You will be warmly welcomed at International Airport in Phnom-Penh City and transfer to your hotel for leaving luggage. Then we will visit to the Royal Palace compound build in 1866 by the Predecessors of King Norodom, is the most conspicuous feature and also one of impressive colorful Khmer-style Palaces. Nearside the Royal Palace is Silver Pagoda (The Emerald Buddha temple), display plenty of Buddha Statues that were decorated and made by diamond, emerald, gold and silver. Travelers will proceed to visit Independence Monument which was constructed in 1954 after Cambodian took their country back from French colony, continuing visit to National Museum, the distinctive red building with a beautiful Khmer architecture was build since 1917 and contains more than 5000 art objects made of sandstone, bronze, silver, copper, wood and others.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, hotel
Breakfast at your hotel, we then transfer you to airport for flight to Siem Reap. Arrive Siem Reap around noon time; our tour guide will wait you outside of arrival hall then take you to hotel in Siem Reap.
In the afternoon, we depart for the Tonlé Sap, driving down the eastern side of the lake. Arrive at Kampong Phluk; a ‘flooded forest’. Accessible only during high water, you’ll pass through the treetops whilst seated in your boat. Nearby is a fishing village where you will also learn more about the traditional methods used for generations. Returning to the mainland, meet your driver and return to Siem Reap.
Dinner with Apsara Dance show at local restaurant.
For those travelers thirsting for cultural highlights of Cambodia, No visit to Cambodia is complete without attending at least one traditional Khmer dance performance, often referred to as 'Apsara Dance' after one of the most popular Classical dance pieces. Traditional Khmer dance better described as 'dance-drama' in that the dances are not merely dances but also meant to convey a story or message.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Inclusion: Shuttle bus, guide, entrance fees, breakfast, lunch, boat, hotel.
After meeting our tour guide, then we drive to Angkor Thom that was the masterpiece of King Jayavarman VII. Following the occupation of Angkor by the Chams from 1177 to 1181, the new king decided to build an impregnable fortress at the heart of his empire. The scale is simply staggering and we are immediately overwhelmed by the audacity of Jayavarman on arrival at the city’s gates.
We begin to visit Bayon Temple. At the exact center of Angkor Thom, this is an eccentric expression of the creative genius and inflated ego of Cambodia’s most celebrated king. Its 54 towers are each topped off with the four faces of Avalokiteshvara (Buddha of Compassion), which bear more than a passing resemblance to the king himself. These colossal heads stare down from every side, exuding power and control with a hint of compassion, just the mix required to keep a hold on such a vast empire.
We continue to visit Terrace of the Leper King. This intricately carved platform was the royal crematorium and the statue that was originally thought to be the leper king is now believed to be Yama, the god of death. We continue along the Terrace of Elephants, originally used as a viewing gallery for the king to preside over parades, performances and traditional sports. At the southern end lies the Baphuon, once of the most beautiful temples at Angkor, dating from the reign of Uditayavarman 1 in the 11th century. It has undergone a massive renovation by the French and is now once again open for viewing.
You'll break for lunch at a local restaurant before the 15-minute drive to Ta Prohm, the monastery-temple of Tomb Raider fame. Left as it was ‘discovered’ by French explorer Henri Mouhot in 1860, the tentacle-like tree roots here are slowly strangling the surviving stones.
We journey out to the Mother of all temples, Angkor Wat. Believed to be the world's largest religious building, this temple is the perfect fusion of symbolism and symmetry and a source of pride and strength to all Khmers. Built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II, this is most famous temple at Angkor. We venture into Angkor Wat to enjoy its magnificence in peace and quiet. We begin by unraveling the mysteries of the bas-reliefs that tell of tales from Hindu mythology and of the glories of the Khmer empire.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Inclusion: Transfer, breakfast, entrance fee, guide, hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel. You may have some more time to be free until transfer to SIEM REAP airport for departure to Ho Chi Minh City.
Arrival HCM City, you will be welcomed by our guide standing outside of arrival hall with a sign. He will transfer you to hotel in the center.
The rest of day is your free day.
Inclusion: Transfer, breakfast, entrance fee, guide, hotel
Get started at 8:30 AM from your hotel venturing out to the Cu Chi countryside. See what life was like for the guerrilla warriors who lived and fought underground during the war. Crawl through 50 m of the 200 km tunnel system below. This morning will also see a visit to a rice paper workshop.
In the afternoon see the real HCM City through the eyes of a local. Visit the bustling Cho Lon market and a hidden Chinese pagoda, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Central Post Office, and City Hall. We drop you off at your hotel around 5:30 PM.
Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, local boat, lunch, seasonal fruit, hotel
Getting started at 8:00 AM from your hotel, then a drive about 70 km out of HCM City to see Mekong Delta life around My Tho. Upon arrival Ben Tre, drift down the busy branches of the Mekong and into its peaceful canals. We visit a brick kiln and a coconut shell husking workshop. See the daily life of farmers and try the hard work taking shell of the coconut that is unique to the region.
More boat cruise inner the natural waterways, we visit a coconut-candy workshop, a main product that made BenTre famous then visit a local market and farmer workshop making sleeping mats, an old tradition hand weaving sedge mat or rush mat.
And now, the Mekong adventure is on, see what life is really like for locals by explore this quiet island by bicycle or more relaxing way by hop on a Lambrettatriporteur an old 1960 traditional tricycle in south Vietnam which will be winding around the coconut palms, bitter melon or cucumber farms to a farmer house that we break for lunch and relax.
In the afternoon, we walk a bit more of coconut farms and fruit orchards of this village then enjoy the local hand – rowing sampan slowly cruise under the canopy of water coconut palms along the canals. Our boat picks us again and cruise back to the boat landing in BenTre town. Head back to HCM City. Tour ends around 5:00 PM.
Transfer to SIEM REAP airport for departure to next destination. It’s time to say goodbye, we thank you for traveling with us and warmly welcome you to come again.
Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, local boat, lunch, seasonal fruit, hotel
After breakfast, you have more time to relax until we transfer to HCM airport for departure to next destination. It’s time to say goodbye, we thank you for traveling with us and warmly welcome you to come again.
Note: Check out time of the hotel is before 12:00pm and you are allowed to store your luggage at your hotel until airport transfer time.
Inclusion: Transfer, breakfast
