Travelpack

Notes:
1. Tour does not function during the following periods:
- Christmas & New Years
- Festivals held in Cambodia
2. Current fuel surcharges are included, however, these are subject to change prior to tour start date

Bonus offer: 1 complimentary bottle of drinking water and 1 cold towel per person per half day tour / 2 bottles of water and 2 cold towels per person per full day tour

Highlights: Siem Reap - Battambang - Phnom Penh

Other departures: Manchester - £1795, Newcastle - £1795, Glasgow - £1809, Leeds Bradford - £1779, Edinburgh - £1815, Aberdeen - £1795, Belfast City - £1789

Alternate travel dates: 15 Aug 19 - 31 Oct 19

Accommodations:
Siem Reap - Regency Angkor Hotel or smiliar 4* (Deluxe City View Room)
Battambang - Maisons Wat Kor or similar 4*
Phnom Penh - Queen Grand Boutique Hotel or similar 4* (Superior Room)

Itinerary:

Day 1: Siem Reap
- Arrival in Siem Reap.
- Upon clearing Customs and Immigration, you are met by a guide who will present you with a welcome packet including all necessary documentation and vouchers and all contact information of your guide and local offices.
- Overnight in Siem Reap.

Meals: No Meals

Day 2: Siem Reap
- Sightseeing in Angkor.

Visit Angkor Thom (2.5 hours)
The fortified city of Angkor Thom covers an area of 10 square km. Enclosed by a wall and wide moats; the city includes many of Angkor's most popular sights. Enter by the monumental South Gate over a causeway lined on either side by statues of demons and gods, each carrying a giant naga. Continue to the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper Kings, former spaces for public ceremonies, both adorned with dramatic bas reliefs. Visit the ruined Baphuon, Royal Enclosure and Phimeanakas before continuing to the mysterious Bayon Temple. In this temple, one of the most popular and compelling in Angkor, explore the galleries of beautifully preserved bas reliefs and ascend narrow stairs to reach the central sanctuary, where giant stone faces smiling enigmatically down from every angle.

Visit Ta Prohm temple (2 hours)
Ta Prohm is one of the most popular attractions of Angkor as much of the jungle has not been cleared and it looks very much as most of the Angkor monuments would have appeared when European explorers first stumbled across them.

Visit Banteay Srei Temple (90 minutes)
Seemingly miniature in comparison to the other Angkor temples, Banteay Srei is considered to be the jewel of classical Khmer art. Built in pink sandstone, the walls are covered in exquisitely preserved carvings of unusual delicacy. Because of its small size, wondrous atmosphere and extraordinary examples of Khmer sculpture, this temple is often a favourite with visitors.

Visit a temple for sunset (90 minutes)
Watch the sun set over the Cambodian countryside from the upper terraces of an ancient Angkorian temple.

- Overnight in Siem Reap.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Siem Reap
- Excursion by boat to Chong Kneas floating village and visit Phsar Chah (Old Market) (4 hours)
- Take a boat ride to Chong Kneas Village to view the scenery and day to day life of the communities living around the lake. Visit Psah Chah Market, originally destroyed by the Khmer Rouge in 1975 and reopened in 1996. It has many interesting food stalls and souvenir shops.
- Sightseeing in Angkor (70 kms)

Visit Angkor Wat (2 hours)
The crown jewel of Khmer architecture, Angkor Wat is the national symbol and the highlight of any visit to Cambodia. The largest, best preserved, and most religiously significant of the Angkor temples, Angkor impresses visitors both by its sheer scale and beautifully proportioned layout, as well as the delicate artistry of its carvings. To approach the temple, first cross the vast moat, continuing along a broad causeway lined with naga balustrades. Upon entering the main structure, ascend through a series of galleries and courtyard before reaching the central sanctuary, which offers beautiful views back over the causeway and across the surrounding countryside.

On the way, stop to enjoy the intricate stone carvings that adorn nearly every surface of the temple, with some 1,700 Apsaras, or celestial dancers, sculpted from the walls. Along the outer gallery walls run the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which narrates stories from Hindu mythology, including the famous Churning of the Ocean of Milk. Angkor Wat is stunning at any time of the day, but sunrise and sunset are especially beautiful times to watch the play of light on the stones.

