9 Days Siem Reap Arrival, Siem Reap, Free At Leisure In Siem Reap and Siem Reap Battambang Tour Package

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On arrival into Siem Reap, you will be welcomed by your local English speaking guide and transferred to your hotel for check in. Siem Reap is the base for exploring the fabled temples of Angkor, the ancient capital of the Khmer empire. You will have the remainder of the day at leisure to relax and freshen up before being taken on a sunset tour to the biggest religious temple in the world: the magnificent Angkor Wat Temple. Built by Suryavarman II, in early 12th century Angkor Wat is constructed following the model of the temple mountain symbolizing the Mount Meru, home of the gods. Considered as the masterpiece of the Khmer architecture, this Vishnuite temple is the “God-King’s” funerary temple. These are the main reasons to explain the West exposure of the temple. Inside the temple the walls are covered by carvings and bas-reliefs depicting the Hindu mythology and the wars Suryavarman II made during his reign. Overnight in Siem Reap

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This morning you will discover some of the other main Angkor sites with a tour by local remok (tuk tuk). First, head to the ancient city of Angkor Thom. Angkor Thom was the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. This city is surrounded by an 8 m high wall drawing a perfect square. You will enter the city from the ancient South Gate, an impressive stone gate carved with Elephants and four giant faces. From here, continue to Bayon Temple in the exact center of the city. This 12th century masterpiece is a study in grandeur and is well-known for its 39 towers with enigmatic faces looking out toward the far-flung provinces of the Great Khmer Empire. The Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King are also must-visits as they are both known for their intricate bas-reliefs. Stroll through the grounds of the former Royal Palace to discover some small hidden temples that are rarely visited. Next, visit Ta Prohm temple, where the original ‘Tomb Raider’ movie was filmed. Ta Prohm is unique in that it is largely overgrown by jungle trees and vines, with many parts of the temple crumbling to the ground. This makes Ta Prohm one of the most picturesque and memorable of the Angkor temples. Alternatively, depending on the season and the crowds, you may wish to visit Preah Khan temple. Built by the same king in a similar style, this larger temple complex is also largely left in ruins and its labyrinthian layout and fewer visitors makes a more intimate experience even in the high season months. Return to Siem Reap for lunch at Marum Restaurant set in a delightful wooden house with a spacious garden, and featuring a winning mix of creative local cuisine, Marum is named after the Moringa, or ’Tree of life’. Your visit not only gives you an incredible dining experience, but also helps build a new life for the students in training there! Part of the Tree Alliance group of training restaurants, they provide vocations into the hospitality industry for local street kids and disadvantaged youths. This afternoon you will be picked up from your hotel by private vehicle and taken away from the main tourist track to have the opportunity to experience and explore the surrounding countryside and seldom visited sites while practicing the basics of the Khmer language under the helpful guidance of our native Khmer teacher/guide. First you will visit a local market where you will see the daily life of the local tradesmen and have the opportunity to practice some basic Khmer words and greetings. From here you will continue to Phnom Bok Mountain, 25km from Siem Reap. Arriving at the foot of the mountain you will prepare to ascend the 635 steps to the top, making sure to have plenty of water for the 30 minute climb! At the top of the mountain you will have a short rest and enjoy the views before having an introductory Khmer language lesson with our native Khmer teacher/guide. After the lesson you will explore the ruined temple at the top of the mountain, a Buddhist pagoda and enjoy the expansive views across the province before descending back down where you will enjoy a fresh coconut and practice some more basic words and phrases. Leaving the mountain you will be driven back through the scenic countryside along little villages and rice fields to see the daily life of the Cambodian countryside and learn about the rice harvests, and on arrival back near to town, you will make your final stop at an evening street market and fairground where locals go to relax and have fun. Note: This tour includes a steep climb involving over 600 steps and guests will need to have a good level of general fitness. Overnight in Siem Reap

