Cambodia

Small Group Programs to Cambodia 2010

This is not for everyone.

You will only do this if you want to be totally exhausted at the end of your trip - by fun, lots of walking, lugging your back packs all over, overnight trains, small hotels, and with a group of 11 to 16 or maximum 24 other like minded international travelers. These programs offer great value.
Please note that itineraries here are only a sample of what is available. We work with many well established operators and will carefully match your travel dates, interest, and preference to the most appropriate group. Please contact us for more information.

If you prefer to move at your own pace, or want more upscale accommodations or private guides, please contact us for independent programs.

Please use rates listed as a guideline only.
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Road to Angkor
9 days Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City or vice-versa from 970.00
Bangkok, Siem Reap, the temples of Angkor, Phnom Penh, Mekong Delta
Combine the diversity of Cambodia with the excitement of Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City. With magnificent ruins to explore, a history to understand and two of Asia's most bustling cities, this is an exciting overland journey from Thailand into southern Vietnam. Allow US$180 for meals not included and US$75 for flights to be purchased en route.

Itinerary
Day 1	Bangkok	Bustling and beguiling, Bangkok has grand palaces, temples, frenetic streets, quiet enclaves and a colourful array of shops and markets.
Days 2-4	Bangkok - Siem Reap	It is a long drive through rural Cambodia to Siem Reap, our base for visiting the magnificent remains of the ancient Khmer empire of Angkor. A boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake is optional.
Days 5-6	Angkor Wat	Experience the changing times of Phnom Penh at the beautiful Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and the lively city markets in stark contrast to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields.
Day 7	Chao Doc	Travel by riverboat across the border to Vietnam and the Mekong Delta town of Chao Doc. Spend a wonderful day watching rural life slip by.
Days 8	- 9 Ho Chi Minh City	Take to the streets in Ho Chi Minh City in rickshaws to explore this exhilarating hub of southern Vietnam.

Heart of Cambodia
15 days ex Phnom Penh from 1140.00
Phnom Penh, Kompong Cham, Angkor Wat, Battambang, Kep, Sihanoukville
Architectural feats, powerful history, magnificent beaches and sleepy rural villages. Explore the heart of Cambodia, a nation of scenic beauty with discordant legacies of its remote and recent past. Temples, remnants of French colonialism, Killing Fields, palaces and pagodas are interspersed with palm-fringed beaches and sleepy rural villages. Allow US$220 for meals not included.

Itinerary
Days 1-2	Phnom Penh	In Phnom Penh we can enjoy great river views from the coffee shops, browse the busy Russian Market and explore the delightful city palace. For extreme contrast visit the chilling Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields.
Days 3-4	Kampong Cham	It's up the Mekong River by fast boat to Kompong Cham and Wat Nokor. Stop in sleepy Kompong Thom, sample a dish of fried spiders and climb a stunning mountain temple with dozens of reclining Buddhas.
Days 5-7	Siem Reap	Angkor's tantalising blend of Hindu and Buddhist influences make it one of Indochina's most famous sites. Visit Angkor Wat, jungle-covered Ta Prohm and check out the delicate carvings of Banteay Srei.
Days 8-9	Battambang	We travel by boat to Battambang, an attractive town with friendly Khmer people and interesting architecture from Cambodia's French colonial past.
Day 10	Kampot	A stay in the forgotten seaside resort of Kep offers time to walk, swim or laze in a hammock with a drink as the sun sets over the islands.
Day 11	Kampot	From Kampot we walk through the hills to the French hill station of Bokor with its summer palace and sweeping views over Cambodia's coastline.
Days 12-13	Sihanoukville	Untouched beaches, palm trees, blue waters and friendly people are the hallmarks of Sihanoukville, Cambodia's only seaport. Sample the seafood and enjoy the nightlife.
Days 14-15	Phnom Penh	Returning to Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh, the afternoon is free for further exploration and shopping or writing last-minute postcards in the river front cafes of elegant Sisowath Quay.

