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Cambodia holiday - temples, history, people, traditions

COUNTRY:
Cambodia
LOCATION:
Angkor Wat
DEPARTURES:
2012: 9 May, 10 Jun, 16 Sep, 30 Oct
PRICE:
From £895 (14 days) excluding flights
MORE INFO:
Based on twin or double room. £1025 for a single room. Price includes transportation, B&B accommodation, English speaking tour leader, guides and admissions . We can help arrange flights from the UK.
VOUCHERS:
Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
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Cambodia holiday -  temples, history, people, traditions

Cambodia holiday - temples, history, people, traditions

This small group tour
Our small group journeys have a maximum of 10 people to ensure that we interact with, rather than overwhelm, the places we visit. Accommodation is in clean, comfortable locally–owned guest houses or small hotels with fan or air–conditioning and private bathroom, each of which has been hand–picked by us. The exception is actually a highlight of the trip – a homestay in wooden houses on the banks of a river. This trip is led by a local tour leader who can add insight to every stage of the journey, and is supplemented by expert guides at places of particular significance.

How this holiday makes a difference

We are a social enterprise, created from the outset with the aim of providing local people with much-needed employment, a sense of community and opportunities for development. Using best business practices to improve lives in areas of need, we provide direct support to on-the-ground humanitarian and conservation projects.

We believe that truly responsible travel should benefit both the client and the destination in equal measures. The client gains an insight into other countries and cultures, learning a little bit about themselves in the process. The destination receives economic benefit and opportunities for self-development – but never at the sacrifice of their culture or integrity.

In order to achieve these aims we operate two policies alongside each other: the first to minimise what we take, the second to maximise what we give back. Self-administration of projects and funds ensures that 100% of our support goes directly to the people who need it.

As a social enterprise, our tour leaders are all local people who have been personally chosen and trained by us, and have been able to realise their potential and work towards a better future for themselves and their families. Encouraged to have an input on how the company operates and develops, our team brings constructive criticism, fresh ideas and a deeper level of interaction with our clients. The variety in the destinations you visit gives you a feeling for the "real" Cambodia, and the varied modes of transport give you the opportunity to see many aspects of the local way of life.

During this journey we visit a humanitarian project, an NGO restaurant run by street children, a village co-operative and an arts centre/café for young disabled people, to give you a positive appreciation of how Cambodia is slowly rebuilding itself. Our contributions to a number of these organisations and our commitment to fair salaries and in-country training ensure that the country directly benefits from your holiday.

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Cambodia holiday - temples, history, people, traditions

Reviewed 22 Jan 2011 by Barbara Essam4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


It was all very memorable. The tour not only gave us an opportunity to learn more of the ancient and modern history of Cambodia but also to experience city and rural life in this beautiful country, and meet some wonderful people who had lived through so much suffering yet remain positive and hopeful for the future.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Enjoy it all!!

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Yes.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


Excellent.

Reviewed 17 Feb 2010 by JB4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


Two weeks seeing countryside, villages, towns and places of interest in varying areas of Cambodia was just right. Seeing how far Cambodia has come since the fighting stopped in 1999 (much more recently than many people think), seeing how far it has to go, meeting the friendly people, hearing some awful personal experiences about the time of the Khmer Rouge when literally everyone in the country was displaced or killed (makes you wonder how people can be so open and friendly now), eating the delicious food, and seeing and experiencing much more of the country than most tourists go. Don't just go to Siem Reap/Angkor Wat - you'll be templed out and not see the real Cambodia.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


I brought some English books for the school, as all the young people seem to want to learn English, but found that the school we visited had a library of over 3000 books and in fact donating US dollars (or buying something from them) would be more useful because then they can spend the money on what the school needs. I should have given my books away to local people because Cambodians currently have to pay for most schooling and it's not compulsory over primary age. Don't give money to beggars (it will encourage people to beg, and fortunately not that many people do so far, but it could easily get worse if tourists give money to beggars), give money to NGOs and charities but be wary because corruption is rife.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Our holiday definitely benefited local people, especially when we stayed in the village house, took a little ride on a kuyon cart, and ate good food prepared by the villagers (because it gave several local people work and they got paid for it, and they seemed pleased that we really enjoyed it). We also took a cooking class at Nary Kitchen and ate great food prepared by Nary in a side street in Battambang. We ate locally most of the time, and chose cafes run by NGOs sometimes. Unfortunately many of the ancient temples and other buildings were damaged by people breaking off pieces to sell (our local guide said he had seen the monuments in 1989 and there was less damage then) but this is reducing now because of the tourists coming to see the monuments. People are often allowed to climb on the monuments and this must gradually damage them. Our driver and tour leader (both local) laughed at me when I suggested that we could reduce the aircon in the minibus to save petrol and to lessen pollution. Many people rely on burning timber for fuel. Flooding seems to be a serious risk in the monsoon period, although drought could cause devastation. I realised that the environment is very far down the list of priorities for most Cambodians. But I was pleased to see that many hotels have low energy light bulbs everywhere, at least. Maybe I should not have gone at all because of the heavy footprint of my long haul flight, but I can't help thinking that curious visitors may help gradually to encourage the Cambodians and their government to stop another horror like the Khmer Rouge, curb corruption, improve education, manage and improve the environment, and it does directly help local people.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


Very well organised. Our local tour leader and drivers were 100% reliable and took all the worry out of organising. They left us alone for part of every day, so we could "explore" and be a bit adventurous. They offered options and partly tailored the tour and visits specially to suit us and our tastes. Good value for money. Despite the low salaries, we gathered that this small travel company pays slightly better than most of the other, bigger travel companies, so I would recommend it.

Reviewed 04 Feb 2008 by David Hadfield4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


Obviously the visits to the temples and the Killing Fields are a must, but most of all we really enjoyed our 2 day trip on the back of motorbikes seeing the countryside and the cottage industries. The cheerfulness of the Cambodians is quite refreshing.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Only pack lightweight casual clothing. Laundry at the hotels is quick and cheap (some don't charge). It was never cold, even at night. Hiking boots are not necessary. There isn't any strenuous walking although it can be really hot and humid. There are lots of places to eat and the food is usually excellent.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Probably benefited local people more than our previous holidays have done, but the impact on the environment was the same as any holiday.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


Excellent. Just the right blend of activities/sightseeing and time for relaxing.

Reviewed 14 Jan 2007 by Veronica Shilton5 star rating

Just a few photos of our wonderful trip to Cambodia. Would recommend anyone to visit; a wonderful country with extremely gentle and friendly people.



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Holiday Reviews

We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!

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