VC04 Essential Cambodia ( 7 days / 6 nights )
Overland Phnom Penh - Kompong Cham - Kompong Thom - Siem Reap
Day 1 Phnom Penh – Arrival & City Tour
Upon your arrival in Phnom Penh, transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, you will visit some of the capital’s most impressive sites including the National Museum, the Silver Pagoda containing the Emerald Buddha statue, the Royal Palace and Wat Phnom, Phnom Penh’s oldest shrine. Ending the tour by having an-hour relaxing as you get pampered with a rejuvenating traditional Khmer massage at La Rose Spa.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Day 2 Phnom Penh – Toul Sleng Museum – Killing Field – NGO – Home hosted dinner with local family
This morning, we visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the notorious Khmer Rouge Killing Fields. The exhibits at these sites are graphic, and may cause distress among some visitors. On the way back, we stop en-route to witness the PSE (Pour Un Sourire d’Enfant), provides support for underprivileged children living in Cambodia. Thousands of kids living in and around the streets of Stung Meanchey garbage dump in Phnom Penh have been provided with food, health care, accommodation and education through this program. Lunch (at your own account) at Le Lotus Blanc, the center’s training restaurant, where you can support the training of these kids by being their guest before starting a short sight-seeing tour to experience and understand PSE’s Programs & how they contribute to society and interact with teachers or students in the center and or witness studetn’s training in different fields from hospitality to construction and more…). “NOTICE: The NGO is daily operated from Monday – Friday and Saturday will be only half day in the morning only. In the evening, visit the house of a local family for a home-cooked dinner. Enjoy the meal hosted in the cosy dining room to understand the important role food at home plays in Cambodia. Chat and share with them your life experiences.
Overnight in Phnom Penh. [Breakfast, Dinner]
Day 3 Phnom Penh – Cooking Class – Traditional Khmer Weaving Village “Koh Dach Island”
This morning, you will have opportunity to have a half day cooking class. La Rose offers its customers the opportunity to learn how to cook the real Khmer cuisine in a traditional Khmer setting, with skilled and friendly 18-years experience chef who can impart the secrets of Khmer cooking to you. Visit the market and interact with the stall holders and purchase fresh ingredients for the day’s meals. After completing the shopping, return back to La Rose. The chef will demonstrate how to prepare a variety of Khmer dishes, you will boost your cooking skills and knowledge under the Chef’s guidance. At the end of class, you will be delighted by your own prepared meal which will be served. In afternoon, we drive to Koh Dach Island for an exciting excursion along the Mekong River to visit a traditional Khmer weaving village. You will be amazed to see how the villagers produce their own dyes and weave silk on old looms. Learn about the local way of life as you walk through the village until the time to drive back to hotel.
Overnight in Phnom Penh. [Breakfast, Lunch]
Day 4 Phnom Penh – Kampong Kdei Bridge – Siem Reap
After breakfast, we drive a long high way road No. 6 to Siem Reap. A long the way, we will have an opportunity to see how the daily life of local people in the country side. We stop en-route to visit Kampong Kdei bridge that used to be the longest corbeled stone-arch bridge in the world, with more than twenty narrow arches spanning 285 ft (87m). The bridge was built in the 12th century during the reign of King Jayavarman VII. It is one of the few Khmer empireera bridges to have survived to the modern day. Upon arrival check in at hotel. In the afternoon, visit the Roluos group of temples dating between the 9th and 10th centuries, including Preah Ko, Bakong, and Lolei Temples.
Overnight in Siem Reap. [Breakfast]
Day 5 Siem Reap – Angkor Complex
Enter Angkor Thom via the Southern Gate and explore the ancient city. Then proceed to visit the ruins at Bayon, Baphoun, Phimeanakas, the Royal Palace, the Elephant Terrace and the Leper King Terrace. In the afternoon, visit the Bantey Kdei with its rarely seen sculpted female deities, the Lake of Srah Srang and the impressive Ta Prohm Temple mystically enveloped by the jungle. Visit the Ta Keo, Chau Say Tevada and Thommanon Temples before returning to the hotel.
Overnight in Siem Reap. [Breakfast]
Day 6 Siem Reap – Banteay Srei – Banteay Samre – Ta Prohm – Visit Local Monastery for Blessing Ceremony
After breakfast, visit the graceful 11th century Temple of Shiva – Banteay Srei – and the Banteay Samre Temple. On the way back, swing by the Ta Prohm Temple which is mystically enveloped in the jungle. In the afternoon, we drive to a local monastery and meet the resident monks and participate in a private good luck blessing ceremony and wishing you good health and a safe journey, performed by local monks. Sit on the mat while the monks chant blessings and sprinkle holy water on you – a traditional way which is believed pass on the good luck of the gods. Afterwards, a sacred thread will be tied around your wrist. This will protect you from any evil spirits or accidents – a memorable experience! Ending the tour by relaxing after a long day of climbing around temple ruins as you get pampered with a rejuvenating traditional an-hour Khmer or foot massage.
Overnight in Siem Reap. [Breakfast]
Day 7 Siem Reap – Departure
Free until transfer to the airport for departure flight.
[Breakfast]
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