Cambodia Express

Upon arrival at Phnom Penh Int’s Airport, process immigration procedure (visa on arrival is available or obtain in advance via www.evisa.gov.kh), then get your luggage and walk straight to the Exit Gate where our guide is waiting. After self-introduced, you’ll transfer directly around 30 minutes to the hotel in the city for check in (check in time is 2 p.m). Time to fresh-up and relax at the hotel.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Breakfast at your hotel.

Visit to the Royal Palace compound built 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. Continue to National Museum, the distinctive red building with a beautiful Khmer architecture was built since 1917 and contains more than 5000 art objects made of sandstone, bronze, silver, copper, wood, and others. Travelers will proceed to visit Independence Monument, which was constructed in 1954 after Cambodian took their country back from French colony.

At noon, we’ll visit Phsar Thmey “The Central Market”, a large market constructed in 1937 in the shape of a dome with four arms branching out into vast hallways with countless stalls of goods. The four wings of this gigantic yellow dome are teeming with stalls that sell goods ranging from gold and silver, antique coins, money exchange, books, flowers, food, fabrics, shoes, souvenirs, seafood, and countless other products. Next, we head to visit Wat Phnom “Mountain Pagoda” is a Buddhist temple that symbolizes the name of Phnom Penh, located on the hill. According to legend, the first pagoda on this site was erected in 1372 to house four statues of Buddha deposited here by the waters of the Mekong River and discovered by Lady Penh. Wat Phnom is the most popular place for local people to come to play healthy sport or praying for their good luck as well as admire the sundown.

In late afternoon, enjoy Sunset Cruise on Mekong a to view Royal Palace over river, it bursts into 4 branches.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

A quick glance at Cheung Ek may not indicate what kinds of horrors, have taken place here. Situated 17km from Phnom Penh town, Cheung Ek, made famous by the movie “The Killing Fields”, is now the site of a large memorial built to commemorate the 17,000 victims who died here under the reign of Khmer Rouge leader, Pol Pot. The remnants inside the memorial and the mass graves that dot the area remind you of the suffering of the victims. This journey into Cambodia’s past will provide you with a background on the cruelty of the Khmer Rouge regime. It will also give you an appreciation of the struggle that Cambodian people have faced and their tremendous courage to move on and rebuild their nation.

We will learn about the dark side of Cambodia – Its more recent turbulent and harrowing history. Initially, you visit the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum (also known as S21), ironically a former school, located in a quiet Phnom Penh suburb, this was the infamous Khmer Rouge prison/torture center.

We depart to Phnom Udong, the ancient Cambodian capital during the latter stages of the Khmer Empire and crowning site of many past kings. Consisting of a series of stupas atop a large hill, there are outstanding views across the surrounding plains below. Phnom Udong was bombed and desecrated by the Americans and then the Khmer Rouge, but still possesses a beauty that no war has been able to steal from it. Before going to Phnom Penh, stop by to see the spectacular Vipassana Dhura Buddhist meditation center, also located in Udong. Your tour guide can tell you more about the Vipassana school (Insight Meditation) as you walk through the center. Don't forget to see the imposing jade Buddha, the mummified monk and the colorful painted walls that tell the story of Ramayana, the epic Sanskrit poem that adorns many pagodas throughout the country.

We continue to Kampong Chhnang province and hotel accommodation.

Overnight in Kampong Chhnang.

After breakfast, we visit Smiling Gecko’s project.

Smiling Gecko is breaking new ground in development aid and with its economically and ecologically sustainable cluster projects, it pursues a holistic approach that leads to a significant improvement in the living conditions of rural Cambodian society. Since 2014, the charity has transformed itself into a social start-up and has already created hundreds of jobs and apprenticeships in the agriculture, tourism, and craft sectors. The heart of Smiling Gecko is the school where more than 300 children benefit from a good education in an innovative, child-friendly, and effective learning environment. During the Smiling Gecko Project Tour, you will receive detailed explanations about the history of Smiling Gecko and gain deeper insight into the various Smiling Gecko projects. The itinerary includes a visit, among other things, to the farms and the carpentry workshop.

https://www.farmhouse-smilinggecko.com

Journey through the Cambodian countryside to the colonial city of Battambang (Cambodia’s second largest city.) Despite being (not too long ago) a stronghold of the erstwhile Khmer Rouge, the city still boasts a beautiful countryside and some striking French colonial architecture. The former rice bowl of Cambodia, Battambang today still holds a thriving agriculture industry with large orange and jute plantations.

This evening, visit will be Phare Ponleu Selpak - Battambang Circus, Anh Chanh Village, Ochar Commune, Battambang 02000 Cambodia We make stops at local villages and schools before heading to Phare School. This school is Cambodia's leading association for arts education and a testament to its contemporary culture couldn't be better showcased when you visit the Phare Ponleu Selpak campus.

Overnight in Battambang.

