SUPERIOR 11 DAYS KHMER FOOD DISCOVERY

OVERVIEW

With this tour, you will have a chance to enjoy many tradition foods in Phnom Penh; Kep town, Battambang and Siem Riep. You can join in teaching English at high school, cooking lesson; farming jobs... as a local people.  Don't forget crab in Kep town; sticky rice cooked in bamboo... This tour will be give you many experiences in Cambodia.

BRIEF ITINERARY

Day 1 : Arrival Phnom Penh

Day 2 : Phnom Penh – Home stay at Takeo province

Day 3 : Ta keo – Kep town

Day 4 : Kep

Day 5 : Kep – Phnom Penh

Day 6 : Phnom Penh – Battambang province

Day 7 : Battambang

Day 8 : Battambang – Siem Reap

Day 9 Siem Reap – Angkor Thom – Angkor Wat

Day 10 : Siem Reap Banteay Srey – Home stay

Day 11 : Home Stay – departure

FULL ITINERARY

Day 1 : Arrival Phnom Penh

Leisure time in the afternoon to explore the city on your own. For those with extra time, The Silver Pagoda or as Khmer call it the Temple of the Emerald- Crystal Buddha is worth a visit and is located on the south side of the Royal Palace.

Day 2 : Phnom Penh – Home stay at Takeo province

After breakfast, you will be going to Takeo province (between Phnom Penh and Kep) to experience a local homestay experience at Meas family homestay.While staying there, guests are welcome to join these activities: Teaching English at public high school with the host, Mrs. Siphen (who is a local English teacher). Playing with with local children at ; Joining community activities at the village; Visiting a Cambodian Weaving Village nearby; Joining in Khmer cooking lesson; Assisting with farming jobs if available (like growing or harvesting rice) Visiting locally sights: Temples, markets if time allows. Over night in Takeo Homestay.

Day 3 : Ta keo – Kep town

In the morning we raise to breakfast and join some activities at the homestay. We have lunch and then it is time to say Good bye to the host family and start our journey south following National Road 2 through the town of Takeo towards Kampot. Kampot is one of Cambodia's most attractive old towns, on the way we stop at temple set upon a lone hill with a magnificent view. The temple was built in the 11th century by King Suryavarman I and It is made of laterite, bricks and carved sandstone. We explore the temple and admire the views before returning to the road heading to the old French conoial town of Kep where we stay overnight. During the ride you can admire the view of Bokor Mountain Range. After arrival and checking in you will have the rest of the day free to explore the many things Kep has to offer. We recommend that you visit the fantastic and famous Kep Crab market and take your dinner there, Kep is famous for Crab. The crab is caught just in front of the many restaurants, you will also find other foods but it is mainly focused on seafood. There are also souvenir shops aimed at Cambodia people, so you will be able to do a good bargain there. Also remember that Kampot and Kep is famous for dried black, white and red pepper corns, you can buy this at the market as well, or simply enjoy a freshly cut coconut. As Kep is an old colonial town, you will find many European style houses, mostly in ruins now, as all houses were looted after the fall of Khmer Rouge. Also visit Kep beach, it is not very long, only around

400 - 500 meters, but the sand is nice and a good place for a dip. You can use one of the many tuk-tuks that are around the crab market but remember to agree a price before you start.

Day 4 : Kep

We enjoy a day out in the countryside. Visit the Kampot Pepper Project and learn why Kampot pepper has been acknowledged by international chefs to be the world’s best. Also visit the Kampot salt field: the only salt field in Cambodia. A short walk through the rice fields and a climb provides a lovely outlook over the surrounding countryside. A few steps later and you enter the mouth of Phnom Chhnork limestone cave which has a small 7th century brick temple inside it. We also enjoy a walk along the beach at Kep. Explore the old buildings near the ocean front. The town used to be Cambodia's most popular and prestigious beach town from the early 1900's until the 1960's. During the Khmer Rouge years many of Kep's mansions and villas were destroyed but the ghostly remains of many still stand as a silent reminder.

Day 5 : Kep – Phnom Penh

This morning we leave the beach behind and take a different route back to Phnom Penh (approx 4 hours). In the afternoon the bloody rule of the Khmer Rouge is a painful, but unavoidable, part of Cambodia's recent history and visits to the Tuol Sleng Prison Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek tell the story of this tragic legacy. (Note: These sites are a major part of sightseeing in Phnom Penh; however, if you do not wish to visit either of them, please inform your tour guide.) In the evening, street kids turned master chefs will provide dinner at an inspirational hospitality school for the underprivileged.

English Speaking Guide

Day 6 : Phnom Penh – Battambang province

Today we travel by private bus through the countryside to Battambang. The journey takes around 4.5 - 5 hours plus stop. We will stop to see local pottery-making and silver-smithing along the way. Cambodia's second-largest city, Battambang, (pronounced Battambong) is an attractive riverside town with traces of French elegance, friendly Khmer people and well-preserved colonial architecture.

