Cambodia Explorer Holiday

FLY TO SIEM REAP

Fly from Auckland to Singapore with Singapore Airlines. (Other options are available).

Fly from Singapore to Siem Reap with Singapore Airlines.

On arrival in Siem Reap you will be met and transferred to your hotel by private car.

SIEM REAP - FULL DAY TOUR 

You will be collected early from your hotel today to visit Phnom Bakheng.

This hilltop temple is most popular at sunset and, as the main temple of King Yasovarman, founder and namesake of Yasodharapura, it is a logical starting point for an exploration of the ancient city. From atop Phnom Bakheng, which requires walking up a wide, winding dirt road around the exterior of the 79m-high hill, you will be able to witness the sunrise over Angkor Wat.

Return to your hotel for your breakfast.

Return to the Angkor complex and visit Bayon, the temple at the center of Angkor Thom city, built by the last great king: Jayavarman VII. A tour of the city can begin at The Terrace of The Elephants and the Royal Palace enclosure. The forested grounds are beautiful in the morning.

Take a stroll around the lower galleries of carvings of Bayon, which depict fascinating scenes of life from the late 11th century, then find a quiet spot on the exterior of the temple to appreciate the 52 towers featuring faces of the Buddha looking out into the jungle around you.

You will have a break time for lunch in a local restaurant (own account) before continue to Ta Prohm, the temple made famous by the Angelina Jolie film Tomb Raider, which is otherwise best known for the trees and vines growing atop the temple walls. The temple is a perfect example of how nature has crept in and reclaimed its land after the fall of the Angkorian Empire.

One nice feature of Angkor Wat is that the eight galleries of carvings (where you will spend much of your time) is within a covered, open-air enclosure, making this one of the few times that you will be protected from the sun. Furthermore, as the only west-facing temple, Angkor Wat is best to visit (and photograph) in the late afternoon, arriving around 2:30 - 3pm, enjoying the uppermost platform around 5:00pm, and walking out as the guards begin corralling visitors out of the complex at 5:30pm.

Exiting the temple with the setting sun shining on the Vishnu image discovered beneath the temple’s central sanctuary is a magical sight to behold and a fitting end of your exploration of the temple built by King Suryavarman, whose name translates to “protected by the sun”.

Note: Should you wish to witness a sunset, there are limited options and they can be quite crowded. Consider finding a quiet place away from the crowds, such as atop the city wall beside the West or South gate of Angkor Thom, or Srah Srang. Be advised that a sunset will typically have you returning to town after 7:00pm.

With a treasure trove of photos and memories, return to town for the evening.

SIEM REAP - COUNTRYSIDE TOUR

This morning, get a taste of rural Cambodian life. Travel by ox cart to a remote village, stopping to browse colorful markets and join farming activities. Share a meal with friendly locals and be blessed in a traditional Buddhist ceremony.

Today embark on an authentic rural Cambodia tour to learn about life in a typical village. Meet friendly locals and discover traditional village customs and cultures.

Start with an early morning visit to Ta Brak village. Like most villages in Asia, Ta Brak is busiest in the morning hours. Sit down with a local family and enjoy breakfast (take-away from the hotel) while observing the activities of the village. 

Take an Ox Cart Ride, a traditional countryside method of transporting people and goods. The 30 minute journey passes through the village on the way to the local market. Explore the colorful displays of vegetables, herbs and other locally-grown produce, and mingle with the shoppers who come every morning to buy the fresh ingredients.

Continue on foot through the village, providing ample opportunities to stop and chat with locals and to observe their activities. Depending on the time of year, they may be planting rice, weaving thatch coverings for their roofs, harvesting vegetables, or other similar tasks. For a truly immersive experience, lend a hand and join the locals in these activities!

Before leaving the village, partake in a special Buddhist tradition. Local monks will impart wishes of good luck and success in a solemn, age-old ceremony.

Return to your hotel with the afternoon at leisure.

TONLE SAP - FULL DAY EXCURSION

See what life is like on Southeast Asia’s largest lake. Take a boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake, cruising past mangrove forests and quiet waterways. Have lunch in a local house and learn about the traditional lifestyles of the people who call Tonle Sap their home.    

Take a break from temple touring to experience authentic rural lifestyles.

Drive to the outskirts of Siem Reap, past expansive rice fields and through local villages where rice and fish can frequently be spotted drying alongside the road. Next, board a private wooden vessel for a boat trip along a canal that leads to the Tonle Sap Lake. 

Cruise along the canal with houses on either side: depending on the time of the  visit, the houses will either have immediate access to the water or stand perched on stilts high above the ground, a phenomena caused by the annual rising and receding waters of the Tonle Sap Lake, Southeast Asia’s largest lake.

