Cambodia Family Expedition: Temples, Beaches & Bears
- Trip Style:
FROM: 1,699$
Cambodia
10 days | 9 nights
Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, koh rong, Kampot, Phnom penh
Embark on a family adventure through Cambodia, starting in Siem Reap, home to the awe-inspiring temples of Angkor Wat. Explore jungle-covered ruins, kayak through the floating village of Mechrey, then fly to the idyllic island of Koh Rong for relaxation on pristine beaches. Next, visit Kampot for a local cooking class before ending your journey at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre, where you’ll meet rescued bears on a behind-the-scenes tour. This unforgettable trip blends culture, nature, and fun for the whole family.
Trip Highlight
- Explore the Angkorian Temple ruins
- Be enchanted by the beautiful tropical island Koh Rong
- Enjoy a day as a bear caretaker at Free the Bears
- Kayak floating villages & flooded forests
- Try local specialties with a cooking class
- Witness the exhilarating Phare, the Cambodian Circus
- Be embraced by the warmth of the Cambodian people
Inclusions
Hotel accommodation with breakfast
Private transfer and transportation on tours
Sightseeing with English speaking guide
Entrance fees on tours
Meal as indicated as B,L,D
Domestic flight ticket
Boat & kayaking activities
Cooking class as per program
You and your family will be met on arrival at Siem Reap International Airport by your driver. Please look out for the World Expeditions welcome with your name as you exit the arrivals hall. The drive to your centrally located hotel will take around 60 mins. Check-in to your comfortable hotel and spend the remainder of the day at leisure to unwind and relax. Take advantage of the hotel pool or venture out into town which is a mere 5-10min tuk-tuk ride away. Siem Reap, famous for being the 'Gateway to Angkor' is a lively town with a wide range of fantastic eateries, shops and daily night markets. Driving today: 20mins Overnight: Angkor Holiday Hotel or similar.
Today's itinerary includes Angkor's renowned temples. Begin at Angkor Thom's South Gate, proceeding to Bayon, notable for its 54 towers adorned with over 200 smiling faces. Within Angkor Thom, discover Baphuon, the Royal Enclosure, and both the Elephant and Leper King Terraces. Experience Ta Prohm, an enthralling blend of nature and ruins, left as originally found. Post-lunch at your hotel, the afternoon features Angkor Wat, King Suryavarman II’s 12th-century architectural marvel, a significant religious landmark. Conclude with a mesmerizing sunset at Pre Rup, showcasing the beauty of Angkor Archaeological Park. Note: To enter the Angkorian temples, visitors are required to wear appropriate clothes. Shorts must cover the knees and sleeveless tops are strictly not permitted. Overnight: Angkor Holiday Hotel or similar.
This morning after breakfast we transfer out from Siem Reap towards the vast wetlands on the edge of Asia's largest freshwater lake, the Tonle Sap. The lake's size and depth increases with the annual monsoon rains by as much as six times and local people have found ingenious ways to live with the ever changing water world. Whilst most visitors head directly south to the crowded stilted villages, we will take you south-west to the quiet floating village of Mechrey. Once we reach the end of the road, we board a traditional local boat on which we cruise down toward the village. Close to the village, our specialist guide will provide a safety briefing before we slip into the water aboard our kayaks. Glide through the waterways which make up the streets of the floating village and witness the lives of the locals who rely on this diverse ecosystem for their living. Explore the surrounding flooded forests and mangroves before venturing out to the edges of the great lake, which in fact resembles a sea. We'll head back to Siem Reap around lunchtime and the afternoon is free time at leisure. In the evening, you will be collected to attend the famous Phare, The Cambodian Circus. More than just a circus, Phare performers use theatre, music, dance and modern circus arts to tell uniquely Cambodian stories; historical, folk and modern. The young circus artists will astonish you with their energy, emotion, enthusiasm and talent. Note: during the dry season Feb to Aug/Sept the kayak tour may not be available and so an alternative itinerary will be provided. Overnight: Angkor Holiday Hotel or similar.
