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Post date: Aug 4, 2014 10:08:57 AM
DAY 1 - PHNOM PENH (L,D)
Upon arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport, you will be welcomed by your local English speaking guide who will accompany you to your hotel for check in.
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.
First of all, you will be treated to a relaxing lunch at Khmer local restaurant the first time. After this break, 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, head 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.
Your next stop is the National Museum, built in traditional Khmer style. It houses the world's foremost collection of ancient Khmer artistic, archaeological, and religious artifacts from the 4th to the 13th centuries. Over 5,000 pieces are on display, constituting the repository of the Kingdom's cultural wealth. In addition, the roof space is home to a large bat colony!
Return to your hotel, where you will have some time at leisure. Tonight, you will be treated to a delicious Khmer welcome dinner at Romdeng, a lovely charity restaurant where former street children are taught the principles of hospitality. The restaurant is located in a restored colonial building with an atmospheric garden right in the city centre.
Overnight in Frangipani Royal Palace.
DAY 2 - PHNOM PENH - KEP (CYCLING) (B,L,D)
Awake to a delicious French breakfast at your hotel. Today, you will leave Phnom Penh in a Southern direction for Takeo Province. From there, you will start your day of cycling with a ride to the charming seaside town of Kep.
The riding is on tarmac roads through local villages humming with the buzz of day to day life in Cambodia towards the turquoise blue of the Gulf of Thailand. Near the sleepy village of Tani, you will be treated to sweeping vistas of dramatic lime stone hills. Enjoy a local picnic lunch in the shade of a palm tree before moving on.
Arrive in Kep in the afternoon. Cambodia’s prestigious beach resort of the 1960s is now awakening to its former glory. A fascinating mix of a small calm beaches and reminders of the past glories in the form of derelict villas shade themselves in the undergrowth.
The last bit you push on up the hill to Veranda Natural Resort with a very distinct Robinson Crusoe feel. Veranda Natural Resort has an unmatched view of the ocean and surrounding islands as you stroll around its multiple platforms you cannot help but be enchanted by the appeal of this tree house like structure.
In the evening, enjoy a dinner of local and international fare with sweeping sea views at your hotel and relax in the rustic charm of your surroundings.
Overnight in Veranda resort.
(Ride up to 95km)
DAY 3 - KEP - REAM NATIONAL PARK - SIHANOUK VILLE (TREKKING) (B,L,D)
After a great breakfast at the hotel, transfer by mini van to the charming riverside town of Kampot (duration 45 mins.) made famous by Parisian chefs for its exquisite pepper then continue the journey to Ream National Park.
The park was established in 1993 on a 210 km² area on the Gulf of Thailand that includes thick pristine jungle, mangrove forests and off-shore coral reefs. It's a nature lovers paradise with nearly 200 bird species, many kinds of monkeys and it is also the habitat of the pangolin. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant that offers stunning views of the gulf.
After lunch, go on a short trek around the base of the mountain through the jungle to a nearby fishing village. Your guide keeps a watchful eye out for notable reptiles, birds and wildlife.
At late afternoon you will be transfer to Sihanouk Ville to check in at Hotel.
Enjoy you dinner at local restaurant.
Overnight at Sokha Beach hotel.
DAY 4 - SIHANOUK VILLE - ANDOUNG TEK - CHI PHAT (CYCLING) (B,L,D)
Early morning transfer by mini van to the sleepy roadside town of Andoung Tek (duration 1h). Here we begin the next chapter in our adventure, where a boat man will be waiting to take you 30 km up river through the meandering mangroves to the remote village of Chi Phat (duration 1h). Chi Phat has got one of the last remaining tracts of natural rain forest
that remains to date in Indochina. The area is prized for its bio-diversity and abundance of wildlife. This unique place is not often visited by tourists but the income provided by tourism directly funds the community development project in the area. After checking into your local home stay and being introduced to your host family, sit back and enjoy a local lunch in the Community Based-Ecotourism (CBET) Office.
