CAMBODIA

IN SHORT:

• Day 1: Bangkok to Phnom Phen
• Day 2: Phnom Phen
• Day 3: Phnom Phen to Siem Reap
• Day 4: Siem Reap
• Day 5: Siem Reap
• Day 6: Siem Reap to Bangkok

AN OVERVIEW

Like so many countries in South East Asia, Cambodia has been through a lot. Wars, famine and ethnic genocide, this proud kingdom is now rebuilding itself in a way very few could have predicted. Cambodia is much more than Angkor's temples and we have spent several months discovering an amazing country proud of it's history and looking forward to a much better future.  Our Boutique Itinerary will immerse you into Khmer history and culture, looking at it's past with the incredible Angkor temples. But we will also show you an unexpected part of the country, where a superb group of talented artisans and designers who employ century old traditions now create an emerging Cambodian fashion and crafts industry. From candle making and painting to jewellery and silk embroidery. With amazing hotels, great restaurants and a people so eager to show you their forgotten country, Cambodia is coming out of a long darkness

COST:

Contact us for a quote, mostly depending on your guiding requirements, group size and hotel selection.

THE BOUTIQUE ITINERARY

Our itinerary starts with a night in Bangkok. The choice of incredible hotels and restaurants make Bangkok a great place to start and finish our trip. On the following morning, we fly from Bangkok to Phnom Penh. The capital has retained a French flair, sitting on the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers with it's many cafés and wide boulevards. Phnom Penh was once considered the most beautiful city in Indochina and efforts are now being made to bring the city of 2 million back to it's status of the "Pearl of Asia". Our visit will include an exclusive tour of the Royal Palace and the nearby Silver Pagoda with its 5000 silver floor tiles. We take a cruise on the Tonle Sap at sunset and we also visit private studios where we learn about the efforts made to revive the kingdom's heritage of classical folk dances and music. We also meet artisans and boutique owners around the capital who introduce you to a vibrant arts & crafts scene.

We then fly out of Phnom Penh to experience the incredible site of Angkor. Your early afternoon arrival time gives you the chance to settle into one of our superb hotel properties before a late afternoon exploration of one of Angkor's superb sites, the Terrace of Elephants. Angkor is a magnificent site with temples and monasteries long forgotten for centuries. For the following two days, we will focus your attention on a series of seven temples with our resident temple expert, author of several books on Angkor's history and architecture. We will allow you to wander around remote areas where we stay away from the crowds. From walking in silence at dawn through a temple covered in strangling vines to a close look at the unbelievable Churning of the Ocean of Milk bas-reliefs in Angkor Wat, our experiences leave very few people unmoved by what must have been an incredible site.  At sunset you are taken for a 40-minute helicopter flight over Angkor and the majestic Tonle Sap Lake for a different perspective. We will also host you to a private reception in the studio of Angkor's most celebrated artist and once again meet skilled artisans including Cambodia's foremost fashion designer, who recently had pieces picked up by the Saint Laurent fashion house. The city of Siem Reap offers a wide range of great restaurants for lunches and dinners within a 10 minute walking distance from our recommended hotels. Also, great boutiques and shopping opportunities are available before your flight back to Bangkok where we can assist you with transfers and further choices.

SOME COUTURE TRIP IDEAS:

• A family who had never been to Asia before was keen to explore Angkor in a different style, so we combined bicycles, elephants, boats and even four wheel motor bikes to explore the area while the father enjoyed the services of an exclusive expert guide around the temples.
• Two couples celebrating 20 years of friendship asked to include 3 nights in the most exclusive resort in Angkor and look at the temples during their three-week trip across Asia including a private jet charter from Bangkok.
• A group of friends wanted to explore Asia's Ancient Kingdoms and we included Angkor along their incredible expedition across four countries.