Best of Cambodia
15 days Phnom Penh to Bangkok from 1235.00
Community projects, Takeo province, Ratanakiri, Sihanoukville, Angkor Wat, Battambang
An enriching Cambodian journey that contributes to the communities we visit. Experience the warmth of the Cambodian people, beautiful rural countryside, some of the world's most awesome relics of a bygone era and gain an insight into the nation's history. Allow US$240 for meals not included and $US110 for flights to be purchased en route.

Itinerary
Days 1-2	This Cambodian adventure begins in the capital. Pay respects to lives lost at the chilling Tuol Sleng Museum and the infamous Killing Fields, before taking time to discover a more glorious era amid the treasures of the National Museum.
Day 3-4	Crumbling French-colonial shopfronts along the riverfront lend a certain elegance to Battambang's facade. Make a sobering visit to Phnom Sampeau and stop off at the peaceful temples of Wat Banan.
Days 5-7	Rise early to see a spectacular sunrise over Angkor Wat and enjoy a day of temple-hopping. The structures of Angkor are an amazing archaeological sight and are sure to captivate.
Day 8	Experience the serenity of small-town Cambodia in Kompong Cham before exploring a rural river island by bicycle.
Days 9-10	Once renowned for its pepper, riverside Kampot is a wonderful place to relax. Venture into the countryside for a tour through salt flats, rice fields, pepper plantations and the famous Phnom Chhnork caves. Stop by villages along the way to meet the locals and witness their daily lives.
Day 11-13	Settle in for some beachside bliss on Cambodia's southern coast. Catch a boat out to a nearby island to relax among swaying palms, white sands and clear blue waters.
Days 14-15	Go in search of shade and some silver jewellery at the Russian Market or see if the blue flag is flying outside the Royal Palace - it's a sign the king is in.

Best of Vietnam and Cambodia - Northbound
18 days Bangkok to Hanoi or vice-versa from 1830.00
Angkor temples, Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, Hue, Halong Bay
A blend of inspiring history and exhilarating present. Three lively capital cities, historic intrigue and imperial relics, combine with beautiful scenery and not to be missed shopping opportunities to create a magnificent journey of discovery. Allow US$310 for meals not included and US$160 for flights to be purchased en route.

Itinerary
Day 1	Bangkok, the bustling heart of Asia, offers fantastic shopping, wonderful street food, busy markets and majestic temples.
Days 2-4	The remains of the ancient Khmer is simply awe inspiring with the stunning Angkor Wat, exotic jungle-covered Ta Prohm and enigmatic faces of the Bayon. Based in the small town of Siem Reap we have ample time to explore.
Days 5-6	The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda are testimony to a rich cultural history while Phnom Penh reveals the tragedy of Cambodia's past at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and infamous Killing Fields.
Day 7	Riverboat is a fitting way to travel to Vietnam and the Mekong Delta town of Chao Doc.
Days 8-9	Ho Chi Minh City is the hub of southern Vietnam. Jump on a cyclo and discover the museums, cathedrals, boulevards lined with colonial buildings and teeming markets of Chinatown.
Day 10	In the legendary network of tunnels at Cu Chi, we get a taste of a harsh existence where the Viet Cong often lived for weeks on end.
Days 11-12	Today Hoi An is most famed for its variety of tailor shops - get a complete tailor-made wardrobe in hours! While they are busy sewing, explore historic buildings, lovely beaches and rural villages.
Days 13-15	Tranquil Hue, set along the Perfume River, was the capital of the Nguyen emperors. Quiet tree-lined lanes lead through ancient cemeteries to vast tombs, secluded pagodas and tiny villages.
Day 16	According to legend, Halong Bay is where a dragon descended into the sea. In doing so he created this spectacular bay of limestone karst islands with fabulous caves and clear waters.
Days 17-18	Hanoi is a riot of colour and activity as motorbikes pack the streets, cafes nestle beside the lake and laneways thrive with markets.