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Best of Cambodia
Code: CCT03 - Duration: 6 DaysStart: Phnom Penh | Finish: Siem Reap
As one of the jewels of Asia, Cambodia attracts more and more visitors from all over the world to come and admire its natural beauty and amazing heritage sites. This 6-day trip brings you to the two biggest cities: Phnom Penh and Siem Riep. Start in Phnom Penh, we visit some major sites such as Victory Monument, the Royal Palace, the famous Silver Pagoda and Choeung Ek Killing Field to understand more its rich historical past and French influence in the ornate Khmer-style temples and the grand colonial buildings and villas. We then fly to the charming Siem Riep, the gateway to the majestic ruins of Angkor including Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom (Bayon), Terrace of Elephant, Grand and Small Circuits, Banteay Srei. You also have chance to take a boat trip over the water of Tonle Sap Lake to see the floating fisherman’s villages for a closer view of the local lifestyle and people.
Highlights:
- Discover the history and treasures of Phnom Penh city, the capital of Cambodia
- Take a sobering look at Cambodia's disturbing past with a visit to the Tuol Sleng Museum, a testament to Cambodia's recent bloody past under the Khmer Rouge regime
- Visit the monuments of Roluos, one of the earliest of the Khmer Capital cities
- Admire the amazing architecture of Angkor Wat and its jungle temples
- Explore Bayon Temple at the center of Jayavarman’s capital, Angkor Thom
- Trip to the sophisticated carvings of Banteay Srei temple, the jewel in the crown of Classical Khmer Art
- Take a boat trip on beautiful Tonle Sap Lake, visit the floating village of Chong Khneas to integrate into the local life
- Charming hotels in great locations
- Comfortable & spacious vehicle for transfers
Itinerary in brief:
Day 1: Phnom Penh arrival (-/L/-)
Day 2: Phnom Penh - Flight to Siem Riep - Rolous Group (B/L/-)
Day 3: Siem Riep - Angkor Wat (B/L/-)
Day 4: Siem Riep - Beng Mealea - Banteay Sei - Banteay Samre (B/L/-)
Day 5: Tonle Sap Cruise - Preak Khan - Neak Pean (B/L/-)
Day 6: Siem Riep - Departure (B/L/-)- Ability to change the direction of the program
- Possibility of an extension in Laos or Vietnam
Notes:
- We specialize in “tailor-made” tours for groups of two or more. We carefully inspect each step of your journey from the accommodation to the perfect guide to suit your needs
- The itinerary is open to modification to fit your personal travel needs
- Modifications to the itinerary may increase the price of the package
- For the price of this trip, just ask for a quote by clicking on "TOUR PRICE"
- If you are looking for a trip modified to your requirements, please send us your needs by filling out the form in “Customize your trip”
- We will contact and send you a quote, excluding holiday period, within 48 hours of receiving your request.-
Day 1: Phnom Penh Arrival (-/L/-)
Phnom Penh - Airport: 12km, ~35min drive
Upon arrival in Phnom Penh airport, you will be met and transferred to hotel by our guide and driver. After making sure of your successful hotel check-in, they will be pleased to leave you free time at leisure to recover after the long flight.After lunch at a local restaurant, we visit the Victory Monument, and the National Museum, also called Musee des Beaux-Arts. A French archaeologist and painter, Georges Groslier, designed it in Khmer style in 1917. The museum contains a collection of Khmer art - notably sculptures - throughout the ages. Our next destination is the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda. Located within the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90kilograms and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. We will end our afternoon with the visit of the Wat Phnom Temple, Phnom Penh's namesake, from where you can enjoy views over the tree-lined avenues of Phnom Penh during sunset.
Meals Included: Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom PenhDay 2: Phnom Penh - Flight to Siem Riep – Rolous Group (B/L/-)
Siem Riep - Phnom Penh: 320km, 40min flight
Morning after breakfast at hotel, we take a sobering look at Cambodia's disturbing past with a visit to the Tuol Sleng Museum, a testament to Cambodia's recent bloody past under the Khmer Rouge regime. Then, you will be transferred to airport for flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, our guide will meet and escort you to city center for lunch. We then visit the Roluos Group which served as the capital of Indravarman I (reigned 877-89), are among the earliest large, permanent temples built by the Khmers and mark the beginning of Khmer classical art. Preah Ko erected by Indravarman I in the late 9th century dedicated by the King to his ancestors in 880. Bakong the largest and most interesting of the Roluos group temples, with his active Buddhist monastery just to the north of the east entrance. Lolei built on an islet in the center of a large reservoir (now rice fields) by Yasovarman I, the founder to the first city at Angkor.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem RiepDay 3: Siem Riep - Angkor Wat (B/L/-)
After breakfast, we set out visits to the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat's five towers symbolize Meru's five peaks - the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond. After lunch at a local restaurant, we visit the South Gate, the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century), Bayon Temple , the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. At the end of the day, we take Elephant riding through temple park and finally enjoy sunset at Angkor Wat.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem RiepDay 4: Siem Riep - Beng Mealea – Banteay Sei – Banteay Samre (B/L/-)
Siem Riep - Beng Mealea: 60km, ~2h drive
Morning after breakfast at hotel, we drive to the remote Beng Mealea temple through the typical Khmer countryside . There is a lot to see in the approximately 2 hour drive as it takes you through many lively villages and along kilometers of rice paddies. Explore the long abandoned temple (11th C), strangled by the jungle. After lunch, we proceed to the Banteay Srei temple (10th century) regarded as the jewel in the crown of classical Khmer art. Then visit Banteay Samre, one of the most complete complexes at Angkor due to restoration using the method of "anastylosis". The name Samre refers to an ethnic group of mountain people, who inhabited the region at the base of Phnom Kulen and were probably related to the Khmers. No inscriptions have been found for this temple, but the style of most of the architecture is of the classic art of the middle period similar to Angkor Wat. The proportions of Banteay Samre are splendid. A unique feature is an interior moat with laterite paving, which when filled with water must have given an ethereal atmosphere to the temple. We then drive back to hotel in Siem Reap for overnight.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem RiepDay 5: Tonle Sap Cruise - Preak Khan – Neak Pean (B/L/-)
Morning after breakfast, we drive south visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10km from Siem Reap. Upon arrival, we embark a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle Sap Lake, the "Great Lake" of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia. Lunch is served at local restaurant. Afternoon, we visit Preah Khan. Built by King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder-hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, though, it's well preserved and ongoing restoration efforts should improve this situation. Visit as well Neak Pean a fountain built in the middle of a pool and the temple of Ta Som.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem RiepDay 6: Siem Riep - Departure (B/L/-)
In the morning after breakfast, we continue our temple tour to Takeo, Thommanon, Chau Say Tevoda and Ta Prohm, one of the area's most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been left relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Its appeal lies in the fact that, unlike the other monuments of Angkor, it was abandoned and swallowed by the jungle, looking very much the ways most of the Angkor temples appeared when European explorers first stumbled upon them.After lunch, we visit to "Les Artisans d’Angkor - Chantiers Ecoles" of Siem Reap and spend time at leisure at a local market (if time permits) before driving to Siem Reap International Airport for departure flight to the next destination. End of our services!
