Reisprogramma

Day 1: Arrival in Phnom Penh

Arrive at the international airport of Phnom Penh and meet your guide and driver outside the arrival hall. Transfer to your hotel and remain free.
Late afternoon, transfer to the ferry pier of Phnom Penh and board a local ferry to the peninsula. Enter the Sokha Hotel and reach the 20th floor for a sunset cocktail and a view of the city unrivaled by any other sky bar.

Overnachting:

Rambutan Resort, garden view room

Aantal Overnachtingen: 1
Opmerking:

Meals are not included.

Day 2: Phnom Penh walking tour

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 This beautiful building is home to impressive historical documents.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. Afterwards visit The Royal Palace, which was built by the French in 1866 on the site of the old town. The main building on the compound is the Throne Room. It was built in 1917 in the traditional Khmer style and has a tiered roof and a 59-meter tower, which is influenced by Angkor Thom’s Bayon Temple. On the compounds of the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda stands out in its own distinctive way. The Pagoda’s steps are of Italian marble. On the inside the floor is comprised of more than 5000 silver tiles, which together weigh nearly 6 tons. The pagoda houses a magnificent 17th century Emerald Buddha statue and a 90kg gold Buddha studded with 9584 diamonds.

Overnachting:

Rambutan Resort – Garden View Room

Aantal Overnachtingen: 1
Opmerking:

Breakfast at the hotel and lunch included

Day 3: Transfer to Kratie

Transfer to Kratie and stop on the way in Kampong Cham to visit Wat Nokor. This Angkorian temple dates back to the 11th century and has blended with a modern style pagoda. The Wat also is home to a number of bones and skulls that still remind people of the Khmer Rouge years. Visit Phnom Hanchey. This historical site is located on the banks of the Mekong River and allows a great view of the river. On top of the hill new and ancient pagodas harmoniously blend together. Enjoy lunch in town and continue to Kratie. Arrive in the late afternoon and check in at your local resort. Located beautifully on a small island in the middle of the Mekong River, the Rajabori Bungalows are a real community institution blending harmoniously with its environment.

Overnachting:

Rajabori Villas, deluxe room

Aantal Overnachtingen: 1
Opmerking:

Breakfast at the hotel and a local lunch are included.

Day 4: Kratie

Enjoy after breakfast a bicycle ride of about 7km around the island of Koh Trong. The island is famous for its fresh fruits, traditional architecture and beautiful location. Meet with local villagers and visit them at home to try local fruits such as coconut and pomelo. Visit the Khmer pagoda on the north side of the island and the Vietnamese style pagoda on the south side. During the rainy season when the water levels are high, a small floating village also appears on the south side. The community runs the entire tourism operations on the island, giving it a perfect place to responsibly contribute to the development of this small and friendly community.
Take a ferry midafternoon to the mainland and drive to Kampi, the place famous for the Mekong Dolphins. The Mekong is home to a number of deep pools in which fresh water dolphins live. Kampi is home to the largest amount of dolphins, which are critically endangered. Board a local boat and float around the waters of the Mekong late in the afternoon. Sightings are almost a guarantee while witnessing a beautiful sunset over the Mekong. Return just before dark the last 15km to town and ferry back to the Rajabori Bungalows.

Overnachting:

Rajabori Villas, deluxe room

Aantal Overnachtingen: 1
Opmerking:

Breakfast at the hotel is included.

Day 5: O’svay

Leave Kratie after breakfast and transfer to the province of Steung Treng. We will drive to the village of O’Svay and board a local boat. The trip takes about 1 hour and passes unimaginable beauty. Different kinds of birds, some being endangered, beautiful river flora and fauna and untouched nature can be observed on the way. Arrive at Anlong Cheutteal and head for Rock Zero. This rock stands in the middle of the Mekong, between Laos and Cambodia and allows observing the Mekong Dolphins that swim in this deep pool. It is not the largest dolphin pool in the Mekong, but sightings are almost a guarantee in this beautiful spot.

