Description

Travel from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap while getting insight into the authentic Cambodian culture. Unlike most other Asian capitals, Phnom Penh has held on to its provincial charm with French colonial mansions and tree-lined boulevards. Situated at the confluence of three rivers – the mighty Mekong, the Bassac and the Tonle Sap – there is enough water to find a water activity that suits you. Home to Tuol Sleng prison and the Killing Fields, Phnom Penh is the perfect location to learn more about the Khmer Rouge era and the present monarchy.

The second part of this trip takes you to charming Siem Reap, located in the South of the province and built on the shores of Tonle Sap Lake. Siem Reap is your departure point for exploring the world famous temples of Angkor; one of the highlights of the Cambodian culture. Enjoy its majestic buildings and soak up the peace and quiet of this sacred place. Siem Reap is a safe, friendly and pleasant town with many shops, restaurants and possible activities for its visitors. This trip also includes the archeological site of Kbal Spean, Bantey Srei’s local market and Tonlé Sap with its floating villages.

Itinerary

Insight into Cambodian culture

Day 1: arrival at Phnom Penh

• Your local guide welcomes you upon your arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport.
• You check in at your hotel and are off to explore the remarkable city of Phnom Penh.
• After a visit to Wat Phnom Doun Penh, one of the symbols of Phnom Penh City, the Independence Monument and the Memorial Statue of late King Father Norodom Sihanouk, you return to the hotel for a well-earned rest on this first day.

Day 2: Phnom Penh 

• After breakfast, you explore more of Phnom Penh.  The day starts royal with a visit to the Royal Palace and the Silver Palace where the present King of Cambodia still resides.
• Next stop on your program is the Musée des Beaux Arts. This museum is designed in Khmer style in 1920 by the French painter Georges Groslier.
• Your afternoon is dedicated to the dark Khmer Rouge period, with a visit to Tuol Sleng prison and the Killing Fields where over one million Cambodians were killed and buried.

Day 3: Phnom Penh – Siem Reap 

• After you morning cup of coffee, you leave for Siem Reap. On the way, you stop for a visit to the Skun Area, where you get a glimpse of everyday Cambodian life and where you can stock up on local fruit and maybe an insect or two for the more adventurous eaters.
• The second stop of the day is a visit to Spean Brab Tues, which is a bridge built during the Angkorian time.
• Check-in at hotel.

Day 4: Kbal Spean and Bantey Srei Temple 

• After a good night’s rest and breakfast, you are driven to Kbal Spean. This archeological site is commonly known as “Valley or River of a Thousand Lingas.” On this site, you can find many stone carvings depicting the several Hindu gods such as Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma.
• In the afternoon, you visit the beautiful 10^th-century temple complex of Bantey Srei, followed by a visit to the local market of Bantey Srei Village.
• You spend the night at your hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 5: Angkor complex (world heritage site) 

• Breakfast is served early today, as you are heading out for a magnificent sunrise over Angkor Wat – the biggest religious construction in the world – and the Angkor Thom complex. Marvel in the splendor of this ancient city while exploring the Bayon and Baphoun Temples, and the Terraces of the Elephants and the Leper King. The visit ends with a walk to the Ta Prohm Temple, a temple kept in its “natural state”. Overgrown by trees and roots, this temple got world famous after its appearance in the Tomb Raider movie with Angelina Jolie.
• You end your day with a dinner at the hotel and an Apsara dance performance, compulsory for every visit to Cambodia.
• You spend the night at your hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 6: Siem Reap – Tonlé Sap Lake – Kampong Klrean – Beng Mealea

• Today you discover Tonlé Sap, also known as “The Great Lake”. Here you visit Kampong Klreang, a floating village where no less than 20.000 people live in their stilted houses on the fringes of the lake.
• The day ends with a visit to the temple of Prasat Beng Mealea. Although not as big as the Angkor Wat Temple, this temple is still considered as one of the larger ones built during the reign of King Suryavarnan II.
• You spend the night at your hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 7: departure

• After your last breakfast on Cambodian soil, you have some free time before your transfer to Siem Reap International Airport.

Included

• Accommodation based on twin share
• English speaking guide
• All entrance and sightseeing fees
• Breakfast
• Dinner with cultural performance
• Ground transport for tours and transfers
• All sightseeing and excursions, as mentioned in the itinerary
• Two bottles of drinking water per day during day tours

Excluded

• Insurance: we strongly advise taking a travel insurance
• Tipping for tour guide and driver
• All international and domestic flights and related expenses
• Lunch and dinner
• Cambodia tourist visa
• Anything not specified in the inclusive list

What to bring

• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Camera
• Mundooz voucher

Best time to visit

• Cambodia has an “easy” climate compared to other Asian countries. Despite having two different seasons, travelers can visit Cambodia all-year-round.
• There are two weather seasons – a dry season (October to April) and a wet season (May to September).
• March until June are usually the hottest months of the year with temperatures up to 35°C. The coolest months of the year are between October and December, with average temperatures of 25°C.

Notes

Please contact us at info@mundooz.com if you have any questions about this tour.