Back-Roads Touring
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SPIRIT OF CAMBODIA Blue-Roads | Asia Embrace the heart-stealing scenery of Cambodia on this unforgettable eleven-day adventure. Roam the vibrant streets of Siem Reap, tour the majestic Royal Palace and visit lively markets brimming with fresh fruit and vegetables. TOUR CODE: BASCRP-18 Thank You for Choosing Blue-Roads Thank you for choosing to travel with Back-Roads Touring. We can’t wait for you to join us on the mini-coach! About Your Tour Notes THE BLUE-ROADS DIFFERENCE Take the road less travelled and visit lesser known temples in Angkor Wat These tour notes contain everything you need to know Immerse yourself in local before your tour departs – including where to meet, communities and experience the what to bring with you and what you can expect to do culture and village life of Cambodia on each day of your itinerary. You can also print this Become a Khmer masterchef with a document out, use it as a checklist and bring it with you traditional cooking class and on tour. demonstration Please Note: We recommend that you refresh TOUR CURRENCIES this document one week before your tour departs to ensure you have the most up-to-date + Cambodia - KHR accommodation list and itinerary information available. Your Itinerary DAY 1 | SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA Meet the rest of the group and have dinner in the captivating city of Siem Reap. MEALS: Dinner DAY 2 | SIEM REAP - ANGKOR - SIEM REAP We’ll start the day with a visit to the South Gate of Angkor Thom before stopping off at the Bayon, known for the hundreds of smiling faces that grace the towers, and Phimeanakas, where you can take in impressive views of the Angkor complex. We’ll see the Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of Leper Kings before a short drive to one of the most loved temples of all: Ta Prohm. This small crumbling temple is held together by giant tree roots, giving it a magical feel. After lunch in Siem Reap, the afternoon is yours to spend how you please. MEALS: Breakfast Lunch DAY 3 | SIEM REAP - KOMPONG PHLUK - CHANSAR - SIEM REAP After a morning of relaxation, we’ll set off to explore Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious monument. This massive three-tiered pyramid rises 65 m from the ground and is crowned by five lotus towers. It’s the national symbol of Cambodia and proudly appears on the country’s flag. We’ll end our day in Siem Reap with a cruise along the moat of Angkor Thom. Enjoy cocktails and canapés while watching the sun set on the majestic temples of Angkor. MEALS: Breakfast Lunch DAY 4 | SIEM REAP This morning we embark on a boat trip to Kampong Phluk, an isolated Khmer community built on wooden stilts. We continue to Chansar, a small village where we hop aboard an ox cart to visit the home of a Khmer family, where we’ll receive a simple traditional lunch. Later, we journey back to Siem Reap to enjoy an evening performance at Phare, the Cambodian Circus. MEALS: Breakfast Lunch DAY 5 | SIEM REAP - PHNOM BANAN - BATTAMBANG After a visit to a local market this morning, we make our way to Battambang. With charming French colonial architecture, rich agriculture and laid-back riverside cafés, it’s easy to see why travellers fall in love with this city. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before visiting Phnom Banan Temple before taking the rest of the day at leisure. MEALS: Breakfast Lunch DAY 6 | BATTAMBANG We enjoy a walking tour around Battambang with visits to a local market, the Provincial Museum and a Buddhist temple. In the afternoon, we visit Vat Kor village to see some traditional wooden Khmer houses built during colonial times, before moving on to the Phnom Sampeau Temple and the Bat Cave. A street food tour awaits us tonight, so prepare for a taste of genuine Khmer cuisine. MEALS: Breakfast Lunch Dinner DAY 7 | BATTAMBANG - PHNOM PENH Relax this morning or take a walk along the river and visit the local museums before we reach the capital city of Phnom Penh. MEALS: Breakfast DAY 8 | PHNOM PENH - SILK ISLAND - PHNOM PENH After breakfast, we set a course for Silk Island, a Khmer village where families still produce items made from hand-loomed silk. Enjoy a picnic lunch before our early afternoon tour takes us to the Royal Palace. Then, there’s a sobering visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, which documents the history of the Khmer Rouge. We end the day at the city’s Art Deco-inspired Central Market. MEALS: Breakfast Lunch DAY 9 | PHNOM PENH - SIHANOUKVILLE Our travels take us to Sihanoukville, where the day is all yours to enjoy at your own pace. MEALS: Breakfast DAY 10 | SIHANOUKVILLE - REAM NATIONAL PARK - SIHANOUKVILLE Spend the day exploring the Ream National Park with an included day tour. Sit back and enjoy the rich views of Sihanoukville's countryside, then take a leisurely boat trip through the coastal mangroves, ending on a long stretch of white sandy beaches. MEALS: Breakfast DAY 11 | SIHANOUKVILLE - PHNOM PENH Today we depart Sihanoukville and end our tour in Phnom Penh. MEALS: Breakfast Tour Information Meals Blue-Roads Travel App INCLUDED MEALS Breakfast (B) is included daily. Why not check in for your tour using the Back- Some of your lunches and dinners are also Roads app? included, either in hotels or local restaurants. This handy tool allows you to view your These are indicated by (L) and (D) in the bookings, check your itinerary, see tour maps itinerary. and more – making it the perfect travel Please note that drinks will not always be companion for your Back-Roads trip. included. How to Download the Back-Roads app We will do our best to accommodate any specific dietary requirements you may have. 1. Launch the App Store or Google Play on Please ensure to make these clear to us your device before your tour begins so we can 2. Search ‘Back-Roads’ and click ‘OK’ communicate them to our hotels, restaurants 3. Select the Back-Roads app in the search and suppliers. results 4. Click the download/install button 5. The app should be installed in your device’s applications page Other Information Finances CHANGING MONEY SPENDING MONEY CASH: Foreign money can be changed at Naturally, everyone’s spending varies. Many of banks, airports, railway and tube stations, and your meals are included in the price of your at major hotels (though at a less favourable tour, so this just leaves a few meals and your rate) personal spending to budget for. CREDIT CARDS: Visa and MasterCard are widely Tips for the Tour Leader and Driver are not accepted. American Express is only accepted in included. Tipping is entirely at your some larger establishments discretion; however, if you feel you have CASH MACHINES: ATMS are widely available received exceptional service, it is recommended that you tip £1-2/€ per day for Drivers and £4-5/€ per day for Tour Leaders. Insurance Passports and Visas You will need to take out full travel insurance We advise you either to carry a photocopy of before travelling with Back-Roads Touring. your passport (and visa, if applicable) with you Please ensure that you have adequate medical, while abroad, or to ensure that you leave a personal effects and cancellation cover. copy with relatives back at home. We recommend that you carry your insurance This will enable the local embassy or high details with you at all times. You may be asked commission to arrange a replacement if the to provide details of your medical insurance or original should be lost or stolen. a payment guarantee in some countries before If you do take copies with you on your trip, medical assistance can be provided. please ensure that you keep these separate Your insurance company may not assist you from your original documents. with your claim if the instructions given in the It is your responsibility to obtain any visas policy have not been followed. necessary to enable you to travel in Europe or Asia. Contact your local consular office for more information. Transport We travel in premium mini-coaches equipped with comfortable seats, air conditioning and large windows for enjoying the view. With far more flexibility than a standard-size coach, we’re able to take the scenic route – winding through beautiful countryside to the heart of tiny villages and coastal towns. What to Bring Suggested Packing List Wondering what to take with you on tour? Our packing list can be used as a guide. Please Note: What you pack will depend on the countries you’re visiting and the time of year you plan to travel. The following is a suggested clothing list only, based on our experience: Sun hat Sunglasses Shorts/skirts Long-sleeved tops Short-sleeved tops Trousers Light jacket Waterproof jacket and Warm jacket umbrella Walking shoes/comfortable shoes Smart casual evening Sleepwear Swimwear and towel wear Other things to pack: Multi-use travel adapter Camera Batteries Phone Personal medication Sunscreen Paracetamol or aspirin OPTIONALS TO CONSIDER: Motion sickness tablets Anti-diarrhoea tablets Sewing kit Lip balm That's it! We look forward to seeing you on tour..