Luxury travel with a transforming touch
Your Cambodian Adventure That Counts 9 days / 8 nights (20th October & 1st December, 2013) Price per person US$2,498* info@handsupholidays.com
call: +1 201 984 5372 (from USA)
+44 207 193 1062 (R.o.W)
* (excluding flights, based on sharing a room with one other person)
Day 1: (-,-,D) SIEM REAP You arrive in Siem Reap in the north of Cambodia and are transferred to your hotel. In the evening you are given a briefing on your fabulous week ahead by your local guides. Your welcome dinner tonight is at the Funan Restaurant.
Your hotel for the next 8 nights is the Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa in Siem Reap. You have a deluxe room (share twin).
Day 2: (B,L,D) SIEM REAP -ANGKOR COMPLEX-SIEM REAP This morning, we begin our exploration, of the amazing UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor ("Holy City"). Between the years 900 and 1200, the Khmer Empire produced some of the world's most magnificent architectural masterpieces in this area. Dotted with numerous temple complexes, the urban sprawl of this mighty economic centre, once stretched for more than 1,000 km2 (390 sq mi), making it by far he largest city of the preindustrial age and 90% larger than any other city at that time. The complex of Angkor Thom is surrounded by a 24 foot (8 meter) high wall, which forms a
info@handsupholidays.com
call: +1 201 984 5372 (from USA)
+44 207 193 1062 (R.o.W)
info@handsupholidays.com
call: +1 201 984 5372 (from USA)
+44 207 193 1062 (R.o.W)
perfect square. We will enter through the ancient South Gate, an impressive stone gate carved with elephants and four giant faces. On each side of the entrance path a row of 54 gods and 54 demons hold the sacred Naga snake. We continue from Angkor Thom to the Bayon Temple, which sits in the exact center of the city. This 12th century masterpiece is a study in grandeur and is renowned for its 54 towers with enigmatic faces representing the 54 provinces of the Great Khmer Empire. Another must-see are the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King, known for their intricate bas-reliefs. Then it is time to switch to a cycle to see one of the most illustrious of all temples, Ta Prohm. Ta Prohm is unique in that it has been left largely as it was found: overgrown by jungle trees and vines, with many parts of the temple crumbling to the ground. This makes the ‘Tomb Raider Temple’ one of the most picturesque and memorable of the Angkor temples. We enjoy a guided tour of the intricate complex before sitting down to have lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we visit the famous Angkor Wat. Built during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, Angkor Wat is constructed following the model of Mount Meru, the temple mountain and home of the gods. Inside the temple, the walls are covered with stone carvings and bas-reliefs depicting Hindu mythology and the wars Suryavarman II fought during his reign. Angkor Wat is well known for the more than 2,000 Apsara dancers decorating the temple. Construction is thought to have taken around thirty years of intensive labor. Today, Angkor Wat is on Cambodia's national flag as the temple symbolizes the soul of the Khmer people.
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After a fascinating day of temple exploration, you are transferred back to your hotel. In the evening, you sample delicious Khmer Cuisine at Viroth’s, a stylish and comfortable restaurant set in a quiet garden. Overnight at the Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa in Siem Reap.
call: +1 201 984 5372 (from USA)
+44 207 193 1062 (R.o.W)
Day 3:
(B,L,D)
SIEM REAP-BANTEAY SREY-ROLUS GROUP Early this morning, before breakfast, you join your guide for an excursion to see the sun rise over Angkor Wat. On a clear day, this is a spectacular sight. You return to your hotel for breakfast and then we are off again on an absorbing tour to Banteay Srey, traveling via the back roads. You will pass many local villages and schools and encounter people going about their day to day business. You will begin to get a feel for life in Cambodia. Stop at local communities along the way and your guide will help you communicate with the local community and teach you about the way of life here. Depending on the season you may get to see how rice paper is produced, or taste palm wine and palm sugar, which are popular local products. info@handsupholidays.com
We visit the Landmine Museum which promotes mine awareness, a huge issue even decades after the end of the war. Mr. Aki Ra, the museum founder, was trained as a child soldier during the Khmer Rouge regime and is working today as a de-miner. The museum also serves as a rescue center for a number of landmine amputee children that Aki Ra has brought from Phnom Penh’s streets or from impoverished rural communities. Next, we arrive at the “gem” of the Angkor area, the lovely temple of Banteay Srey. The so-called “Citadel of the Women” remains the best preserved temple in Cambodia. It displays some of the finest examples of classical Khmer art. This small temple is also known for its remarkably fine bas-reliefs. Banteay Srey is unique in that it is constructed of pink sandstone, which is seen nowhere else in Angkor.
