Meals: B

7:00 am Early BREAKFAST on your own (served daily at our hotel in Phnom Penh from 6:30 to 10:00 am, but subject to change, so please confirm).

8:00 am After, our guide will bring us to the exterior of the ROYAL PALACE complex to beat any crowds.  The Royal Palace is home to the Cambodian royal family and was opened in 1870 under King Norodom, and now contains the Royal Residence, the Throne Hall, the Silver Pagoda, and other important buildings.

9:00 am Next TRANSFER or walk to begin a 2-hour LOCALLY-GUIDED ORIENTATION TOUR starting at our hotel and then around riverside, to WAT PHNOM.

We’ll then visit nearby Wat Ounalom where you’ll want to explore the surrounding streets for any photo ops.

11:00 am From Wat Ounalom TRANSFER by CYCLOS, or unique, man-powered “bicycle-like” vehicles, for photography and optional lunch at Central Market. There are many food stalls and the food is very good.

12:30 pm You can decide to stay in this area, or TRANSFER back to hotel for a bit of free time, rest and to freshen up.

3:00 pm TRANSFER to TUOL SLENG GENOCIDE MUSEUM, also known as S21. Here we come face to face with the horrific crimes of Pol Pot. Tuol Sleng was a former high school that the Khmer Rouge converted to a center of interrogation, torture and death. Today it is a museum and serves to remind visitors of the terrible atrocities that came to pass in Cambodia. More than 17,000 people passed through the gates of this prison and incredibly only seven lived to tell the tale. 

The Khmer Rouge were meticulous in their record keeping, photographing all the prisoners, and many of these haunting black and white images are on display in the former cells. Tuol Sleng is a profoundly moving experience and not everyone will want to visit, however, it is key to understanding the hell into which Cambodia descended and how far it has come in the years since.

4:30 pm Estimated time for TRANSFER to a boat on the Tonle Sap River for a PRIVATE SUNSET CRUISE.  We’ll provide BEER, WATER, and LIGHT SNACKS to enjoy on the approximately 90-minute boat ride. There may be some nighttime photo opportunities in this area after we disembark from the boat, so bring the appropriate gear if you’d like to do some shooting.

7:30 pm Remainder of evening and dinner on your own.  

Meals: B

8:00 am TRANSFER to THE KILLING FIELDS, locally known as Choeung Ek. Prisoners from Tuol Sleng followed this same route to their fate. An old Chinese cemetery, Choeung Ek was turned into an extermination camp for political prisoners. The remains of 8,985 people were exhumed from mass graves and are kept in a memorial stupa here. Despite the horrors of the past, it is a peaceful place to go and a tranquil spot to reflect on the tragic events that engulfed Cambodia and its people not so long ago (late 1970s).

10:15 am After, we’ll plan to visit a nearby Wat and have some fun with the local children as they leave school at 11:00 am, assuming they are in session.

12:00 pm TRANSFER to Phnom Penh’s Psar Toul Tom Pong, also known as the Russian Market, a great place to hunt for souvenirs, curios, and silks, but even better to look for photographic opportunities, especially in the wet market.

1:00 pm Optional lunch on your own at Russian Market and TRANSFER by bus back to hotel for some free time.

Afternoon free to explore more of Phnom Penh on your own.

SUGGESTIONS

• Visit the National Museum’s collection of Khmer art, which displays over 5,000 objects including statues and other artifacts from Angkor Wat.
• Consider a self-guided walk through Wat Botum, located a short tuk-tuk ride or walk from our hotel, or you might like to visit Wat Langka.

Meals: B, D

After BREAKFAST, TRANSFER by tuk-tuks to FERRY and over to Koh Dach (a.k.a. Silk Island), whose inhabitants are famous for their expert Khmer silk weaving skills. 

Koh Dach offers an example of traditional Cambodian village life and is a great respite from the hustle and bustle of Phnom Penh.  Much of the silk you’ll see spun here will end up on the stands of the Russian Market.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO STAY HYDRATED.

TRANSFER by tuk-tuk back to hotel.

Lunch and remainder of afternoon on your own.

TRANSFER or walk to DINNER at Khmer Surin (or similar) for traditional Khmer dining, with a nice atmosphere and wonderful food.

Meals: B, LL, D

Early morning free to sleep in a bit or to do your own thing before we head off.

BREAKFAST on your own, but please give yourself plenty of time to settle your bill, if any, and to check out.

Today we’ll have a late LUNCH at our hotel on arrival so please plan to bring along some snacks for our bus ride today as we’ll only be making bathroom stops along the way.

9:00 am TRANSFER by private coach to Battambang (~295 km, or about 180 miles in ~5 hours)…along the way we’ll enjoy unspoiled landscapes and traditional scenes of daily life as we pass through the countryside.

2:00 pm Estimated arrival time. Enjoy a LATE LUNCH, check in and settle in at hotel, have a rest and/or a swim, if available.

4:00 pm TRANSFER by tuk-tuks to town for a chance to photograph the local market and urban scenes in Battambang before dinner (this is a good time to purchase inexpensive plastic shoes in the market should you want to walk in the prahok factory tomorrow and not ruin your good shoes with the distinct smell of fish).

7:00 pm DINNER at a local restaurant called Green Mango, or similar, in Battambang.

Meals: B, D

6:30 am Early BREAKFAST at our hotel (in Battambang it’s normally served daily from 7:30 - 10:00 am, but please confirm and subject to change).

7:00 am TRANSFER by tuk-tuk out to the unique BAMBOO TRAIN, also referred to as a “norry.”  The Bamboo Train was originally built by French colonial settlers and has been largely abandoned since the days of the Khmer Rouge. Reaching speeds of up to 50 kph (~30 mph), these lightweight vehicles run along a single track that requires, by etiquette, that the norry with the least number of passengers and/or cargo be disassembled by the two drivers, allowing the more loaded train to pass, then the other one is reassembled and each continues on its way. Watch this video about the Bamboo Train.

