Cambodia Cultural Exploration in 15 Days

Breakfast at hotel. Drive to visit the “Killing Fields” of Choeng Ek (15 km south of Phnom Penh). Between 1975 and 1978 about 17,000 men, women, children and infants (including nine westerners) were detained and tortured at the S-21 prison and transported to extermination camp of Choeng Ek and followed by visiting to Independence monument for photo shooting and Central market of Psa Thmey market.   Afternoon, visit Tuol Sleng Museum (S-21 prison). This former school was used as a prison by Pol Pot’s security forces. More than 17,000 people held at S-21 were taken to the extermination camp at Choeng Ek to be executed. Then Visit Russian Market (Toul Tumpong Market), the Market has gained reputation for cheap clothing, a large selection of Buddha images and woodcarvings, betel-nut boxes, silk, silver jewelry, and classic music instrument. Enjoy Sunset Cruise on the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers in Phnom Penh, it bursts into 4 branches.  Overnight in Phnom Penh

Breakfast at the hotel – visit Wat Phnom Temple is one of the most important pagodas in Phnom Penh. Built in 1373 on an artificial hill by the wealthy widow Daun Chi Penh by Cyclo ride.  You will be also taken along through the old colonial streets of Phnom Penh and get a glimpse of urban life in Southeast Asia. Afternoon, visit National Museum, over 5000 objects are on display including Angkorian era statu, lingas and other artifacts. Visit Royal Palace is a royal residence now where His Majesty, the King of Cambodia, and the royal families live. it is like a small town of royal dynasties. Continue to Silver Pagoda, serves less as a functioning temple than a repository for cultural treasures such as 90 kg golden Buddha encrusted with 2086 diamonds. Overnight in Phnom Penh

Breakfast at the hotel. Pick up at your hotel and depart for Battambang by overland transfer (290 km. 4-5 hrs drive). Stop at the Silversmith village, see the pottery manufactories in Kompong Chhnang and visit also a fish market. Arrive in Battambang, and check-in at the hotel.  Walk through the town to discover its beautiful colonial architecture and followed by central market of Battambang – Psanat. The same afternoon, we are also enjoying bamboo train village with a great experiences of the local homemade funny train sliding on a railway at Oudombong Village. Overnight at hotel in Battambang

Breakfast at the hotel: Drive along the picturesque Sangker River to Wat Slaket Pagoda, the residence of the provincial Buddhist patriarch Continue to visit Wat Ek Phnom. Visit a market where Prahoc, the Cambodian fish paste, is made. Afternoon, drive to Phnom Sampeou Mountain, steeped in legend, and topped by Wat Sampeou and a group of caves used as ‘killing caves’ by the Khmer Rouge, containing the skeletal remains of their victims. We’ll alsdo visit natural caves. Your visit will last until dusk – a time when millions of bats emerge from a cave and create patterns as they fly in tandem across the sky – a nightly spectacular show of nature. Return to Batrambang and Overnight

Breakfast at the hotel – Transfer overland to Siem Reap overland (driving takes around 3 hours). Upon arrival, check in the hotel. In the afternoon, We’ll visit Wat Bo, a highly respected pagoda founded in the 18th century, contains very unique wall paintings of the Reamker (Ramayana) that are said to be from late 19th century. Continue to visit the "Les Artisans d'Angkor – Chantiers Ecole" the Finest Authentic Khmer Arts and Crafts. End our visits at one of the city’s lively open markets, Psar Chars, also called the “Old Market”, where anything and everything is for sale. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Breakfast at hotel. Visit Angkor Thom, the South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon Temple, built from the late 12th century to the early 13th century by King Jayavarman VII and consists of 54 towers, the Royal Enclosure, the Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King, then visit Ta Prohm, surrounded by jungle. Visit Angkor Wat, the largest temples in world and covers an area of 200 hectares and surrounded by moat and an exterior wall measuring 1300 meters x 1500 meters. Early evening, you will be taken by Tuk Tuk, a small open-sided taxi common in Cambodia, to cruise around the suburb of Siem Reap town and for a blessing ritual by Buddhist monks for happiness, prosperity and safety for your journey. Overnight in Siem Reap

