the ferry back to Kratie and then head north to Kampi Dolphin Pool, passing the place where sticky rice (Krolan) and pickled raw fish (Nhem) are produced. Thma Kreae village is particularly famous for Krolan. This tasty snack is famous all over Cambodia, and locals would never leave Kratie Province without buying a stock for relatives and friends back home. About 1 km from Thma Kreae Village is Phnom Sambok, from where there are great views of the Mekong. The Kampi Dolphin Pool is the largest dolphin pool on the Mekong River. Travel by boat to view the rare Irrawaddy dolphins in their natural habitat. There are handicraft sellers at the site who produce wooden carvings for sale. A further 1 km north is Kampi Rapids, where there will be time to relax, swim, and enjoy the rapids. Overnight on Koh Trong (Note: Accommodation has no air-conditioner; local people use fans to cool the room).

This morning at 8:00am. Departure to Kampong Thom: we pass through the lush grasslands—the home of local waterfowl. Although there are almost 1000 steps, climbing the Mountain Phnom San Tuk offers spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. After admiring the breathtaking view from the small pagoda on top of the mountain, we go down and continue the path to Kampong Thom. In the afternoon, spend time freely.

Overnight in Kampong Thom

After breakfast at the hotel, our English-speaking guide will be picked up to visit Sambor Prei Kuk, 30 km north of the city, a closed complex of temples in the jungle that attracts very few tourists due to its remote location. However, do not miss a visit to the sequins pre-Angkor lane. During the bike ride and walk through the ruins, you are impressed by the combination of architecture and nature; in fact, its brick structures are perfectly integrated with the surrounding nature. We have the opportunity to visit and contribute to sustainable development of the local community. A simple but tasty lunch is served near the temples. We continue the journey to Siem Reap at about 3:00 PM. Upon arrival, check into the hotel. The rest of the day is available. Overnight in SiemReap

After breakfast in hotel. At 8:00am, our English-speaking guide & driver will pick you up and then start the tour to Angkor Wat Temple, which is a temple complex in Cambodia and is the largest religious monument in the world, on a site measuring 162.6 hectares (1,626,000 m2; 402 acres). Breaking from the Shaiva tradition of previous kings, Angkor Wat was dedicated to Vishnu for the Khmer Empire. It was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II. In the early 12th century in Yashodhara (present-day Angkor), combines two basic plans of Khmer temple architecture: the temple-mountain and the later galleried temple. It is designed to represent Mount Meru, home of the devas in Hindu mythology: within a moat more than 5 kilometers (3 mi) long and an outer wall 3.6 kilometers (2.2 mi) long are three rectangular galleries, each raised above the next. Visiting the South Gate of Angkor Thom, the south gate of Angkor Thom is 7.2 km north of Siem Reap and 1.7 km north of the entrance to Angkor Wat. The walls, 8 m high and flanked by a moat, are each 3 km long, enclosing an area of 9 km2. The walls are of laterite buttressed by earth, with a parapet on the top.

Afternoon, we will continue our tour to visit Angkor Thom, which was established as the capital of Jayavarman VII’s empire and was the center of his massive building program. One inscription found in the city refers to Jayavarman as the groom and the city as his bride. Angkor Thom seems not to be the first Khmer capital on the site, however. Yashodhara, dating from three centuries earlier, was centered slightly further northwest, and Angkor Thom overlapped parts of it. The most notable earlier temples within the city are the former state temples of Barhoum and Phimeanakas, which were incorporated into the Royal Palace. The Khmers did not draw any clear distinctions between Angkor Thom and Yashodhara Ura; even in the fourteenth century, an inscription used the earlier name. 138 The name of Angkor Thom—great city—was in use from the 16th century. Next, we will tour to Ta Prohm Temple. In 1186 A.D., Jayavarman VII embarked on a massive program of construction and public works.

Raja vihara (“monastery of the king”), today known as Ta Prohm (“ancestor Brahma”), was one of the first temples founded pursuant to that program. The stele commemorating the foundation gives a date of 1186 A.D

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be free & leisure until officially check-out time at 12:00 hours. Then our company driver (no guide) will transfer you to Siem Reap International Airport for your departure flight. NOTE: 2:30 hours before your flight departure time, you need to be arriving at the airport and getting ready for flight.