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TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAYS ExperienceTravel Group SRI LANKA THE MALDIVES THAILAND VIETNAM CAMBODIA LAOS MYANMAR INDONESIA BORNEO CALL US ON 020 3642 6359 www.experiencetravelgroup.com EXPERIENCE TRAVEL GROUP EXPERIENCE TRAVEL GROUP - CAMBODIA 21 INTRODUCING Cambodia WHAT MAKES A GREAT TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAY? Every holiday these days claims to be tailor-made, bespoke or “designed around you”, but what does that really mean? At Experience Travel Group we spoke to some of our clients to find out what is important to you, the traveller. We came up with the following five elements; we feel that getting these right is crucial to creating an unforgettable journey. 1. A GOOD EAR stressful file in your inbox and lots of loose The best way to get the holiday you want ends to tie up, your pre-holiday planning 5. THE EXPERIENCE is to talk to someone who wants to listen. should consist of a lovely personalised and You’ve made it to your dream destination A great travel consultant will ask you where adjustable itinerary which allows you to and now it’s time to experience it. Get you’ve travelled, how you travelled and focus on feeling relaxed and excited about under the skin of the country by exploring what drew you to the destination of your the amazing adventure before you. the undiscovered, the weird and wonderful, choice. They’ll find out what you want the people, the traditions, the festivals from your holiday—adventure, relaxation, 4. SUPPORT and delicious cuisine. A well-crafted cultural insight. When travelling, complications can arise experience ensures you not only visit the You’ll be able to trust a great consultant and you need to know you’re going to be main highlights of a country, but that you to make the right suggestions, understand- looked after, no matter the circumstances. do it in a distinctive way, leaving you with ing your needs and limits to craft a dream Three important questions to ask are deeper insight and a more well-rounded holiday to suit. as follows experience than most other tourists. They say “travel is the one thing you 2. EXPERTISE i Does the company I’m booking with can buy that makes you richer”, and The amount of information available on have full financial protection in place? experiencing another culture and country the internet is overwhelming and can be As a minimum a great travel company from a unique perspective, away from the unreliable. Talking to a real expert who is should offer ATOL and ABTA bonding. well-trodden path, will give you memories Beng Mealea temple, nr Siem Reap passionate about this region, who has lived Affiliation with a kite mark of quality such and stories that will enrich your life for and breathed it themselves, will give you as AITO (Association of Independent Tour years to come. After all, experience an extra perspective and an even deeper Operators) is a nice bonus. is everything. “CAMBODIA IS Built during the Khmer Empire, the From the exclusive islands of the south to enthusiasm for your destination of choice. Temples of Angkor near Siem Reap are the remote forests of the north-east, call Experts know the hidden gems and the ii Is there someone on hand to answer BRIMMING WITH the most astounding and popular ruins in us on 020 3642 6359 and we will help you insider secrets and their zeal will ensure my questions after I’ve booked? FASCINATING SITES Southeast Asia. But these stunning temples plan a balanced itinerary to explore its you get the best holiday. A dedicated consultant will be there for you GOT A QUESTION? aren’t the only jewels in Cambodia’s profound history and natural beauty. throughout the process and be happy to THAT OFFER A crown; the country is brimming with 3. EASE answer your questions. Experience Travel Group fascinating sites that offer a glimpse into its The planning and anticipation should be enhance the lives of GLIMPSE INTO ITS enigmatic past. fun and stress free. Leave the hard bits iii Does the company offer 24-hour in- the world’s most ENIGMATIC PAST” to the experts — their job is to oversee country emergency support? As Cambodia recovers from a tumultuous passionate travellers. the logistics; they’ve done it many times A great travel company will offer steadfast 20th century, urban centres like Phnom before. From airlines to hotels, visas and in-country support should you need it. Penh pulsate with a new energy and tickets, a great consultant will take care They will also offer the flexibility to alter CALL US ON 020 3642 6359 visitors are rediscovering sleepy coastal of the boring bits efficiently. Instead of a your holiday should it