Breakfast at hotel. Visit Banteay Srei, constructed at the late 10th century by a Brahmin counselor under a powerking Rajendarvarman. It was loosely translated to citadel of the woman, but it is a modern appellation that probably refers to the delicate beauty of the carvings and followed by Banteay Samre temple. En-route stop at Pre Rub (turn the body), was constructed in late 10th century dedicated to Hindu gods. This reflects the common belief among Cambodians that funerals were conducted at the temple.Visit Preah Khan temple, built by King Jayavarman VII dedicated to his father. It is a huge, highly exportable monastic complex, and served as a Buddhist monastery and school, engaging over 1000 monks. Continue to Neak Pean, a small island temple located in the middle of the last Baray, constructed by a Khmer king in the Angkor area. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Breakfast at the hotel - Visit the Roluos Group. The monuments of Rolous, which served as the capital of Indravarman I (reigned 877-89. Preah Ko erected by Indravarman I in the late 9th century dedicated by the King to his ancestors in 880. Bakong the largest and most interesting of the Roluos group temples, with his active Buddhist monastery just to the north of the east entrance. Lolei built on an islet in the center of a large reservoir (now rice fields) by Yasovarman I, the founder to the first city at Angkor. In afternoon, Visit the Pouk district about 15 Km in the West of Siem Reap town you visit the silk farm, a fascinating farm/workshop where you can see the entire silk creation process including growing the food for the silk worms, breeding the worms, silk extraction and refinement, traditional kit dying pattern creation and looming. Retail silk and souvenir shop. On the way back, visit the Western Baray (Baray Occidental) measuring 8 km by 2.3 km which provided water for the intensive cultivation of lands around Angkor. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Have breakfast at the hotel, and be ready for your drive to Aranh village. Admire the life of local people, take an oxcart ride, which is a great way to explore Cambodia authentically, meet a lot of encounters, and interact with local people by visiting their home gardens. Learn their ways of life, and Cambodian culture, help them with vegetable gardening, take beautiful photos, and enjoy seasonal fruits at a village house.  In the afternoon, we will visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. Take a boat trip in a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle Sap Lake, the "Great Lake" of Cambodia, and be amazed by the unnumerous stilted houses on the way. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Breakfast at the hotel – Visit Hero Rats at APOPO's Visitor Center in Siem Reap gives you the chance to discover the history of conflict in Cambodia, the impact of landmines on local communities. In the afternoon, transfer overland to Kampong Thom. Upon arrival, check in the hotel. Overnight in Kampong Thom

Breakfast at the hotel: This morning, visit Sambor Prei Kuk, located 37 km from Kompong Thom province. It is a former capital and was previously named Ey San Borak, built during reign of King Isanavarman I in the 7th century. Proceed your way to Chhlong taking around 4-5 hours via Chamkar Leur, Kampong Cham, Rubber Plantations, financed in the beginning by the French tire maker Michelin -you might want to stop for a quick visit. Upon arrival to Kampong Cham, stop for Lunch at local restaurant at your own account, Proceed to Chhlong and on the way stop to visit. Upon arrival to Chhlong, check-in to the hotel. Overnight at Chlong

After breakfast, departure to Kratie (38 km about 45 min by road) where you will take the local ferry to Koh Trong Island - an island situated in the middle of the Mekong River directly opposite Kratie Town. A 9km loop road around the island’s perimeter provides opportunities for visitors to leisurely by bicycle ride through traditional Khmer villages, fruits orchards and rice fields while observing the daily rituals and routines of traditional village life. Heading north to the top of the island, you will turn left and head inland. Not far along this path you will come across a Wat Ty Pram Kbal Pagoda. Lunch at homestay at Koh Trong Island. After lunch take the local ferry to Kratie and then transfer to Prek Kampi for the boat cruise on the Mekong River where you will get on a local boat to catch glimpses of the rare Mekong River Dolphins, also known as the “Irrawaddy Dolphins”, a rare species only found in Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia… And if you are very lucky, you may spot a dolphin tail. After the tour check-in to the hotel and dinner on your own account. Overnight on the Island of Koh Trong

Breakfast at the hotel – Transfer to Kampong Cham. Upon arrival to Kampong Cham, check in the hotel. In afternoon, take the bike ride in Kampong Cham town including  colonial architecture and followed by a visit Pagoda Norkor Bachey, with its ancient temple and modern style pagoda 12th century. Next visit to Koh Paen or Koh Pen) Island sits in the middle of the Mekong River and was once very famous for its 1km long bamboo bridge linking the island to the mainland. The Bamboo Bridge was replaced some time ago by a modern bridge whilst ferries still service the island mostly from the eastern side connecting to Koh Sotin nowadays. Overnight in Kampong Cham.

Breakfast at the hotel – Transfer to Phnom Penh international airport for flight departure