Marvelous Cambodia Family 8 Nights / 9 Days

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 | Siem Reap – Arrival

Meal: None
Upon your arrival at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, you will be greeted by our friendly driver then transfers directly (approx. 1 hour) to a booked hotel for check in and have your own free time.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 2 | Angkor Wat & Angkor Thom by Tuk Tuks

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast is at hotel. We’re journeying out by Tuk Tuks (or minivan) at 8.30am to witness the marvelous Angkor Wat – the world’s heritage listed by UNESCO in 1992 and the largest unrivaled monument in the world. Built by Suryavarman II in 12th Century, Angkor Wat is considered as one of the top destinations in Asia and is a must-see in your lifetime. Learning from your tour guide the amazing history, its ancestral incredible, architectural masterpieces and the finest carvings dates back to the Khmer Empire when it dominated the largest parts of Southeast Asia.

Continue to the South Gate of Angkor Thom atop 4 giant faces that religiously represents compassion, sympathy, equanimity and charity. Stroll around Bayon temple consisting of more than 200 smiling faces in stone, admired by interesting temples including Baphuon, Phimeanakas, terrace of leper king and terrace of elephant.

Return Siem Reap town and enjoy tasty Khmer family set lunch at a wooden house restaurant.

*Note: You probably skip a few small temples within Angkor Thom if you think it is too much for the day and visiting beautiful sunset is available at Phnom Bakheng, please speak to our tour guide to manage this for you. This is a hiking up (Approx. 25 minutes/way) to the hill and it’s always touristy or skip it if you feel tired.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 3 | Angkor Balloon Sunrise, Beautiful Banteay Srei & Ta Prohm Temple

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

We’re leaving hotel a bit early at 5.15am through the cool morning of Angkor jungle to Angkor Balloon site where we process to embark Angkor balloon (share balloon) for the spectacular sunrise over the stunning scenery of Angkor while you’re enjoying taking the photos of the sun rising up at the gold-red sky. The balloon generally takes 10 minutes for the sightseeing soaring over the sky about 200 meter high and descent slowly down to the ground.

Return hotel for breakfast and we go out again to witness the intricately carved, beautiful red-pink sandstone temple of Banteay Srei – considered to be a Jewel of Khmer art which features elaborate decorations and its finest details. These factors have made the temple extremely popular with tourists, and have led to its being widely praised as a “precious gem”.

Enjoy Khmer set lunch at a nice wooden house restaurant.

Afternoon, we return and on the way, we stop for a visit at palm sugar village and other various local handicraft souvenirs (skip it if you feel enough for today). Resume the journey to visit Ta Prohm temple adorned with the stunning, amazing tree roots where Lara Croft Tomb Raider was filmed.

Our team take back to hotel and have your lovely free time at hotel’s poolside.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 4 | Unique Village Experience & Phare Cambodian Circus

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast is at hotel. We start the tour at 8.30am to a remote countryside village, the journey passes interesting city highlight and huge beautiful rice paddies dotting with palm trees and cattle in the fields. We will visit a local market to observe interesting trade exchanges before arriving in the village, next have some fun on the oxcart ride through the village to get interaction along with “Hello” from friendly kids. Disembark the cart, you’ll be greeted by a host family then we get involved with rural activities such as rice planting or harvesting or growing vegetables or making roof of palm leaves depending on the season of the year. These rural village activities are most unique, memorable experience in your trip to Cambodia. Return to the family’s house, stroll round to see the surrounding which admired by routine, lifestyle, culture, customs and superstitions, enjoy lunch followed by tropical fruits and get refreshed by coconut juice.

Afternoon, we say goodbye to the host then we make our way to a Buddhist pagoda in a village where you stroll around to learn from your guide about Pagoda and Buddhism as well as daily life of saffron monks. By the following time, you will prepare to receive special water blessing which is ritually practiced from the ancient time and it is religiously believed to bring good fortune to life as well as getting rid out of bad evil while you’re being poured holy water with chanting sacred words from monk and it is fully accomplished by a wishing red tie at the end.

Evening, our team transfers to have delicious Khmer set dinner at famous Chanrey Tree, a beautiful setting with garden by the riverside before we’re going to watch unique Phare Circus performance (Seat B) which is unlike any other circus in the world: theater, story, dance, high-energy music and circus arts.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 5 | Tonle Sap Lake & Apsara Cultural Show

Meal: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast is at hotel. We set off hotel at 8.30am for countryside sightseeing along with a visit at local market to see interesting trades before resuming our journey to Kompong Phluk village of Tonle Sap Lake. We process to take a boat trip along canal toward the centre of Kompong Phluk then the boat slows down to let you enjoy the surrounding admired by amazing houses atop high poles, come across the highlight of fishing activities as well as see people selling fruits/vegetable/meats on their boats, you sometimes see kids in their student uniforms coming back from their classes. Witness how life works on the water and how people make the lake as home then we embark on a canoe to explore the pleasant mangroves, enjoy the serenity while taking picturesque photos and you may see a few waterbirds. Continue by our main boat to see the great lake of Tonle Sap, learn from your tour guide about Tonle Sap ecosystem and its rich biosphere reserve.

