Cambodia
Suggested Itinerary
Day 1 - Siem Reap
VIP arrival at Siem Reap International Airport. Check into the sumptuous Amansara, and settle into your pool suite with your own 16' x 20' swimming pool in your private courtyard. Once the guest villa of King Norodom Sihanouk, it has been transformed into a 24-suite retreat that provides an ideal base for exploring the temples of Angkor and the sophisticated culture of the Khmer civilization. Amansara has the inviting ambience of a gracious home and is set in a private garden compound with mature shade trees.
Have lunch at the Paul Dubrule School of Tourism, where one of the leading founders of the Accor Resort Group has set up haute cuisine lunches helping disadvantaged Cambodian teenagers to rise up through a trainee program in the tourism industry. This is a great chance to see Cambodia's social programs at work while dining for a good cause.
After lunch, begin your exploration of the temples of Angkor, center of the ancient Khmer kingdom, and now a world renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site. Officially known as the City of Angkor, the 12th-century temple complex is considered to be the masterpiece of Khmer architecture, and on the same level of importance as Machu Picchu and the Great Pyramids. Angkor Wat is the world's largest religious building. Neighboring Angkor Thom is a spectacular walled and fortified city, and the Bayon Temple is a tour de force of Khmer artistic genius. Your guide will explain to you the more significant aspects of the finely carved bas-relief sculptures and also bring you to a quieter part of the moat for an insight on life on these waterways. End up at the Southeast corner of the inside of the moat at sunset cocktails and a spectacular view for late afternoon photographs (sunset at around 6:15 pm).
Have dinner at the home of a prominent local family of great art collectors, and see their fine collections of both traditional and contemporary Khmer art. Have an educational discussion about art, as well as about life today in Cambodia. As a child, the father lived through the horrors of the Khmer Rouge regime, and has experienced first-hand the gradual recovery from these tumultuous events. You will be mesmerized by his story, and you will learn about the many challenges facing contemporary Cambodia.
Day 2 - Siem Reap
Visit the Sunrise Angkor Children's Village and Orphanage. It will be impossible not to have your heart touched by the children of Cambodia who have been orphaned due to disease, politically motivated murder, hunger or landmines. A chance to spend some time working with the volunteers and seeing their endeavors and promising results will be a long cherished memory, perhaps more poignant than even the magnificent temples of Angkor.
Go to the Psar Chaa (Old Market), a unique and intriguing bazaar where one can hunt for wood and stone carvings, silk, Buddha images, and other hand-made Cambodian souvenirs in this wonderful vending labyrinth. The gracious Khmer merchants will help you find what you want, even if it means they go to a competitor. Prices are reasonable, but bargaining is still expected.
Return to the Amansara for a dip in your private pool, before heading out again for a spectacular helicopter ride.
Fly the chopper over Siem Reap and the surrounding area, as far away as the great Tonle Sap Lake, for a bird's eye perspective of Cambodian life and the full layout of the Angkorian civilization. Land at the lost temple of Banteay Ompeul temple, a charming monument hidden away in the jungle. Relax and have a chilled glass of white wine while your private chef prepares your delicious lunch for your al fresco picnic in the shade of the thick forest.
After a lazy lunch, fly back to town and visit the prominent Dance School of Apsara, where aspiring dancers train in an ancient art form. Named after the Classical Khmer dance, Aspara conveys a story inspired by the Ramayana, the famous Hindu classic. A splendid mixture of dance and music, this is a colorful tradition that once seen shall never be forgotten.
Go back to the hotel and unwind with a traditional Khmer massage. Based upon the concepts of meridians, or invisible lines of energy running along the body, Khmer massage is distinctive to this area of the world, and a session will leave you feeling refreshed and revitalized.
Have cocktails in the library of Amansara while dancers from the Royal Khmer Ballet give a private performance for you (we recommend this in lieu of the typical large, touristy, public performance).
Have dinner at Viroth's, in the stylish boutique hotel of the same name, which offers refined Cambodian cuisine in a contemporary ambiance. Specialities include green bean salad, yahorn (curry with vermicelli), and sweet-and-sour fish.
Day 3 - Siem Reap
See more of the fantastic Angkor sites and off-the-beaten track temples of this fascinating region. After an early breakfast, drive one hour by private car into the rural Khmer countryside, past colorful farmers' markets and village life, to the Hindu temple of Banteay Srei. Banteay Srei is considered to be the hidden gem of the entire area, as it features some of the premier stone carving in the world and is immaculately preserved. Near Banteay Srei you can also visit Kbal Spean, a carved riverbed, known as the River of a Thousand Lingas. The Kbal Spean area is made magical by the 11th-13th century stone carvings of lingas and Hindu deities, spread out along the riverbed and banks. The mystical feeling is heightened by the presence of birds, wildlife and hundreds of butterflies.
Afterwards, continue further afield to Beng Melia, a mysterious temple complex taken over by the jungle. Constructed in the early 11th century by King Suryavarman II, Beng Melia has a similar construction to Angkor Wat, and is along an ancient road connecting Angkor Thom and Preah Khan. You will feel like you are in an Indiana Jones film wandering around this magical jungle clad ruin.