call: +1 201 984 5372 (from USA)
+44 207 193 1062 (R.o.W)
Before you explore the temple, enjoy a picnic lunch in a relaxed setting at Banteay Srey Pagoda. From here, we are taken to the Rolous group of temples. Rolous was the first town created by the kings of Cambodia. The first edifice to be built was the temple of Preah Ko. This temple is composed of 6 brick towers still partly covered by stucco and was dedicated to Jayavarman II. The second temple of the Rolous group is the Bakong temple, built in 881 AD. This was the state temple and also the largest of the city. Next our journey continues, by ox cart through the country side (this is the traditional form of transportation in Cambodia). This ride will take about 30 minutes and will allow you to view beautiful landscapes and gain further insight into the lives of the Cambodian people. On the way back to Siem Reap, we will take a small detour off the main road to visit the community where we will spend the coming days building a house. We then return to Siem Reap with the rest of the afternoon free. Tonight, we enjoy a traditional style Khmer dinner at Champey, an elegant yet comfortable restaurant. You may also like to visit the nearby night market, which has good quality souvenirs. Overnight at the Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa in Siem Reap.
info@handsupholidays.com
call: +1 201 984 5372 (from USA)
+44 207 193 1062 (R.o.W)
Day 4:
(B,L,D)
GIVING BACK IN THE COMMUNITY This morning, after breakfast we start with a full briefing on how our house building project will be run. We then have a 30 minute transfer to the district of Puok where our house building takes place.
Overnight at the Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa in Siem Reap.
Day 5:
(B,L,D) GIVING BACK IN THE COMMUNITY
After meeting the family whose houses we will be building there is a full safety briefing before we split into our teams to start work on the project. Our house building project will take four days. Each day you will be provided with water, snacks, fruit and a tasty Cambodian lunch.
Your house building project continues. We enjoy lunch at the project site. In the afternoon we finish building at around 5pm and are transferred back to our hotel. Tonight our a well deserved dinner will be at the Bopha Angkor restaurant. Overnight at the Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa in Siem Reap
Day 6:
(B,L,D)
GIVING BACK IN THE COMMUNITY Your house building project continues. We enjoy lunch at the project site. In the afternoon we finish building at around 5.00pm and are transferred back to our hotel. Later enjoy a well deserved dinner at the trendy Nest restaurant.
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With another wonderful day of giving back behind us, it is time to be transferred back to our hotel. Tonight our a well deserved dinner will be at theMadame Butterfly restaurant. Overnight at the Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa in Siem Reap
call: +1 201 984 5372 (from USA)
+44 207 193 1062 (R.o.W)
Day 7:
(B,L,D)
GIVING BACK IN THE COMMUNITY Today is a special day for our house building project. We keep working in the morning and enjoy lunch at the project site. However, on our last afternoon at the project, local Buddhist Monks will perform a blessing ceremony to officially hand the home over to the family. There will then be a chance to visit the local school before we say goodbye to the whole community and then transfer back to Siem Reap. Tonight, will be a very special dinner at the Cassia restaurant. We can reminisce fondly about the warm people we met and feel gratified that we have provided a home for a family in need. Overnight at the Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa in Siem Reap
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Day 8:
(B,L,D)
SIEM REAP-FLOATING VILLAGE-SIEM REAP This morning, after breakfast we are transferred in direction of Tonlé Sap the great lake. Tonlé Sap is the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia its size varies greatly depending on the season, as it is swells to about four times its size during the wet season. You board a local boat and visit Chung Chnas, a village where you will see houses on stilts as you learn about life on the lake. A delicious picnic lunch will be served in one of the floating houses. Note: Due to low water levels during the dry season, the boat trip is only possible from June to March, but in April/May we can organize an overland visit to Kampong Pluck that is an equally interesting experience, as you can walk among the stilted houses.
