Rondreis Cambodia | From Angkor to the capital

Arrive at the international airport of Siem Reap and meet your guide and driver outside the arrival hall. Transfer to your hotel.
Around 3PM meet with your guide and visit Wat Damnak. Here you meet with a local monk and receive a traditional monk blessing. The blessing is a traditional local ritual that is specially adjusted to bless your travels through Cambodia. A small token is handed to you by the monk after the ritual. Walk around the compound of the pagoda and learn more about the architecture and Buddhism. Continue afterwards to Theam’s House. It is the atelier of the Cambodian artist Lim Muy Theam. Born in Takeo, Southern Cambodia, Theam was nine when the Khmer Rouge regime fell and Vietnam invaded Cambodia in 1978. He was among the refugees who arrived in France in 1980. After living in France for more than a decade, he desides to come back. Theam’s desire to share his artistic and technical knowledge prompted him to set out on a mission to learn about Cambodia, Khmer art and culture in order to research the country’s rich artistic heritage. He trawled through temples and pagodas around the country, visited people’s homes, and studied whatever artwork and artefacts he could lay his hands on. Now his expertise is on hand to give visitors an insight into a distinctive world of art, as well as instruction into creating their own creative pieces – be it painting, sculpting, or lacquer ware.

Getting away from the crowds at Angkor is an art that not many people have mastered. Start in the early morning with a TukTuk Ride to Ta Prohm. Constructed in the Bayon style between the late 12th and early 13th century, Ta Prohm was left pretty much untouched by archaeologists. The trees that grow out of the ruins allow for a mysterious feeling filled with photogenic opportunities. Leave the temple at the backside and enjoy a short hike to the back entrance of Banteay Kdei, which is known also as the “Citadel of Monks”. Exiting the temple at the east side will bring you to Sras Srang. Continue with a nice walk of 30 minutes from Sras Srang to Batchum temple. Pass through a typical Khmer village with its wooden houses on stilts and observe the daily activities of its people. The TukTuk waits at this small temple that dates back to the middle of the 10th century. A catered lunch is served by chef Savuth at a local house in Sra Srang.
Continue by TukTuk to Angkor Wat, and enter from the East Gate. Around this time of the day, most people head back for lunch in town, leaving the masterpiece relatively quiet for exploration. King Suryavarman II constructed this magnificent temple and built it to become the largest religious monument in the world. Leave Angkor Wat through the West Gate and continue by tuktuk to the South Gate of Angkor Thom. Take the opportunity to photograph the impressive entrance to Angkor Thom, which translates to “Great City”. The TukTuk will drop you at a small temple, beautifully overgrown with trees called Palilay. From here walk through the forest to the Phimeanakas and the Baphuon, both structures built in the pyramid style in the 11th and 10th century respectively. Continue to the centerpiece of the city; the Bayon, which served as a Mahayana shrine dedicated to Buddha. Its most distinctive features are the 216 serene stone faces that seemingly face all directions. Visit the Terrace of the Elephants, which is a 300 meters long terrace. The south stairway is framed with three‐head elephants gathering lotus flowers with their trunks. The central stairway is decorated by lions and garudas in bas‐reliefs in a stance of support for the stairways. Likewise, the Terrace of Leper King was constructed in the 12th century. The curious name of this terrace refers to a statue of the Leper King that is on the platform of the terrace. If time allows, visit the Victory Gate from where a short hike brings you to the East Gate, also known as the Gate of the Death. This gate remains beautifully untouched in a very quiet part of the complex surrounded by forest. It is the perfect place to end the day before you return to town where you enjoy a free evening.

Transfer to Banteay Chhmar in the morning and visit en route visit the the floating village of Me Chhrey. Located on the north‐western tip of the Tonle Sap, Me Chhrey village allows for an authentic floating village experience. The small village is home to families who unlike other floating communities still live in wooden house boats. The village moves throughout the year, depending on the water levels of the lake. At the end of the dry season when the lake’s water levels are at its lowest, the villagers move closer to shore and live primarily from agricultural activities on land. By visiting a local home you get a better understanding of life on the lake and your guide would be more than happy to translate your questions to your hosts. Continue afterwards to the Silk Farm of Artisans d’Angkor. Here people with
underprivileged backgrounds are given an opportunity to improve their livelihoods by reviving the ancient crafts of making art and producing silk. A local representative accompanies you and walks you through the farm and explains all the steps necessary to produce quality silk. Contine to Banteay Chhmar afterwards.
Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by the community. You will take a short trip to the other side of the village afterwards where you can observe an astonishing temple. Children play among the ruins and local villagers come to wash their clothes and bathe in the reservoir surrounding the temple. Returning to your camp you will refresh yourself with a cold drink while watching the sun go down over the temple.
As night falls, you will settle into your room for the night – a safari‐style tent. The custom‐designed tents are of high quality and allow substantial comfort, including toilet facilities. The local community will prepare a meal for you onsite using as many local ingredients as possible. You’ll dig into your exquisite local meal overlooking the temple facade in a clearing lit by torches (weather permitting). A traditional band from the local village will serenade you with traditional Khmer tunes. When the musicians depart, you’ll be able to settle into your tent and enjoy some free time before falling asleep in comfort.

