Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
Departure: Siem Reap
Arrival: Phnom Penh
Category: Culture, nature, meeting with local, off the beaten track
Accompanist available: English, French, Spanish, Italian

 Siem Reap - Angkor – Battambang – Phnom Penh 8 days 7 nights

The Lac, Banteay Srei  " citadel of the women", Prasat Kravan, Kbal Spean, Battambang, Phnom Penh

 (Ref KC08SRBATPP-uk)

This document is our exclusive property. We encourage you not to disclose it to other agencies which will be bad for us and for you because they do offer you a bad replica. Thank you for your understanding.

 You can download the complete circuit in PDF format with illustrations and enlarged plan.

pdf

YOUR PROGRAM:

A complete file will be provided upon arrival at Cambodia concerning all the information on the typical restaurants and certain visits in order to preserve the originality of our off-the-beaten-tracktour.

Day1 :SIEM REAP

Arrive at Siem Reap before 10h00

Welcome at airport. Check-in at the hotel if time permit

Excursion with English speaking guide and a private boat on the Tonle Sap Lake to Kompong Phluk flooded forest through the fishing village of Chong Khneas, about 1h30 by boat between these two villages.

Visit the village of Kampong Pluk fishermen, fantastic and unique in its kind. A village on the water, cut off from the world... accessible only by boat.

During the dry season, you walk around in this village built around a pagoda. You can observe the constructions and renovations of houses and boats, the way of life of the people , the means of transport of villagers who live 6 months on the water. Visit inside some houses and small factories of fish, small market etc...

During the wet season, you will embark on a private boat to stroll from one house to the other. Later you will change to a small boat to explore the flooded forest.

Our vehicle is waiting for you at Kompong Phluk, 45 km of road we will lead you to the forgotten temple of Beng Mealea (Flower on the pond).

The quality of the architecture and decoration of this temple will amaze you despite the fact that nature and humans have left it in ruins.

Note: trip can be done in reverse.

Optional in the day: unlike other agencies that arrange your visit the 'Crocodile Farm' we will bring you in a local family-owned farm. The more adventurous can tighten (crocodiles!) babies in their arms. It is at downtown; it takes at least 30 minutes. If you do not want to visit, you can tell your guide.

Later... You will go to the discovery of Siem Reap: field school (Artisan D'Angkor) www.artisansdangkor.com

Next "Psa Chas", the old market, recognition of the lively zone lying behind Ta Prohm hotel where you can hang out at evening (restaurants, massages, shops, crafts... night market).

Note: Depending on your arrival time, some visits may be transferred to the following day. 

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day2 : SIEM REAP (B - D)

A whole day is devoted to the temples in the small and grand circuit:

Kravan, Ta Noreay, Bat Chum, SrasSrong.

Ta Prohm, BanteayKdai, Prè Roup, Tasom, Neak Pean, Krol Kor, Prasat Pithu, Preah Khan, Preah Palilay et Bakheng for the sunset.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

In Siem Reap, there is a quality show performed by Battambang Circus School. (Highly recommended but with additional charge, ask your guide to book at your convenient date. Tel. 015 499 480).

Day3 : SIEM REAP(B)

This day is reserved for the visit the ancient capital of Angkor Thom and the famous temple of Angkor Wat

Angkor-Thom qui se compose de : Le Bayon, le Baphuon, la Terrasse des éléphants, l’ancien Palais Royal, la Terrasse du roi lépreux, le Phimeanakas, le Chau Say Tevada, le Thommanon, le Tanei et le Takeo (L’ensemble de ces sites se situe dans un périmètre restreint)

Afternoon: visit the famous Angkor Wat temple in detail

Option without extra charge: at 18 Km from Siem Reap farm in the centre of the silk, from the breeding of silkworms to the traditional weaving, craftsmen deal with the entire process and make beautiful pieces of ancient motifs.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day4 : SIEM REAP(B)

Departure to discover the famous temple of Banteay Srei (citadel of women) also called "Tribhuvanamaheśvara". It is located 25km north of Siem Reap. Built in delicate pink sandstone which make these motifs carved like the precious of Khmer art and which attracted the attention of Andre Malraux in 1923.

Continuation visiting to Kbal Spean, "River of thousand Lingas" (40 min. walk by trail in the jungle). This program will also allow us to furrow the authentic countryside in the vicinity of Siem Reap and observing rural life.

Option and if you are passionate, in the direction of Banteay Srei possibility to visit:

-      A butterfly farm (without surcharge). http://www.angkorbutterfly.com 

-      The Museum of mines (With extra charge, you pay at the entrance)  www.cambodialandminemuseum.org  

On the way back, visit small temples (Banteay Samre, PrasatPrei, Prasat Tor...).

A little rest at your hotel and 6: 30 P.m. Dinner offered with  "Apsara" show at Amazon: huge buffet with all kinds of Cambodian specialties with Apsara dance (20 dancers).

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day5 : SIEM REAP – PrekToal – BATTAMBANG (B)

2 options for this day:

Option 1: Transfer by private boat to Battambang with hammocks for your comfort. You cross the Tonle Sap Lake and continue by Sangker River along PrekToal, bird sanctuary, and through the flooded forest (6-8 hours by motorboat according to the season). Once in Battambang, case by case, you will be transferred from port to the hotel by tuk tuk or vehicle
This crossing is normally navigable throughout the year.

If the waters are too shallow, our boat will land you before arriving Battambang and you will continue with 4x4 vehicle. When the water is shallow it is best to embark early, around 7:00.

Throughout this journey you will see the small villages on the banks, fish farms, local residents who is bathing, herds in water, fisher with Chinese square nets and agricultural scenes on 2 sides.

For the Groups, you can divide your group, a part can choose option 1, other group option 2  ... consult us about it when you wish.

The important stops but optional:

At Prek Toal :

-     water hyacinth workshop: In a large floating home, the women of the community produce general merchandise product from a species of water hyacinth's call "long hand". Water hyacinth is an invasive species. Osmose, a project who is trying to fight it by having local people make baskets from dried hyacinth

-     A floating crocodile farm.

      -     Wat Choeu Khmao or "black wood" Pagoda ruined in flooded area built by fishermen in the 19th century during the Siamese occupation.

      -   Floating village Bak Prea: A restaurant on the water is available but, however we recommend taking a picnic lunch (Check with your guide, we provide the water).

Note :

Most agencies use a collective fast boat that makes the trip by following a main water way without a guide, you embark with suitcases, and another guide awaits you on the other side in Battambang.
The lake surfaces can vary from 2500-120000 Km² (4 to 5 times). In general from February to May the crossing is not possible for collective boats.
In Battambang we have the opportunity to see many French colonial houses.
Overnight in Battambang.

Warning: This trip will cross the borders of ornithological reserve PrekToal but this is not a visit. To visit it is necessary to devote a day and spend a night there in order to surprise the birds early moring ... Contact us

Option 2 : If it is impossible or if you do not want too much on boat:
at 9h00: Excursion with guide and private boat on the Tonle Sap Lake, visit floating village of Chong Khneas, about 1h30 on boat. Then drive to Battambang and early visits scheduled for the next day and that will help to ease the next day's program.

Overnight in Battambang.

Option for tonight or the next day: Pass by the circus school "Phare Ponleu Selpak" associative school where many young people come to learn various circus disciplines but also the illustration and theater, Depend on the schedule, there is the shows with little extra cost (usually it is closed on Sundays and other days depend on the seasons Ask your guide to call: 016,899,809). The circus is also every evening in Siem Reap Tel: 015499480. These shows are highly recommended (quality show ...)

Day 6 : BATTAMBANG (B)

The program of this day is a little loaded but feasible as indicated. Feel reassured, the guide will adapt this day according to your tastes and your rhythm.
Early in the morning: visit the central market before taking TukTuk along the bank of Sangke river by crossing Cham and Khmer communities until the Ek Phnom temple. On the way, stop at Prohoc market to check your tolerance with the odor of fermented fish. Continue the rural visit to the old pagoda, Wat Samoung Knong sadly known by its prison activity during the Khmer Rouge regime. On the road, we will stop several times to observe the preparation of Krolann (pastry cake with glutinous rice, bean and coconut), rice pancakes, incense sticks, fish Nems.

Afternoon: excursion by car until Prasat Banon or the hill Banon which is an attractive temple perched at the top of a hill, 368 step to climb for the bravest.
Then we will continue the road until Phnom Sampeou, 12Km of Battambang. At the top of a calcareous outcrop of Phnom Sampeou raises itself a set of temples, where the monkeys took up residence, with a magnificent view on the surrounding plains (A good physical condition is required).
You will discover a profound canyon of "ghosts" and caves having served as mass graves in the time of the Khmer Rouges. The corpses of the tortured prisoners were thrown to it. At the foot of hill, before slept sun, you can attend a magnificent show where millions of bats go out of the cave.

Option without supplement price during the day: Take 'Bamboo Train' or train bamboo, visit a brickyard craft. Watch out! It moves terribly...
- Pagoda Wat Damrei Sor, Wat Kandal,
- Small museum,
- Notables' Old house in the village Wat Kor saved by the Khmer Rouges.
- The Old house of the governor, the station, the colonial houses.

Overnight in Battambang.

Day 7 : BATTAMBANG – Pursat – Kampong Chnang – PHNOM PENH (B)

Departure from Battambang to Pursat town, located halfway from Phnom Penh, we will adjust the departure time according to what you wish to do during this day.

On the road, pass by the Krokor market famous for its fish’s product.

Visit Kampong Luong by boat, rustic, private. A surprising floating city of about 12000 inhabitants, dividing into two communities. The one assures the collection and the distribution of fishes and the other one sells the fishing tools and the different household products. These villages move according to the water level and are very well equipped: doctors, restaurants, schools … (It is most off-the-beaten-track)

Back to Phnom Penh via the Kampong Chnang Province famous for its floating village and its potteries.

At 36 km before arriving in Phnom Penh, visit Oudong, former Khmer capital. The palace was transformed into one of the most beautiful pagoda of this province situated at the foot of the Phnom Preah Jartroip hill (Mount Royal Treasury).

Visit the silversmiths village situated in Kampong Luong village, Pongnea Loeu district.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 8 : PHNOM PENH (B)

In the morning: visit the Royal Palace moved  from  the former capital Oudong in 1863; visit the Silver Pagoda (more than 5000 silver tiles decorate the ground where is the golden statue of Buddha Maitreya of 90 kg. Visit the central market renovated by a France donation.

At noon: an authentic meal will be offered to you in a restaurant at the edge of the Mekong. Atmosphere of very local and off-the-beaten-track.

One or several representatives of the agency will lunch with you. They will share with you their loves of the Cambodia.

Around you the Khmers sell: crickets, fruits of the village (longane, jack fruit , apple milk, and mango). Here few tourists, but, the Khmer life in nature.

In the afternoon, visit the National Museum formerly called the Albert Sarraut museum where the objects, statues and arts piece, come from all the Cambodian provinces. You will continue by the visit  the Pagoda Ounalom built in 1443, it is the most important pagoda in Phnom Penh.

Colonial district (Option, if time permits and if you wish): the Grand Hotel, the Post office, the Bank of Indochina, the Police station, the Superior Residence, the Treasury Bridge, the Chamber of Commerce, the Library and the Railway Station.

Visit the Wat Phnom (Pagoda on the hill) renovated in 1926. At the foot of the hill is a bas-relief sculptured by Théodore Rivière to honor the Siam-French treaty.

In the evening, take small cruise along the river bank towards the Chroy Changvar peninsula (according to weather and time, sunset on the Royal Palace).

Transfer to airport according to your flight schedule. End of our services.

 

If you want, you can spend a night in a homestay or other floating village and also enjoy a bike ride or tuk tuk during a morning ... Just let us know

PRICES INCLUDE & PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE & free options click here

The hotels we propose are visible via this link.

 

Price of this trip here (Ref KC08SRBATPP-uk) You must be registered or ask us

 

Bamboo train or train bambou

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