Experience the largest festival in the Cambodian calender - the annual Water Festival or 'Bun Om Tuk' in Khmer!
The 3-day Water Festival in Phnom Penh is of great significance as it celebrates the end of the rainy season, the start of the fishing season, and also the unique natural phenomenon - the flow of the Tonle Sap river changing direction! And not only this, the Water Festival also coincides with the full moon of the Buddhist calendar month of Kadeuk, this full moon is traditionally a good omen promising a bountiful harvest.
Before flying to Phnom Penh to experience the Water Festival you will spend 4 full days exploring the magnificent sights of Angkor Wat and its associated temples scattered around the Siem Reap area. As you travel to some of the more remote temples you will get your first glimpses of the Cambodia countryside and traditional villages, as well as seeing floating villages on South East Asia’s largest freshwater lake, the Tonle Sap.
Then on to Phnom Penh. The Water Festival is truly a national event, many villagers throughout the country have spent almost a full year preparing their villages boat – elaborately and brightly decorated dug out canoes with large eyes on the prows to ward off evil spirits. Thousand of Khmers descend on Phnom Penh over the three days to watch the races and cheer on their villages boat, which can be up to 20 meters long and contain up to 60 oarsmen, frantically paddling and chanting as the do battle in highly competitive races. The origins of the Festival dates back to the powerful navy of King Jayavarman II, the 9th century founder of the great Angkorian Empire, and the main purpose is to make the god of the river happy so he will provide many fish and the rice crop will be plentiful.
During this time Phnom Penh takes on a carnival atmosphere, and as well as the river banks being lined with exuberant spectators there are also live concerts, hundreds of food stands, games of chance, fair rides, and at night fireworks light up the sky and people dance in the street. This truly is Cambodia’s Mardi Gras!
After the festival you will escape the hustle and bustle of Phnom Penh and head south towards the
Cambodian coastline. On the way you will visit more temple ruins, and also witness the more recent
ruins of the pre Khmer Rouge resorts of Kep and Bokor Mountain. The holiday will end with 3
relaxing days in Sihanoukville, Cambodia’s leading beach resort, including a day trip to a
beautiful remote, white sanded island.
This is a holiday not to be missed for the festival lover…
The Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Siem Reap
[-/L/D]
You arrive at
Siem Reap International Airport in the early morning where you will be met by your
guide and transferred to the hotel of your choice. After a short break to allow you to freshen up
we will visit the Angkor Conservation Area and explore the Small Circuit. This tour includes the
huge pyramid of
Takeo built in the 10th century, and the jungle-clad
Ta Prohm, made famous by the
Hollywood blockbuster ‘Tomb Raider’. This temple was a monastery built by Jayavarman VII as a
residence for his mother, and it has been controversially left to the destructive power of the
jungle to demonstrate the awesome power of nature. It has been largely consumed by the jungle and
as you climb through the dilapidated stone structures you see many giant trees growing out of the
top of the temple itself. You continue to visit
Sras Srang, the royal pool situated opposite the
East Gate of
Banteay Kdei. It is known as the King's bathing pond. Finally you take in
Prasat
Kravan, an elegant brick temple from the 10th century with some fine brick carvings in the
interior. After this you will return to town for a local lunch.
After lunch you continue your Angkor encounter with a visit to the spectacular temples of the
Grand Circuit. First you visit Preah Khan or ‘Sacred Sword’, one of the largest temples at Angkor
with huge corridors extending in every direction. It was built by Jayavarman VII in the 12th
century, this is one of the many highlights of Angkor. You continue to Neak Poan, a delicate
temple set in a square pool and surrounded on all sides by fountains and ponds. Next is Ta Som and
its famous strangler fig tree smothering the eastern gate. Finally, you arrive at Pre Rup, built
in the 10th Century by Rajendravarman. Pre Rup means ‘turning the body’ and the Khmer people
believe this temple was used for cremations. This is a perfect place for watching the sun set over
the beautiful Cambodian rice fields. You then return to Siem Reap and enjoy dinner at a local
restaurant.
Day 2: Siem Reap - Temple Exploring
[B/L/D]
You rise early today to catch the sunrise over the mother of all temples, the world’s largest
religious building, Angkor Wat. After being mesmerized you return to the hotel for breakfast, but
then return to further explore Angkor Wat in more detail, getting up close and personal to fully
appreciate its architecture and intricately detailed bas-reliefs. Believed to have been undertaken
as a temple and mausoleum for King Suryavarman II at the peak of the Khmer empire in the first
half of the 12th century, Angkor Wat is the best-preserved of the Angkorian temples, truly one of
the wonders of the world. Lunch will be taken at a local restaurant.