Early in the morning before breakfast, you have the option to follow your hosts to the temple and join the monks in their morning prayer. In return for giving alms (prepared by the villagers at extra cost), they will offer you their blessing. Afterwards have breakfast.
After breakfast start to explore the temple ruins of Banteay Chhmar on foot. Although the temple is being gradually reclaimed by nature, the size and minute details remain incredibly impressive. Some of the Angkor era’s most amazing carvings, the Avalokitesvara which depicts a 32 armed figure, can be seen.
Continue afterwards to Battambang, where you will arrive around noon. Upon check‐in enjoy some time to freshen yourself up, before we head by TukTuk to Phnom Sampeuv. This is a hilltop temple and home to the “Killing Fields” of Battambang. On top you will find multiple temples and the view across the plains and on to Phnom Banan are breathtaking. You will have a perfect view over the paddy fields below. Return to the base and find a comfortable place to sit, close to the bat cave. Surrounded by rice fields, at around 6PM, the bats fly out, millions of them, in search of food. It is an incredible sight to behold! After sunset, return to the hotel where you arrive around 7PM.

In the morning, head by tuktuk the the Central Market (Phsa Nat). On the way observe the colonial houses, the old train station, the old stone bridge, and Government Hall. Make a stop at the statue of Battambang and listen to the myth that surrounds him. Continue by tuktuk to the countryside where the real Cambodian life awaits. Explore the beautiful countryside by tuktuk and make stops on the way to learn more about culture, religion, and agriculture. See how Bamboo Sticky Rice is made and visit a fish factory, a banana chips factory and see how Cambodian fresh noodles are made. Later in the morning visit the beautiful green vegetable and fruit plantations. Taste the fruits and learn how the crops are grown here. Depart the home by tuktuk and head for the south of Battambang where a short one hour boat cruise awaits over the Sangke River. Observe Battambang from the boat before visiting the famous Cable Bridge (referred to as the Cambodian Mini San Francisco Bridge). Get back to your hotel afterwards and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Leave Battambang in the morning after breakfast and drive to Kampong Chhnang, about 2.5 hours drive away and enjoy a morning of exceptional countryside experiences. The starting point of the rural exploration is Phnom San Touch, a small hill located 3km from the provincial capital. The hill is a perfect spot overlooking the beautiful paddy fields below and the Tonle Sap in the distance. Continue to explore the modern style pagoda before setting out for a casual and tuktuk or bicycle ride through the beautiful surroundings. Use small dirt roads through endless paddy fields to the pottery making villages. “Chhnang” means pottery in Khmer and this is the place where the traditional ceramic cooking pots are made. Visit also a local home where palm wine is being produced and learn how the palm wine is collected. Lunch is served in town at a local restaurant. Continue to Oudong, which was the capital of Cambodia between 1618 and 1866. On the top of the hill, there are several stupas containing the ashes of Khmer kings, including the King Ang Duong, the founder of the today capital of Phnom Penh. Drive the last 40km to Phnom Penh in the middle of the afternoon where you check into the hotel in the late afternoon.

Meet your guide and tuktuk driver at 9AM and ride to the Independence Monument. The monument was built in 1958 and represents Cambodia’s independence from France, which they gained in 1953. Continue with a walk through the Independence Park and observe the Statue of the King’s Father and the Cambodia–Vietnam Friendship Monument. Hop back onto the tuktuk and head for the Central Market.
The market was constructed in 1937 by the French and recently renovated. The art deco building is a unique landmark of the city. Nearby, one of Monivong Boulevard’s oldest buildings hosts an excellent view point over the capital’s busiest district and most famous street: Monivong Boulevard. Visit the Railway Station afterwards, which was built in 1932. A short walk away is the National Library. This beautiful building is home to impressive historical documents. Sit down at the library and learn more about Phnom Penh’s history. Lunch is served in a nearby local restaurant that serves many local favorites. Continue to the nearby Wat Phnom, which is considered to be the birthplace of the city of Phnom Penh. Also the near Old Quarters is an interesting visit with the Post Office being the center of attention. Opt to climb on top of the old abandoned hotel (own risk) for a great view of the “Colonial Square”. Ride further north and explore the little alleys that make up the old Chinese and Vietnamese Quarters. The alleys are so narrow at times that it feels like we walk through people’s living rooms. Small markets, chicken farms and all kinds of activities take place here. It is a real treat to explore! Enjoy a drink at the Chinese House, one of Phnom Penh’s most iconic restaurants before the ride continues south along the River Boulevard. Visit Wat Ounalom at the end of the afternoon. The Wat is beautifully located on the river side and is possibly the city’s most esthetically famed pagoda. The last walk of the day brings you to the Conference Hall Building, designed by Cambodia’s most famed architect. The building is located at Chaktomuk, where the four rivers that bypass Phnom Penh all meet together. Opt afterwards to stay at the riverside or return to the hotel for a free evening.

Enjoy some time at leisure before being transferred out to the airport.