Finish the afternoon with a visit to nearby Phnom Kulen Mountain, the most sacred peak in Cambodia, and a popular spot for Khmer pilgrimages. At Wat Swey Leu, an adjacent temple, you will be received by the Abbott of the pagoda for a private water blessing, an important Buddhist cleansing ritual. Have tea and snacks afterwards with the senior monk and he will tell you about your year ahead. Make your way to the top of the 1600 foot Phnom Kulen for fabulous views and sunset over the ancient land.
Have dinner at Amansara, preceded by a private informal cooking demonstration of traditional Khmer cuisine.
Day 4 - Siem Reap
Take a boat trip on Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, passing through floating villages that unveil the mystique of this area. During the wet season, the water inflow expands the surface area of the lake more than fivefold, creating a diverse ecosystem with more than 100 species of water birds and 200 species of fish.
Visit a fisherman's home and have lunch with the family and learn about their daily life. Spend the afternoon in a handcrafted wooden boat, relaxing on comfortable cushions and watching life go by. You will pass villages on stilts where people are busy conducting their normal daily lives: fishing, farming, washing and cooking. Floating churches, schools, grocery stores, petrol vendors, and even a floating police station are all the basis of life on the lake. Many of the inhabitants here are Vietnamese, moving along the Mekong and its tributaries according to the cycles of the monsoon and rainy seasons.
Return across the lake, and relax with glass of champagne as you watch one of the most magical sunsets imaginable.
Drive back to Siem Reap, and have a private tour of the studio of one of Cambodia's top artists. Have dinner with her afterwards at the Meric restaurant in the hip Hotel de la Paix. This evening will be a great opportunity to discuss and see firsthand the history and future of traditional Khmer art, and the comeback it is making after years of decline during the Khmer Rouge genocide.
Day 5 - Boat to Battambang
Check out of your hotel in Siem Reap, and drive back to the great lake of Tonle Sap. Take a speedboat to its furthest reaches, funneling into the Sangker River and continuing to the country's second largest city, Battambang, a pleasant riverside town with old European colonial mansions.
Check in to the charming Hotel La Villa, a meticulously restored 1930's French colonial home with just six rooms, decorated with antiques and other Art Deco furniture. Wander the streets and visit the French shop houses that line the riverbank and give the city an otherworldly feeling — European, but in the heart of Southeast Asia.
As you are in the heartland of Khmer Boxing (a martial art, handed down from father to son for almost a thousand years), go to an authentic Khmer Boxing match. Have a Cambodian beer afterwards with the boxers and learn about their passion for the sport.
Have dinner at one of the casual local restaurants in Battambang.
Day 6 - Battambang
Wat Ek Phnom is an 11th-century temple ruin set along the Stung Sangker River, surrounded by lush green fields in an agrarian community. Along the way, visit a fascinating crocodile farm, which sees few tourists and is totally authentic.
For dinner, visit the Smoking Pot, Battambang's first (and one of the country's only) cooking schools. Have cocktails while you learn the secrets of making your own Khmer and Thai cuisine, and afterwards, enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Day 7 - Kep
Fly back to Phom Penh, then drive three hours through the picturesque Cambodian countryside, to the remote beach town of Kep.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Kep was Cambodia's premier beach town, drawing beachgoers to its tranquil shores and sporting the oceanside villas of the Khmer elite. In recent times Kep has come back to itself, but retains an atmospheric remove from the hustle of other Southeast Asian resort towns, with jungled mountains, empty beaches and few tourists.
Three of these historic villas have been restored into a new, exclusive oceanfront resort, Knai Bang Chatt. The graceful, Le Corbusier-inspired buildings have only 11 rooms between them, all with generous terraces facing the water, and are supplemented with an infinity pool, a private beach with canopied daybeds, and a gracious staff including a private chef and tai chi and yoga instructors.
Have dinner in town at one of the many small seafood restaurants that serve excellent Khmer dishes featuring the freshest of the day's catch.
Day 8 - Kep
After an alfresco breakfast including delicious local fruit, take the hotel's boat for a half-day of snorkeling at nearby Rabbit Island, where the waters are home to a technicolor display of tropical fish. Lunch will be a barbecue prepared for you on the white sand beach, under the shade of the coconut palms.
In the afternoon, venture into the mountains surrounding Kep, and visit the ghostly former villa of King Norodom Sihanouk, now home to no one except a band of monkeys. Then continue on to the Buddhist cave temple of Phnom Chhnaugk, an ancient carved structure that predates the temples of Angkor Wat.
Day 9 - Phnom Penh
Travel by private car back to Phnom Penh (3 hours), and arrive in the Cambodian capital to a VIP welcome at the Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh's finest property — a colonial-era classic established in 1929 and now under Raffles' careful management.
In the afternoon, go to the national landmark and most important shrine of the kingdom, the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, named for the 5,000 silver tiles that carpet the pagoda's floor. A gold Buddha weighing 200 pounds and adorned with almost 10,000 diamonds is the featured piece of this amazing structure.
Have a private sunset cocktail cruise on the Mekong, and afterwards visit Restaurant 102 for Cambodia's most lavish French dining experience.
