| country: | Cambodia |
| location: | Angkor Wat |
| departures: | 2009: 25 Nov, 2 Dec, 16 Dec, 27 Dec, 30 Dec 2010: 6 Jan, 10 Jan, 13 Jan, 17 Jan, 20 Jan, 24 Jan, 27 Jan, 3 Feb, 7 Feb, 10 Feb, 17 Feb, 21 Feb, 24 Feb, 3 Mar, 7 Mar, 10 Mar, 17 Mar, 21 Mar, 24 Mar, 31 Mar, 4 Apr, 7 Apr, 14 Apr, 18 Apr |
| price: | From £330 (6 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
read 5 travellers reviews
the amazing things you'll be doing
There are few great archaeological monuments in the world that can match Angkor for its ancient splendour. Founded in the 9th Century AD, Angkor became the country's capital under King Yasorvarman I. By the 13th Century, Angkor covered a vast area and was one of the largest cities in the world. Our Gecko's tour gives you two whole days to explore these magnificent temples with a touch of adventure thrown in on the way. We begin in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, where we spend the day exploring this re-emerging city and visiting the sad and sobering 'killing fields' of Choeung Ek. We then continue by bus around South East Asia's largest freshwater lake to the central Cambodian town of Siem Reap, before arriving at the fabled temples of Angkor.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-2: | Phnom Penh |
| Day 3-5: | Siem Reap - Angkor Temples |
| Day 6: | Siem Reap |
travellers' tales
Specific evidence of the benefits to local people was more apparent in Cambodia especially as we used more local transport in the form of the cyclos more frequently. We also had pointed out to us the company's contribution to projects which enriched the lives of the community. (more)
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places. award winner
This tourism business won an Award in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Societyhow this holiday makes a difference
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Peace and tranquillity have finally come to Cambodia after years of war and faction fighting. This, along with the archaeological wonders of the Angkor region, is drawing an increasing volume of visitors to this tiny nation. Tourism is one of the key industries re-building the shattered economy and, in line with our operations around the world, we are committed to employing local Cambodian tour leaders, and staying in family-owned hotels. This short six-day trip focuses on the major sights, while allowing participants a good measure of interaction with the local people. This operator supports the Phnom Penh Cyclo Centre in Cambodia which provides vital social and educational assistance to local cyclo drivers.
This trip is focused on respecting and benefiting the local people and the environment of this country. On this trip you will be lead by an experienced local leader passionate about their country's history, heritage and natural beauty that will help you to get 'under the skin' of their country and see it through the eyes of a local. This trip stays at locally run accommodation; we eat at local restaurants and travel on local transport. This ensures the financial return to the local economy opens up training and employment opportunities - and allows for informal and meaningful interaction between our travellers and local people. We are constantly seeking new and innovative ways of neutralising our impact on the environment. We will become the first Australian adventure tour operator to offer a voluntary carbon offsetting option on the land component of all its tours, as well as the accompanying flights. Our Community Trust provides funds for local community projects and initiatives that promote responsible and sustainable tourism development in the destinations in which we operate. First and foremost, but not exclusively, the Trust supports projects and initiatives that advance education and employment within the tourism and hospitality industry. The Trust operates on a not-for-profit basis, with every cent of funds donated by us, our staff and our travellers, going to the nominated projects. The maximum group size on all of our adventures is 16 passengers – with exception of some African trips (24 max) and in the Polar Regions, where our ship carries a maximum of 110 passengers. Travelling in small groups ensures we make significantly less impact on the natural environment, as well as breaking down many of the communication barriers presented by a larger group. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |








