Cambodia

Best of Cambodia

Best of Cambodia | Tailor-Made

Colonial splendour meets the culture of centuries. Discover Cambodian civilisation at its most glorious in the legendary Angkor temple complex and at its most chilling in a former Khmer Rouge prison. Swim from gleaming white beaches and explore the traditional floating villages of this land of beauty and wonder.

12 nights/13 days

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Itinerary

Best of Cambodia

12 NIGHTS/13 DAYS

Day 1 – Arrival Phnom Penh
On arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport you will be met by your Avventura representative and taken by private transfer to your hotel, a journey time of 40 minutes.

Accommodation: Raffles Hotel Le Royal in a State Room. Hotel upgrade option available – Rosewood Phnom Penh in an Executive Room.

Day 2 – Phnom Penh
After breakfast, you will start your exploration of Phnom Penh City, the capital of Cambodia, located at the meeting point of four branches of the Mekong River, Chaktomuk. You will visit the Royal Palace built in 1866 and see the Silver Pagoda located within the palace compound. The treasures on display have been supplied by the King of Cambodia and include gifts from various other countries. Among the treasures is a solid gold Buddha, weighing 90 kilos and encrusted with 9,584 diamonds.

In the afternoon, you will visit Tuol Sleng, a historic school which was used as a prison during the Khmer Rouge rule.

Then, you will enjoy a private interactive workshop with an opportunity unlike any other. You will have a choice of traditional dance, Cambodian Opera or traditional music workshops. Your friendly hosts will invite you to share this fun experience by learning a traditional Cambodian dance. After a short introduction from your teacher, as well as some insights into the history of the arts in Cambodia, you can practice some easy, fundamental gestures, styles and technique of the dance.

Accommodation: Raffles Hotel Le Royal in a State Room. Hotel upgrade option available – Rosewood Phnom Penh in an Executive Room.

Meal Plan – Breakfast.

Day 3 – Phnom Penh to Shinta Mani Wild Tented Camp
After breakfast, your private transfer will depart for Shinta Mani Wild Tented Camp, a journey time of approximately three hours. On arrival, your private butler will introduce your custom-designed luxury tent and your forthcoming experiences, as you enjoy a refreshing welcome drink. The custom-designed tents are perched over the swift-moving waters and waterfalls, providing a stunning view and an experience unlike any other resort in Asia.

Accommodation: Shinta Mani Wild Tented Camp.

Meal Plan – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 4 – Shinta Mani Wild Tented Camp
In the morning, you will head out on patrol with the rangers from the Wildlife Alliance, a wildlife NGO dedicated to stopping and catching poachers and illegal loggers in the area. The team of rangers is funded by Shinta Mani Wild and has a base just above the tents.

You will spend an afternoon on one of the expedition boats and explore the upper reaches of a nearby estuary. You will anchor in a beautiful backwater to take out kayaks and catch fresh giant crabs, while your butler will strike the barbecue to cook your catch.

You will spend time with the chef, a master in the kitchen and an avid forager of edible Cambodian plants. You will go on a foraging expedition as he shares his vast wealth of knowledge on the plants, fruits, and fungi that the forest has to offer. Upon your return, prepare to enjoy a cooking class.

A team of naturalists, who live at the camp to study the flora and fauna, will take you on hikes during your stay at Shinta Mani. They have several research projects that you can join, as they check their camera traps and bring the forest alive.

At your leisure, the Boulder Spa will offer a rejuvenating range of treatments based on traditional Khmer herbs and healing rituals to reduce stress and reset your inner balance.

Accommodation: Shinta Mani Wild Tented Camp.

Meal Plan – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 5 – Shinta Mani Wild Tented Camp
Today is at leisure for you to enjoy the sights, sounds and activities of this stunning luxury camp in one of Cambodia’s wildest, most remote areas.

Accommodation: Shinta Mani Wild Tented Camp.

Meal Plan – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 6 – Shinta Mani Wild Tented Camp to Sihanoukville Island
After breakfast, you will be met by your guide and leave by private transfer for Sihanoukville Island, a journey of approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Located on the Southern coast of Cambodia, Sihanoukville is the first beach destination in the country, due to its white sandy beaches and the tropical islands that face the city. Sihanoukville, named after the King Norodom Sihanouk, was built in 1955 to allow Cambodia to have its first deep-water port. Since then, the city has become the most popular place to relax on its idyllic beaches and islands.

The remainder of your day is at leisure.

Accommodation: Six Senses Krabey Island in a Hideaway Pool Villa Suite.

Meal Plan – Breakfast.

Days 7 & 8 – Sihanoukville Island
Two full days at leisure to enjoy this wonderful ecologically managed tropical island retreat.

Accommodation: Six Senses Krabey Island in a Hideaway Pool Villa Suite.

Meal Plan – Breakfast.

