Siem Reap to Siem Reap 15 Days

Welcome to Siem Reap, a unique, charming city for both local and international tourists who enjoy visiting the surrounding temples, the national parks plus newer, man-made tourist attractions. Siem Reap now offers many job opportunities for the younger generation, especially in the building, hospitality and banking industries. These days’ students do not need to go to Phnom Penh to obtain university degrees as Siem Reap has universities and tertiary education facilities.  Siem Reap offers excellent dining options along with entertainment and many festivals. This busy tourist city is the second largest in Cambodia after the capital Phnom Penh. Many westerners come to Siem Reap to relax and for business. Nowadays, you will see many modern western style buildings, especially around the Pub Street and Old Market areas.  If you have time, feel free to walk and explore the city.  Our tour leader will meet you in your hotel reception area at 18:00 the evening before your touring begins.

This morning, meet our guide to commence your Angkor Wat tour. If you decide to see sunrise at Angkor Wat we’ll leave your hotel reception at 04:30. If without sunrise, departure time from your hotel reception is 08:00. The lost city of Angkor captured the imagination of Europe’s archaeologists and was discovered in 1861.  However, prior to 1861 there were some villages already surrounding the Angkor Wat complex. Cambodia was colonialized by the French from 1863 – 1953. After the Khmer empire, Cambodia suffered from various civil wars when many of its population perished.  Enjoy the natural beauty as you travel to the temples.

• PRASAT ANGKOR WAT One of the largest world monuments and famous World Heritage listed site
• SOUTH GATE OF ANGKOR THOM The main entrance gate with faces caved in sandstone
• PRASAT BAYON The largest city in the Khmer Empire with beautiful smiling faces
• BAYON GROUP Some small temples such as Baphoun, King’s Terrace and Leper King
• PRASAT TA PROHM Made famous by the movie “Tomb Raider”, covered by the jungle.

What’s included:

• Temples Pass
• Angkor Tour-Small Circuit Tour
• Driver and Guide
• Cold water and towel

Accommodation:

3nights at D’skill Angkor Hotel Boutique

Other : Easy Angkor Trip Tour Leader

Meals:

2 Breakfasts

Leisure day to explore on your own.  Let us know what you would like to do and we can assist with arrangements.

Optional Excursions:

• Cambodian Landmine Museum – 5USD per person
• Floating Village – 20USD per person private boat
• Keulen Mountain (ticket) – 20 USD per person
• Cambodian Cooking Class – 29USD per person
• Kulen Elephants forest – 80USD per person
• National Museum – 12USD per person
• Angkor Eye Wheel – 12USD

This morning, leave Siem Reap to Battambang.  Battambang is in the northwest region of Cambodia, 165kms one way, 4hrs 30mins drive from Siem Reap.  The King has a residence in Battambang near Steung (river) Sangke.  Within the city is a large local market, Buddhist Pagodas, the Provincial museum and also Ek Phnom, the oldest pagoda in the area, with sandstone carvings.  Depending on traffic and arrival time in Battambang, there will be time for a city orientation tour and if you are interested, we can visit the local market.

PHUM PRAHOK (FISH PASTE). This is on the way to Wat Ek Phnom so we can make a short visit to one community where fish paste or Prahok is made. Prahok is much-loved by the Khmer people and they look forward to the beginning of the dry season, while harvesting the rice, when Prahok is most plentiful.  It is usually cooked for lunch or dinner and shared with relatives when they eat together.  It’s probably a bit smelly for you and if you’ve never eaten it before, you’ll probably think the taste is disgusting.  But for almost all Khmer people the taste is delicious, especially when eaten with salad greens, cucumbers, French beans, banana flower and much more. You can experience the daily lifestyle of local people and compare the differences with your home country. Depending on time, we can also visit the Sticky Rice and Rice Paper makers.

BAMBOO TRAIN is located 12kms outside Battambang.  The train consists of a bamboo platform on railway tracks, powered by a small motor and driven by a lorry driver. These days you may have a woman lorry driver which is a sign of how the culture in Cambodia is changing.  Your train journey travels through scenic countryside, rice fields, and is great for wonderful photos.

What’s included:

• City Orientation
• Fish Paste Village
• Bamboo Train

Accommodation:

2 nights at King Fy hotel or Similar

Optional Excursion:

Bat Cave

Wine Tasting

Meal:

2 Breakfasts

This morning, trave via Phnom Penh  to popular Kampot town.  We will need to change bus in Phnom Penh which will give us time to have a meal and stretch our legs. Kampot has a happy mix of western and local people. Kampot was originally colonized by the French.  The city still has some French architecture and the old bridge. Kampot is famous for Kampot Pepper which is highly regarded by chefs and cooks around the world. As well, while in beautiful Kampot, you will see the salt flats, farms producing sugar cane, coconut and durian plantations.

Today we will visit the Pepper Plantation and the Salt Farm.  Afternoon is free for your own excursions.  Why not visit Kep Beach or Bokor Mountain National Park.

What’s included:

Salt and Pepper Fields

Optional Excursions:

Kayaking

Fireflies

Accommodation

2 Nights-Bamboo Bungalow or Similar

Meal

2 Basic Breakfasts

Today we will depart Kampot to Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital, situated on the mighty Mekong River. Phnom Penh is a busy city and the main political center. It is home to many factories, industries, cultural centers, educational establishments and health care services. Phnom Penh is an historical city in Indochina, much like Vientiane and Hanoi and was colonized by the French from 1863-1953. During this time Phnom Penh was the largest city in South East Asia.  After the French departed, from 1953-1974 Cambodia was one of the countries in South East Asia which quickly developed its own educational program, along with commercial and manufacturing industries. But later on, Cambodia was troubled with civil wars and the “Khmer Rouge or Red Khmer” destroyed the economy and many people perished. In 1991 the Cambodia Paris Peace Agreement was signed, bringing stability for Cambodia which is now rebuilding and a developing country.

