Cambodia adventure with Ms. Alexa Dorina

My friends and I visited Vietnam, with Amovietnam Travel, in February 2013,

The experience was very positive. The owner Lam, and his staff arranged for us a perfect individual tour.

Again this year, in February, we decided to return to Southeast Asia to visit Laos and Cambodia. Given the great experience, we are always entrusted to Amovietnam for the organization of our trip.

Once again the choice was right. The tour was organized very well, Lam has chosen great hotels. The guides and drivers are very competent and kind.

I highly recommend Amovietnam Travel to those who want to visit these fantastic South East Asitic countries.

Once again THANK YOU LAM !!!

by Liliana & company

Group of : Ms. Alexa Dorina 

Travel date: 4/2/2014 – 16/2/2014

 DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrival – Luang Prabang (-/-/-)

You will be met by our staff and transferred to your hotel. Luang Prabang is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Laos. Today is free at your leisure to explore. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 2: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou cave  (B/L/-)

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning alms giving to saffron-clad monks. This tradition is unique to Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving this procession.

After breakfast, we enjoy a short-guided tour of the city’s oldest temple, Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong where you can see the impressive “tree of life” mosaic set in colored glass. We then board an upstream cruise on the Mekong River, which gives us a panoramic view of the tranquil countryside. We’ll make sure to stop at the Pak Ou Caves, sanctuaries consisting of two large caverns, both repositories for thousands of Buddha images. We will also stop at a few villages during the day, including Ban Xanghai where local rice wine is produced.  We return to Luang Prabang in the afternoon, we then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi to explore the sacred, gilded stupa as well as capture a beautiful view of the city and the Mekong River at sunset. From there, we visit the Night Market, where you can browse through a lovely selection of handmade textiles. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 3: Luang prabang- Elephant Camp- Kuangsy Waterfall  (B/L/-)

After breakfast, we proceed to the Adventure and Elephant camp located 15 km out of town in the middle of unspoiled, natural green surroundings. After crossing the small river you are introduced to our Asian Elephants and venture on a 30m scenic journey through forests, plantations and fields. After that we take a long tail boat to Tadsae waterfall where the low cascades and minerals in the water make for turquoise pools between the trees offers a stunning sight. Explore the challenge of the exotic jungle of Laos, an unforgettable experience

In the afternoon, we continue our excursion towards Khouangsi Waterfall, stopping to visit some ethnic minority villages and see how these colorful people live. Once at the falls you can swim in the turquoise pools or walk along forest paths. We return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon and continue to Ban Xang Khong, a village well known for silk hand weaving and making traditional Saa Paper. Overnight in luang Prabang

Note: In case of Elephant Camp is fully book, we will move to other All Laos Camp but in 01h.

Day 4: Luang Prabang – Siemreap  (B/-/-)

We start our last day with a visit to The National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture throughout the ages. We also will see the Central Market. After visiting these sights in the morning, there will be free time to venture into town and stroll around the shopping areas.

The tour of Laos ends after your transfer to the airport in Luang Prabang taking flight to Siem Reap.

Farewell Laos and upon arrival in Seam Reap, the guide and coach will be waiting and pick up you from International Siem Reap Airport then transfer to hotel for check in. Free leisure and overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 5: Siemreap – Angkor Wat – Angkor Thom – Ta Promh (B/L/-)

08:00 depart to visit Banteay Kdei and Ta Promh temple

After breakfast, transfer to visit South Gate of Angkor Thom, famous Bayon, Baphoun, Terrace of Elephant, Phimean Akas, Terrace of Leper King,

Lunch at local restaurant

Afternoon, transfer to visit the famous World Heritage “Angkor Wat” then climb up the Bakheng Hill to watch beautiful sunset from the top of the mountain. Back to the hotel.

Note: This day is very rush for full activity as well as Bakheng Hill is allow only 300 visitor at once time.

Day 6: Siemreap –  Banteay Srey – Banteay Samre –  Tonle Sap Lake (B/L/-)

This morning, take cruise on Tonle Sap Lake for 1hour, visit floating village and fisherman life, then back to visit Chantie Ecole – Artisan D’Angkor.

Lunch at local restaurant

In the afternoon, we head to Banteay Srei, Angkor’s ultimate art gallery. This petite pink temple is the jewel in the crown of Angkor-era sculpture. The elaborate carvings here are the finest found in Cambodia and the name translates as ‘Fortress of the Women’, thanks to the intricate detail here, considered too fine for the hands of a man.

Originally believed to date from the latter part of the Angkor period, inscriptions at the site suggest it was built by a Brahman in 967. However, some architectural historians have suggested that the inscriptions may date from an earlier structure on this site and the temple is in fact later, marking a high-water mark in Khmer sculpture.

Later we visit the 12^th century temple of Banteay Samre. Built by King Suryavarman II, the genius behind Angkor Wat, this temple has been extensively restored. The temple is unique in that over-quarrying of sandstone led to the use of laterite for the roofed corridors. The pediments above the inner doors here include some of the most accomplished carving from the Angkor period.

Then Enjoy sunset at Pre Rup Temple.

Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap

Day 7: Siemreap –  Sihanouk Ville  (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel. Free leisure. Transfer to airport to take flight to Sihanouk Ville.

Arrive in Sihanouk Ville. Transfer to your hotel (own arrangement)

Day 8: Sihanouk Ville (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel. Free leisure

Day 9: Sihanouk Ville (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel. Free leisure

Day 10: Sihanouk Ville (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel. Free leisure

Day 11: Sihanouk Ville (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel. Free leisure

Day 12: Sihanouk Ville – Phnom Penh by bus (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel, then transfer to bus station to take Public Bus to Phnom Penh. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel for check in. 

We then transfer to visit Tuol Sleng, or S21, was initially a school in the centre of Phnom Penh which was later used by Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge to enslave, torture and kill all those suspected of treason or non-conformity to their ideology. Now it’s a museum which depicts this distressing period of history, where the cells, beds, torture equipment and photos that were used are still present today.

Overnight at hotel in Phnom Penh 

Day 13: Phnom Penh – departure (B/L/-)

This morning we explore the stunning Royal Palace complex, home to the Cambodian royal family and a symbol of the nation. We begin amid the beautiful royal gardens, landscaped with tropical plants and studded with gleaming spires. We enter the Throne Hall where the royal receptions are held and the Cambodian king’s coronation took place. We then pass the Napoleon III Pavilion made from iron, a gift from the French emperor in the 19th century.

We continue to the Silver Pagoda, named after the 5000 silver tiles covering the floor, each weighing 1kg. Inside are some of the country’s most cherished treasures, including a life-size gold Buddha studded with 9584 diamonds, the largest weighing 25 carats. There is also a delicate emerald Buddha made of baccarat crystal, which gives the temple its Khmer name of Wat Preah Keo (Temple of the Emerald Buddha).

We leave the Royal Palace and continue to the nearby National Museum, home to the world’s finest collection of sculpture from the Angkor period. The exquisite building was completed between 1917 and 1920 and features a lush courtyard garden surrounded by collections from the pre-Angkor, Angkor and post-Angkor periods. We concentrate on the incredible sandstone sculpture from Angkor, as well as the intricate bronzes.

In late afternoon, transfer to airport to take the departure flight at 15:40PM.