Continue further up north until and disembark your boat. Hike a short distance through the forest and another 1.5km over a tarmac road before reaching the falls of Preah Mimeth. A well‐ deserved cold drink is served and take in the amazing show that unfolds in front of you. Return to the boat Enjoy a cold drink before heading back by boat to O’Svay. Return to Ou Svay and check in with the local community for a wonderful homestay. Help the family at night preparing dinner or walk around the village. Enjoy dinner with the family and call it an early night.

Overnachting:

Homestay O’Svay

Aantal Overnachtingen: 1
Opmerking:

Breakfast at the hotel and dinner are included.

Day 6: Preah Vihear

Leave O’Svay in the morning and drive about 2 hours to Preah Vihear. Purged on the cliffs of the Dangrek Mountains that border Thailand, Preah Vihear is by far Cambodia’s most dramatically located temple. Arrive at the foot of the mountain and climb aboard a pickup truck for the steep climb up to the temple. Once on top, take in the serene environment and majestic sights of the temple. Continue to explore the temple and be amazed with the size of the complex. Started by King Suryavarman I and finished by King Suryavarman II, the temple was listed as a UNESCO site on 7 July 2008. Return to ground level and to the hotel for check in.

Overnachting:

Preah Vihear Boutique Hotel, deluxe room

Aantal Overnachtingen: 1
Opmerking:

Breakfast at the hotel is included.

Day 7: Koh Ker and Beng Mealea

Leave your hotel after breakfast and transfer towards Siem Reap. Visit the temples of Koh Ker and Beng Mealea. Koh Ker was the Capital of the Khmer Empire for a very brief period between 928 and 944AD. In this short time, some very spectacular buildings and immense sculptures were constructed. Left to the jungle for nearly a millennium and mostly un‐restored, this great archaeological site has been rarely visited until very recently. The ancient Khmer city is in a distant jungle location with up to a hundred ruined temples including a huge stepped pyramid, the largest in the region. More ancient temples are being found in the jungle allowing for a true sense of discovery. Koh Ker is a paradise for those who want to witness how forceful the elements of nature can reclaim manmade structures. Lunch can be enjoyed in a local restaurant nearby the temples. Continue afterwards to Beng Mealea, which was built between the late 11th and the first half of the 12th century. It is assumed that King Suryavarman II ordered the construction of Beng Mealea, maybe even as a prototype of its larger brother; Angkor Wat, but no actual prove can be found in its depictions. The ruins of Beng Mealea are overgrown with vegetation, allowing a real “wilderness experience.” In recent years a wooden pathway has been constructed throughout the temple to allow people to observe the beauty of the temple in ease. However, most people venture of the beaten track and find their own way through the temple allowing them to experience the feeling the first explorers must have felt when they uncovered this magnificent structure.

Overnachting:

Suorkear Boutique Hotel, deluxe room

Aantal Overnachtingen: 1
Opmerking:

Breakfast at the hotel and lunch at a local restaurant are included.

Day 8: The great lake Tonle Sap

Located 15km east of Siem Reap, Roluos temple group is the province oldest temple site. After breakfast, get on a mountainbike and cycle small roads out of town. Pass small villages and make stops on the way to meet with people and taste local delicacies. Visit a local school and learn more about the educational system in Cambodia. Reach Roluos mid‐morning. This was once the seat of the Hariharalaya, the first capital of the ancient Khmer Empire. Roluos’ three main features are Preah Ko, Lolei and Bakong. Bakong and Preah Ko were constructed by King Indravarman I where Lolei was constructed by King Yasovarman I. All three structures however, date back to the late 9th century and represent the beginning of the classical period of Khmer civilization. Continue afterwards to Kampong Phluck over small roads and visit on the way the local market. Kampong Phluck is a cluster of three villages of stilted houses built within the floodplain of the Tonle Sap. The villages are primarily Khmer and have about 3000 inhabitants between them. Flooded mangrove forest surrounds the area and is home to a variety of wildlife. Board a rustic boat and visit one of the local homes to enjoy a simple picnic lunch overlooking the busy rituals on the lake. Tour the village further after lunch and witness the special way of life people have gotten accustomed to in Cambodia. During the dry season when the water levels are low, the buildings in the villages seem to soar atop their 6‐meter stilts. At this time of year many of the villagers move out onto the lake and build temporary stilted houses. In the wet season when water level rises again, the villagers move back to their permanent houses on the floodplain, the stilts now hidden under the water. Return to Siem Reap following a different way or opt to use the transportation provided.

