Family Holidays - Cambodia & Laos

Breakfast at the hotel. Luang Prabang is considered the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Laos. This morning, you will have a tour to visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai. Visit National Museum before having lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon you drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the turquoise pools or walk along the forest trails. Later, we return to town and you will then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for a panorama view of Luang Prabang and enjoy the sunset on the Mekong River. Later, return to your hotel for accommodation.

An optional early start will give you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (often in the form of sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique to Laos, it is the only Buddhist nation still preserving the ritual. You take a boat trip upstream of the Mekong River to visit the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by devoted pilgrims. (It is quite similar to Pindaya Cave in Myanmar) Along the way, you will stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where the local rice wine is produced. The village Ban Phanom-well known for its hand weaving is your last stop today before backing to town. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon at leisure. Accommodation at your hotel. Prepare for your next destination to Cambodia.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, we transfer to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival at Siem Reap International airport, you will be transferred to your hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Journey north to Kbal Spean. The original ‘River of a Thousand Lingas’, Kbal Spean is an intricately carved riverbed deep in the foothills of the Cambodian jungle only discovered in 1969. The Khmers venerated its limestone bed with a riot of carvings, including thousands of lingams. A trip to Kbal Spean is one of the easiest ways to experience a short jungle trek in the Angkor area, as it is a steady but scenic climb to reach the river carvings. Visit the Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB), a rescue center for wildlife, which includes a range of monkey species, pangolin, civets, leopard cats, and a boar. The tour lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes. Then we head to Banteay Srei for lunch at Bong Thom Homestay. After lunch, we visit to Banteay Srei, Angkor’s ultimate art gallery. This petite pink temple is the jewel in the crown of Angkor-era sculpture. The elaborate carvings here are the finest found in Cambodia and the name translates as ‘Fortress of the Women’, thanks to the intricate detail here, considered too fine for the hands of a man. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, we suggest you take a break and stay at the hotel for your own leisure. In the afternoon, you will be picked up and transferred to Phare Circuit behind the scene. This is one of the best tours in Siem Reap to understand how these young talented performers overcome their situations. Enjoy the show followed by dinner at the club. Later, we transfer to your hotel for accommodation.

Breakfast at the hotel. Take a ride with our local guides as they show you the beautiful Siem Reap countryside morning life in the shadow of Angkor Wat. Experience the culture by talking to locals, see sights off the beaten path, and enjoy the breeze while riding on this vintage Jeep. Our tours are one of the most unique things to do in Cambodia! No visit to Cambodia and Siem Reap is complete without getting to know the true Cambodian countryside morning life. You will meet Cambodians and learn how they make a living in the countryside. We will give you insights into the extraordinary daily rural life in Cambodia. Far from the tourist crowds, certainly, one of the best Siem Reap activities. Countryside morning life Experience daily life in rural Cambodia. From gathering sugar palm juice to sampling some of the local exotic fruits. Our guides will introduce you to locals to learn how they live. You will get a unique glimpse into Khmer life. Being at the historic heart of Cambodia on this tour we also invite you to visit and experience one of the most intriguing remnants of the Khmer Empire, where a remarkable temple restoration is ongoing. The tour will end with us arriving at a private farm we own where you will enjoy a traditional Khmer lunch with refreshing drinks while taking in the countryside view. Later, we transfer to your hotel. The rest of the afternoon is leisure. Accommodation at your hotel.

Rising at the crack of dawn, we journey out to the Mother of all temples, Angkor Wat. Believed to be the world's largest religious building, this temple is the perfect fusion of symbolism and symmetry and a source of pride and strength to all Khmers. Built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II, this is the most famous temple at Angkor. Stay at Angkor Wat to enjoy a picnic breakfast. As the crowds return to their hotels, we venture into Angkor Wat to enjoy its magnificence in peace and quiet. We begin by unraveling the mysteries of the bas-reliefs that tell of tales from Hindu mythology and of the glories of the Khmer empire. Stretching for almost one kilometer, these intricate carvings are a candidate for the world’s longest unbroken piece of art. Following in the footsteps of the devout and the destructive before us, we then continue to the upper levels of the inner sanctuary. The final steps to the upper terrace of Angkor are the steepest of all, as pilgrims of old were to stoop on their pilgrimage to encounter the Gods. Finally the pinnacle, the sacred heart of Angkor Wat, a blend of spirituality and symmetry so perfect that few moments will measure up. We then visit Ta Prohm. Ta Prohm has been abandoned to the elements, a reminder that while empires rise and fall, the riotous power of nature marches on, oblivious to the dramas of human history. Left as it was ‘discovered’ by French explorer Henri Mouhot in 1860, the tentacle-like tree roots here are slowly strangling the surviving stones, man first conquering nature to create, nature later conquering man to destroy. Return to the hotel and call it your day.

All our guides have grown up in Siem Reap and it is their village. You will visit the most interesting sights normal tourists cannot see from a Bus or Tuk Tuk. Such as a tall almost Aztec-style temple to a smaller temple that houses the most beautiful and best-preserved wall carvings. We will please you and your cameras by avoiding the crowds as much as possible and we will ride through the jungle to reach our destinations. Like Preah Khan, Pre Rup, Neak Poun, Ta Som, and more with our hidden places, it will be a unique adventure. In addition, we provide a Khmer lunch in the complex can you believe it? I tell you not many people do the temple ruins tour in this unique way… Accommodation at your hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, we will visit Banteay Chhmer Temple, Banteay Chhmar Temple was an ancient site in the Angkorian period (802-1432). It is located in Banteay Chhmar commune, Thma Puok district, Banteay Meanchey province, about 65-km north of Sisophon city. This is a very interesting history for those who have seen the Angkor Wat in Siem Reap. It was built earlier than Angkor Wat but never finished till 1432. After your visit, we will continue to Battambang. This drive takes approx. 3 hours. Arrival at Battambang and we transfer to your hotel for accommodation.

Breakfast at the hotel. Battambang is a city on the Sangkae River in northwestern Cambodia. It’s known for colonial buildings such as Sala Khaet, the former Governor’s Residence. Battambang Provincial Museum has artifacts from local Khmer temples. You will have a chance to visit Phare Ponleu Selpak a circus and performing arts school for underprivileged children which you have seen in Siem Reap. North of the center is the ruins of Ek Phnom, an 11th-century pagoda with sandstone carvings. The town is pretty small and you can have lunch at a local restaurant, quite a number of mixed European restaurants and good coffee shops. Accommodation at your hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, we will transfer to Phnom Penh by overland drive. The journey will take approximately 5 hours, along the way, stop at the pottery village. