DAY 1: WELCOME TO THE PEARL OF SOUTHEAST ASIA — PHNOM PENH

Namaste Phnom Penh International Airport! Arrive in Cambodia’s enchanting capital, where colonial charm meets Khmer tradition. Be greeted by our representative (optional guided service available) and transferred to your hotel. Marvel at French-style villas lining the boulevards and feel the vibrant pulse of this dynamic city.

DAY 2: PHNOM PENH’S PAST AND PRESENT
AM: Visit the Royal Palace compound build in 1866 by the Predecessors of King Norodom, it is the most conspicuous feature and also one of impressive colorful Khmer-style Palaces. Nearside the Royal Palace is the Silver Pagoda (The Emerald Buddha Temple), displays plenty of Buddha statues that were decorated and made by diamond, emerald, gold and silver. Travelers will proceed to visit Independence Monument which was constructed in 1954 after Cambodian took their country back from French colony, the Wat Phnom “Hill Of Pagoda".

PM: Learn about the dark side of Cambodia — Its more recent turbulent and harrowing history. Initially, you visit the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum (also known as S21), ironically a former school, located in a quiet Phnom Penh suburb, this was the infamous Khmer Rouge Prison / torture centre then shopping at local market as below (If time permit you can visit 2 markets).

OPTION 1: Central Market (Psar Thmei), a large market constructed in 1937 in the shape of a dome with four arms branching out into vast hallways with countless stalls of goods. The four wings of this gigantic yellow dome are teeming with stalls that sell goods ranging from gold and silver, antique coins, money exchange, books, flowers, food, fabrics, shoes, souvenirs, seafood and countless other products.

OPTION 2: One of the city’s lively open markets, Psar Toul Tom Pong, called the “Russian Market”, where anything and everything is for sales.

DAY 3: PHNOM PENH — OLD CAPITAL OF CITY UDONG MOUNTAIN
AM: Visit Oudong which was the formal royal residence and Cambodia’s capital for more than 250 years. In 1866 King Norodom moved the capital to Phnom Penh. During Khmer Rouge Regime, Oudong royal court was extensively damaged along with the other temples, monuments and religious structures. Nowadays you can climb the hills and visit the temples and tupas containing the remains of several Khmer kings such as King Monivong and King Ang Duong. Restoration of damaged temples and religious monuments is still undergone with the funding and donation by international NGO. The summit of hills of Oudong offers a spectacular view of the surrounding countryside. (The hills were also the site of some of the Khmer Rouge’s most prolonged resistance against the Vietnamese army in 1979). Silversmiths Village is on the way back to Phnom Penh. Here you can watch the craftsmen making beautiful Khmer style silver crafts. Many families here are in this business for generations, they used to supply to the Royal Court that, at times, was in residence at Oudong. Normally they work in family unit, the house is the workshop where they make the crafts and sell them. As the price of raw silver went up a lot during the last few years, retail rices rose so much that wholesalers are unable to sell at those prices, this has forced some silversmiths to find other ways to earn a living.

DAY 4: BIDDING ADIEU TO THE KINGDOM OF WONDERS

After breakfast, transfer to Phnom Penh International Airport for your onward journey. Carry home not just souvenirs, but stories that last a lifetime.

Thank you for traveling with us! Namaste — Until we meet again!