Today, after breakfast we check-out from the hotel and transfer to the airport to catch the short 1hr domestic flight to Sihanoukville, located on Cambodia's south coast. You will be met at the airport and driven to the 20 mins to the jetty where you board a boat to make the 1hr journey across to the beautiful tropical island of Koh Rong. Check-in to the beach side resort and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.
Overnight: Long Set Resort or similar
Koh Rong is famous for its serene beauty. Often described as an ‘island paradise’ by visitors, the island boasts pristine white sandy beaches, warm crystal-clear ocean waters, and a hot tropical climate. Sok San Beach Resort is located on the quiet west side of Koh Rong, away from the main busy area of Koh Touch. The resort sits next to a pristine white sand beach, almost 4km long which is quiet, peaceful, and truly relaxing. For those of you feeling more adventurous, there are ample activities available - explore the fantastic island of Koh Rong with boat trips & fishing excursions, bike or hike through the island's jungle habitat to a secluded waterfall, kayak the crystal waters or snorkel over the tropical reefs. Long Set Resort on Koh Rong Island is the perfect family getaway. Overnight: Long Set Resort or similar
This morning, you will take a speed ferry to the mainland and meet your driver for the 2.5 hour drive to the old colonial town of Kampot. Enroute, we will stop at the aptly named “green cathedral” - a stretch of thick mangrove on the Kampot River that we will explore by kayak. In the late afternoon, we will cruise by boat down the river while the sun sets and reach our hotel in town. Check-in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the evening at your own leisure.
Overnight: Boutique Kampot Hotel or similar
This morning we will meet the team of La Plantation Pepper Farm at Kampot’s market. Their Chef will lead us through the stalls and introduce us to the different locally grown ingredients. We will then drive to the farm (approx 45 mins), where our cooking class will be held in the lovely open-air restaurant. Under the guidance of the Chef, we will cook 3 dishes, of course all generously incorporating the spices cultivated at the farm; and afterwards we will enjoy the fruits of our labour over lunch. Afterwards, we will take a tour of the farm before heading back to our hotel. Enroute, we will stop at the Trapeang Sangkae mangrove conservation project. Here we will learn more about their efforts to preserve and develop the mangrove, which acts as an important protection against coastal erosion, and also serves as a natural habitat for an entire ecosystem. We will hop into a small boat to go and make our contribution to the global effort by planting some mangrove trees. Return to the hotel and enjoy the rest of the evening at your own leisure.
Overnight: Boutique Kampot Hotel or similar
After an early breakfast, we will transfer to Phnom Penh. Today you will find out what it takes to care for over 120 rescued sun bears and moon bears on the Bear Care day, an exciting behind-the-scenes tour with the Free the Bears team at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre. If you've ever been wild about bears and wanted to learn more about why they are threatened in Cambodia and throughout the rest of Southeast Asia, then this is your chance. Tour the facilities and learn about the Education Programmes, Research Programmes and what renowned wildlife NGO, Free the Bears are doing to build a brighter future for bears in the wild. Help the Bear Care Team to prepare food and special treats to keep the bears happy and healthy in their forest enclosures. Best of all, by taking part in this unique experience you'll be contributing directly towards helping care for bears rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. Overnight: Ohana Hotel or similar
The day is free at your leisure until your transfer to the Phnom Penh International Airport for your departure flight, where the trip concludes.
Additional Information
Travel Tips
Health and Safety
Please be aware that your health can be at risk in Cambodia due to poor sanitation and lack of proper medical facilities. Rural areas have few, if any, pharmacies and hospitals so make sure you travel with a full supply of any prescribed medicine you take. If you need medical assistance, we recommend Royal Angkor International Hospital in Siem Reap, (T: 063761888) and International SOS Medical & Dental Clinic in Phnom Penh (T: 023216911). Each traveller is responsible for his or her own health. First and foremost, make sure that you have travel insurance for your trip. You should also consult your doctor or local travel clinic for the latest information and advice on travelling to Cambodia before departure.
Please note: If you have a medical condition or allergy which requires particular attention, carry a doctor’s letter with you that describes the nature of the condition and treatment needed. We also recommend you pack a medical kit, including paracetamol and a diarrhea remedy.