- Overnight in Siem Reap.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 4: Siem Reap
- All day at leisure.
- Overnight in Siem Reap.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 5: Siem Reap - Battambang
- Transfer by vehicle from Siem Reap to Battambang (3 hours)
- Overnight in Battambang.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 6: Battambang

Walking through the Charming Colonial-Era Buildings to Visit Art Gallery and Workshop (1 hour)
In Cambodia, Battambang is known for its vibrant arts scene and is home to a thriving community of artists. The city was once considered to be Cambodia's artistic hub, but the arts scene was completely destroyed under the Khmer Rouge regime. In town, charming colonial-era buildings line narrow lanes, including the ‘walking district' near the market where contemporary art galleries, it's undergoing a renaissance now though, and new galleries and art spaces are springing up all over the city. Begin the tour with a visit to the Lotus Bar and Gallery, a trendy cafe and exhibition space showcasing the work of the city's talented artists. Continue to nearby art studios to meet and interact with local artists in their work environments.

Sightseeing in Battambang by Tuk Tuk (4 hours)
A bustling provincial capital in western Cambodia, Battambang is located on the banks of the Sangker River. Explore the town centre to get a feel for the modern-day city, whilst strolling past old French shop houses visit the Battambang Museum and Wat Piphit. Continue outside the city to see the region's Angkorian past, exploring the 11th century hill temple of Wat Ek Phnom.

- Overnight in Battambang.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 7: Battambang - Phnom Penh
- Transfer by vehicle from Battambang to Phnom Penh (291 kms).
- Afternoon at leisure.
- Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 8: Phnom Penh

Sightseeing in Phnom Penh (4 hours)
Explore Phnom Penh, a chaotic, energetic and always fascinating city. Graceful tree-lined boulevards and riverfront promenades are reminders of bygone eras; today they teem with life and activity, as motorcycles weave in and out of traffic, vendors hawk their wares, and pedestrians go about their business. Start the tour with an insight into Cambodia's cultural heritage with a visit to the Royal Palace, still the official residence of King Norodom Sihamoi and the adjacent Silver Pagoda, also known as the Pagoda of the Emerald Buddha. Continue to the elegant National Museum, which contains a comprehensive collection of Khmer Art. Finally, explore the modern-day city, visiting one of Phnom Penh's two great markets, the Central Market, located in a distinctive domed Art Deco building or the sprawling Russian Market, a labyrinth of stalls selling everything from Cds and Dvds to silks, crafts, jewellery and more.

Excursion to the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng Museum (4 hours)
Just outside Phnom Penh, in a peaceful rural setting, the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek provide a stark reminder of the atrocities under the Pol Pot regime. Thousands of people were killed here between the years of 1975 and 1978 and buried in mass graves. Visit Tuol Sleng (S-21). Learn about a chapter from Cambodia's more recent, tragic, past at the Tuol Sleng Museum (Museum of Genocide). Formerly the Tuol Svay Prey High School, in 1975, this became the interrogation and torture facility for the Khmer Rouge regime - at that time known as Security Prison 21, or simply S-21. Kept largely unchanged, this prison now showcases photographs and exhibits about the thousands of victims that passed through these doors - only seven of whom came out alive.

- Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 9: Phnom Penh

Explore Morning Local Life by Cyclo (4.5 hours)
Take an early morning visit to the market to watch the locals go about their daily activities and sample some delicious Khmer food. We will pick you up from your hotel and take you by cyclo to a local market not on the usual tourist trail. Stroll past the pavement stalls piled high with the typical ingredients used in everyday traditional Khmer cuisine - fresh vegetables, aromatic herbs, tropical fruits, meat and fish. Stop for a while to chat with the locals while you sample Nom Banh Chok, a rice noodle dish served with vegetables.

At the Nom Pang stall try a French baguette filled with all sorts of unusual ingredients including pickled papaya. Follow this with some delicious Cambodian desserts and a glass of refreshing sugarcane juice. This sweet drink is a favourite with the locals, not only because it's cheap but also because it tastes so good! Before leaving the market your guide will help you select some food, flowers and candles to be offered as alms at the temple. Climb back on the cyclo and weave your way through the crowds to a pagoda. Learn about the Buddhist way of life and witness how the locals arrange lunch for the monks. You then have the unique opportunity to offer your food and flowers to the monks and receive a blessing in return.

- Afternoon at leisure.
- Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 10: Phnom Penh
- Transfer to Airport for your flight to United Kingdom (8 kms).

Meals: Breakfast

Offer Includes

Meal Plans