The remainder of the day is packed full of adventure as we set off on our bikes to explore the wilds of Chi Phat. We will explore where nomadic indigenous tribes once roamed the jungle and stumble upon one of their sacred burial sites wedged in the cliff face. Through rivers and over fallen logs up and down challenging terrain from soft and sandy to wet and muddy – this place is a perfect playground for any biking enthusiast of any level. Take in the sweeping vista of the jungle canopy below as you watch the sunset over one of Cambodia’s last great wilderness sites.
Retire to the rural comfort of your homestay to freshen up before a sumptous dinner provided by the local community at the CBET office.
Overnight at homestay in Chi Phat.
(Ride up to 22km)
DAY 5 - CHI PHAT - 4 RIVERS FLOATING LODGE (B,L,D)
After waking to the sound of the Khmer village and a satisfying breakfast it is your turn to give back to the community with a tree planting ceremony.
After a lunch at a local restaurant, the boat man waits for you to re-embark for the journey back down river to Andoung Tek. A short transfer will take you to the starting point of another leisurely boat ride along the mangrove lined river to 4 Rivers Floating lodge where you will stay overnight in a luxurious tent floating on the tranquil river. A culinary delight is already waiting for you for dinner.
Note: After drop you at 4 river floating lodge our guide will not join the 4 River Floating lodge package and they are waiting to pick up you that pier on Day 7.
Overnight at 4 Rivers Floating lodge.
DAY 6 - BOAT TRIP TO TATAI WATERFALL (KAYAKING, TREKKING) (B,L,D)
Early coffee in restaurant kayaks upstream the small channel right behind 4 River. Enjoy first-hand the sights and sounds of the jungle as you venture forth into the undergrowth with your camera and experience the beauty of one of the world's largest rainforests. This takes 2-3 hour trek offer a taste of the true jungle, an opportunity to observe small wildlife and have the added bonus of a morning exercise. The climb starts shortly after on a fairly steep path for about an hour. There is a short break in a clearing near the top and you will return just in time for breakfast. Note: There are snakes, scorpions and spiders on the trek; some are poisonous. However animals are shy and avoid human contact. Respect for nature and a live and let live policy are adopted.
Afternoon, this is a chance for your to sit back and take in the lush and exotic surroundings, or be active and explore the area by kayak.
Tonight, dinner in lodge and relax in the tranquil surroundings.
Overnight at 4 Rivers Floating lodge.
DAY 7 - 4 RIVERS FLOATING LODGE - PHNOM PENH (B,L,D)
Enjoy the morning at your leisure before taking a transfer back to Phnom Penh after lunch (duration 5h). Check into your hotel and spend the day at leisure. A delicious Khmer dinner will be served at Romdeng Restaurant.
Overnight in Frangipani Royal Palace.
DAY 8 - PHNOM PENH - KAMPONG CHAM (CYCLING) (B,L,D)
Following breakfast at our hotel in Phnom Penh, we transfer early by bus heading north on the National road N6 past and beneath an ancient Japanese bright to the pier, we take about 10mn cross the Mekong river by ferry. This morning you will cycle about 60km along the river Cycle through tropical countryside and you will pass many fruit plantation and local village on the way through while you still peddling for the break stop to refresh your energy, Lunch will be at local restaurant.
Before reach Kampong Thom City you will cross other local ferry to and continue another 30km to finish or you will be transfer by bus to the hotel.
Overnight at VIP Monorom Hotel
(Ride up to 90km)
DAY 9 - KAMPONG CHAM - KAMPONG THOM (CYCLING) (B,L,D)
Today after early breakfast you will transfer about 60km to Kampong Thmor village where the team and the bike are ready for you to start your 65km challenge on back road through tropical countryside where the Jungle stretches all the way to foot of the road, passing rubber, cashew nut plantation on the way. After 10km you will pass historical dam as we call 6th January dam that was built in 1978 during Khmer rouge that you will to have a short walk pass this dam about 500mn. We reach bit by bit civilization on this trip and although Kampong Thom is still very much rural Cambodia and the ride will lead us out of town onto quiet inland roads with beautiful views of paddy fields and many local villages with traditional life style.
