Phnom Penh to Siem Reap Homestay Experience

Itinerary Details

Day 1 
Phnom Penh

Upon arrival  Phnom Penh airport you will  be welcomed by our English speaking tour guide and transfer you to your hotel for checking in.
Overnight in Phnom Penh

Day 2
Phnom Penh city tour

This morning you will be greeted by your tour guide and the driver at your hotel lobby to be ready for the city tour.
Cyclo is one of the old form of transportations in this capital. The first stop will be Wat Phnom shrine which is located on the top of 27 meters-hill, the only hill in the city and Phnom Penh is the name derived from this hill. The shrine itself was first constructed in 1373 but has been reconstructed several times ( 1434, 1806, 1894, 1926 and recently.) The shrine houses many statues of Buddha and decorated with the paintings of the Buddha stories on the walls and the ceilings. There is a huge stupa just right behind the shrine housed the cremated ashes of the king who relocated the capital city from Angkor to here. There is a big clock placed on the foot of the hill and on the right side of the shrine there is another shrine for the ethnic Chinese and Vietnamese.
Continue to the palace with a short drive along the lively river front. The royal palace was constructed twice in 1400s and 1800s but most of the buildings in the compound were reconstructed in 1900s. There are several significant buildings included the Silver pagoda which is housed thousands of artifacts made out of gold, silver, bronze and other materials. The whole floor of the pagoda is covered with 5329 silver tiles. Among those thousands artifacts, the most elegant one is the future Buddha statue made of solid gold 90kgs and decorated with 2086 diamonds and the emerald Buddha.
Next visit is the national museum which was built in 1917 and the inauguration ceremony was held on 13th April 1920. It was designed by French but constructed by Cambodian craftsmen. It was first called The Phnom Penh museum then Krong Kampucher museum, Albert Saraut museum, Archaeological museum and today is known as The National museum of Cambodia. The museum are divided into 4 galleries , East, south, west and north gallery with thousands of statues and art works are on display. East gallery is housed the statue of Hindu gods, Buddha and many other artifacts made from bronze keep in the small glass cases which the gallery also called bronze gallery. The south gallery is contained stone statues from 6th to 11th century AD. West one housed the statues from 11th to the early 13th century and the north gallery dedicated to the ethnology with some prehistoric ceramics display in the glass cabinets. In the middle of the museum there are four fish ponds with a beautiful garden.  After lunch we will move on to S-21 Genocide museum which once was a school constructed in 1962 but converted to prison cells, tortured center and the killing field in August 1975 by the Khmer Rough. Approximately 17000 people were sent to there but only around 12 survived. Thousands of victim’s photographs remains there included infants and children. It is a grim and very confronting but crucial to see that will allow you to dig below the surface to get a much better understanding Cambodia recent history.
Last stop for today will be Russian market known as Toul tompoung by the locals and it is one of the most popular markets in town to shop in the city where you will find souvenir, clothes, scarves, jewelry, silk products, food stands, fish, vegetables etc…
Later of the day is free of leisure.
If you wish to explore more please just take a tuk tuk from the hotel or walk to the riverfront area, a pleasant French style promenade which is normally in the evening varies of activity taking place Aerobic dance and Khmer dance, exercise class, kids playing soccer, vendors. You can participate the dance if you wish.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 3  
Siem Reap Community homestay

Today we depart for Chub community homestay. This community is located 25 Kilometers north east of Siem reap is one of the nine villages in Khnar Po commune and there are over 100 families live in this community in which their main form of living are farming, producing brooms and eco tourist homestay.
First stop will be the Tarantula town where you will have chance to try these deep fried creatures, after the lunch break then head straight to the village. Upon arriving you will be welcomed by the local villagers then take us to the homestay which all are on tall stilts, the traditional and typical houses in the countryside. 
Overnight in home stay.
Today you will help the community to do some building work in the morning and learn about local how they make the living. After lunch we explore the community and learn how to make broom, roof thatches, rice milling, visit the farm. 
Dinner with the community.
Overnight at the home stay.