Travel light and be prepared for slow shutter speed photography in order to get special motion effects your leader will tell you about (see image above for example). Subject to train being open and operating, and please wear proper shoes!

After this once-in-a-lifetime experience on the bamboo train, TRANSFER back to hotel.

12:00 pm Approximate arrival time, lunch on your own either at hotel or in town. If you haven’t already, you may want to purchase some disposable, closed shoes to use in the prahok factory tomorrow.

Afternoon free to relax by the pool, venture into town, schedule a massage and/or continue to explore this area on your own.

3:30 pm TRANSFER by tuk-tuks to the KILLING CAVE and local monastery.

Here we’ll have a separate TRANSFER to take us up the hill to Phnom Sampeau, a sacred mountain dotted with interesting pagodas and stupas and often scattered with curious monkeys (please be careful, not all are friendly).  There is also a moving memorial to Khmer Rouge victims.

TBA Exact Time TBA: Depending on timing we’ll also plan to witness a truly incredible site when approximately 6 million bats who live in a nearby cave leave to feed in the local rice fields and surrounding area.

7:30 pm  Although you can try your best, the photography ops of the bats are minimal because they are fast moving and there is very minimal light at this time of day, so don’t be afraid to put the camera down and just enjoy this incredible spectacle of nature.

TRANSFER for DINNER at the amazing Jaan Bai restaurant or similar.

Meals: B

7:30 am Depart for half-day TUK-TUK ADVENTURE where we’ll start with a visit to Wat Samruong Knong (built in 1707) and end with a visit to Wat Ek Phnom, an 11th-century Angkorian-era (meaning it’s older than Angkor Wat) ruin built as a Hindu temple under Suryavarman I.  The temple consists of prasats on a platform with a series of carvings that remain in fairly good condition, and there’s an extremely large statue of Buddha there, as well (be sure to get inside the base of the Buddha for more interesting sites).

The drive to Wat Ek Phnom from Battambang passes through small villages and rice paddies and in parts is an absolutely beautiful countryside drive.

We’ll make several stops along the way to witness everyday life as it happens in this unique and interesting part of Cambodia.

Additionally, we’ll make an unforgettable visit to a market where Prahok, a fish paste that is the base for most Cambodian cuisine, is made (here’s where you may want to bring along the disposable, close-toed shoes you purchased so that the smell doesn’t stick to your good shoes).

We continue onward to visit the place where the locals make steamed- sticky rice cooked in bamboo, as well as a stop to see how they make rice paper, used in spring rolls and other Cambodian delicacies, which we’ll get to try, along with an optional beer or two!  We may have a few other surprises for you, as well.

1:00 pm TRANSFER back to hotel for lunch on your own, if you’re still hungry, plus some rest and relaxation, or you can choose to continue your exploration of Battambang at your leisure.

Remainder of afternoon, evening and dinner on your own.

Meals: B, LL, D

Morning free to capture any images you may have missed so far, or simply to sleep in!

Enjoy a late BREAKFAST on your own, but please give yourself plenty of time to settle your bill, if any, and check out.

We’re planning to arrive in Siem Reap about 2:30 pm and then to have a nice LUNCH on arrival at our hotel, so you may want to have some snacks along to get you through to lunch.

11:00 am TRANSFER by private coach to Siem Reap (166 km, or ~100 miles)

2:30 pm Estimated arrival time in Siem Reap. LATE LUNCH on arrival at our hotel, check in and settle in.

4:15 pm TRANSFER by tuk-tuk to Angkor Wat to get our included ONE DAY PASSES (box office opens 4:45 pm). 

Each pass allows entry this evening where we’ll have a chance to see the ruins around sunset, which is often spectacular. This architectural masterpiece was constructed in the 12th century and is considered to be the largest religious complex in the world covering an area of approximately 210 hectares (trust me, that’s big).

6:00 pm TRANSFER directly into town to an area known as Pub Alley, a lively part of the town where just about everything is on offer and there are plenty of food options.

7:00 pm DINNER back in Siem Reap in Pub Alley at a restaurant called Khmer Kitchen or similar.

Meals: B

Because of our early departure today a LIGHT BREAKFAST will be boxed ahead of time for us, but you may want to bring some other items to keep you going until lunch, although there are some vendors who do sell food and drinks very early at Angkor Wat (including delicious coffee).

5:00 am Group TRANSFER for sunrise at the stunning Angkor Wat. Sunrise at Angkor Wat is an experience that everyone should have, and one you won’t soon forget.

6:00 am Locally-guided ORIENTATION TOUR of the ruins and free time on your own to explore and photograph at your own pace.

7:45 am TRANSFER to the ruins at Ta Prohm, also referred to as the “Tomb Raider Temple” as this is where actress Angelina Jolie filmed parts of her movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.  You’ll absolutely marvel at the spung and other trees that seem to drip like wax from the sky over the temple ruins.

9:30 am TRANSFER to the ruins at Bayon which you can explore on foot with or without our guide.

11:00 am Those who are interested in making the most of their ONE DAY PASS can choose to stay and visit other parts of the temple complex (i.e. Angkor Thom or Preah Khan) up until the 5:30 pm closing time, but do make sure our guide arranges an inexpensive tuk-tuk because they are difficult to find as most that you see have been hired. Or head back to the hotel for a rest and then come back to Angkor Wat to explore more later in the afternoon.

Those who’ve had enough of exploring the ruins can TRANSFER back to the hotel in Siem Reap.