Small group holiday to Cambodia
| country: | Cambodia |
| location: | Angkor Wat |
| departures: | 2009: 29 Nov, 20 Dec 2010: 10 Jan, 31 Jan, 21 Feb, 14 Mar, 28 Mar, 25 Apr, 23 May, 20 Jun, 18 Jul, 15 Aug, 5 Sep, 26 Sep, 10 Oct, 31 Oct, 7 Nov, 28 Nov, 5 Dec, 26 Dec |
| price: | From £970 - £1155 (12 days) excluding flights, based on 2 people sharing. We can arrange flights from the UK from £650 per person including taxes. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
From unspoiled beaches to the gateway of Angkor and beyond – discover the wonders and little known gems of Cambodia on this 12 day journey. Experience the contrasts of the capital Phnom Penh – its wide streets lined with faded French villas, the fascinating National Museum and burgeoning arts scene. We also spend time in the little visited south, in the colonial port town of Kampot, and on the uncrowded beaches of Kep and Sihanoukville. And of course, no Cambodian sojourn would be complete without a visit to the temples of Angkor – including far flung Boeng Mealea, ornate Banteay Srei and the majestic Angkor Wat.
Price includes: 11 nights hotel accommodation, all road transport by air-conditioned vehicles (half-day temple touring by tuk tuk), all sightseeing as specified (excluding entrance fees), Western tour leader (7 or more travellers) and local English speaking guides throughout, arrival and departure transfers, breakfast daily, 1 dinner and 2 lunches.
Price includes: 11 nights hotel accommodation, all road transport by air-conditioned vehicles (half-day temple touring by tuk tuk), all sightseeing as specified (excluding entrance fees), Western tour leader (7 or more travellers) and local English speaking guides throughout, arrival and departure transfers, breakfast daily, 1 dinner and 2 lunches.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-3: | Phnom Penh. On arrival in Phnom Penh, transfer to your hotel and meet your tour leader and group for welcome drinks and a tour briefing. During our stay here we gain an insight into the contrasts of Khmer history with visits to the Royal Palace, National Museum, Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields. Jump aboard a cyclo for a visit to the city’s namesake, Wat Phnom, and learn about the plight of local street children, and what you can do to help, at the ChildSafe Centre. There will also be time to learn the secrets of Khmer cuisine with a cooking class, and visit a beautiful hilltop temple in nearby Oudong, a former capital of Cambodia. Hotel: Juliana Hotel. |
| Day 4-5: | Kep & Kampot. We head out into the countryside, passing lush green rice paddies lined with swaying sugar palms, towards the south coast. We take an exhilarating speedboat trip along the narrow canals around Takeo, near the Vietnamese border, then head to our beachside getaway in Kep, famous for it's pepper and durian plantations. At days end, why not enjoy a cool drink or some delicious fresh seafood on the Kep beachfront as the sun dips into the bay. Hotel: The Beach House. |
| Day 6-7: | Bokor & Sihanoukville. We drive to Sihanoukville, Cambodia's premier beach resort, stopping en route to explore the stunning natural environs and ruined casino at Bokor National Park. Sihanoukville is an ideal place to relax for a few days, dine on fresh seafood and visit the pristine beaches and mangroves of nearby Ream National Park. Hotel: Seaside Hotel. |
| Day 8-12: | Siem Reap. We return to Phnom Penh for our short flight to Siem Reap, gateway to the temples of Angkor. Rise before dawn to experience the spires of Angkor Wat emerge from surrounding darkness – an unforgettable sight. Tour the main temple complex, including the impressive stone faces of the Bayon, by tuk tuk and venture off the tourist trail to jungle covered Boeng Mealea. Experience the natural marvel of Tonle Sap Lake on a boat cruise and explore the pre Angkorian Roulos temples. In your free time, seek out some bargains in the Old Market or enjoy a drink at the Foreign Correspondents Club. Celebrate your time in Cambodia with a final evening meal before your journey ends with an airport transfer on day 12. Hotel: Steung Siem Reap Hotel. |
small group adventure holiday
These small group journeys have a maximum of 15 like-minded travellers which ensures that all travellers have an amazing overall experience with the destination and that they enjoy the flexibility that comes with the small group dynamic. On this trip you will stay at boutique accommodation with character. Our numbers are discreet enough for us to interact with local families in their homes and meet people in markets, bazaars and temples – something that’s just not possible when you arrive as part of a large tour group. Along with our unique combination of Western tour leader and local English-speaking guide this will ensure an unforgettable travel experience.how this holiday makes a difference
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We believe that travel should entail an exchange of knowledge and perspectives, a sharing of wealth, and a genuine appreciation of Cambodia’s beautiful natural environments. This philosophy underpins the heart and soul of our style of travel. We recognise that poorly planned itineraries or poorly informed tourists contribute less to cross-cultural understanding and less to the livelihoods of local people.
Our most comprehensive Cambodia journey combines some of her best-kept secrets with the highlights including the temples of Angkor. Here we have facilitated a very significant donation to the World Monument Fund in Cambodia, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the maintenance of a select number of archaeologically precious temples in Angkor. During the Cambodia Revealed we actively encourage our travellers to patronise or financially assist numerous not-for-profit organisations in Cambodia including Friends Restaurant in Phnom Penh (which trains and is staffed by disadvantaged young people), Made in Cambodia in Siem Reap (which sells items made by underprivileged Cambodians) and the Sunrise Orphanages in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Our offices also finance the Angkor Hospital for Children in Siem Reap, which provides health care services to poor Cambodians and through which we sponsor the training of a Cambodian nurse. On this journey our local guides are trained to share their knowledge of cultural and other local issues in a balanced, informative way; in this journey alone you are likely to meet several local guides from different areas in Cambodia. They share real experiences from their own lives and insights into their family life, influences and beliefs, thus providing our travellers with a deeper understanding of the places they visit. This is what motivates our guides, not shopping commissions. Our offices in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are staffed with local people wherever possible and we have a long term aim of filling management roles with competent local staff. This presence in Cambodia means we are much better able to control the content, the actions of our suppliers, and the style of our small group journey. |
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. |