Grand Cambodia Vacation

Following the morning arrival at Phnom Penh Airport, you will be greeted by a local English-speaking guide and transferred to the hotel in the heart of the city.
Phnom Penh was once considered as one of the most beautiful cities in the Orient, and despite its recent turbulent history it still retains a colonial charm. Cambodia’s capital is a bustling city, majestically located at the confluence of the mighty Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers. Wide tree-lined boulevards and many colonial-era buildings reflect its former glory and add to the allure of the city, where Asian and Western traditions meet in a fascinating way.
This afternoon, option for choosing: free at your leisure after the long flight or depart on a walking and driving tour that will take guests on a fascinating discovery of Cambodian architecture from both the colonial times and the late 1950s and 1960s – a culturally and politically vibrant time. During that era, an en vogue ‘New Khmer Architecture’ movement was emerging, uniquely focused on integrating international style with local traditions, materials and climate. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

The energetic morning of Phnom Penh begins and after breakfast your private transfer meets you to take you to Battambang. Travel along scenic back roads to Cambodia’s former capital, Oudong (transfer time: one hour), about 39km from Phnom Penh. En route guests will pass rural villages, local pagodas and scenic rice paddies before reaching the main hill of Oudong. Visit a family that produces palm sugar at their house, before climbing to the top of the stupa-filled hill of Oudong for great views over the rural plains. Enjoy an early local style lunch in the picnic huts at the foot of the mountain.
Continue to Battambang (transfer time: four hours). Guests will be taken directly to their hotel for check-in. Even though Battambang is Cambodia’s second largest city, the atmosphere is very laid-back, and this charming and relaxed river town is full of fine examples of French-colonial architecture.
Overnight in Battambang.

Battambang’s countryside makes this pleasant town a real treat.
This morning you will be taken to some of the many cultural villages around Battambang, where they will learn how the locals produce rice paper, “prahoc” (typical Cambodian fish paste), “grolan” (sticky rice stuffed in bamboo) and other Cambodian treats. Guests will also visit a weaving and handicraft center in another village.
Afterwards, take a short ride on the famous Bamboo Train, an original means of transportation on the old train tracks leading to Phnom Penh – a true rollercoaster ride without loops!
(Note: the train tracks from Battambang to Phnom Penh are currently being rebuilt. The long-term future of the Bamboo Train cannot be guaranteed. Should the service stop we will arrange alternative sightseeing).
In the afternoon explore another side of Battambang. Take a relaxing cyclo ride around the town with an audio set providing an informative guide to the history of the town. Guests can sit back and relax as the cyclo driver takes them on a 2.5-hour ride around the colonial streets, markets and temples. The audio set narrates short anecdotes of the city’s many highlights in English or French. At many, guests can stop and walk around the points of interest before moving on the next stop. Overnight in Battambang.

The day starts with a comfortable private boat ride along the Stung Sangker River to the Prek Toal bird sanctuary – one of the most important breeding grounds for water birds in the region. Continue along the edge of the largest freshwater lake in Asia, Tonlé Sap- an exceptional water system which swells to almost five times its size during the rainy season. The water of the Tonle Sap River is pushed back from the Mekong, reversing the direction of the lake’s flow in the rainy season and causing it to overflow, flooding nearby fields and forests and supporting an extraordinarily rich and diverse eco-system.
(NOTE: This boat trip is only possible in the high water period from July to December as water levels are too low during the dry season and transfer times can be extremely long. From January to June alternative transfer by road.)
Your journey follows the waterways of the Stung Sangker River and on into the Tonle Sap Lake. In mid to late afternoon arrival in Siem Reap, the gateway to the majestic temples of Angkor and a charming little city, and overnight in Siem Reap.

Start the morning temple exploration at the most illustrious of the Small Circuit Temples, Ta Prohm, which was built in the mid-12th to early 13th centuries.
Continue to visit the ancient city of Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII.
From here, take time to Bayon Temple in the exact center of the city.
Afterwards, return to their hotel for some time at leisure or perhaps relax at the pool.
Optional this afternoon, you would have the chance to tour the Angkor National Museum. The interactive museum showcases artifacts from the golden era of the Khmer Empire by use of multimedia technology to picture this interesting historical period.

This morning, discover the secrets of authentic Khmer cuisine in a half-day cooking class. After lunch, continue to visit the Golden Silk Pheach Farm, a local NGO which helps to revive the ancient Khmer silk-weaving skills and provides job opportunities to more than 100 local staff. Later travel to the “gem” of the Angkor area, the pretty temple of Banteay Srei. The so-called “Citadel of the Women” remains the best preserved temple in Cambodia and displays some of the finest examples of classical Khmer art.
After feasting on your creations, visit the enigmatic temples of Ta Phrom and Bayon as well as the smaller, but equally impressive, Banteay Kdei and Srah Srang. Then transfer back to Siem Reap and spend an evening at leisure.

Spend the morning exploring Siem Reap’s colorful markets with the chance to shop for souvenirs or simply observe the vibrant local scenes as people go about their everyday lives. Free at your leisure or wander around to explore the art studio and observe various works being created such as lacquer ware, painting and fine sculptures.
Transfer to the airport for your onward afternoon flight to Sihanoukville.
After transfer from Sihanoukville airport and then by speed boat (both may be shared with other resort passengers) to the private island of Song Saa. Located in the touristic undeveloped Koh Rong Archipelago, off the southwest coast of Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand, which leaves no wish unfulfilled and overnight at Song Saa Private Island.

Enjoy the day at leisure, enjoy swimming in the clear water or relaxing on a long sandy beach with a coral reef.

Wake up early to catch up the dawn and practice sunrise yoga, take time to experience yourself in:
Island Safari
Song Saa Rainforest Encounter
Koh Kong Rainforest Encounter
Marine Safari
Buddhist ceremonies
Song Saa cultural experiences

After breakfast at the hotel, time to say goodbye to Cambodia and the little piece of paradise you have been enjoying. Transfer to Phnom Penh airport for the next leg of your travels, either home or to your next destination.