be necessary. resorts like Kep and Kampot. CALL US ON 020 3642 6359 www.experiencetravelgroup.com 22 CAMBODIA - EXPERIENCE TRAVEL GROUP EXPERIENCE TRAVEL GROUP - CAMBODIA 23 EXPERIENCE NOTES FROM PHNOM PENH ANGKOR Jake Corke WITH ETG Cambodia has endless attractions but a visit to the magnificent Angkor temples is sure to be the main motivation for your holiday. Since they are the impetus for most people’s visit to Cambodia, the temples can be busy with guides and coach tours jostling for prime Very few westerners know Cambodia as photo locations at the main sites at certain well as Jake. He speaks fluent Khmer and times of the day. Experience Travel Group has explored every nook and cranny of Cambodia having led countless tour groups have worked closely with a veteran tour leader around the country. He works as our local to construct 1 and 3-day signature tours at consultant making sure our experiences are different times from the crowds, that allow you as fresh and exciting as possible. to explore the temples at your own pace against Why do you keep going the flow. back to Cambodia? We’re not going to give away all the secrets Cambodia casts a spell on those who are here, the route will always be changing and receptive to its magic. Mystical ruins tell of its ancient past, a tragic episode scars its recent tailored to you, but perhaps you’ll visit Pre history and a beautiful countryside maintains Rup temple at sunset when other tourists its traditions and spirit. are swarming around Phnom Bhakong. What’s the most interesting festival? Maybe you’ll eat a picnic breakfast at dawn in Bon Om Touk (The Water Festival), usually atmospheric Ta Phrom when everyone else is celebrated in October or December. Boat races crowded at Angkor Wat, then cycle across to are held around the country from the Tonle Sap Angkor Wat when the others have gone back to River to the Royal Palace. their hotels for breakfast. What’s your favourite time of year? October and November. The rains end, Angkor Wat temple complex everything is green, the fields are alive with local life and the humidity drops. June is good too, as the first rains have arrived and the heat of the hot season recedes. 01. 02. 03. 04. 05. DISTINCTIVE Tell us a good local spot? The Riverside in Phnom Penh. After 5 pm EXPERIENCES locals come to play football, learn the latest Korean pop dances, or just mill around. When it gets busy you can retire to a balcony bar and enjoy the merriment with a sundowner. What’s the defining characteristic of Cambodians? The people are the soul of this magical land. Their warmth, resilience and grace continue to mesmerise me. THESE ARE FIVE QUAD BIKING AT SUNSET BAMBOO TRAIN GIBBONS IN RATANAKIRI CAMBODIA’S HISTORY – SEAFOOD IN KEP & OF OUR FAVOURITE WAYS TO EXPERIENCE — SIEM REAP IN BATTAMBANG Travel through the rural villages PHNOM PENH KAMPOT and farmland of Cambodia’s CAMBODIA’S MANY Leave the main roads behind Experience communal trans- The Khmer grandeur of the Roy- The sleepy towns of Kep and Ratanakiri province before HIGHLIGHTS; and head out into the paddy port like a local with a trip on al Palace and relics from French Kampot offer some of the best plunging into the region’s GOT A QUESTION? CALL US ON fields on a private, guided quad the bamboo train in Battam- Indochina set the tone on a seafood in Southeast Asia. jungle, home to the exceptional 020 3642 6359 bike tour. This is a great way to bang. This classic rail journey, guided tour of Phnom Penh, Visit the stilted, over-water northern yellow-cheeked gib- Flights & Hotels FOR MANY MORE explore the scenic countryside which ambles along well-worn whilst a visit to Tuol Sleng Mu- shacks where the catch is bon. Discovered in 2010, we Visas & Vaccinations PERSONALISED at dusk with plenty of time to tracks, is not only a unique seum is crucial to understanding cooked fresh as the fishing offer the rare opportunity to see Tipping & Currency SUGGESTIONS. stop and interact with villagers off-the-beaten-path experience what Cambodians lived through boats arrive. Try fried Kep crab this endangered species in its as you pass through local com- but an exciting way to see the under Pol Pot. The museum is in Kampot pepper sauce or the natural habitat. Or to discuss the best time to go munities. lovely surrounding countryside. a sobering interlude but it puts national favourite, Fish Amok. thriving, present-day Cambodia CALL US ON 020 3642 6359 into illuminating perspective. CALL US ON 020 3642 6359 www.experiencetravelgroup.com 24 CAMBODIA - EXPERIENCE TRAVEL GROUP EXPERIENCE TRAVEL GROUP - CAMBODIA 25 TAILOR IT - Common Questions ITINERARY PLANNING This page focuses on one of our favourite ways to tour Cambodia.