English Speaking Guide

Day 7 : Battambang

We will use the local transport (remork – Cambodian tuk tuk) and travel through the beautiful surrounding countryside of Battambang. We stop along the way to visit the village of Wat Kor. The village is known for its historic stilted wooden houses some of which pre-date French colonial times. The large wooden floor boards are  shiny from generations of  feet walking across them and the owner’s small collection of antiques and agricultural tools paint a picture of Cambodia in the early 1900s. Afterwards we visit some small cottage industries producing rice paper, dried banana, sticky rice cooked in bamboo, and smelly fish paste (Cambodia’s equivalent of vegemite or marmite). In the afternoon there is the option of riding the Bamboo Train. Previously mainly used for transporting agricultural products and people it is also one of our visitor’s favourite activities. The train is made of a wooden and bamboo carriage powered by a small engine. Maximum speed is around 15 km per hour and it can easily be disassembled when carriages come in the opposite direction. Afterwards we visit Prasat Phnom Banan Winery. Cambodia’s first wine making enterprise the wine may not be award-wining but the grounds are peaceful, and optional tasting sets of juice, wine and brandy are available. Nearby a modern temple, Wat Bai Dom Ram, is interesting for the large fruit bats that hang from a great tree at the entrance.

English Speaking Guide

Day 8 : Battambang – Siem Reap

Today after breakfast we check out of our hotel and journey by private vehicle with guide to Siem Reap by national road N0 5 and connecting to No 6A distance 145km and take around 2hours, to visit local village and statu of Buddha at Preah Nek Preah (handicraft of rock) after arrival Siem Reap and transfer to check in hotel then starting tour to visiting the Tonle Sap we instead include a boat trip to one of the Tonle Sap villages accessible from Siem Reap). Siem Reap is the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage Angkor Archaeological Park which is roughly 7 kilometres away. However, the town itself is worth exploring with day and night markets, Khmer massage and spa treatments, a variety of great cafes and restaurants, and even fish massage!

English Speaking Guide

Day 9 Siem Reap – Angkor Thom – Angkor Wat

We will spend a full day visiting the amazing temples of Angkor on a guided tour. Angkor Thom, the 'Great Royal City', is famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone. The impressive Bayon temple is the centrepiece. Angkor Wat is the largest and most complete structure. It is the only one of Angkor's temples  with  its  entrance  facing  to  the  west  (the  others  face  east),  the  reason  being  that  it  was constructed as a funerary temple for King Suryavarman II and a westerly countenance was seen to represent a sunset. You have the opportunity to visit the Sala Bai Hotel School where underprivileged local youths learn skills that enable them to find gainful employment in the hospitality industry. You enjoy a lunch prepared by students at the school (please note that this is closed on public holidays and school holidays and an alternative restaurant will be used). Ta Prohm temple is an incredible sight, with large trees  embedding themselves in  the  stone  foundations of  the  structure. This  demonstrates the  true feebleness of man’s creations when confronted with the powerful force of nature.

English Speaking Guide Claremont Angkor Superior Room

Day 10 : Siem Reap Banteay Srey – Home stay

You can start your day with an early morning  trip to see sunrise at the temples. After breakfast travel out to Banteay Srei, famous for its detailed and intricate stone carvings. It is not a big temple, but has been sometimes referred to as ‘the jewel in the crown of Angkorian art’. Back at the main temple complex, Preah Khan contains a maze of vaulted corridors and is another complex that has been largely reclaimed by the jungle. You can start your day with an early morning   trip to see sunrise at the temples. After breakfast travel out to Banteay Srei, famous for its detailed and intricate stone carvings. It is not a big temple, but has been sometimes referred to as ‘the jewel in the crown of Angkorian art’. Back at the main temple complex, Preah Khan contains a maze of vaulted corridors and is another complex that has been largely reclaimed by the jungle. Enjoy Khmer delicious dishes at Banteay Srey in restaurant. Discover the art of rice paper making and fruit drying in a local village. Prepare a traditional meal and stay with a local Khmer family. Explore the fresh food markets of Siem Reap. Pick local ingredients to later prepare in a Khmer cooking class (Homestay at Banteay Srey). Overnight at homestay.

English Speaking Guide

Day 11 : Home Stay – departure

You have leisure time to join the homestay activities or explore neighbourhood of homestay on your own before airport transfer for your onward flight home.

English Speaking Guide

PRICE: USD/PERSON

     Hotels and homestay       

     Cardamom hotel (Sup) www.cardamomhotel.com

     Meas Family Home Stay (STD) www.cambodianhomestay.com

     Darica Resort (Garden view) www.darica-resort.com

     King Fy hotel (Sup) www.kingfyhotel.com

     Claremont Angkor (Sup) www.claremontangkorhotel.com

     The Bong Thom Homestay www.thebongthomhomestay.com

Service included:

+ Transfer in/out and transportation

+ English speaking guide

+ Full board meals (9L, 8D)

+ All entrance fee and Pass Angkor site

+ Accommodation with daily breakfast

+ Boat cruise on Tonle Sap lake

+ All private transfer with guide

+ Home stay + Cooking class

+ Mineral water & Cool towel

Service not included:

- Flight ticket & tax airport

- Visa Cambodia tourist (30usd/per pax)

- Service charge of central bank

- Insurance traveler

- Beverage during meals

- Other personal expense

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