Custom Tour: Classic Cambodia for Rebecca
08 Mar 09 Phnom Penh - Arrival
Catch your flight - Arriving 10:55. Arrive in Phnom Penh where you will be met by an air conditioned car and driver. Transfer to your hotel for check in.
Meals Included: None
Overnight at Himawari Hotel - Himawari Suite Room
09 Mar 09 Battambang - Arrival
Leave Phnom Penh early by air conditioned car and head towards Battambang. The roads are basic and the countryside is a mix of small villages and rice fields. Here you retrace the steps of many Cambodians whom, back in 1975 were forced from Phnom Penh and sent to Battambang to “work for the revolution.”
Arrive in Battambang and check into your hotel. After lunch head off for a truly unique Cambodian experience - have fun riding the Bamboo Train. Return to your hotel to freshen up and then enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at Ratanak Hotel - Deluxe Room
10 Mar 09 Battambang - All Day Tour
Have breakfast at a local cafe before heading out to Phnom Sampeau. This large hill houses a beautiful Wat, a Stupa and the infamous killing caves. Our guide will explain about the Khmer Rouge activity in this area and show you the large field guns left over from the civil war fought here against the Khmer Rouge until the late 90’s.
Enjoy lunch at a basic Khmer restaurant before heading to Wat Banan, located on the top of a hill and offering fabulous views of the flat landscape. These temples are still in relatively good repair and a field gun can be found here as well. On the way back visit Wat Ek Phnom, a dilapidated 11th century temple that some say was the example for Angkor Wat. Though the temple itself is rather decrepit the countryside is beautiful. Return to Battambang for dinner.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at Ratanak Hotel - Deluxe Room
11 Mar 09 Battambang - Siem Reap
Catch an early morning boat to Siem Reap on this boat ride is a wonderful experience, you’ll see floating villages, fish farms and an array of children smiling and waving from the banks. Arrive in Siem Reap where you will be met by a Journeys Within representative and taken to Journeys Within Bed & Breakfast where you will meet your host Brandon Ross. Enjoy lunch at Journeys Within.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Journeys Within B&B
12 Mar 09 Siem Reap - Angkor Wat
After breakfast head to Angkor Wat in an air conditioned car, or if you choose by bike, with your guide. Explore this majestic temple throughout the morning while it is still cool and has fewer tourists.Also visit Angkor Thom, the famous walled city and see the many temples within its borders.Return to Journeys Within for lunch and a nap.
Brandon Ross, founder of JWOC, will take you to the squatters village located behind Journeys Within B&B. Here you can see the poverty that most visitors to Angkor Wat never experience. The recent increase in jobs and opportunities as well as dwindling lands in the villages have forced many people to the city where life can be very difficult with no government support. Brandon or Andrew, our director JWOC can tell you about the struggles these families face and what JWOC is doing to help. You can see wells put in through guest donations as well as meet individuals benefiting from the microfinance project.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Journeys Within B&B
13 Mar 09 Siem Reap - Banteay Srei and the Lingas
Wake up early and head out to watch the sun rise over Angkor Wat, then grab a traditional breakfast of noodle soup like the locals do at local stall. This morning set off with your guide to Banteay Srei, the intricately carved temple just 30 km beyond Angkor Wat.
Your driver will continue on a dirt road to Kbal Spean. Once there hike for about two hours to get to the “River of a Thousand Lingas.” In ancient times if water ran over lingas it was said to be holy water. The ancient Khmers therefore made thousands of lingas along this riverbed so the water that flowed to their rice fields was blessed. The lingas and other stone carvings remain today. Have fun exploring the surrounding jungle. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Journeys Within B&B
14 Mar 09 Siem Reap - Beng Mealea and Rolous Group
Your guide and driver will met you and drive leaving the crowds behind and heading to Beng Mealea, a temple only recently opened to the public; about one and a half hours drive from Journeys Within. After an hour you will leave the paved road and get onto a beaten track running through rice fields and villages of rural Cambodia. At the temple our guide will help you imagine how it once was as you pick your way through the rubble now surrounded by jungle.
Visit the Rolous Group, a group of Angkorean temples 15 minutes outside of Siem Reap in a beautiful area. Take a walk around the Old Market where the locals and tourists shop side by side. Then pay a visit to Artisans de Angkor to see their workshop in town. Here you will be taken on a short tour to see the students learning the skills needed to produce works of art in a variety of different materials before visiting their beautifully displayed shop.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Journeys Within B&B
15 Mar 09 Siem Reap - Day at Leisure
Today you will have a car and driver so that you can return to the temples and explore them on your own and at your own speed.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Journeys Within B&B
16 Mar 09 Siem Reap - Village Tour
Start out early from Journeys Within on your bicycles. Our village guide will take you to his village riding through rice paddies and seeing typical Kamer homes along the way. At his village enjoy a fresh coconut drink and meet his family and neighbors. Walk from here to West Baray Lake where you can take a local boat to an island housing ancient Khmer ruins. Return to Journeys Within by your bicycles.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Journeys Within B&B
17 Mar 09 Siem Reap - Day at Leisure
Today you will have a car and driver so that you can return to the temples and explore them on your own and at your own speed.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Journeys Within B&B
18 Mar 09 Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville
Transfer to the airport in time to catch your flight - . Your driver will meet you at your hotel and will drive you to the Sokha Beach Resort in Sihanoukville.Afternoon at leasure.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Sokha Beach Resort
19 Mar 09 Sihanoukville - Day at Leisure
Your day is your own to laze on the beach or by the beautiful pool, to experience the state of the art spa or enjoy one of the complimentary activities that the hotel offers.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Sokha Beach Resort
20 Mar 09 Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh
Your driver will meet you at the Sokha Beach Resort and drive you back to Phnom Penh.
You will be taken to the airport in time to catch your onward flight -
Meals included: Breakfast
Tour Rate: $ 1,655 per person based on 2 people traveling.
Price includes:
- Air tickets Siem Reap - Phnom Penh
- Boat tickets as specified above
- Accommodation as specified above
- Air-conditioned car/van with driver
- Licensed English speaking guides
- Tours and admission fees as mentioned above
- Meals as specified in itinerary, including water
Price excludes:
- Personal expenses
- Visa fees
- Airport tax
- Drinks (except water) and meals not mentioned in itinerary
- Tips