Cambodia Young Family Explorer

Phnom Penh was once considered as one of the most beautiful cities in the Orient, and despite its recent turbulent history, it still retains a colonial charm. Cambodia’s capital is a bustling city, majestically located at the confluence of the mighty rivers of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap. Wide tree-lined boulevards and many colonial-era buildings reflect the glorious days and add to the allure of the city, where Asian and Western traditions meet in a fascinating way.

On arrival into Phnom Penh you will be met by your guide and escorted to your hotel for check in. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

This morning you will be greeted by a driver who will take you on a tour to the most remarkable sights of Phnom Penh in a Cyclo, an original Phnom Penh means of transportation and a fun way to explore this lively city. First, visit Wat Phnom, which is situated near the northern boundary of the city. The site contains some good examples of Khmer architecture and statues.

Continue along the lively riverfront to the Royal Palace. This palace dates back to 1866 and houses the Silver Pagoda, named for the over 5000 heavy silver tiles that cover its floors. Its original name is Wat Prakeo, meaning Temple of the Emerald Buddha. In this temple you will view a collection of Buddhas in gold, silver, crystal, and bronze.

Continue to Bloom café, an incredible cake art gallery and a not-for-profit training organization that empowers and skills young disadvantaged Cambodian women, providing them with a profession. Here you will try some of their incredible creations and cupcakes before being dropped back by your hotel.

Note: Bloom café is open Monday-Saturday (10:00-17:00hrs) and closed every Sunday

The remainder of the day is at leisure with some optional afternoon experiences.

Early this morning, travel by private vehicle to Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre, located an hour’s drive from Phnom Penh, and the world’s largest sanctuary for sun bears and has educated hundreds of thousands of Cambodians about the threats facing their wild bear populations.

On arrival meet the staff at Free The Bears, located within Phnom Tamao. Free The Bears is a registered charity that was set up by an Australian lady, Mary Hutton to protect, preserve and enrich the lives of bears throughout the world. The 100+ bears that you will see at Phnom Tamao may have faced death or a torturous life in order to provide medicinal benefits or exotic food to the Asian market. Twenty one forested enclosures have been built over 7 hectares to house a mixture of Sun bears and Asiatic black bears of different ages and personalities.

After visiting the various different bear houses take part in a fun activity of preparing enrichment toys. There will also be time to visit some of the other endangered species kept at Phnom Tamao. Lunch will be taken at a simple local picnic hut ‘Khmer style’. In the afternoon it is time to hide the food in the bear’s forest enclosures and watch them enjoy the fruits of your labour.

Leaving Phnom Tamao drive the short distance to visit Tonle Bati Temple, an Angkorian-style temple which remains largely intact and the pretty garden enhances the atmosphere. Whilst being very small in size the temple is one of the best preserved and picturesque you can visit in Cambodia.

On the way back to Phnom Penh stop to try some local seasonal fruits before arriving at approximately 6pm at your hotel.

(Note: please note that direct contact with the bears is not possible under any circumstances, these are rescued wild animals. It is recommended to bring closed footwear, sunscreen and suitable clothing for a day in the forest).

This morning you will depart the capital and head through rural Cambodia to the town of Battambang. Outside of Phnom Penh traffic is lighter and the whole journey is scenic as you head towards the northwest of the country.

Travel first to Kampong Chhnang, known for its traditional pottery, with many kilns at work in this province. In a village near Kampong Chhnang stop to see the different aspects of pottery making in one of the most scenic locations in Cambodia. You can try your own hand at creating a jug or pot if you like!  

Enjoy a packed lunch at one of the local houses and watch the daily activity of the village.

After continue to Kompong Luong from where you will board a simple local boat to visit a series of floating villages on the Tonlé Sap Lake. Floating factories to make ice for fish preservation, church, pagoda, service stations, fish farms, stores, boat or television repair shops, video club, karaoke bar, police station...everything is on the water. All trades are represented and everybody from children to grandparents go by boat through the network of canals that cross this area.

Continue to Battambang. You will be taken directly to your hotel for check in. Even though Battambang is Cambodia’s second largest city, you will find that the atmosphere is very laid-back in a charming and relaxed river town full of fine examples of French-colonial architecture.

Morning at leisure.

Afternoon head off to the Bamboo Train station. The Bamboo Train has been set up by the villagers in order to facilitate the transportation of goods and persons as there are no regular trains running any more. The “train” itself is very basic: one bamboo platform on 4-wheels is activated by a small motor. Sitting on the platform (we will provide some cushions for your comfort), you will travel the 8 km to the next station through beautiful landscape and rice paddies (depending on season of visit). A true rollercoaster ride without loops!(Note: the train tracks from Battambang to Phnom Penh are currently being rebuilt. The long term future of the bamboo train ride cannot be guaranteed. Should the service stop we will arrange alternative sightseeing).