After lunch you head back to the temples again, this time focusing on Angkor Thom - this Royal city was first built under the reign of Udayadityavarman II in the 11th Century. It was destroyed when the Chams from Vietnam rose up against the Khmers and invaded, sacking the city, fortunately it was subsequently renovated by King Jayavarman VII at the end of the 12th Century. Its vast wall, some 6m wide and 8m high, is 13km in length and contains many beautiful monuments. You approach this ancient city via the South Gate, which is flanked by demons and gods engaged in a tug-of-war over the elixir of immortality. Once through the gate you will visit the Bayon, a temple mountain built by Jayavarman VII. It is situated in the centre of the city of Angkor Thom. It is a three-tiered pyramid and is famed for its many gigantic carved faces, representing Avalokiteshvara but with the features of Jayavarman VII, smiling beguilingly down at you. We will also visit other important sites in this immense walled city, including the pyramid of Baphuon, Phimean Akas, and the royal viewing stands known as the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. You will return to Siem Reap and after freshening up will be taken to a local restaurant for dinner.
Day 3: Siem Reap - Temple Exploring
[B/L/D]
This morning you head 30km north to visit the captivating and beautiful temple of Banteay Srei or
‘Fortress of the Women’. The journey allows you to experience the beautiful Cambodian countryside
as you pass through small typical villages. Built in the 10th Century Banteay Srei is an
elaborately decorated temple, embellished with floral motifs and scenes from the Ramayana, was
edicated to Shiva. The famous pink sandstone structure bears a series of beautiful sculptures,
lintels, pediments and friezes. It is said they must have been carved by women as the detail is
too fine for the hands of a man. Next you stop off at Banteay Samre,
a temple which has undergone extensive restoration, and in certain aspects resembles a mini Angkor
Wat, with many of its carvings in excellent condition. You will have lunch at a local restaurant.
After lunch you head further north in to the jungle and foothills heading to Kbal Spean, or the
‘River of a Thousand Lingas’. This site was only ‘rediscovered’ in 1969 and is a tranquil, cool
place with an attractive waterfall as a back drop. The road to Kbal Spean is not great being
dusty and bumpy, and once you arrive at the car park there is a 45 minute moderate 400m uphill
climb through lush jungle (it should be noted that it is best to wear stout shoes for this climb,
and that some people may find the walk down to the waterfall difficult). However, it is definitely
worth it as you discover the magical sight of the river bed covered with glistening 11th to 13th
century sculptures of lingas, the symbol of the God Shiva's supreme essence. Some of the lingas
are on pedestals in the form of their female counterpart, the yoni. It is believed that the lingas
‘fertilized’ the water which goes on to feed the East Baray which would have irrigated the ancient
rice fields. After relaxing and perhaps having a refreshing paddle it is back to the car park and
a 50km drive back to Siem Reap. In the evening you will be taken to a local restaurant for dinner.
Day 4: Siem Reap - Cruise on Tonle Sap Lake
[B/L/D]
Today you travel to the temple of Bakong in the Roluos group, the first of the great pyramid
mountains which later kings were to copy. From Bakong, you continue into Roluos town to visit a
very local market, untouched by tourism. After some refreshments here, we follow the course of
the Roluos river to the nearest navigable point where we board a small wooden boat for the trip
to Kompong Phluk. Cruising down a narrow waterway, we enter this medieval-esque floating
village, where the houses stand atop stilts as much as 10 metres above the water. Everything
lives on the water, pigs, dogs, crocodiles and people, all jockeying for space in this
incredible floating town. You will have the opportunity to explore the local wat here, before
boarding a bigger boat to take us through the flooded forest and across the Great Lake to Chong
Kneas and the holy mountain of Phnom Krom. You climb Phnom Krom to experience a glorious sunset
over the Tonle Sap before heading back to Siem Reap by road. Today a packed lunch is provided.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 5: Siem Reap - Phnom Penh
[B/L/D]
After breakfast we will transfer you to the airport for the 50 minute flight to Phnom Penh. Upon
arrival in Phnom Penh you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. After
freshening up you will visit the 1917, terracotta red, National Museum - home to the world’s
leading collection of Khmer sculpture. The museum offers a charming setting for the comprehensive
collection of Khmer art. Predominantly worked in stone, the sculptures date from both the
Angkorian and pre-Angkorian eras, complimented by more recent examples of Cambodian art. Later
you will take a stroll through the city taking in the sights such as the distinctive dark red,
sandstone Independence Monument (commemorating Cambodia’s independence from the French in 1953),
and Wat Phnom – a small temple topped hill in the heart of the French Quarter, after which Phnom
Penh was named. In the evening you will be taken to a local restaurant for dinner.