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Today experience an incredible tour to learn about life in a typical Cambodian village, meet friendly locals and discover traditional village customs and cultures. Guests will be picked up from their hotel early morning by the local guide and driven to Ta Brak Village, 25 minutes out of town. A western packed breakfast from the hotel will be taken and on arrival will meet and sit down with a local family and share this breakfast with them and to learn about local village life early in the morning when generally it is at its most active. From here, take a 30-minute ox cart ride through the village to a local market. Take a short walk through this bustling center and be introduced to Cambodian vegetables, herbs, fruits and other local produce. Continue 1 km by foot through the picturesque countryside village, stopping to meet the local community along the way to observe whatever seasonal activity is happening at that time, such as rice planting, weaving thatch roofs, planting or harvesting vegetable crops, making fish traps etc. Each tour will be different and the activities will depend on the time of the year, the family, and the needs of the local village. The surrounding countryside with its paddy fields and sugar palm trees is very typical for Cambodia. End the morning at the local pagoda where a special water blessing by Buddhist monks await. From here make a stop at the 9th Century Bakong Temple, part of the Roluos group and a site of an ancient center of Khmer civilisation known as Hariharalaya, before continuing on an interesting boat trip on the Tonlé Sap Lake. Here there is an opportunity to learn about life on the lake. The Tonlé Sap Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and officially designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, covering an area of roughly 2,500 km2, swelling to about 4 times its size during the wet season: 10,000 km2! Travel out to Kampong Phluck, a village a bit further away but which receives very fewer tourists. Thus, this stilted village is the best place to see the authentic life of the local fisherman and their families who live amongst the flooded mangrove forest. At Kampong Phluck, board a local boat for a ride on the lake. On the way, see houses on stilts that are submerged with the lake extends, pass by floating houses and impressive flooded forests and get a good feel for life on the water. In one of the floating houses, a delicious lunch will be prepared for the family. Enjoy the beautiful scenery dominated by the tranquility of the lake. (Note: Due to low water levels during the dry season, the boat trip is only possible from June to March. However an alternative floating village at Chong Kneas can be arranged instead). Optional: Phare Ponleu Selpak in Siem Reap – (evening) This evening attend a performance of ‘Phare, the Cambodian Circus’. Starting at 8pm, professional artists of Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPS) will perform an inspiring show suitable for people of all ages. Set up in Battambang in 1994 by young returnee Cambodians from the refugee camps who learned about using art as a means of coping with trauma, PPS has played an influential role in promoting and developing Khmer culture over the years after the Khmer Rouge genocide. The hour long show mixes traditional and modern theater, music, dance, acrobatics, juggling and contortion performed in a story about Cambodian lives and society. Overnight in Siem Reap.