Overnachting:

Suorkear Boutique Hotel, deluxe room

Aantal Overnachtingen: 1
Opmerking:

Breakfast at the hotel and a catered lunch are included.

Day 9: Angkor Grand Circuit

The Kulen Mountains are regarded to as the prime supplier of natural construction materials during the Angkor Kingdom as it consists primarily of sandstone. Phnom Kulen is by the Khmers regarded to as sacred as this was the birthplace of the ancient Khmer Empire as King Jayavarman II proclaimed its independence from Java at Kulen. Phnom Kulen is a national park that harbours besides rich nature also a treasure of archaeological significance. Once arrived, head with your adventure guide on a 9 km trekking into the jungle. Beautiful nature awaits you and with some luck, you will be able to spot Gibbons. Once arrived at the river, a picnic lunch will be set up. Continue to the Pagoda of Phnom Kulen. Situated on the top of the mountain is it home to relics, statues and a large reclining Buddha. Not far, the Kulen Waterfall is situated ideally in the forest and offers people a refreshing and large pool for a swim. Afterwards transfer back to Siem Reap.

Overnachting:

Suorkear Boutique Hotel, deluxe room

Aantal Overnachtingen: 1
Opmerking:

Breakfast at the hotel and a picnic lunch are included.

Day 10: Angkor Highlights by TukTuk

Angkor Wat dates back to the first half of the 12th century. King Suryavarman II constructed this magnificent masterpiece and built it to become the largest religious monument in the world. Its perfection in composition, balance, proportions, reliefs and sculptures make it one of the finest in the world. This temple is an expression of Khmer art at its highest point of development. It took in its entirety roughly 30 years to construct Angkor Wat. Continue afterwards to the former capital of the Angkor Kingdom, Angkor Thom, which translates to “Great City”. The city covers an area of 9km2 in which numerous breath‐taking monuments were built. The South Gate offers the grandest access to the city where the Victory Gate grants access on the East side, leaving the East Gate, which is also known as the Gate of the Death beautifully untouched in a very quiet part of the complex. The centrepiece of the city is the Bayon. Its most distinctive features are the 216 serene stone faces that seemingly face all directions. The Baphuon and Phimeanakas are structures built in the 11th and 10th century respectively and both were built in the pyramid style. The Terrace of the Elephants is a 300 meters long terrace that has three main platforms and two subsidiary ones. 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. One of the main attractions of this terrace is the facade decorated with elephants and their riders depicted in profile. 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. Lunch can be enjoyed in between the visits and may be back at the hotel or at a local
restaurant in the Angkor area. The remainder of the afternoon is dedicated to Ta Prohm, which is considered to be the most photographed temple within the Angkor complex. 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. King Jayavarman VII constructed the temple as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university and it is estimated that close to 80.000 people resided at the temple. Largely unrestored, Preah Kahn is one of the excellent monuments that is often given a pass for no obvious reason. Regarded to as one of the largest structures in the Angkor Kingdom, Preah Kahn was home to 100.000 officials and servants.
Transfer back to your hotel afterwards.

Overnachting:

Suorkear Boutique Hotel, deluxe room

Aantal Overnachtingen: 1
Opmerking:

Breakfast at the hotel and lunch at a local restaurant in Sra Srang is included.

Day 11: Siem Reap departure

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

Opmerking:

Breakfast at the hotel is included.

(exclusief internationale vlucht) 11 dagen
vanaf1855,00
Reisvoorstel aanvragen

Deze reis is natuurlijk ook geheel naar jouw wensen aan te passen.
Genoemde prijzen zijn per persoon en gebaseerd op het laagseizoen.