Return hotel for break and refreshment.

Evening, transfer to enjoy delicate Khmer set dinner (or buffet) followed by traditional Apsara dance performance at a selected local restaurant.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 6 | Vermicelli Tasting & Phnom Kulen Waterfalls

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast is at hotel. With our experienced tour guide, we drive to Preah Dak village where we will be greeted by a local family at her house then they invite you to observe daily works of producing Khmer vermicelli in a remarkable processing before it is sold to the market nearby. You’ll also have chances to sample the freshly made vermicelli mixing up with delicate soup and fresh vegetables.

Next, goodbye to the family and we make our way to Phnom Kulen where you see the famous beautiful waterfalls. Phnom Kulen is regarded as the holy mountain for religious significance to Hindus and Buddhists and was the significant home of the ancient Khmer Empire when King Jayavarma II proclaimed independence from Java in 804 CE. The journey provides nice views of rice paddies, countryside dotting with palm trees and cattle.

Enjoy the walking tour to see the giant reclining Buddha statue on the hilltop along with breathtaking, spectacular views and learn from your tour guide about historical site. Resume walking within the jungle to witness religious Hindu of the riverbed of 1000 linga carvings, next we move to observe the sacred ground-pool before we head to relax near the waterfall. From then, it is your own free time for cooling down, swimming and enjoying local lunch followed by fresh coconut juice

Afternoon, we drive back to hotel and have free leisure.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 7 | Pottery Wheel Class & Traditional Water Blessing

Meal: Breakfast

Breakfast is at hotel. We will go by Tuk Tuk for Pottery Wheel Class at 10.00am, a professional local artist demonstrates how to make Cambodian masterpieces. Our experienced potters will guide you in creating stunning ceramic pieces on the pottery wheel using local clay. After you finish your pieces, you will also learn how to add unique Khmer Kbach (ornamentation) designs to them using proper carving tools. You can choose one of your pieces to be your masterpiece, which will be fired in a kiln within 1 day and will be ready for pick up afterwards, along with a potter’s diploma. You can display your unique piece as a souvenir for your friends and family back home.

Note: Cooking class is available to replace pottery wheel class.

Return hotel for refreshment and have your free leisure.

Our experienced tour guide and and Tuk Tuk driver will be picking you up at 3.00pm (or 2.30pm) from your hotel’s lobby then heading out to a Buddhist Pagoda where the tour guide escort you to see the pagoda, explain you more about daily life of Buddhist monks, culture, Cambodian religion and how monks leave in the early morning to search for alms giving.

Next, we respectfully invite a Buddhist monk and provide an offer-gift to him to get prepared ritual water blessing. Once you changed clothes and get ready, let’s get started.

A longer ritual that involves vessels of blessed water being poured over your head by monks. Saffron monks prosperously chant to wish you good luck, safe travel, healthy harmony and longevity. It is a way to cleanse yourself, peaceful mind and receive a sacred Buddhist blessing at an ancient pagoda. This traditional water blessing is fully accomplished by a wishing red tie at the end.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 8 | Kulen Elephant Forest (share-tour)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast is at hotel. Our driver (no guide) will pick you up at 7.40am from hotel’s lobby then transfers to Kulen elephant forest’s office in Siem Reap town. Next, the shuttle minivan will leave at 8.00am with an hour drive to the Kulen Elephant forest which locates at the base of Kulen Mountain range. Once at the reserve, you will spend time to learn from the local tour guide to get understanding the way of elephants live, play and roam as well as knowing how they are being well taken care mostly through their natural habitat, observing their relationships and behaviors. At noon, retire to base camp and enjoy a traditional meal before heading back to Siem Reap (approx. 2.00pm). You will then get picked up by our driver from Kulen elephant forest’s office to hotel then it is your own leisure.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 9 | Siem Reap – Departure

Meal: Breakfast

Breakfast is at hotel. Simply enjoy the rest of free time in Siem Reap before our team picks you up from hotel’s lobby and transfers to Siem Reap Angkor International Airport for your flight to the next destination.

Thank You and Goodbye to Beautiful Cambodia

You may consider to spend a couple nights and share lovely time with your children for beach escapes at one of Cambodia’s idyllic Koh Rong/Koh Rong Samloem or at a private island Song Saa or Six Senses Krabey Island.