Cambodia

Upon your arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport, you will be welcomed by a Rahhalah representative, and you will be transferred to the hotel.

In the afternoon, you will explore some of the most iconic landmarks of the city: the Royal Palace (where His Majesty, the King of Cambodia, and the royal families live); the Silver Pagoda (which is mainly a repository for cultural treasures such as a 90-kg golden Buddha encrusted with 2086 diamonds); the Wat Phnom Temple, one of the most important pagodas in Phnom Penh, built in 1373 by the wealthy widow Daun Chi Penh.

Later, you will enjoy a one-hour cyclo ride through Wat Phnom and Mekong Riverfront, and you will end the day with a dinner at the Bopha Phnom Penh restaurant with beautiful sunset views of the river.

Accommodation in Phnom Penh.

After breakfast, you will visit the genocide area that represents one of the darkest pages in the country’s history. You will start with the Tuol Sleng Museum, a former school that was used as a prison (S-21 prison) by Pol Pot’s security forces, and you will continue to 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 then transported to the extermination camp of Choeng Ek.

The rest of the day will unfold in a lighter mood, visiting the Russian Market (Toul Tumpong) that is now famous for its large variety of cheap clothes, Buddha images and woodcarvings, betel-nut boxes, silk, silver jewelry, and traditional musical instruments.

Accommodation in Phnom Penh.

Breakfast at the hotel. You will picked 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.
Upon arrival in Battambang, and check-in at the hotel (Early check in depend on the availability, official time is 14:00).

This afternoon we take the journey along the Sangke River to Battambang City centre by kayak; it takes about two hours (11 kilometers) and is an excellent way to discover the way of life of the local people.
The trip provides a rare journey from the rural lives of the fishermen and farmers right into the heart of the city with its different structures and history.

End of the day we will enjoy with a Bamboo train ride out side of Battambang town. There you will experience the real life of local Cambodian people who live along the old railway station in Battambang town. You will also enjoy the beautiful sunset over the green rice field as well. The tour guide and driver bring you back to the hotel.

Accommodation in Battambang.

After breakfast, you are free to explore Siem Reap at your own pace, or you may choose to join any of the below optional tours (additional costs apply).

Quad Bike Adventure (2hours)
This fabulous adventure takes you through the countryside of Siem Reap and helps you gain more understanding of the locals’ life, culture, and traditions. You will bike on flat terrain for 2 or 3 hours, passing through peaceful villages where you can explore the traditional, stilt houses of the Khmer, a Buddhist monastery, as well as a farming area, mingling with numerous friendly kids, villagers or monks.

Flight of the Gibbon (Zipline at Angkor Archeological Park )
The Flight of the Gibbon is a zip line eco-adventure tour set in the Angkor Archeological Park. With 15 zip lines placed in different heights, suspended sky bridges, and a chance to abseil from a tree, this excursion promises to boost your adrenaline levels as you soar over the jungle canopy like a gibbon!
Special notes: Maximum weight 125kg; not suitable for children under 5-year old or 1m height; no sandals permitted.

Horse riding in the countryside (2hours)
This is an exciting adventure as the horses will take you on a journey to otherwise unreachable places. You will pass through countryside villages, scenic rice fields and tourist-free temple ruins, all waiting to be explored by you. You will get an authentic taste of the real Khmer lifestyle viewed from horseback, and a welcomed break from the buzz of tourist-packed areas.

Food Tour by Angkor Street Eat
This is an afternoon tour, starting from your hotel at 4:30 pm. You will begin by visiting a few local restaurants before reaching the market where you will sample many different delicacies while learning about the herbs or fresh ingredients used in the local cuisine. Do not omit to try some of the options offered in by the street food stalls or fruit shakes along the walking section of the tour: they are delicious and safe! You will soon discover that the Khmer cuisine is fresh, adventurous, organic, and filled with wonderful flavors and textures.

Today, you will explore some of Angkor’s most beautiful temples, including the Angkor Thom City. You will start at the South Gate and the centerpiece of the ancient city: the Bayon, with its 54 towers decorated with more than 200 enigmatic smiling faces. You will then move towards the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Terrace of Elephants, the Terrace of Leper Kings, and the Ta Prohm Temple.

In the afternoon, you will enter Angkor Wat to admire its amazing architecture and history. Angkor Wat possesses some of the most extended and most intricate stone carvings. This complex is four times the size of the Vatican City and, thus, the largest religious site in the world. Spend the rest of the day exploring its numerous passages, levels, and chambers that once housed many treasures of the ancient world. You will finish the day at Pre Rup for a magnificent sunset.

Accommodation in Siem Reap.

After breakfast, you will head towards Srah Srong to visit the Ta Prohm Temple: one of Angkor’s jewels, a structure overgrown with fig trees, emanating a haunting yet exotic ambience. The roots of the trees have merged over the centuries with the temple’s huge stone blocks, emphasizing a ‘forgotten city’ feeling. The temple was built by King Jayavarman VII to commemorate his mother. From there, you will trek into the jungle to the Preah Khan Temple.

In the afternoon, you will take a wooden boat ride on Tonle Sap Lake towards Chong Kneas to visit a floating village that is not a mere cluster of houses but includes schools, hospitals, restaurants, shops and a floating crocodile farm. Your exploration will end in the local Market of Siem Reap.

After a long day of exploring the incredible Angkorian temples or indulging in Siem Reap’s intoxicating aromas, you deserve a delicious dinner. Prepare to enjoy your last evening in Cambodia at the Sokkhak River Restaurant, which provides the perfect setting and an elegant dining environment.

Accommodation in Siem Reap.
Trekking: 6km.
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate.

After breakfast, you will drive towards a small village outside of Siem Reap. On the way, you will stop at the headquarters of a local non-profit organization that employs village women who specialize in the traditional craft of mat weaving. The mats are sold in the markets to provide an income for the women. (Note: the mat-weaving workshop is closed on Sundays and public holidays).

You will then stop outside the village and hop onboard an ox cart for a fun ride through the fields, towards the home of a Khmer family who specializes in broommaking. Watch how they make brooms from natural materials, and, if you like,give it a go yourselves! You will finally enjoy a guided walking tour around the village where you can participate in fishing, farming, or animal husbandry activities, depending on the season. Enjoy a simple Khmer lunch followed by more activities, or just spend time chatting with the locals. Funds from your tour go directly to the community to improve the lives of the people. On the way back to Siem Reap, you will stop at a Buddhist temple to receive a blessing from the monks.

In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the Siem Reap airport for your flights back home.

Recommended to book your departure flight after 3:30 pm.