Day 9 – Sihanoukville Island to Siem Reap
After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to Sihanoukville Island and to travel by speed boat to Sihanoukville pier. It takes approximately 35 to 45 minutes to reach the main pier of Serendipity beach. Upon arrival, your vehicle and driver will be waiting to take you by private transfer to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap.

The rest of your day is at leisure.

Accommodation: Raffles Grand D’Angkor in a State Room. Hotel upgrade option available – Belmond La Résidence Angkor in a Junior Suite.

Meal Plan – Breakfast.

Day 10 – Siem Reap
This morning after breakfast, you will have a private transfer to Angkor Thom, “the big city”. Magically emerging from nowhere, you will see the huge curiously smiling faces carved in stone – on the Bayon Temple, built around the 12th – 13th century. This amazing edifice is surrounded by 54 towers, each of them adorned with four faces. You will then continue to the Baphuon, a temple mountain built in the 11th century and the Terrace of the Elephants, used for royal audiences and public ceremonies. Continue your visit to the Terrace of the Leper King, built in the 12th century, covered by magnificent Apsara sculpting.

During your day of temple explorations around the majestic Angkor Archaeological Park, you will pass by the Srah Srang baray or reservoir (Khmer Empire baths) where you will enjoy a private and relaxing picnic lunch in a charming Khmer village timber house, far from the crowds.

In the afternoon, you will visit the most famous temple; Angkor Wat. Starting from the central aisle, you will be in awe of its size and artistic intricacy. Finally, your day will conclude with a visit to Ta Prohm, a temple that has become overrun by silk-cotton and strangler fig trees to create an astonishing mix of manmade and natural architecture.

Accommodation: Raffles Grand D’Angkor in a State Room. Hotel upgrade option available – Belmond La Résidence Angkor in a Junior Suite.

Meal Plan – Breakfast & Picnic Lunch.

Day 11 – Siem Reap and Preak Toal
After breakfast you will depart by private transfer from Siem Reap to Chong Kneas where you will join the boat that will take you to Preak Toal. Your scenic boat journey will allow you to see the unique way of life in Cambodia’s floating villages, where everything floats – from the school, to the pharmacy to the church.

Your experience continues with a truly authentic home-cooked lunch in a peaceful and private setting. You will have a very special activity: a water hyacinth weaving workshop where a villager will teach you the traditional way of turning the water hyacinth plant into a colourful household item.

Accommodation: Raffles Grand D’Angkor in a State Room. Hotel upgrade option available – Belmond La Résidence Angkor in a Junior Suite.

Meal Plan – Breakfast & Lunch.

Day 12 – Siem Reap
Today you will see a new perspective of life in Cambodia. Eco Soap Bank is a humanitarian non-profit NGO focused on saving, sanitising and supplying recycled soap and providing hygiene education services. You will have a presentation and see the various steps in the recycling process. You will also get a chance to help the local staff create your personalised Eco Soap bar.

Your participation at this workshop ensures fifty soap bars will be donated to Angkor Children’s Hospital. You may even choose to donate your personalised soap bar to this incredibly worthy cause.

Your afternoon is free at your leisure.

Accommodation: Raffles Grand D’Angkor in a State Room. Hotel upgrade option available – Belmond La Résidence Angkor in a Junior Suite.

Meal Plan – Breakfast & Lunch.

Day 13 – Siem Reap
Following a leisurely breakfast, your day is at leisure to enjoy until it is time for your private transfer to Siem Reap International airport for your departure flight.

Location

Accommodation options

PHNOM PENH

ROSEWOOD PHNOM PENH

Rosewood Phnom Penh occupies the top 14 floors of Vattanac Capital Tower, the city’s first true skyscraper rising 188 metres above the Cambodian capital. The iconic building takes the form of a rising dragon facing the east, offering unobstructed panoramic views of the city, including the fabled Mekong River. The property features include a living room-style sky lobby, excellent dining venues, a 24-hour fitness centre, a 20-metre indoor swimming pool and the tranquil Sense, a spa with seven treatment rooms, .The Executive Rooms are light and airy, are very well equipped and have panoramic views of historic Phnom Penh.

RAFFLES HOTEL LE ROYAL

A historic landmark hotel, Raffles Hotel Le Royal is the place where an elegant past lives on in the vibrant, trendy present – just like the city you will explore. This iconic hotel dating from 1929 mixes Khmer Art Deco with French colonial styles and has magnificent gardens, a restful spa and two swimming pools – augmented with the intuitive, attentive service you would expect from Raffles. Rooms are beautifully appointed with a colonial style but with modern comfort and amenities.

