Day 1 Phnom Penh C Arrival (L)
Arrive at Phnom Penh International airport and transfer to hotel for check-in and lunch.
Afternoon Phnom Penh city tour by cyclo: Visit the Silver Pagoda, the Royal Palace and Wat Phnom.
Dinner at Friends The Restaurant. Friends is a program for street children, their families, and their community.
Enjoy a very good meal in their non-profit restaurant run by former street youth in training.
Overnight : Friends The Restaurant
Day 2 Phnom Penh (B,L)
Visit of the National Museum, the Russian Market and the notorious Tuol Sleng Museum (as optional visit).
Lunch at " Pour un Sourire d'enfants". This NGO opened a school and teaches the Cambodian youth to work in the Gastronomy and Tourism industry through different training programs (cooking, restaurant services, front office & reception, housekeeping ...).They run a very nice restaurant where you will have lunch.
On the way back, visit the Apsara Arts Association. This traditional dance school allows visitors to observe the young dancers while training.
Then embark on a boat and enjoy the sunset cruise on the Tonle Sap before dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodation at hotel.
Overnight : at a local restaurant.
Day 3 Phnom Penh- Battambang (B,L)
Drive from Phnom Penh to Battambang by National road No 5 and stop to visit the former capital Udong. Visit the various temples and the three large stupas where the ashes of three former kings are preserved. Then visit the most impressive structure of the site, the Vihara of the 18-Cubit Buddha. Stop for a short visit of Ban Chkoul village, which is famous for its pottery.
Lunch in Kompong Chnang. Take a boat in Kompong Luong and enjoy the floating village in the afternoon.
Arrive in Battambang and check-in at hotel.
Overnight : at hotel.
Day 4 Battambang (B,L)
Pick up at your hotel and transfer by car to the Bamboo Train station. The Bamboo train has been set up by the villagers to facilitate the transportation of goods and persons. The train in itself is very basic. One platform on 4 wheels activated by a small motor. Sitting on the platform (Asian trails will provide some cushions for your comfort) you will travel the 8 km to the next station through beautiful landscape and rice paddies. On arrival, visit the village and discover the daily life of the Cambodian countryside.
Visit of a workshop specialized in wooden sculpture.
Continue the visit to the local NGO La Maison de Coco, a program for underprivileged families in Battambang.
Transfer by tuk-tuk from "La Maison de Coco" to visit the City Center with its beautiful houses dating from the Colonial time.
Lunch at hotel.
After lunch, drive to visit the Phnom Bannon Hill. Climb the 337 steps (80 m high) to reach the temple. Visit the Prasat Bannon temple (XII c.) and enjoy the breathtaking view over the surrounding plains. Return to Battambang and visit the PHARE PONLEU SELPAK association working with street children on different activities - circus, drawing and traditional music.
Dinner and accommodation at hotel.
For groups with more than 10 participants we offer the visit of PHARE PONLEU SELPAK, a local non govermental organisation giving circus, drawing and music classes to children from poor refugee families. The visit is followed by a circus performance by the students and a local dinner in the exhibition hall.
Overnight : at hotel.
Day 5 Battambang C Siem Reap
OPTION 1
Departure by private Asian Trails boat from Battambang. Cruise on the Sangker river and cross the Tonle Sap lake.
Enjoy the wonderful landscape and explore the daily life along the river.
Lunch on board. Stop and visit the OSMOSE center in Prek Toal. Arrive in Siem Reap, check-in at hotel.
Dinner and accommodation at hotel.
OPTION 2 (During the low water period from April to July)
Departure from Battambang to Sisophon in the morning after breakfast. Arrival at the PASS office at Phnom Srok and short briefing by a specialist about the Silk development project.
Leave the office by traditional Koyoan, a rattling vehicle used by farmers to transport all kind of things.
Drive along a red soil road through villages where the clock seems to be stopped. Water buffalos and cows will cross your way instead of cars and motorbikes.
The villagers leave in small communities in wooden houses with thatched roofs. The few tourists in this area receive all a very warm welcome from the people in the village.
Learn about the techniques of mulberry growing, silkworm breeding and weaving from the skilful women in the different villages around Phnom Srok. All this different levels of production can be seen on the loop around the small hill. A specialist from PASS will be with you all time and explain the techniques.
Picnic lunch at a pagoda.
Continue by car or bus the Silk trail and pass the artificial lake built by the Khmer Rouge.
Leave the Phnom Srok area in the afternoon and continue to Siem Reap.
Upon arrival check-in at hotel.
Dinner and accommodation at hotel.
Overnight : at hotel.
Day 6 Siem Reap (B,L)
Start your visit of the Angkor complex by an elephant trek from the South Gate of Angkor Thom to the Bayon. Visit the fascinating Bayon, Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.
After lunch, explore majestic Angkor Wat until sunset.
Dinner at a local restaurant and accommodation at hotel.
Overnight : at hotel.
Day 7 Siem Reap (B,L)
Discover Kravan, Pre Rup, Mebon Oriental, Ta Som, Neak Pean and Preah Khan temples.
Lunch at hotel. In the afternoon continue by visiting Srah Srang basin, Ta Prohm, Takeo, Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda temples.
Dinner at a local restaurant with Apsara Dance performance and accommodation at hotel.
Overnight : at a local restaurant
Day 8 Siem Reap (B,L)
Breakfast at hotel. Excursion to secluded Beng Mealea C one of the most mysterious temples of the Angkor period . Visit of Kbal Spean C the River of Thousand Lingas
and have lunch in a local restaurant. Stop to explore Banteay Srei Temple on the way back.
Dinner at a local restaurant and accommodation at hotel.
Overnight : at hotel.
Day 9 Siem Reap C Departure
Visit of the Sangkheum Center for Children. This orphanage and agriculture center provides education and vocational training to children (aged between 4 and 17) to enable them to re-enter the community with valuable skills for their future success.
Visit "Les Artisans d'Angkor" which provides training to young Cambodians in an effort to revive the ancient Khmer traditions of stone-carving and wood-sculpting and the local market in the morning.
Stop by the visitor center of the Jayavarman VI Kanta Bopha hospital.
Transfer to the airport for departure flight.
AUTHENTIC CAMBODIA TOUR 1298
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