This morning visits the Genocide Museum, Killing Field, Toul Sleng Prison (S21) which are extremely sad places, but historically interesting. During the Khmer Rouge regime, the whole population was moved from the capital to the countryside, where so many were killed or died from starvation, hard work and disease.  After these visits, let your guide know where you want to be dropped off for exploring on your own.  In the evening, if you would like to do a boat party on the Mekong River, you can discuss with your tour leader to arrange at a good price.

What’s included:

• Entrance Fees
• Genocide Museum
• Killing Field
• Toul Sleng Prison S21
• Tour Guide and Driver

Optional Excursions:

Royal Palace 10USD

Wat Phnom 3USD

National Museum 10USD

The Silver Pagoda 3USD

Accommodation:

2 Nights Pacific Phnom Penh Hotel or Similar

Meals:

2 Breakfasts

Today we take a bus from Phnom Penh to Kratie.  Travel time around 5 hours or more. The bus will stop en route and we will assist you with buying snacks to keep you going on the long drive. Or you might like to stock up in Phnom Penh before leaving.  You will arrive at Kratie late afternoon.  After checking in, if you are lucky there will be a beautiful sunset on the Mekong River that you can enjoy.  Kratie is famous for bamboo sticky rice (do you know bamboo sticky rice?)  We recommend you try it and you will find it at the local market area.

If you are planning to see the Dolphins tomorrow, please arrange with your guide today.  They can organize for you and have knowledge of many of the tour companies.

Today, leave your hotel as per your tour booking instructions.  On the way to the dolphins’ area, you will pass through rich farming land where pomelos, corn, bananas are grown, plus hectares of rubber plantations.  In the rainy season the dolphins move further up river, but in dry season the dolphins move back and sometimes can be seen very close to your boat. During dry season it’s possible for you to disembark on Koh Trong Island where you can swim and see the wonderful views. Koh Trong is highly recommend for you to visit. The island has a large population of local people with many traditional Khmer houses.  Throughout the villages you will see pomelo farms in front of the houses. These pomelos are the best tasting quality throughout the whole of Cambodia.

Included Excursions:

• Cycling on the Trong Island
• Boat ticket to Trong Island

Optional Excursions:

Boat ride to see dolphins: from 25USD up (depending on group size)

Motorbike 10USD, Horse Cart Riding 10USD, Ox Cart Ridding 15USD

Accommodation

2-nights at Oudom Sambath hotel or similar

Meals:

2 Basic Breakfasts

Today we depart Kratie to Kampong Cham which takes about 4 hours or more.  Kampong Cham . is a quiet town along the Mekong River, a good place to relax en route from Kratie.  Kampong Cham means “the port of Muslin people”. As you might know, “Cham” was originally a country in central Vietnam. After the Cham lost their country, some of the Cham population moved to Cambodia, where they are now Cambodian Muslins living with the Khmer people.

On arrival at Kampong Cham, remorque(es) are available to take you to tourist attractions such as the Bamboo bridge, Wat Nokor, Phnom Bros Phnom Srei and Nokor Bachey which was built during the Angkor era by Jayavarman VII (12C-13C). This temple was devoted to Mahayana Buddhism and currently has a Buddhism Pagoda built inside the original temple which is unique to see.

If you want to experience the Bamboo bridge, make sure you ask your remorque(es) driver at the beginning of your tour.In the evening, after you finish touring, look out for the locals doing their exercise/dancing on the public garden area along the Mekong River side. You are welcome to join them if you wish. Kampong Cham has the second longest bridge in Cambodia, called ”Kizuna”. If you would like to do a boat party on the Mekong, please inform your tour guide early in the morning so it can be booked for you.

Optional Excursion:

• Wat Nokor, Phnom Bros Phnom Srei
• Nokor Bachey Temple
• Wat Maha Leap. Price varies depending on group size: around 60USD

Accommodation:

1 night at Monorom VIP hotel or similar

Meal

1 Basic Breakfast

Today we leave Kampong Cham and travel to Kampong Thom which takes around 3 hours.  Kampong Thom is a picturesque city located in central Cambodia.  Situated on the Krong Steung (river) Saen, Kampong Thom is the second largest province by area and is 161kms from Siem Reap. Thom in Khmer means “Great Port” and this province was a powerful capital in Southeast Asia during the Funan period.  This province has a famous temple called Prasat Sambor Prei Kuk which dates from the Chenla era. Prasat Sambor Prei Kuk is protected by the Ministry of Culture and Art and was registered as a World Heritage site in July 2017.

After we check in we have time to visit Sambor Prei Kuk, a very old and rarely visited temple.  Sambor Prei Kuk temple was the second capital of the Khmer Empire and was built in the 7th Century by King Isanvarman I. Similar to other provinces, this province keeps growing and improving because of increased tourists who visit the city and its temples.

Included Excursion:

• Temples Pass & Transfer

Accommodation

1-night hotel

Meal

1 Basic Breakfast

Today, sit back, relax and enjoy the bus drive to Siem Reap. The route is beautiful, journeying along the lush scenery of the Prey Preas River. You are free to enjoy Siem Reap this evening.

Tour ends in Siem Reap after breakfast.

What’s Included:

1-night accommodation at D’Skill hotel or similar

Meal

1 Basic Breakfast

Not Included:

Onward transfer