Day 4  
Siem Reap Community project

Today we will do some more construction with the locals again.
After lunch we take the ox cart ride to visit the 12th century ruins and enjoy the sunset with BBQ dinner by the community pond and paddy field.
overnight in the homestay

Day 5  
Siem Reap and Apopo Museum

After breakfast we say goodbye to our host then head Siem Reap stop by the Hero rats museum called the Apopo.  Apopo which jointed operation with CMAC( Cambodian Mines Action Center ) in 2014. During this initial phase Apopo’s capacity was made up of manual teams, tecnical survey and clearance team, mechanical armored brush clutters as well as explosive ordinance disposal teams. You will learn about the hero rats, landmines and understand about what is Apopo dealing with.
After lunch we transfer to the hotel check in. In the afternoon you are free at leisure.
Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 6 
Siem Reap

Explore Angkor Wat with sunrise
Set off a very early start to witness the sunrise over Angkor Wat which is one of the highlights of the tour by viewing the first sun beam glow over this largest religious building on the planet. Enter the building in the dark from the causeway through the moat until you get to the edge of one of the ancient library’s pond before hopping into the interior of the main building, creeping along a part of hoary cloistered corridors then crawling up a steep stair after observing some of the magnificent bas-reliefs stretching along the galleries by hearing your local expert deciphering the myriad of the myths and stories behind it. After spending a thorough couple hours exploring this main structure then return to the hotel for your breakfast. Head back to the Angkor Thom city which is located a few kilometers orth of Angkor Wat. Upon arriving the south gate, take a moment to consider its grandiosity before venturing through the gods and demons flanked causeway and enter the ancient city gate that topped by gigantic living Buddha faces facing the main cardinal directions. This majestic site once served as the great Khmer empire’s glistening capital with so many structures were erected. Bayon is the principle building and was the state temple during the greatest Khmer king was in charged, situated right in the center of the city and it remains one of the most enigmatic temple of the whole Angkor complex with the architectural scale and composition exude grandness in every aspects. Its elements juxtapose each other to create balance and harmony. Enter the temple by first explore the bas reliefs along the galleries which presented a combination of mythological, historical and mundane scenes then climb up the stairs to the upper terraces which you will be able observe the serene smiling faces closer. Then continue to the Elephant terrace and Leper king terrace and the Tomb raider temple known as Ta Phrom by locals which was build and dedicated to the great king’s mother late 12th century. The founder Jayavarma 7th also embarked on a massive works plan of the construction and public infrastructure’s tasks. The stone stele commemorating the foundation gives a date back to 1186 AD with its original name Rajavihara (means the Royal shrine) and also mentioned that the site was home of 12640 people including 18 high ranking priests and 620 dancing girls. This temple was listed into one of the main ruins by its extraordinary state of nature and manmade together.  
The rest of the day is free at leisure
Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 7 
Siem Reap 

Cooking class and Phare Ponleu Selpak circus
Today, We offer you a great opportunity to learn how to make authentic quality Khmer food like you eat at the fine dine with our professional and friendly chef. You will also have chance to visit the local market doing some ingredient shopping. This will be truly and unforgettable unique experience for you while visiting Cambodia.
You will be pick by tuk tuk from your hotel lobby at 9 am
In the evening we visit the  Circus called Phar PONLEOU SALAPAK circus Is an NGO based in Battambang and was founded in 1994 by a refugee with a mission to provides artistic training to poor, young Cambodians. This NGO also provide formal education from elementary schools and programs performing. Visual and applied arts Leisure classes, and vocational training aid children and young adults to develop their activity communication and concentration skills and to access a sustainable artistic career whilst preserving and promoting Cambodian art and Culture.  This circus performance was set up in Siem Reap in 2013 to get more support from the foreign visitors.
Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 8 
Siem Reap  
Transfer to the airport

 End of the tour

Note :

• Duration : 8 days
• Free cancellation a month prior the tour start
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Please provide a specific dietary requirement at the time of booking
• Tour price is base on the number of people in your booking not on the size of the group.

Our services include :

• Touring with national escort and all admissions/entrance fees
• Local guides services at some spots
• Accommodation on twin sharing basis and meals as stated in the itinerary
• 3 star hotel and homestay
• Sightseeing tour by Boats, cyclo and A/C Vehicle
• Meals mentioned in the itinerary ( B is breakfast and L is lunch )
• Parking and toll road fees
• Local taxes
• Purified cold bottled drinking water

Our Services do not Include :

• Cambodian Visa and visa fee
• Personal Travel Insurance (compulsory)
• Departure tax and departure transfers
• International flights, airport tax & excess baggage charges
• All optional tours and all activities during free time
• All personal expenditures: Shopping, laundry, drinks, phone calls, etc.. 
• Other meals not mentioned in the itinerary
• Gratuities/tipping (recommended)