Day 10 - Phnom Penh
A visit to the extremely capable local tailors is a must while in Phnom Penh. Choose from a large array of beautiful fabrics, be measured and fitted (two fittings is preferable), and have your custom made clothing within 48 hours. Ambre, where members of the extended royal family buy quality silk in French-Khmer designs, is highly recommended.
Have lunch at Friends, a restaurant run by a local NGO (non-government organization) that trains street children to work in the hospitality industry. Visit the nearby National Museum, which has the world's top collection of Khmer sculpture and art. A majority of the exhibits are from the Angkor period but there are some works from as early as the 4th century. A private guide will give you an in-depth description and history of any of the objects located in this treasure trove.
Following an age-old tradition, have a sunset drink at the famed Foreign Correspondents Club on Sisowath Quay, and then have dinner at one of the many fine riverside restaurants.
Day 11 - Phnom Penh
Visit the photogenic ruins of King Jayavarman's 12th-century shrine, Ta Prohm, now covered in roots and flowers, and a testament to the forces of nature. Inside, the remarkable stone carvings and refined bas-relief work make this a memorable temple to visit. Nearby is Yeay Peau, another Angkorian temple, which is surrounded with folklore and legend, and is taken care of by local nuns.
Back in town, stop at the somber but revealing Tuol Sleng Museum, a former security prison of the Khmer Rouge now turned into a museum detailing all the horrors of Pol Pot's genocide and the crimes perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge. The visit may upset you, but is yet another vital link in understanding the bitter history of this beautiful country.
In the afternoon, go to the "Russian Market", so called because of items supplied from the Eastern Bloc countries in times past, now a treasure trove of jewelry, art, ceramics, and virtually everything under the Cambodian sun. This market is open until the early evening hours, and bargaining is the norm.
End the day with a relaxing and enjoyable meal with a local musician and his family. The musical members of the family give a short performance of Khmer music before your delicious traditional dinner.
Day 12 - Climb aboard a private helicopter for a flight around southern Cambodia. The first stop will be in the unexplored jungles of the Cardamom Mountains, home to tigers and other wild cats, where you can often see animal footprints, though sightings of the exotic beasts themselves are rare. Take the chopper to a remote place where you can see ancient tribal funeral jars discovered by a National Geographic team in 2002. It normally takes 11 days of trekking to reach this magical spot, but you can fly here rapidly and easily. Fly over to the Bokor Palace, a former French hill station and famous casino from the mid-20th century, and now a ghost town and national park. Have a sublime picnic lunch prepared by your private chef, complete with champagne and other libations of your choice. Continue on with a scenic flight along the southern coast, stopping at one of the beautiful beaches that dot the region. Finish your helicopter tour with a visit to Kompong Trach, famed for its Wat Kirisan Temple based at the foot of Phnom Sor mountain, which has an amazing array of hidden caves and limestone formations, including the Cave of 1000 Ricefields, named because it resembles a series of rice paddies. Fly back to Phnom Penh and the comforts of the Hotel Le Royal.
Climb aboard a private helicopter for a flight around southern Cambodia. The first stop will be in the unexplored jungles of the Cardamom Mountains, home to tigers and other wild cats, where you can often see animal footprints, though sightings of the exotic beasts themselves are rare. Take the chopper to a remote place where you can see ancient tribal funeral jars discovered by a National Geographic team in 2002. It normally takes 11 days of trekking to reach this magical spot, but you can fly here rapidly and easily.
Fly over to the Bokor Palace, a former French hill station and famous casino from the mid-20th century, and now a ghost town and national park. Have a sublime picnic lunch prepared by your private chef, complete with champagne and other libations of your choice. Continue on with a scenic flight along the southern coast, stopping at one of the beautiful beaches that dot the region.
Finish your helicopter tour with a visit to Kompong Trach, famed for its Wat Kirisan Temple based at the foot of Phnom Sor mountain, which has an amazing array of hidden caves and limestone formations, including the Cave of 1000 Ricefields, named because it resembles a series of rice paddies. Fly back to Phnom Penh and the comforts of the Hotel Le Royal.
Day 13 - Phonm Penh
Spend your last morning visiting Phnom Udong (1.5 hours drive), the royal capital of Cambodia from the 17th to the 19th centuries, where temples, stupas, and even a mosque cover the three lovely hills. There are great views of the Cambodian countryside here, and a walk through the area is well worth your time. Phnom Udong is quiet, particularly on weekdays, and few tourists come here, giving you plenty of time to reflect on the former glory of the Khmer kingdom, and the newfound tranquility of Cambodia's present.
In the afternoon, visit Wat Phnom, the pagoda set on the only hill in town, and from which the city gets its name. Many locals climb the stairs leading up to the temple daily in order to pray for good luck in business, studies, or other matters.
For your last evening in Phnom Penh, have cocktails and dinner at the home of a prominent local family. Have a stimulating and edifying discussion with them about life today in Cambodia, and learn more about the reemergence of the "Paris of the Orient."
Day 14
After breakfast, drive to Phnom Penh International Airport and connect to your flight home.