call: +1 201 984 5372 (from USA)
+44 207 193 1062 (R.o.W)
We then proceed to visit a 'bird sanctuary'. Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve has been called "the single most important breeding ground in Southeast Asia for globally threatened large water-birds." The reserve covers 31,282 hectares at the northwest tip of the Tonle Sap Lake and plays host to species including Greater and Lesser Adjuncts, Black-headed Ibis, Painted Stork, Milky Stork, Spot-billed Pelican, GreyHeaded Fish Eagle and many more species. We transfer back to town and enjoy some free time until our farewell dinner, which is at The Square 24 restaurant. Overnight at the Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa in Siem Reap.
Day 9:
(B,L,-)
SIEM REAP-DEPARTURE This morning is your chance to shop, as you are transferred to the Central Market. We also visit Artisans d’Angkor, which was established in 1992 in order to support Cambodian arts and crafts and to help young people find work in their local villages by continuing the practice of traditional arts. Among the workshops available for visit are wood and stone carving, wood and stone lacquering, gilding, and silk processing. When finished, you have lunch at the Asian Square restaurant.
TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT: Email bookings@handsupholidays.com with these details: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Trip Destination: Trip date: Number of people booking: Participant name(s) and email address: Phone number:
You can reserve your trip with payment of 20% deposit, with the balance paid at least 60 days prior to the start of your trip. You can pay your deposit by bank transfer (in US$ or GBP) or by credit card (in GBP only, and a 2% handling fee applies). Please indicate which option you prefer. All bookings are subject to our usual Terms and Conditions except that any payments you make are fully refundable should we fail to reach the minimum number of participants for your trip within 60 days of your trip start date. CONFIRMATIONS: No services are booked yet. We will not process reservation before receiving your reservation request. We reserve the right to reserve alternative options if the proposed service is not available at the time of booking.
In the late afternoon, you are transferred to Siem Reap International airport in time for your departure flight. info@handsupholidays.com
call: +1 201 984 5372 (from USA)
+44 207 193 1062 (R.o.W)
CONDITIONS Your trip price includes:
Your trip price does not include:
✓ 9 days 8 nights tour itinerary. ✓ Accommodation based on Double/Twin Room with breakfast in a Deluxe Room at Victoria Angkor ✓ Transfer by private A/C vehicles & back up truck ✓ Oxcart ride ✓ Boat trip to floating village & Bird Watching ✓ Local fruits, snacks, soft drink, drinking water and cool towel during day trip & project ✓ Logistical coordination ✓ Meals as indicated in itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner). ✓ 01 English Speaking guide for the Angkor visit and house building ✓ All entrance fees as indicated in itinerary ✓ International flight reconfirmation (if needed) ✓ Donation for house building and logistics ($375) info@handsupholidays.com
Alcoholic drinks and drinks at mealtime in
restaurant + Optional visits + Personal expenses (telephone, laundry...). Visa on Arrival for Cambodia (US$20) International airport tax Personal travel insurance (must include helicopter evacuation for Cambodia). Tips for guides, driver, boat crew and hotel’s porters. Any meals not included in the itinerary. All flight tickets and departure taxes
IMPORTANT NOTES: We require the purchase of travel insurance
that covers the cost of emergency medical evacuation for this trip. We recommend World Nomads. Click here to obtain a quote. Volunteer activities may change from those noted above, depending on the needs of the project.
call: +1 201 984 5372 (from USA)
+44 207 193 1062 (R.o.W)