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Angkor & Community (7 days)

Cambodia has an immense history and mix of cultures, with many ancient Khmer temples scattered all over the country. Most notably, centralized around Siem Reap with World Heritage Sites of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon, and jungle temples such as Taprohm and Beng Melea. These temples are also surrounded by Southeast Asia’s largest fresh water lake, Tonle Sap, as well as its third longest river, the Mekong River.

Day 1

 

  • Arrive in Siem Reap and receive a warmly welcome by your host.
  • Orientation walk to discover the slum village, to learn and experience how hard life of those people who are living below the poverty line, earning less than a dollar a day.
  • Visit Wat Kok Chok and ancient ruins on the way back and enjoy the sunset while the locals fish at the lake just in front of our home stay.
  • For dinner, your first traditional home-cooked meal with your host's family.  After dinning, our driver will take you to explore the Siem Reap nightlife, Pub Street and the Night Market, before heading back home for a good night’s sleep

Day 2

 

  • Over the course of two days, we will explore some of the highlights of this stunning ancient capital city of the Khmer empire including; the magnificent temple of Angkor Wat, the enigmatic Bayon temple decorated by 54 sculpted smiling faces.The Bayon became certainly the most impressive for early French explorers and curators in 1916 who stated” We stand before it stunned. There is nothing else in the world that compares”. 
  • After a rest, learn to cook your newly favourite Khmer specialties with your hosts. After the effort comes the comfort. Enjoy and a well-deserved meal and the fruit of your labour. You will also be familiarized with delicate local rice wines, "Sra Thnam", produced by your devouted guide. Share your first impressions before an early night's sleep to prepare for the early adventure that awaits.

Day 3

 

  • Rise before dawn to watch the sunrise at Angkor Wat and then continue on exploring the jungle temple called Taprohm where Tomb Raider was shot in 2001 starring Angelina Jolie. This early visit is a special opportunity to enjoy the peaceful and undisturbed atmosphere making you feel like the first explorer came to Angkor about 100 years ago.

  • Return to accommodation for an authentic breakfast. You can have a little rest or explore the Siem Reap downtown and daytime market.

  • At noon visit the Great Lake Tonle Sap, Fishing – floating community. Enjoy the delicious lunch cooked by Mei Chrey and his local family. Explore this untouched community of wooden houses and canal streets by boat and kayak. The village’s 500 families are among the thousands who have settled on the surface of the freshwater Tonlé Sap, Cambodia’s ‘Great Lake’, where, not surprisingly, life revolves around the water.

Day 4

 

  • Visit Ben Melea Temple, hidden and lost in the Cambodian jungle, away from the crowds of Siem Reap. Beng Mealea was built in the early 12th century by great Khmer emperor, Suryavarman II, the founder of Angkor Wat. Throughout the years Beng Mealea was abandoned, nature took its course and the whole site has been overrun by plants. Exploring the site is an adventure in itself. To access the best parts, you need to climb over piles or stones, scramble up walls and swing around trees. This is not Tomb raider – this is the real deal.  If you intend to visit the temples of Angkor and happen to fall in love with the magical and mystical temple of Ta Prohm (A temple embraced by the roots and trees of the jungle), then you will gaze in amazement at the sights, tranquility, sounds and the devouring jungle as it slowly swallows Beng Mealea.

  • Take some time to practice meditation in this utmost peaceful setting. Your guide will teach you how to gain control on your mind and freeing yourself to enjoy the present moment.

  • On the way back to Siem Reap, we will have our tasty lunch at Samrong Village cooked by a local family that takes you deep inside the Cambodian family culture.

Day 5

 

  • Say goodbye to our host and drive one hour to Kralanh where we will meet our new family before heading to a Buddhist Monastery, "Wat Thmey", to learn the ways of the Monks and practice meditation. Our lunch will be prepared be Buddhist nuns.

  • Visit Killing Fields which were discovered on the 21st March 2012 by a bulldozer driver as he was digging up land.We also visit Wat Phnom Monastery where we can climb up to the top of the Phnom Trong Batt hill to view the most stunning landscape of rice paddies.  We will also spend some time to teach English to local children eager to learn and improve their listening and writing skills.

  • Entertaining evening full of jokes and laughter with our local family who will serve you their specialties and locally produced herbal wines

     

Day 6

 

  • Enjoy a traditional breakfast with our host family before visiting a local school

  • In the afternoon you will have the choice to either teach, fish, or cook in the afternoon

  • Farewell dinner with local family and last memories to share of this fantastic week shared together

Day 7

 

  • Depart at any time. We will accompany you to the airport or make arrangements for any other location you need to travel to.

Included Activities:

 

  • 3 days guided tour of Angkor & Beng Melea temples

  • Tonle Sap Lake and Mei Chrey fishing – floating community

  •  Guided tour to Kiling Fields & Wat Phnom

  • 6 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners and 2 cooking classes 

 

Optional Activities:

 

  • Elephant Ride in Angkor

  • Hot air balloon over Angkor Thom

  • Angkor National Museum

  • Motorbike tour to explore Cambodian Villages

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