After breakfast, we will visit Wat Ta Mem and learn more about the daily life in the pagoda in Cambodia. Drive to the Bamboo Railway Station. The Bamboo Train has been set up by the villagers to facilitate the transportation of goods and people. The train is very basic – one platform on 4 wheels activated by a small motor. Sitting on the platform we travel the 8km to the next station through beautiful landscape and rice paddies.

We travel further to the well-preserved 11th century mountaintop Angkorian temple of Phnom Banan. After climbing the 350+ steps you are treated to a wonderfully peaceful setting with superb views across the surrounding countryside, with small villages dotting the endless rice paddies, punctuated with the characteristic sugar palm trees a wonderful sunset location.

Departure to Phnom Sampeu Mountain to catch the bats! As darkness falls, we will begin to see thousands of nocturnal bats taking flight from the surrounding caves in a massive formation of dark, black clouds. Be sure to photograph this amazing and staggering sight!

Overnight in Battambang.

We leave Battambang and drive towards Banteay Chhmar. Banteay Chhmar Temple is one of Cambodia’s national treasures. Dating from the Angkorian period, it is a precious and irreplaceable link to the cultural heritage of the Khmer people.   There are countless Buddhist images and startling bas-reliefs of Angkorian-era life that signify its importance as a temple complex.

For 800 years, the temple has remained mostly undiscovered and untouched.  The forces of nature resulting in overgrowth and collapse. Recent times, unfortunately, have seen numerous acts of egregious looting.

Continue to Phnom Srok Silk Farm before arriving Siem Reap.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

After breakfast, we depart to Preah Khan Temple. It is located northeast of Angkor Thom and just west of the Jayatataka baray, with which it was associated. It was the center of a substantial organization, with almost 100,000 officials and servants. Next is Neak Poan, “the entwined snakes” is a small temple located on an island in the center of the now dry Jayatataka baray, a water reservoir 3,500-meter-long and 900 meter wide. Continue to Tasom offers some beautiful photo spots, especially the rear entrance where tree roots adorn the gateway.

Drive to the rural outskirt 35km from Angkor area to visit the smallest, but magnificent, Banteay Srei built in the 10th Century and dedicated to Shiva. The temple was the birthplace of Khmer classical style architecture, and the bas-relief work is the best example of Khmer classical art remaining. The pink sandstone structure bears a series of striking and beautiful sculptures, lintels, pediments, and friezes.

You’ll also visit the Landmine Museum where Mr. Aki Ra, a child soldier in the Khmer Rouge, has dedicated his life to helping those in need. Having spent most of his childhood fighting for the Khmer Rouge, Mr. Aki Ra was trained by the United Nations to detonate land mines; His fantastic work earned him a nomination for CNN Hero of the Year in 2010.

On the way back stop at Pradark Village, where you will see the villagers making palm sugar, handicraft for selling to tourist. It’s a nice chance for you to see the local people living at the countryside with their struggling for daily life.

Not to be missied is Banteay Samre: Its rose-colored sandstone walls are decorated with carvings and bas-reliefs, which are among the most accomplished Angkor has to offer.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

We start very early in the morning so we can capture the iconic picture of the pre-dawn facing Angkor Wat temple. Sunrise at Angkor Wat can be a busy venue especially during the months of December, January, February, and March.

After sunrise, we will explore the vast and rich of Angkor Wat temple, taking pictures at different angles, playing with light and shadows, and capturing the most beautiful devatas carved in sandstone.

Next destination will be the Ta Prohm "Tomb Raider" fame. Ta Prohm has been abandoned to the elements, a reminder that while empires rise and fall, the riotous power of nature marches on, oblivious to the dramas of human history. Left as it was ‘discovered’ by French explorer Henri Mouhout in 1860, the tentacle-like tree roots here are slowly strangling the surviving stones, man first conquering nature to create, nature later conquering man to destroy.

Next, at Golden Hour, will be the impressive Bayon temple with its 54 towers and 216 faces overlooking the defunct city of Angkor Thom. The final stop will be at one of the gates of Angkor Thom to capture sunset over the moat.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Depart for the Tonlé Sap. You will enjoy a boat ride on the Tonle Sap Lake. This is the largest permanent fresh-water lake in Southeast Asia and flows into Tonle Sap River, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. You will see a fishermen's "floating village" with floating schools, floating police station, etc. It is same as a big village floating on the lake, and the "village" moves from place-to-place following water levels and current. We go to local pagoda, where you should change to clothes, we can get wet in as here we will experience the ceremony “Srouch Teok”, which roughly translates into “Water blessing”. A monk will chant in ancient Pali as he splashes water over us, washing away our sins and bad luck so we can start fresh and by being a good person can increase our good luck.

Visit Apopo a HeroRat Visitor Center and experience the realities of humanitarian demining and how we train rats to save lives. You will learn about the mine clearance process from our guides, enjoy a series of videos showing our work, and read all about how Cambodia became one of the most mine affected countries in the world.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Transfer to Siem Reap airport for departure to the next destination. It’s time to say goodbye, we thank you for traveling with us and warmly welcome you to come again.