Pass by the boats and nets used by local fishermen, some of whom will be fishing in the waters through which the boat passes. Nearing the lake, see floating houses that move location with the annual ebb and flow of the lake’s waters. 

Along the way, gain a better understanding of the local lifestyle with lunch in a family house. This is a unique opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the way of life of the local people- sitting inside a stilted house while watching the boats pass outside. 

With a full belly and a camera-full of remarkable images, return to Siem Reap in the afternoon.

FLY TO PHNOM PENH - EVENING STREET FOOD EXCURSION 

After breakfast you will be collected from your hotel and transferred to the airport for your onward flight.

Fly from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap with Air Asia.

On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel by private car.

This evening you will be collected from your hotel.

Stroll the streets of Phnom Penh just before sunset, when the shops and carts selling street eats start peddling their products in the cool afternoon air.

Your guide will collect the snacks as you go, from buffalo jerky to stir-fried corn, stopping after a while to enjoy them all at a colourful outdoor restaurant. With a variety of options available throughout the evening, you’re certain to discover and enjoy a number of new Cambodian eats!

You'll be collected from your hotel by Remork (a Cambodian tuk tuk) and transferred to the starting point of the walking tour. Begin near the southwest corner of the Royal Palace, an area famous for sun-dried buffalo jerky. From here walk south, past Wat Botom, stopping along the way to pick up additional take-away treats. 

At the corner of Independence Park make some stir fried corn, customizing the dish to your taste: if you like, you maybe able to even cook it yourself! Take a stroll through the park where you will see local’s playing games and exercising on the way to an area with various street food stalls. Grab a table and enjoy the assortment of dishes you have picked up along the way.

Next, stroll a few blocks to a popular street side BBQ restaurant, where flame-grilled fish, frogs, and other local delicacies are available. A local guide will help order a well-balanced meal. Finally, walk to a nearby “street bar” that serves creative cocktails with local ingredients and often has live Cambodian music!

Return to the hotel by Remork or stay and explore the nearby bars of this vibrant nightlife area.

PHNOM PENH - FULL DAY EXCURSION

Get to know Phnom Penh, a vibrant city steeped in history.

Today you have a car, driver & guide at your disposal.

Begin in Phnom Penh with a visit to the Royal Palace in the city centre. Explore the majestic compound and step back in time to when the Kingdom flourished.

See the spectacular reception halls and historic royal costumes. The elegant Silver Pagoda, with its solid-silver floor, is a reminder of the prosperity of the former royal families.

Continue to the adjacent National Museum. Housed in a beautiful old building surrounded by tropical gardens, the museum is a tranquil oasis in the busy city centre. Go inside to see seemingly endless displays of art and artefacts dating back to the pre-Angkorian era.

Continue to the hill top pagoda of Wat Phnom, which offers fabulous views of the city below.

Explore the more recent history of Cambodia this afternoon. Visit Tuol Sleng Prison (S-21) and the Killing Fields at sites used by the Khmer Rouge regime when they ravaged the country in the 1970's and 80's.

The lasting effects of this tragic period are still being felt. Although the visits are sombre, knowing about this era is essential in helping to understand present-day Cambodia.

Before wrapping up the sightseeing in Phnom Penh, pay a visit to the Russian Market. This bustling bazaar earned its name in the 1980's as the expat Russian population often shopped here. These days it is stocked with everything from souvenirs to local handicrafts, silver jewellery and electronic goods.

OUDONG - FULL DAY EXCURSION

This morning embark on a local boat cruise up the Tonle Sap River to Oudong, one of the country’s main waterways.

Pass riverside villages and fishermen on the way, gaining a deeper appreciation for the Cambodian’s reliance on rivers for transport and food. You will have a cocktail with appetizers during the boat trip and a BBQ lunch set with French red or white wine will be served on board.

Climb the stairs to the top of Oudong Mountain and enjoy magnificent views over the plains below. Your guide will explain the history of the area and its buildings as well as the religious culture of the Cambodian people. Take your time to soak in the magnificent views over the plains below.

Before heading back to Phnom Penh stop at the spectacular Vipassana Dhura Buddhist Meditation Centre. Your guide can explain more about the school of Vipassana (Insight Meditation) as you tour the centre, before taking part in a meditation class with one of the teachers.

Don’t forget to see the impressive jade Buddha, the mummified monk and the brightly painted walls telling the story of the Ramayana, the epic Sanskrit poem that decorates many pagodas seen around the country.

On the way back to Phnom Penh by car, you will also visit Kompong Luong, a village famous for its silversmiths. The traditional craft has been passed down from generation to generation. Watch as the skilled silversmiths create cups, bowls and other items using age-old techniques.