SHINTA MANI WILD TENTED CAMP

The Shinta Mani Wild Tented Camp is ideally located on the border of the three national parks – Kirirom, Bokor and Cardamom; some of Cambodia’s wildest, most remote areas. The luxurious camp has an array of nature and wildlife-focused activities available for guests to enjoy. Sustainability is central to the camp’s ethos, with the Shinta Mani Foundation spearheading conservation and community outreach programmes, providing local employment via a hospitality school in Siem Reap. The tents are beautifully appointed and are complemented by a spa providing a wide range of natural treatments nestled among the rocks and your “Jungle Butler” will ensure you make the most of this unique Cambodian rainforest experience.

SIX SENSES KRABEY ISLAND

Six Senses Krabey Island is a private 30-acre island located three miles off Ream National Park in the Gulf of Thailand. This delightful resort provides an idyllic, relaxing experience in some of the most beautiful lush jungle in southern Cambodia.

The villas are well appointed, sustainable and sympathetically designed to be in keeping with their jungle setting. The Hideaway Pool Suites have a private sundeck and plunge pool allowing you to relax on your terms and the excellent spa facilities are all you would expect from Six Senses. Dining options include Aha, an all-day relaxed dining experience and Tree, a secluded intimate dining space set among the trees overlooking the island’s coastline.

BELMOND LA RÉSIDENCE ANGKOR

Belmond La Résidence was one of the first grand hotels to open in Siem Reap. Today, a short journey from Angkor Wat, its riverside position puts guests in the heart of the city but in an idyllic and private setting. Arranged around the beautiful courtyard, the suites are your personal haven. Indonesian teak, traditionally-carved furnishings and jewel-toned silks pay homage to old-world Cambodia.

Rejuvenate body and soul at the award-winning spa and fitness centre or cool down in the saltwater swimming pool where an Angkorian lion watches over bathers. The excellent dining options restaurants offer a feast for the senses. End the night, drink in hand, overlooking Siem Reap from the cocktail lounge.

RAFFLES GRAND HOTEL D’ANGKOR

Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor is a landmark historic hotel, having welcomed travellers since 1932. With 15 acres of gardens, Cambodia’s most iconic swimming pool and original features like its timber elevator, it provides the perfect base from which to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor. Restaurant options include Café d’Angkor, Grand and the Apsara Terrace providing a range of sumptuous fare from Royal Khmer cuisine to western fine dining. Raffles Spa provides a wide range of authentic and natural treatments for you to pamper yourself amid this wonderful and iconic setting.

Activities options

PHNOM PENH – SUNSET CRUISE ON THE MIGHTY MEKONG RIVER

Enjoy a memorable sunset cruise in Phnom Penh. Watch the city lights from the quiet waters along the riverfront and witness often unseen local life on the other side of the mighty Mekong River.

Cruise down the vibrant promenade of the bustling capital, pass the spectacular Royal Palace and get to where the Tonle Sap meets the Bassac and the two arms of the Mekong. During this journey you will see the floating villages and local fishermen at work, the active locals gathering along the riverside, all while enjoying a fantastic atmosphere and a spectacular sunset over the Phnom Penh skyline.

SIEM REAP – LOCAL FLAVOURS

Discover the most savoured flavours of local Cambodian cuisine as you walk through the centre of Siem Reap, uncovering a bounty of tasty surprises as you go. Visit a restored local house to begin your exploration with an aperitif and assortment of renowned Khmer delicacies. Continue to a famous local eatery where they serve traditional saak koh ang (grilled beef with raw and fresh vegetables) accompanied by local beer or drinks. The evening continues with a browse through the market by night and ends at the riverside to enjoy a traditional dessert.

SIEM REAP – PHARE CAMBODIAN CIRCUS

The Phare Cambodian Circus offers an authentic insight into Cambodian history and culture. The aim of each performance is to provide the audience with stories revealing important pieces of Khmer history, from the Khmer Rouge period to the modern issues of Khmer society.

Phare Ponleu Selpak is an NGO founded in 1994 and based in Battambang. Its overriding objective is to provide artistic training to poor, young Cambodians. The organisation also provides a classical education through to high school for underprivileged children.

CAMBODIA’S LITTLE HEROES

During the Vietnam-Cambodia War, Cambodia was bombarded by at least 26 million explosive sub-munitions. Research estimates there were between 1.9 million and 5.8 million cluster munitions remaining after the war. The APOPO organisation and its mine detection rats (MDR), also known as “HeroRats”, are making sure the affected area is as safe as possible.

During the visit, a private APOPO’s expert guide, shows the HeroRats in action in a real-life demonstration area and explains how APOPO trains them to save lives through a mine clearance process. It’s not just impressive to see these little heroes in action, it’s also a good opportunity to appreciate the impact landmines still has today on the local community.

HELICOPTER FLIGHTS OVER SIEM REAP

Experience the vast Angkor temple complex by helicopter. Various flight options are available from an eight-minute journey over Angkor Wat to a 50-minute flight taking in the sights of Siem Reap, Roluos Temples, Angkor Wat, Banteay Srei and Phnom Kulen.

Cambodia

Itinerary

Location