Cambodia
Suggested Cambodia Experiences
Experience Cambodia's cultural riches past and present, from the crowning achievements of Khmer civilization in Siem Reap, to the charming colonial vestiges of the capital Phnom Penh, to a resurgent coastline from Kep up to Sihanoukville and Koh Kong.
Destinations include: Siem Reap , Battambang, Kep , Phnom Penh and Cardamom Mountains.
Siem Reap
Check into the sumptuous Amansara. 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. Other recommended properties include Hotel de la Paix, the Sothea and Raffles d'Angkor.
Explore the magnificent Angkor Wat with your expert, private guide. Built in the 12th century as the capital of King Suryavarman II’s kingdom, this is the largest and best-preserved of the Angkor temples. It is the apogee of classical Khmer architecture and has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on the national flag, and stands on par with such other monumental achievements as Machu Picchu and the Great Pyramids.
Have a private dinner of gourmet Khmer cuisine on the grounds of a charming 12th-century Hindu temple built by the Khmer king Suryavarman II, who also built Angkor Wat. Drinks and canapés will precede your five-course meal, while the evening will also include a performance of traditional Cambodian dance. Remote Lands can prepare a tent in case of inclement weather, and special temple security will ensure an exclusive, private experience for your party. (Please note that this is an exceptional production that is not included in standard touring costs.)
Have dinner with a close friend of Remote Lands who as a child was a forced laborer for the Khmer Rouge regime. He has experienced firsthand the gradual recovery from those tumultuous times, and is well placed to tell you about the challenges facing contemporary Cambodia. Though quite moving, this is often a highlight of Remote Lands' guests in Siem Reap.
Have a privately guided tour with the director of one of Siem Reap's orphanages, NGOs working to improve the lives of Cambodian children - many whose families were torn apart by the Khmer Rouge - through education and vocational training. The children will be delighted to meet you and this interaction if often another highlight of guests' trips to Siem Reap.
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.
Charter a helicopter for a single-landing flight and get a bird’s-eye view of the Angkor area, a terrific complement to your exploring on the ground. Land at the lost temple of Banteay Ompeul, a charming monument hidden away in the jungle, and have a delicious al fresco picnic lunch of Khmer specialties. Interact with children from a nearby village, who will be thrilled to meet you and take photos with you.
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, and is a splendid mixture of dance and music.
Unwind with a traditional Khmer massage at your hotel. 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.
Drive about 45 minutes from central Siem ReaptoBanteay Srei, a small gem of a temple that Remote Lands highly recommends. Built in the 10th century and nicknamed the “Citadel of Women,” Banteay Srei is a jewel box of red sandstone, famed for its intimate size and some of the finest, most intricate carvings in Southeast Asia.
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.
Further afield is 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.
Ascend 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.
Embark on a half or full-day cruise on Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia (and among the largest in all of Asia). Tonle Sap was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1997. More than 1 million people live on and in the transition zone around the lake, whose surface sustains markets, schools, churches, flower gardens, vegetable farms, and even police stations. During the wet season from May to November, the water inflow expands the surface area of the lake more than five-fold, inundating the surrounding forested flood plain. Tonle Sap fisheries supply approximately 80 percent of the protein consumed in all of Cambodia.
Go on safari at Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary, one of three core areas of the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve, located at the northwest tip of the lake. More than 120 different bird species inhabit Prek Toal, and during the dry season (January to May) the swampy forests of Prek Toal support the largest colonies of storks, pelicans and ibises in all of mainland Southeast Asia. The sanctuary is also home to the Gray-Headed Fish Eagle, the very rare Greater Adjutant stork (only approximately 1,000 of which exist on earth, according to Wildlife Conservation Society), the Oriental Darter, and the exceedingly elusive Masked Finfoot.
Go on a bespoke shopping trip organized by Remote Lands. (Please note that Remote Lands receives absolutely no commission from any commercial enterprises that we recommend.) Siem Reap has become a shopper’s delight in recent years, and you may enjoy such boutiques as Artisans d’Angkor, Khmer Attitude, Wanderlust, Eric Raisina Boutique, Samatoa, and many others.
Meet the fledgling apprentices at the Khmer Angkor Workshop. This center trains young disadvantaged people from the provinces in the techniques needed for carving in sandstone and wood, as well as the production and use of some of the world’s most collectable silk. It is possible to buy the products made here which are high quality and not expensive.
Visit Siem Reap’s School of Arts and meet charming young Khmer dancers and musicians and watch them as they learn and perform. Have an informal lesson on traditional Cambodian musical instruments, and join in a jam session if possible that day.
Meet a head archaeologist at the Angkor National Museum, which opened in 2007 and is located a few minutes from Amansara. This engaging museum features various Hindu and Buddhist statues and artifacts from the Angkor temples and surrounding area and scale models of different temple complexes. If you wish, the archaeologist can personally guide you around Ta Prohm, one of Siem Reap's most spectacular temples, of which he was personally in charge of the restoration.
The Angkor National museum is a highly polished complement to the scruffier, authentic Conservation d’Ankor warehouse of priceless artifacts rescued from various Angkor temples. Also located near Amansara, the Conservation is not normally accessible to the public, but Remote Lands can arrange for you to visit if you wish.
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Battambang
Take a speedboat to the furthest reaches of Tonle Sap, 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.
Go to an authentic Khmer Boxing match, a martial art handed down from father to son for almost a thousand years. 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.
Go see Wat Ek Phnom, 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 unutterably 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.
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Kep
Drive three hours from Phnom Penh 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.
Check into the Knai Bang Chatt, a new exclusive oceanfront resort housed in three historic villas: the graceful, Le Corbusier-inspired buildings have only 11 rooms between them, all with generous terraces facing the water.
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.
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.
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. Continue on to the Buddhist cave temple of Phnom Chhnaugk, an ancient carved structure that predates the temples of Angkor Wat.
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Phnom Penh
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Have 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.
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.
Visit Phnom Udong, 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.
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.
Have cocktails and dinner at the home of a prominent local family: converse with them about present day life in Cambodia, and learn more about the reemergence of the "Paris of the Orient."
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Cardamom Mountains
Climb aboard a private helicopter for a flight around southern Cambodia. The first stop is 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 your 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. Enjoy a picnic lunch prepared by your private chef, complete with champagne and other libations of your choice. Continue 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, so named because it resembles a series of rice paddies.
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