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Journey Info

 

Duration 6 days, 5 nights

 

Starts Siem Reap, Cambodia

 

Finishes Siem Reap, Cambodia

 

Departs Daily

 

Grade Easy, culture

 

Activities Sightseeing, educational, bird watching, home stay and boat trip

 

Accommodation 3-star hotel, monastery, home stay

 

Includes Accom, transfers, local guide, monastery experience, meals as specified, sightseeing, entrance fees

 

Highlights

• Fall under the spell of the Temples of Angkor

• Spend a night with monks in a Buddhist monastery, learn about Buddhism and monastic life

• Overnight on a floating village on the Ton Le Sap Lake

• Flexible dates - you choose your travel dates

Overview

This unique itinerary combines the temples of Angkor with an introduction to Buddhism and monastery life. Starting and finishing in Siem Reap, explore the Angkor Complex, live with Buddhist monks for a night in an active monastery and discover life on Ton Le Sap lake with a boat trip and home stay on a floating village.

Itinerary at a glance

Day 1	Arrive Siem Reap, Cambodia Upon arrival at Siem Reap airport, transfer to your hotel. Free time at leisure. Overnight in Siem Reap. Accommodation: Hotel Siem Reap
Day 2	Temples of Angkor Today we discover the Angkor Complex: starting at the South Gate of Angkor Thom City. Here we explore the centrepiece of the ancient city, The Bayon, comprising 54 towers decorated with more than 200 enigmatic smiling faces. Also included in the morning tour are the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Terrace of Elephants and Terrace of Leper Kings and The Ta Prohm Temple. We enjoy lunch before embarking on our discovery of Angkor Wat, easily the most famous and best-preserved of all temples within the Angkor complex. We have most of the afternoon here before heading back to Siem Reap. This evening we enjoy dinner with an Apsara dance show at local restaurant. Overnight in Siem Reap. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Hotel Siem Reap
Day 3	Temples of Angkor - Buddhist Monastery After breakfast, we head to the exquisite Banteay Srey (“Citadel of the women”). The temple displays some of the finest examples of classical Khmer art. The visit is combined with the discovery of Banteay Samre. After lunch, we drive to a local monastery where your guide explains the schedule of the next coming days as well as the do’s and dont’s that travellers have to respect during a visit the overnight stay in the monastery. This afternoon, our course focuses on Buddhist philosophy and monastic life. Overnight in the monastery. Note: Monks have their last meal at 11:00am in the morning. No dinner is planned for the evening. We will however prepare snacks and fruits.   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Monastery
Day 4	Life in a Buddhist Monastery - Siem Reap Up early to the sound of the drums (monks wake up at around 04:00am). Rise and join them at their prayers. After breakfast, we are introduced to meditation, followed by a half day practice in the monastery. The course is followed by some free time to relax and lunch. In the afternoon, transfer back to our hotel in Siem Reap and free time at leisure. Overnight in Siem Reap. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Monastery
Day 5	Ton Le Sap Lake Boat & Home Stay Late morning drive to Ton Le Sap Lake for a boat trip across the lake and its flooded forest. Learn about the ecosystem and habitats of the local flora and fauna. Arrive in the floating village and have a typical fresh fish meal cooked by villagers. Enjoy a paddle boat tour organised by the community and discover different aspects of village life. Late afternoon, head to the home stay in a floating village, watch sunset on the lake and have diner cooked by villagers. Overnight in the home stay. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Home stay
Day 6	Bird Sanctuary Boat Cruise - Depart Siem Reap Up early at 05:30am for sunrise and breakfast. At 06:00 am board the boat to the bird sanctuary for bird watching along the waterways, the lakeshore and from the top of the watching towers. Mid morning return to your hotel in Siem Reap arriving at 12:30pm. In the afternoon transfer to airport for your onward flight. Meals: Breakfast

Please note this itinerary can be amended to suit your needs. Let us know if you would like to make any changes to fit in with your own travel plans or maybe you want to stay an extra night at the Monstery.

Prices

Private tour	$AUD Per Person
3 to 4 people	799
2 people	999
1 person	1659
Want your own room	+ 120
Validity	31 December 2012

Prices are in Australian dollars, per person based upon the number of people travelling together. Price is land content only + subject to currency fluctuations. Payment by credit card incurs an additional surcharge. See Booking Conditions for more details.

Includes

• 3-star hotel based on single, twin or triple share. If a single room is required a single supplement will apply. You can upgrade to 4 or 5-star.
• One night in a basic Monastery accommodation
• Village home stay on floating village
• Airport transfers
• Local English speaking guide for guided time only
• Entrance + sightseeing fees
• Sightseeing transfers in private vehicle

Meals

• 5 Breakfasts
• 4 Lunches
• 2 Dinners

Excludes

• Airfares and departure taxes
• Travel insurance (compulsory)
• Visa, passport or vaccination costs
• Other meals not specified in the itinerary
• Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, bar charges, tips, optional activities

Cambodia Temples & Monastery trip notes

Monastery experience
The monastery is based in a pagoda at Rolous which is located about 10km from Siem Reap town. The sleeping arrangement is very basic but comfortable - you sleep in a private room on cushions length 2m; width 0.70m, and high 0.20m) you are provide with linen, towel and a mosquito net. There is no electricity so bring a torch (electricity is penciled in to be installed in 2012). It is very hot (no aircon) so you may want to purchase a $2 fan from the shops in Siem Reap before you arrive. Please remember, you are in a Buddhist monastery where life is frugal and contemplative, the pace is much slower and the environment is quiet and respectful. Your guide will be your translator while you are at the Monastery.

Donation guidelines at the Monastery
 If you wish, you may give a donation which goes towards monastery maintenance, upgrades and projects. Please put donations in an envelope- you’ll need 3 donations- one for the chief of monks (largest amount), one for the monk who teaches you about Buddhism (he speaks English and is so nice!- the chief of monks speaks Khmer and the guide will translate) and another small amount for the nun who run the meditation centre.

Home stays
There is no better way to immerse in local culture than experiencing a village home stay. Not only is this a wonderful cultural exchange, it offers the visitor great respect for how people live without all the comforts and appliances of the West. By staying with a family we ensure that the economic benefits of our travel filter down to the villages and families that most need it. Home stays in villages are simple in terms of bedding and amenities. You sleep in a dormitory style room and are provided with a mattress, clean sheet and pillow. Amenities are shared with the host family. Toilets are usually western-style and hot water may be available for a wash.

Visa
Please ensure you have the correct visas for travel. Inner Journey Expeditions is not responsible if you enter a country and do not have the correct visa.

Health issues

Good medical advice usually recommends vaccinations in advance of travel to Vietnam. We suggest you consult with your doctor to discuss health care needs specific to your holiday.

Insurance

You must have comprehensive travel insurance to travel with us. Insurance should include cover for personal accident and medical expenses, evacuation and repatriation, baggage loss and cancellation or curtailment of your holiday. Your trip notes + vouchers will not be issued until you confirm possession of appropriate insurance. Better be safe than sorry!

 

Pre and post tour arrangements
We can arrange additional hotel nights at the beginning or the end of your tour or if you are interested in doing additional touring we can organise a private tour to cater to your interests and time frame.

What next

To book this trip, contact us now and we will send you a booking form. To guarantee your booking you must email the first section of the booking form to us and pay your non-refundable deposit of 30% of total tour cost. The balance of payment is due 50 days prior to departure. Once your booking is confirmed and you have paid in full, you will receive your tour voucher and detailed itinerary for this tour.