Authentic Cambodia 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 - ANGKOR WAT - EVENING DINING FOR A CAUSE

Enjoy the morning at leisure.

In the afternoon, begin your exploration of the Angkorian temples by visiting Angkor Wat by ‘remork’ (similar to the Thai ‘tuk tuk’).

Built during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, Angkor Wat was constructed following the model of the temple mountain symbolizing Mount Meru, the home of the gods.

Inside the temple, the walls are covered with stone carvings depicting Hindu mythology and the wars Suryavarman II fought during his reign.

Angkor Wat is well known for the more than 2,000 Apsara dancers decorating the temple. Construction is thought to have taken around thirty years of intensive labor.

Today, Angkor Wat is featured on Cambodia's national flag as the temple symbolizes the soul of the Khmer people. You will be there just before sunset, when Angkor Wat is less visited and the Apsaras will shine in the most beautiful light.

This evening you will be collected from your hotel by remork (a Cambodian “tuktuk”) and taken to the first restaurant, where you may order any drink from the menu (they make some excellent cocktails and mocktails using local ingredients) and any one appetizer (try different ones and share with each other) while learning all about the organisation’s efforts and accomplishments to aid local Cambodian youth.

Next, enjoy a family-style dinner of various Khmer classic dishes at a restaurant that follows a different business model, directing their profits to various organisations.

Learn about its efforts while dining. Along with food, order a soft drink, beer, or glass of house wine.

After dinner, go to a tropical garden restaurant run by an organization that operates a hospitality training school where all the restaurant workers learned (or are currently learning) their trade.

Learn about how the program runs and its achievements while enjoying a creative cocktail, a glass of wine, beer, or coffee.  

The final stop of the evening is an education social enterprise set up by a not-for-profit NGO with the mission of Breaking the Poverty Cycle Through Education and operated by the students who are served by the program.

Serve yourself 200g of frozen yoghurt with toppings and then head upstairs to talk with some students about how the program has changed their lives.

Afterwards, transfer to your hotel.

SIEM REAP - FULL DAY TOUR

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 colourful 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.

Continue the rural Cambodia tour out of town to Tonle Sap Lake and have the opportunity to learn about life on the lake. Drive 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. 

Then it is time to say farewell to the host family and return to Siem Reap.

Note: Due to fluctuating water levels on the lake and canals, the village visited will depend on the date and water levels at that time.

SIEM REAP - HALF DAY TOUR  - EVENING DINING EXPERIENCE

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.

With a treasure trove of photos and memories, return to your hotel.

Enjoy the afternoon to relax.

Be enchanted by a different side of Cambodian culture this evening. Attend an evening at Phare, a circus-like show combining modern and traditional Khmer theatre. Learn about daily life and customs through the graceful movements of the performers and chat with them afterwards.

Set up by refugees of the Khmer Rouge era, Phare promotes performing arts as a way to cope with trauma. Over the years they have not only helped hundreds of Cambodians but also helped to promote traditional Khmer culture.

Then sit down for dinner, a feast of traditional Cambodian dishes.

Afterwards, the lights will dim and the performers will take to the stage. The hour-long show tells stories of modern life in Cambodia through a rich spectacle of song, dance and acrobatics. The performers combine traditional Khmer theatre with modern influences resulting in an entertaining and enthralling show.

Following the show there is an opportunity to take photos with the cast, a spectacular memory of the evening’s performance.

SIEM REAP - FULL DAY TOUR

Get up early this morning to visit the ancient city of Banteay Chhmar (duration ~3 hours), one of the three largest temple complexes built by the Khmers of Angkor.

After arriving around 10:00 am, visit the satellite temple of Ta Prohm for around 15-20 min. This charming temple features a small shrine capped with the 4 faces of the Buddha typically found on temples of the great King Jayavarman VII, who built Banteay Chhmar and both Angkor Thom and Bayon.

Continue to the main temple complex, which in honor of the King’s son, a trusted general who in battle before Jayavarman ascended to the throne.

Explore the ruins of the innermost enclosure for an hour. The temple is largely in ruins but features some fascinating carvings unlike any others found elsewhere in Cambodia and the surrounding forest creates a tranquil setting that will be largely yours to enjoy as very few visitors make the journey to this remote complex.