Day 6: Phnom Penh Water Festival
[B/L/-]
The boat races do not truly get under away until early afternoon so after breakfast at the hotel you
will learn about Cambodia’s more recent turbulent and harrowing history, after
breakfast you will be driven to the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum (also known as S21), in a quiet Phnom
Penh suburb, this is the infamous Khmer Rouge prison / torture centre. Once you have gained an
initial understanding of the brutality of the Khmer Rouge regime you will be driven 15km from Phnom
Penh to visit the ‘Killing Fields’ or Cheoung Ek. This is where Toul Sleng prisoners were forcibly
marched and then executed; it is now a memorial site. Lunch will be in a local restaurant.
In the afternoon your guide will lead you to the riverside where you will mingle with the thousands
of locals who have traveled from all over Cambodia to enjoy the 3 days of merriment – here you will
get your first glimpses of the wonderful boats, and see then in action as human power speeds them
down the river. After an exciting afternoons race watching you will certainly have built up an
appetite. Dinner is your choice, you may decide to remain on the riverside as night falls, joining
the locals eating from the many food stalls, and enjoying the firework spectacle and the shows of
boats sailing up and down the river decked out with brilliant light displays, or you may choose to
head away from the hustle and bustle and find a quieter restaurant.
Day 7: Phnom Penh Water Festival
[B/L/-]
Today you head off to the Royal Palace, located on the shores of the Mekong. Inside its walls are
the Throne Hall, the Chan Chaya Pavilion, used for performances of classical dance, the Napoleon
III Pavilion, and the King and Queen's residential quarters. Next stop will be the Silver Pagoda,
so named as its floor is made up 5,000 silver tiles! The Silver Pagoda is also known as the Pagoda
of the Emerald Buddha as it houses a glittering array of Buddhist statues, the centre piece being
a magnificent 17th century emerald Buddha statue made of baccarat crystal. The walls of the pagoda
are lavishly decorated with colourful frescos depicting episodes from the Khmer version of the
Ramayana. Lunch is at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon it is back to the busy riverside and the party atmosphere for more boat race action!
Again dinner is your choice, tonight you may decide to take a local ferry across to the Chrouy
Changvar peninsula, where you will find many local food stalls as well as concerts where you can sit
and be entertained by contemporary Khmer song and dance, whilst drinking a Cambodian beer. Again
there will be fireworks and the lit up boats will be cruising the river.
Day 8: Phnom Penh - Free Day
[B/-/-]
Today is free allowing you to spend more time experiencing the fun of the boat races or you may prefer to
further explore this charming city. Perhaps you would like to take a cyclo ride and visit the Russian
Market (Phsar Toul Tom Poung) where you can pick up some quality silk; take in the hustle and bustle of
the art-deco Central Market (Phsar Thmei); appreciate some of the art/photo exhibitions that are on
display at various locations around the city; or you may wish to
venture further afield, heading 50km north out of Phnom Penh and climbing Oudong Mountain (a former
Cambodian capital) to marvel at
the expansive views of the Cambodian countryside.
(N.B. Additional tours for this free day can be booked in advance or when you arrive, however if you
leave it until you arrive, due to the festival it may be difficult to secure a guide and vehicle).
Day 9: Phnom Penh - Takeo - Kep
[B/L/D]
Today you leave the hustle and bustle of Phnom Penh and head south to the coast and the tranquil
seaside setting of Kep. On route you will stop off at Tonle Bati, a peaceful setting on the banks
of the Bati River. Here you will visit two ancient temples: the 12th century Ta Prohm built by
Jayavarman VII (of Angkor Thom fame), where you will find many well preserved carvings; and Yeay
Peau which was badly damaged by Khmer Rouge soldiers. You then continue to Phnom Chisor, an 11th
century mountain temple originally built by Suryavarman I and was originally known as Suryadri
‘the Mountain of the Sun’. After climbing the many steps to the top of the mountain you efforts
are rewarded with marvellous views of the Cambodian countryside stretching away in all directions.