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Prices
This trip is private and therefore can be altered to suit your needs, date of commencement and budget requirements.
Prices vary due to a number of specifics:
- Seasonal: during high season (October-April), the prices of services are generally higher when compared to the low season (May-September).
- The number of participants: the more of you that travel together the less you will pay!
- The choice of hotels: Fairly obvious one here; a 5-star hotel can cost ten times as much as a 2 star hotel.
- The activities during the trip: Two trips on the same itinerary and of the same length can have two different prices depending on the number and nature of activities included.
- The booking date: In some cases, booking your trip late can drastically affect prices due to their low availability.
Inclusion:
- Accommodation as recommended or similar category according to availability.
- Transfers according to program by private air-conditioned vehicle with driver except free day
- English-speaking guide’s assistance at every stage
- Meals as indicated in program (B: Breakfast /L: Lunch / D: Dinner)
- Entrance fees for attractions included in the program
- All activities and cruises clearly mentioned in the program
- Flight with tax: Phnom Penh – Siem Riep
- Private traditional wooden boat trip in Tonle Sap Lake
- Elephant riding
- Water and cool tissues
- Government taxes & service charge
Exclusion:
- Other drinks and meals not clearly mentioned
- Early check-in, late check-out
- Personal expenditures, tips
- Personal insurance (compulsory)
- Any service not clearly mentioned in the program
- International air transfers associated with airport taxes
- Visa and visa arrangement (available upon request)
Booking
Here are 2 steps to book your trip with Tonkin-Travel:
Step 1. Focus on your travel program:
You can choose this trip as is or customize it to your specific desires. Just click on the “Customize this trip” tab and fill in the form. One of our travel consultants will contact you within 48 hours to develop the travel program based on your specifications.
Step 2. Booking:
- Following the first step, tour program is selected and we access the rates.
- Upon confirmation of the trip, the registration must be accompanied by a deposit up to 25% of the total estimate.
- For programs with private junk (cruise) and/or 5 star hotels, the deposit is represented by 30% of the total estimate.
- Tonkin-Travel carries out the booking process upon receipt of the deposit. Confirmation of these reservations is sent to customer within 10 days via email
Nature of travel
This trip is private. That implies:
- You will be escorted by a private guide and driver. This approach guarantees a smooth trip with fewer organizational constraints.
- You will be the master of your trip. We guarantee flexibility in organizing visits at your request.
- Our services will be personalized according to your desires. Thus the proposals in this package are not fixed and you can bring suggest all the desired changes.
- You receive individualized care: ample food, organizing small events (anniversary, honeymoon, etc.), targeted information, followed necessary modifications, etc.
Accommodation
- Accommodation is an important expenditure of your trip. When you choose a luxury trip for example, the accommodation can represent three quarters of the price. Thus, your choice of hotels is closely related to your budget.
- Tonkin-Travel has negotiated rates with a wide range of hotels from 2 to 5 stars.
- In some places you will have the option to choose ‘home-stay’. Although this provides less comfort that a hotel it is a truly authentic experience and highly recommended for at least one night of your journey.
Transport
All transfers during your trip are covered by private vehicle with driver, unless otherwise indicated in our offer. We ensure that our vehicles are new and comfortable. Fuel, tolls, accommodation, compensation and the driver are included in our offer. Only gratuities are not included and are at your discretion.
The size of the selected vehicle is based on the number of tour participants according to the following quality standards:
No. of participants
2 pax
3 pax
From 4 to 7 pax
From 8 to 14 pax
From 15 to 20 pax
Vehicle size
Car 4-7 seats
Car 7 or minivan
16 seatsMinivan 16 seats
Bus 24 seats
Bus 35 or 45 seats
Domestic flights
If your trip includes domestic flights if any, they will be operated by Vietnam Airlines, the largest airline in Vietnam. The fleet consists mainly of Airbus and Boeing. On some short trips, the company operates 72 ATR and some Fokker.
Rail transport
Train travel can be offered (particularly between Hanoi-Lao Cai and Hanoi-Hue). Travelling at a speed of 60km/h on average it is not necessarily the fastest but an interesting experience nonetheless.
This form allows us to establish a tour proposal suitable for your needs. It is free and without obligation-
This form allows us to establish a tour proposal suitable for your needs. It is free and without obligation