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Full day at leisure with a choice of optional activities: Optional 1: ½ Day Off Beaten Track @ $45/per person Stop 1: Paddy Fields Our tour begins with a bike ride to Siem Reap’s sprawling paddy fields, where your guides will introduce you to the day-to-day routines of local farmers. Many of our guides will be able to give you in depth insight into this agricultural activity, having worked in the fields with their parents from a young age. Stop 2: Handmade Basket On our next stop, we will take you to view handmade baskets woven by our local villagers. Get to know our weavers and learn more about this intricate craft, which is traditionally passed down from parent to child. Stop 3: Local Market Our third stop will be at a bustling local market, where you will be able to take in the sights and sounds of locals buying and selling product. Discover local products not found anywhere else in the world! Stop 4: Rice Wine On our final stop, we will take you to a local rice wine distillery. Here, you will learn more about the processes involved in the making of rice wine as well as its use in holistic medication. And yes—if you’re wondering—you will also get to sample a taste! Optional 2: Horseback riding at Happy Ranch @ $82/per person Head to the Happy Ranch outside of Siem Reap, a western style horse ranch. There, you will get acquainted with your horse of pure Cambodian breed, a descendant of the Mongolian wild horses. Enjoy the countryside on horseback! During the 2 hour trail ride you will get to places far outside the tourist area, through the rice fields and local villages to the rarely visited temple of Wat Atvea. Explore the peaceful temple ruins of the Angkor-era, a truly authentic experience. Note: Happy Ranch can arrange lead rides on gentle ponies for young children. Their experienced staff will walk alongside and lead them or just assist them when necessary. Optional 3: Quad Bike Adventure – 1 Hour Sunset at Rice Field: @ $38/per pax (solo ride), $60/per 2pax (share ride) An unforgettable experience as you will ride a quad bike especially designed for off road terrain through the beautiful countryside of Siem Reap Province. The 12 km guided tour will take you to local villages, where you can learn about the way of life in rural Cambodia and have the chance to meet and chat with the wonderful and friendly people. The highlight of the 1 hour tour is the sunset in the rice fields. Note: 2 adults can ride on the same quad bike with maximum weight of 130 Kgs. In this case, the driver must have experience of riding a quad bike. Children are welcome to sit with their parents as passengers. From 14 to 16 years old, children can ride their own quad only with an instructor as a pillow. 17 years old children can be allowed to ride alone their own quad only if they have an adult size and a similar or bigger quad at home. Optional 4: Angkor Zipline: $72/per person Angkor zipline, as the name suggests, is a zipline experience at the Angkor Archeological Park. Offering 8 ziplines at different heights, suspended sky bridges and the chance to abseil from a tree this is an excursion for those with a sense of adventure who want to soar over the jungle canopy like a gibbon! Transfer to the zipline site before receiving a safety briefing and being outfitted. After the adventure begins: start with the easiest zip lines before proceeding to the highest and most exhilarating. The highest ziplines are at 50 meters above the canopy and the longest 350 meters. From the last zipline the final adventure is to abseil down before a soft trek through the forest takes you back to the starting point. (Note – max 9 people in a single group, latest start time is 12pm, excursion lasts 3-4 hrs, maximum weight 125kg, not suitable for children under 5 yrs old or 1m height, no sandals permitted).

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After breakfast, we departure to Battambang, the second largest city and the biggest rice producer in Cambodia. Upon arrival, check in at hotel. Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon, visit Ek Phnom temple in the 11st century and the colonial style houses along the Sangke River. On the way back, you can visit the traditional Cambodian houses and the artisan factory of rice flaky cake. Evening try out for a ride on the Bamboo Train, a fun experience and also a great opportunity to see the sunset view at countryside. It’s like a childhood dream come true. Dinner at local restaurant, and Overnight at hotel in Battambang.

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Going around by bicycle is a great way of connecting you with the local community. Just north of Battambang, there is an excellent opportunity to discover and experience many of the traditional cottage industries of the region. This will provide you with a real taste of authentic Cambodian village life. In addition, it will allow you to interact with rural families making a living farming in the countryside. The activities you can observe will include making banana chips, manufacturing rice paper, distilling rice wine and tasting tropical/seasonal fruits. Our enthusiastic guide will be on hand every step of the way to enhance your experience by explaining what you see in more depth. A tuk tuk will pick you up from a hotel and drop at the battambang bike office before 8:00am; try out a bike fitted - ensure all the bikes work properly with a quick introduction about a guide and safety briefing. Our cycling route will include many stops as followings: Stop1: Rice Noodle, Stop 2:Bamboo Sticky Rice, Stop 3: Wat Samrong Knong (Buddhist pagoda), Stop 4: Fish Paste Market (formation), Stop 5: Rice Wine (local whisky), Stop 6: Dried Banana (banana chips), Stop 7: Rice Paper (spring roll), Stop 8: Crocodile Farm. Return back to the Battambang Bike office around 12:00pm, and transfer you back to hotel. Lunch at hotel and take a short break. Afternoon: Bat cave discovery – Half Day About 15km away from town to the west of Battambang via the road 57; you will bump into a big hill on left side with a golden Wat (pagoda) on top, which is the Phnom Sampov (Bat cave). It is a natural and historical site. The trip begins with a scenic ride through the Cambodian countryside along peaceful byways. Enjoy the views of people at work on their farms and in their fields. Breathe in the fresh air scented with the sweet sweet smell of rice. then, we will take back on the main asphalt, as there is no way straight there. after an hour and half ride, we will arrive a the mountain. here there is the option of taking a motorbike up to the caves at the top instead of walking. There are three cave to visit. Each one has its own characteristics and tragic tales. Monkeys are the other residents of the mountain and they are not shy! The views from the summit are terrific and a can be enjoyed with a cooling mountain breeze. However, the highlight of this tour awaits the visitor at the foot of the mountain, when the colony of bats streams out of the caves. Returning the city after all, the bats come out. Back to hotel and overnight in Battambang.