After enjoying lunch at the community-based tourism centre, drive to Samnang Temple to the rear of the main complex and then visit a local silk weaving center.

Before departing back to Siem Reap, visit Banteay Torp, whose precariously balanced stones appear as giant towers.

​​​Children aged between 2 and 12 years at the time of travel will receive a 10% discount off the Adult Price.

FLY TO PHNOM PENH

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

Fly from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh with Cambodia Angkor Air.

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

Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure in Phnom Penh.

PHNOM PENH - MORNING TOUR

After breakfast you will be collected by your guide.

Drive to a leafy suburb for the start of local Phnom Penh walking tour. Wander down residential streets, catching a glimpse of the daily activities of the people. Stop for a visit to Wat Lanka, one of the oldest pagodas in Phnom Penh and for a view of Independence Monument.

Meander down small alleyways getting a glimpse of local communities, small pagodas, shops and businesses before venturing through a bustling local market.

Resume the walk with a trip to the waterfront to see the picturesque Wat Botom Park. Wander along the riverside which is busy throughout the day with locals, street vendors and the occasional group of monks. Walking through this lively scene is a great way to appreciate Cambodian culture.

Wrap up the Phnom Penh walking tour with a stop at the spectacular Royal Palace. The palace was built in 1866 at the end of the French colonial era. Walk through the sprawling compound and learn about the Kingdom’s Royal Family and the role they place in modern Cambodia.

Visit the palace’s Silver Pagoda and admire the 5000 silver tiles that line the floors. There is also an impressive collection of Buddha images housed in the pagoda.

Armed with a greater understanding of the city and its people, return to your hotel.

PHNOM PENH - FULL DAY TOUR 

Discover the fabulous flavours of Khmer cuisine with this Phnom Penh Street Food Tour.

Pick up by Tuk Tuk and your local English speaking guide from your hotel with a brief tour introduction before starting to explore khmer local food.

Our first stop, will be at a local food store selling Kuy Teav, Cambodian noodle soup consisting of rice noodles with pork, seafood, beef or meatball etc. Or the popular Cambodian rice noodle, Noum Banhchok as per your interest after discussing with your guide.

Then move to another stall, taste Lort Cha, Cambodian-style stir-fried short rice noodles and Num Kachay, chive rice flour fried cakes, traditional Cambodian street food cuisine. (The dishes above will be served in sharing style with own spoon on individual plates).

Next head to the morning market. Wander through the aisles and learn about the different herbs, fruits and vegetables on display. See local residents doing their daily shopping and bartering with the vendors for the best prices.

Continue on to the street stalls where each vendor specializes in a particular dish. Look for the busiest stalls to seek out the best food. Sample seasonal fruit and traditional snacks, such as barbecued meat or fried insects.

After an hour of wandering and snacking, it’s time for lunch! Sit down at a popular local restaurant for a smorgasbord of delicious Khmer food. The meal is served the traditional way, with large bowls of food placed in the centre of the table to then be spooned on to individual plates.

Return to your hotel to freshen up after lunch with a better understanding of Cambodian cuisine and culture.

This afternoon explore the tragic recent history of Cambodia with a guided Khmer Rouge tour to two of the country’s most notorious sites.

Start with a visit to the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. This rural compound was used as an execution site and burial ground for some of the millions killed during the Khmer Rouge regime. Learn about the atrocities and brutal killings that occurred at this site.

Continue on to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, also known as S-21. Originally built as a school, the compound was taken over by the Khmer Rouge and used as its main detention and torture centre. Take a sobering tour of the site, learning about the prison’s history and hear the stories of the people held within its walls.

Before the day comes to a close if time permitted, stop at the Russian Market. This bustling bazaar earned its name in the 1980's as the expat Russian population often shopped here. These days the market is filled with everything from souvenirs to local handicrafts, silver jewellery to electronic goods.

OUDONG - FULL DAY TOUR

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.

KEP

After breakfast you will be collected from your hotel and transferred to your hotel in Kep.

Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

KEP

Enjoy the days at leisure.

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.