Not much further on you arrive in the provincial town of Takeo where you will have lunch at a
local restaurant. Takeo is surrounded by a network of ancient man-made canals connecting villages,
towns, rivers, and Vietnam. You take a boat and head off along these canals cutting through
pleasant marshland and rice fields heading towards the pre-Angkorian sites of Angkor Borei and
Phnom Da – it is claimed this area was the heart of the Funan Empire, the ‘Cradle of Khmer
Civilization’. After exploring these you return to Takeo and head south to Kep. Kep is located on
a peninsula jutting out into the Gulf of Thailand and is a sleepy seaside town which has had a
turbulent recent history. In the 1960s Kep was Cambodia's 'beach town', drawing wealthy weekend
holiday-makers to its picturesque shores, and sporting the ocean side villas of the privileged
class. All this came to an end with the years of war during the 1970s and 80s and nowadays, the
old villas are in ruins. Gradually Kep is being redeveloped and you will stay in the comfortable
Champey Inn. A highlight of a visit to Kep is savouring the fresh seafood, especially the crab.
Day 10: Kep - Bokor Mountain - Sihanoukville
[B/L/D]
After breakfast you will take the scenic drive through Kampot to the base of Bokor Mountain (now a
National Park), the highest peak of the Elephant Mountain range rising 1,071m above sea level.
Here the fun begins as you drive up a narrow road that was built between 1903 and 1908 and has
now fallen into a bad state of disrepair! The journey is an experience in itself as you bump and
wind your way through the dense jungle as you slowly climb to the summit. Eventually you reach
the cool summit plateau and the remains of the abandoned Bokor Hill Station, which is often
shrouded in mist giving it a ghostly atmosphere. The Hill Station was built in the 1920s during
the height of the French Colonial era when the high echelons of French and Khmer society would
climb to the top of Bokor to escape the oppressive heat of the Cambodian summer, enjoy the cool
mountain air and take their chances on the roulette tables.
The area was used as a location for the Hollywood movie 'City of Ghosts'.
[If access to Bokor Mountaint is not available we will take a guided tour of the Kampot and Kep area.]
There are many deserted buildings to explore including a school, a hospital (now the rangers
office), a police station, a fire station, a post office, a town hall, a royal villa, a church,
and two hotels and casinos – the most impressive being the Bokor Palace Hotel. This hotel is
perched on the edge of the plateau which dramatically falls away to the coastal plain 1,000m
below giving wonderful views out across the Gulf of Thailand. As you wander through the rooms of
the hotel with their original tiles still intact and gaze at the fireplace inside the ballroom
your mind will conjure up images of immaculately attired Frenchmen puffing on their cigarettes as
they exaggerated the size of their winnings to coquettish young mademoiselles. The resort was
still in use until the late 1960s, however the following years of war left the area destroyed as
differing factions fought over this strategic vantage point.
Within the thick expanse of forest there are various rapids and waterfalls, the most notable being
Popokvil Falls. To reach the Falls you will have a half-hour walk through the jungle, crossing
shallow streams, and passing craggy outcrops. At the falls you will have a break and enjoy a
picnic lunch in beautiful surroundings.
After lunch you will be driven back down the mountain and with some relief arrive back to the main
road and tarmac! After this mornings experience a rather undramatic drive to Sihanoukville,
Cambodia’s leading beach resort, follows. Upon arrival you will be taken to your hotel, given time
to freshen up, before being taken to a local restaurant for dinner.
Day 11: Sihanoukville - Ream National Park
[B/L/D]
This morning you will explore Ream National Park, taking a boat trip through the mangroves and
seeing an abundance of birdlife, and if you are extremely lucky you may even catch a glimpse of
the very rare Irawaddy dolphin. Ream National Park is a coastal area occupying 21,000 hectares. As
well as the wildlife and mangroves you will see lowland and dwarf evergreen forest, and long
stretches of white sandy beaches. In the afternoon you will return to Sihanoukville where you will
have a free afternoon to explore and relax on the town’s seven beaches and take a refreshing dip
in the sea. In the evening you will be taken for dinner in a local restaurant.
Day 12: Sihanoukville - Koh Rong Island
[B/L/D]
Today you take a boat trip out to Koh Rong island situated 45km off the Sihanoukville coastline.
Koh Rong is the second largest island in Cambodian waters and its beauty, remoteness and pristine
white sandy beaches are difficult to describe. After a day of lazing on the beaches you will
return to Sihanoukville. In the evening you will have dinner at Chhmar Melup Chay Restaurant.
Day 13: Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh
[B/L/D]
After breakfast you have a free morning where you can make the most of your last few hours in
Sihanoukville by relaxing some more on the beaches. After lunch you will be driven back to Phnom
Penh.
Day 14: Depart Phnom Penh
[B/-/-]
After breakfast at the hotel you will be transferred to Phnom Penh International Airport for your
onward flight.