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This morning, depart Battambang for Phnom Penh. Starting early travel first to Kampong Chhnang, known for its traditional pottery, with many kilns at work in this province. In a village near Kampong Chhnang, stop to see the different aspects of pottery-making and to also experience the production of traditional rice wine. Continue to Oudong, the former royal capital of Cambodia. The drive passes through many rural villages and pagodas, admire the temple mountain with its dozens of stupas from afar. Upon arrival at Oudong enjoy a traditional Khmer lunch at a picnic hut at the foot of the hill. Then, climb the stairs to the top of Oudong Mountain and enjoy magnificent views over the plains below. Listen to the guide explain the history of the area and its buildings as well as the religious culture of the Cambodian people. Take time to soak in the magnificent views over the plains below. After a picnic lunch, continue to Phnom Penh. After about an hour, arrive in the Cambodian capital from where it is a short transfer to the hotel. 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 rivers of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap. Wide tree-lined boulevards and many colonial-era buildings reflect the glorious days and add to the allure of the city, where Asian and Western traditions meet in a fascinating way. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Enjoy a leisurely bike ride through the countryside around Phnom Penh, discovering the diversity of the rural landscapes, passing small villages, schools and silk weaving houses. Travel by ferry to river islands and pedal on small roads with no traffic stopping to meet friendly locals and taste local delicacies. This is a tour that will bring travelers closer to the real Cambodia! Return to Phnom Penh and lunch at local restaurant. This afternoon you will visit the Royal Palace. This palace dates back to 1866 and houses the Silver Pagoda, named for the over 5000 heavy silver tiles that cover its floors. Its original name is Wat Prakeo, meaning Temple of the Emerald Buddha. In this temple you will view a collection of Buddhas in gold, silver, crystal, and bronze. Continue a visit to the National Museum, built in traditional Khmer style. It houses the world’s foremost collection of ancient Khmer artistic, archaeological, and religious artifacts from the 4th to the 13th centuries. Over 5,000 pieces are on display, constituting the repository of the Kingdom’s cultural wealth. In addition, the roof space is home to a large bat colony! Evening at leisure with the option to take in a traditional performance from the Cambodia Living Arts: Optional: Cambodian Living Arts – (evening): @ B Seat/$32 per adult, B Seat/$18/children This evening get inspired by Cambodian arts as you watch a traditional performance by Cambodian Living Arts (CLA). A rotating program is offering consisting of 3 unique performances: Children of Bassac (Classical and Folk Dance), Mak Therng and Passage of Life (Music and Theatre). (Oct-Mar shows daily except Apr-Aug on Mon, Wed, Fri & Sat.) All the shows last one hour and are held in the atmospheric gardens of the National Museum. After many years of gaining recognition for preserving many Cambodian art forms the CLA are today striving towards providing the artists the tools required to make their skills sustainable and also so they can make a competitive income from their work. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Breakfast at hotel. Spend the remaining time free at leisure until time to transfer with driver back to Phnom Penh Airport for departure flight