We will reach Sambor Prei Kuk in late afternoon and if we have time we will visit Sambor Prei Kuk temple by walk. Sambor Prei Kuk was built in the Chenla period between the 6th and 7th period and hosts a number of well-preserved temples scattered around the jungle. Small and sandy tracks link the 3 main temples sites in a loop of around 8km.
From here transfer to hotel to check and freshen up before transfer to dinner.
Overnight at Sambor villa hotel.
(Ride up to 65km)
DAY 10 - KAMPONG THOM - SIEM REAP (CYCLING) (B,L,D)
Today we avoid to some of the poorer roads in Siem Reap province by transferring 85km for one and half hours to an ancient bridge at Kampong Kdei, one of the best examples of the remaining 800year old bridges in Cambodia. Continue to transfer another 31Km to Domdek village where the team and the bike are ready for you to start your 66km challenge on back road after through the historic highway connecting the province of Kampong Thom and Angkor Wat. We stop and have lunch in local restaurant. After lunch we continue our challenge to celebrate as we reach the finished line, located a short distance from the Western Gate of Angkor Wat in the open field and watch the sun set over the sugar palm trees. Note: This program will allow you to enjoy the cycling challenge but when in the temple area we will not have time to stop and check out the temples, just cycling through.
Tonight, enjoy a celebratory Khmer dinner at Viroth’s, a stylish and comfortable restaurant set in a quiet garden.
Overnight at Tara Angkor hotel
(Ride up to 66km)
DAY 11 - CYCLE TO ANGKOR COMPLEX (CYCLING) (B,L,D)
After breakfast at your hotel, we set out to explore the mysterious temples of Angkor for the first time, as you cycle over quiet back-roads to Angkor Thom. This 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. Enter the city through the ancient South Gate, an impressive stone gate carved with Elephants and four giant faces. On each side of the entrance path a row of 54 gods or demons is holding the sacred Naga snake.
From here, continue to 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. also not to be missed is the temple of Ta Prohm, which has been left to be reclaimed by nature and feature incredible tree roots breaking through the stone carvings and walls, a fascinating tribute to the power of nature over man and an experience reminiscent of ‘Indiana Jones’ and ‘Tomb Raider.’
Finish the day at the famous Angkor Wat. Built during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, Angkor Wat is constructed following the model of the temple mountain symbolizing Mount Meru, the home of the gods. Inside the temple, the walls are covered with stone carvings and bas-reliefs depicting Hindu mythology and the wars Suryavarman II fought during his reign. Angkor Wat is well known for the more than 2,000 Apsara dancers decorating the temple. Construction is thought to have taken around thirty years of intensive labour. Today, Angkor Wat is figured on Cambodia's national flag as the temple symbolizes the soul of the Khmer people.
You will be there during sunset time, when Angkor Wat is less visited and the Apsaras will shine in the most beautiful light.
Transfer back to the hotel. Get acquainted with Khmer cuisine as dinner will be served at Madam Butterfly Restaurant in a beautiful wooden Khmer house.
Overnight at Tara Angkor hotel
(Ride up to 40km)
DAY 12 - SIEM REAP - DEPARTURE (B)
Enjoy the day at leisure until the transfer to the airport for your individual departure flight.
“This itinerary may alter due to local conditions, the strength of the group and other unexpected circumstances. We will do our very best to adhere to the set itinerary, however we cannot be held responsible for any last minute changes that might occur. In all such circumstances, your biking or trekking guide will have the final say.”
FORM REQUIREMENTS: Participants in any adventure travel will be required to complete and submit a signed terms and conditions agreement including the voluntary participation, assumption of risk, release from liability and hold harmless provisions. Where minors are involved, parental or guardian permission may also be required. Travel documentation will not be released unless these forms are complete and on file with Exotissimo adventures
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