Vaccinations
There are many vaccinations needed when travelling to this part of the world. It is important you ensure you have adequate protection against disease. Book an appointment with your doctor or travel clinic, no less than two months before your departure.
Travel insurance (compulsory)
“Travel Asia” does everything possible to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip. However, travel inevitably involves some risk and this should be recognized by holiday-makers. Travel insurance is a cost effective way of protecting yourself and your equipment should any problems occur such as cancelled trips, delays, medical emergencies, baggage loss or damage. It also gives you peace of mind. Please also ensure your travel insurance covers all activities planned on your trip.
Culture & Customs
Etiquette and cultural differences
Experiencing different cultures is one of the joys of travelling and it is important that these differences are respected. Cambodia has cultural norms and taboos which we encourage visitors to understand and abide by.
•Try not to get angry. Showing any frustrations or annoyances by shouting or becoming abusive is extremely impolite and it is unlikely to achieve a positive outcome. The Khmer’s don’t like to ‘lose face’.
•Refrain from public displays of affection, they are considered offensive. It is extremely rare to see couples holding hands. However, it is quite common for friends of the same sex.
•It is polite to remove your shoes before entering a house – look for shoes at the front door as a clue.
•Cambodians greet each other with a slight bow and a prayer-like gesture, with the younger or lower-ranked person usually initiating the gesture. For foreigners and business, handshakes are acceptable.
Temple visit etiquette
Foreigners are always welcome in temples. However, it is important that a few simple rules of etiquette are followed:
•Dress appropriately and act with the utmost respect when visiting Wats (pagodas) and other religious sites, including the temples of Angkor.
•Do not wear shorts or tank tops and make sure your shoulders and knees are covered.
•Remove your shoes and hat before going into a vihara (monastery).
•If you sit down in front of the dais (the platform on which the Buddha’s are placed), sit with your feet to the side rather than in the lotus position.
•Never point your finger or the soles of your feet towards a person or a figure of the Buddha.
•A woman may accept something from a monk but should never touch a monk.
•Show respect and turn off mobile phones, remove headphones, lower your voice and avoid in appropriate conversation.
Please note: The central tower of Angkor Wat is closed to visitors on Buddhist holidays.
Food and drink
It is not advisable to drink tap water in Cambodia. Bottled water is cheap and widely available.
Khmer cuisine, considered one of the healthiest in the world, has much in common with the food of neighbouring Thailand, although it is generally not as spicy. It is also similar to Vietnamese food, due to its shared colonial French history. The most well-known Cambodian dish is amok. Amok is a coconut based curry traditionally cooked with fish, however it is not uncommon to have it with chicken.
Public holidays
There are many religious public holidays in Cambodia. The main one is the Khmer New Year which takes place from 14 to 16 Aprilevery year. The celebrations usually go on for about a week. The second biggest is Pchum Ben. This national holiday was established for Buddhists to pay their respects to deceased relatives. It is also known as Ancestor’s Day, and usually celebrated in September or October.
Helpful tips
Donations and gift giving
Cambodia is a very poor country with little in the way of social services and you are likely to see poverty. Please read the following advice about donations and gift giving.
•Do not give money to people begging, especially children. This reinforces the belief that begging is an acceptable way to make a living. If children make money from begging, their parents are less likely to send them to school. Children working on the streets are also vulnerable to abuse.
•Giving money and goods to beggars can accentuate an unequal relationship between locals and visitors, with tourists being seen as purely money givers.
•Do not give sweets to children in villages that we visit.
•Do not feel that you necessarily have to give material things. Sometimes, giving your friendship, time and interest to locals can be the best gift of all.
•For more information go to www.thinkchildsafe.org
Tipping
Tipping is a personal matter and travellers are encouraged to tip any amount they feel is appropriate. For your convenience, we have included a suggested tipping guide below:
Bellboy: $1
Chambermaid: $1 per day
Guides: $5-10 per day for guides (depending on group size and performance)
Drivers: $2-5 per day, per person
Restaurants: In smart establishments you may find that the tip is already included in the bill. In local restaurants tips are not expected but you may wish to leave loose change on the table
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