CARDAMOM MOUNTAINS

After breakfast you will be collected from your hotel and transferred to the Cardamom Mountains for your stay at Canvas and Orchids.

Canvas & Orchids Retreat is a unique luxury Cambodian eco-lodge located in the Cardamom Mountains.

This collection of floating and on-land tented villas offers a once in a lifetime to experience the beauty and splendour of the Cardamom Rainforest.

After you've checked in and familiarised yourself with the location, enjoy an hour or two visiting Koh Andet where the lodge is located.

Formerly a refuge from the Khmer Rouge, Koh Andet (Floating Island) is nowadays a peaceful home to a dozen farming families.

While you might be tempted to be cocooned in the comfort of your tent, we strongly encourage you to share and learn about the lives of your new neighbours.

Take the opportunity to open your phrasebook, and practice the local language. This informal but deep experience will enrich your stay in this remote location..

This evening take a Sunset Cruise. This is a magical excursion as you watch the colours of both the sky and the river change before your eyes as the sun slowly disappears. Fireflies start to appear as the final red glow fades on the water, and their energetic, illuminating dance is sure to mesmerise you.

CARDAMOM MOUNTAINS

Today, take a walk deep through the mangroves of Koh Kong Khnong, taking in the sights and sounds of the beautiful jungle and meeting the fishing families that call this slice of paradise home.

Another highlight of the Cardamom region, a tour to Koh Kong Khnong is offered every other day, alternating with the boat trip to the Tatai Waterfall.

Leaving at around 10 am, depending on the tide, you will cruise deep into the mangroves to experience a rare glimpse of life among the fishing communities that live off the natural bounty of the Tatai River.

Drinks will be served en-route as you glide down the tributary to your fishing village destination. Once there you’ll spend time with these shy but friendly people. While the men tend their boats, the women skillfully and patiently mend their nets, whilst children play tag and football in the narrow alleyways between the stilt houses.

After visiting the local pagoda, school and some villagers’ homes, a BBQ lunch will be served on the river beach.

On the way back to Canvas & Orchids Retreat in the boat and kayaks you’ll experience the pure magic of life among the mangroves.

CARDAMOM MOUNTAINS

This morning visit the famous Tatai Waterfall, on a serene boat trip down the Tatai River. Be bold and climb the slippery rocks or simply relax to the sound of rushing water. This is a great way to refresh after a jungle hike.

One of the must-sees of the region, a tour to Tatai Waterfall is offered every second day, alternating with a discovery tour deep in the mangroves to meet the fishing families in Koh Kong Khnong village and take in the sights and sounds of the jungle.

Away from the tranquility of Canvas & Orchids Retreat, the thunder of the majestic Tatai Falls reveals the river’s true power as it drops six metres to the rocks below.

Your day, depending on the tide, starts at around 10am with a 45 minute boat ride past Tatai Village to the falls.

Turning into a tributary you head into the heart of the Cardamom rainforest accompanied by the far off sounds of exotic birds and its secretive wildlife. Within minutes you are at journey’s end, gazing down into the turbulent waters of the waterfalls.

Soon it’s time for lunch. Maybe take a few moments for a natural hydro-massage and a refreshing drink as you find some shade for a picnic and open your senses to the sights and sounds of the jungle. There will be some kayaks available for you to try out.

After leaving the falls, depending on the season, you might stop at the mouth of a small river where you can kayak to a traditional Cambodian farm where you will see rice fields and tropical fruit trees.

CARDAMOM MOUNTAINS - KEP

It’s your time to shine if you’re a bird watcher or early riser!

Enjoy first hand the sights and sounds of the jungle as you venture forth into the undergrowth and experience the beauty of one of the world’s largest rainforests. This trek offers a taste of the true jungle, an opportunity to observe small wildlife and birds, with the added bonus of some early morning exercise.

Following a quick, energising early morning coffee, grab your camera and venture into the rainforest, listening to its symphony on our dawn jungle trek. You’ll kayak upstream, then hike through the lush jungle witnessing all the incredible flora and fauna that can be found there.

Shortly after stepping onshore, there’s a fairly steep ascent to hike for about an hour. Near the top, take a short break in a clearing to rest and enjoy the surroundings before returning to the lodge just in time for breakfast.

After your morning hike, get ready for your departure. You will be transferred by private car to Kep, for your stay in a boutique hotel in this coastal area of Cambodia.

Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

KEP

Enjoy the days at leisure in Kep.

FLY TO AUCKLAND

You will be collected from your hotel in Kep and transferred to the airport in Phnom Penh by private car for your onward flight.

Fly from Phnom Penh to Singapore with Singapore Airlines.

Fly from Singapore to Auckland with Singapore Airlines.

ARRIVE AUCKLAND

Arrive back in New Zealand.