8 Days The Cambodian Escapes

Welcome to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, you will be met at the airport by your guide. The guide will assist you to transfer to your hotel for check-in. Please note standard check-in time is at 14:00. Depending on your arrival time you may decide to add an additional tour at this point. Notice: Revealing clothes such as shorts and skirts above the knees and bare shoulders are prohibited in sacred places and temples. On religious Buddhist dates, the Top Tower (Level 3) of Angkor Wat temple is closed and the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh is closed in the morning.

At 8:00am, pick you from your hotel for the day’s tour. Your first visit is the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk and see the ancient capital of Angkor Thom built in the late 12th century before we head onwards to Bayon temple which is unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara. Baphuon is like an artificial mountain that recently re-opened after years of restoration. Following, you may visit the Royal Enclosure, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Then continue to the popular temple of Ta Prohm which is the modern name of the temple at Angkor, built in the late 12th to early 13th centuries. However, probably more famous for being the location where they filmed the Tomb Raider movie.

Lunch is a Khmer feast served at a local restaurant. After lunch we continue to the magnificent Angkor Wat Temple, Angkor park’s most revered temple and the largest religious monument in the world. Inside the temple, the walls are covered with stone carvings and bas‐reliefs which are absolutely breathtaking. Your guide will explain the stories from the exquisite details and provide you with ample time to explore the inner and outer grounds of the temple. At the end of the tour, return back to hotel.

At 08:30am, proceed to the tour started by Angkor National Museum, an archaeological museum dedicated the collection, preservation and presentation of Angkorian artifacts. The collections are mainly dated from Khmer Empire's Angkor period circa 9th to 14th centuries, with most of the artifacts discovered in and around the Angkor archaeological sites nearby. Then your tour guide will bring you back to the ancient time before the Angkorian period where you will visit the first Angkorian capital of Bakong, which represents the first application of the temple-mountain architectural formula on a grand scale with a picturesque moat and vegetation surrounding Bakong. Step into the pagoda for monk blessing, special Buddhist tradition whereby a local monk will impart wishes of good luck and success in a solemn, age-old ceremony.

After lunch at local restaurant, we set off to Tonle Sap Lake where you will discover different aspects of the floating village activities from crocodile farming to fishing farms, traditional medicine shops, boat shops, spirit houses, floating schools, and more. Towards Artisans D’ Angkor, a local artisan boutique which was established to support Cambodian arts and crafts. Discover how wood and stone carvings, lacquering, gilding, and silk paintings are created.

As a special final evening in Siem Reap, we will go to see a show of Cambodian Traditional Circus. More than just a circus, Phare performers use theater, music, dance and modern circus arts to tell uniquely Cambodian stories; historical, folk and modern. The young circus artists will astonish you with their energy, emotion, enthusiasm and talent.

Today, you will transfer to the bus station or airport for departing to Phnom Penh City. By bus takes approximately 6 hours and by flight takes 1 hour. Upon arrival to Phnom Penh city our guide will transfer you to your hotel for check in. Please note check-in time is at 14:00.

In the afternoon, we start your tour to visit the Central Market, built in 1937 during the French colonial period. Selling gold and silver jewelry, electronic equipment, clothing, fake watches and bags, suitcases, dried and fresh food and lots of souvenirs. Next is Wat Lanka, one of the oldest pagodas in Phnom Penh. It was established as a sanctuary for the Holy Writings and a meeting place for Cambodian and Sri Lankan monks. Then go to see Independence Monument, modelled on the central tower of Angkor Wat, Independence Monument was built in 1958 to commemorate the country’s independence from France in 1953. It also serves as a memorial to Cambodia’s war dead. Wreaths are laid here on national holidays.

Last stop is the 68,000-square-metre Aeon Mall which houses brand stores such as Sheridan, Mango, Levi’s and Adidas… There is an extensive food court on the top floor, along with a modern entertainment complex, including a cinema, karaoke lounge, bowling, arcades and even ice skating! You can choose to stay here or transfer back to your hotel.

A discovery tour of Phnom Penh. At 8:00am you will be met by your driver and guide. Gain insight into the recent dark history of Cambodia at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum – a former school converted to a detention center during the Khmer Rouge. Equally as harrowing are the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. These are tough visits but important for learning about the country’s history. The rest of the day is much lighter, visiting the Russian Market, the largest in Cambodia, where everything is sold from carvings to jewelry, clothes and souvenirs. We then enjoy lunch at a local restaurant for Khmer delicacies.

In the afternoon, we visit Wat Phnom, a beautiful hilltop temple with manicured gardens, followed by the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, name for the 5,000 silver tiles that cover the pagoda’s floor, known for its collection of gold, silver, crystal and bronze Buddha statues.

The day winds down with a sunset cruise on the Mekong River before returning to your hotel.

In the morning, you will take a private transfer to Sihanoukville. It takes approximately 4 hours, depending on the traffic situation. Upon arrival, directly transfer to your hotel for check-in. Please note that standard check in time is at 14:00. Rest of the day is free at leisure.

‘Sihanoukville's white sand beaches and warm Gulf of Thailand waters combine with a laid back, beachy atmosphere to provide a great little tropical getaway. Sihanoukville is a great place to unwind by the beach, enjoy the fresh from-the-ocean seafood, take in a snorkeling or scuba trip, and generally slow-down, lay back and chill-out.’

Free and easy day at your own leisure

Enjoy your final breakfast at the hotel. This morning you will take a private transfer back to Phnom Penh. It takes approximately 4 hours, depending on traffic situation. Directly head to the airport for your departure flight.