After breakfast this morning you will depart to Banteay Chhmar.

On arrival you will head out to visit Banteay Chhmar temple, a place of exceptional atmosphere which gets very few visitors. A notable feature of this temple that is applying for UNESCO World Heritage Site status is the magnificent bas reliefs on the outside of the inner sanctuary walls. Almost every step within this vast ruin; gives another fabulous picture of stone being consumed by nature. It is a spectacular sight with its Bayon Style towers, walls and enclosures cloaked with vegetation. 

Enjoy a picnic lunch amongst the temples before coming back to the village.

The surrounding countryside of the village, with its paddy fields and sugar palm trees is very typical for Cambodia, and here you will also enjoy the beauty on a village tour by ox-cart in the late afternoon, a great and fun way to get in touch with rural Cambodia and its friendly people.

Your accommodation tonight will be at a traditional local homestay, a fabulous intimate encounter to get to experience a typical Khmer village, learning about local life and customs.

After dinner with the local family you will see a performance of traditional Khmer music played by the local villagers.

After breakfast, visit the local market in Banteay Chhmar and experience a typical Khmer village. Your local guide will explain about some of the traditional life that takes place, including fishing, beekeeping, weaving and rice farming.

From here, continue to Siem Reap, the base for exploring the fabled temples of Angkor, the ancient capital of the Khmer empire, where you will be taken to your hotel for check in.

The remainder of the day is at leisure.

This morning you will discover some of the main Angkor sites with a tour by local remok (tuk tuk). First, you will head to the biggest religious temple in the world: the magnificent Angkor Wat Temple. 

Continue to the ancient city of Angkor Thom. Angkor Thom was the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. This city is surrounded by an 8 m high wall drawing a perfect square. You will enter the city from the ancient South Gate, an impressive stone gate carved with Elephants and four giant faces and onwards to the Bayon Temple in the exact center of the city. This 12th century masterpiece is a study in grandeur and is well-known for its 54 towers with enigmatic faces representing the 54 provinces of the Great Khmer Empire. The Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King are also must-visits as they are both known for their intricate bas-reliefs. Stroll through the grounds of the former Royal Palace to discover some small hidden temples that are rarely visited.

After visit Ta Prohm temple, that children will probably enjoy the most. The ‘Tomb Raider’ movie was movie was set and filmed here. Ta Prohm is unique in that it has been left largely as it was found: overgrown by jungle trees and vines, with many parts of the temple crumbling to the ground. This makes Ta Prohm one of the most picturesque and memorable of the Angkor temples.

Return to Siem Reap for lunch at HAVEN, a training restaurant for young adults (orphans, half-orphans and abandoned children), who have to leave orphanages when they come of age. By giving them vocational training in hospitality or as a cook, and teaching them life skills, they gain experience to support the transition from institution to real world. HAVEN serves flavourful Asian and Western food – including some Swiss specialities and many fresh vegetarian delicacies – at the same time you are supporting a training programme and are thereby helping a young adult orphan to achieve a secure and independent future.  (Note: open Mon-Sat 11am-10pm – closed Wed 11am-5.30pm for student training, Sunday all day).

Afternoon at leisure.

Today you will experience an incredible tour to learn about life in a typical village, be warmly welcomed by the locals, meet local communities and find out about village customs and cultures.

You will be picked up from your hotel by your local guide and driven to Kompheim Village, 25 minutes out of town. On arrival you will take an Ox cart ride through the village and even learn how to drive! You will then meet the host family who will be looking after you for the day and take part in whatever seasonal activity is happening at that time, including rice planting, weaving thatch roofs, planting or harvesting vegetable crops etc. Each tour will be different and the activity will depend on the time of the year, the family and the needs of the local village. You will also help plant a fruit tree for your local family.

You will then meet another family to learn and take part in preparing a delicious Khmer lunch from fresh ingredients, which you will then sit down and eat with them.

After lunch you will take a walk through the rest of the village and community, getting the opportunity to interact with the locals, before transferring back to Siem Reap in the early afternoon, where the remainder of the day is at leisure.

Enjoy some time at leisure to relax at the hotel or to discover Siem Reap town on your own until the transfer to the airport for your afternoon flight to Sihanoukville (1 hr).

On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Enjoy your day at leisure

Enjoy your day at leisure.

Breakfast at hotel. Free at leisure until the afternoon transfer back to Phnom Penh with a driver only.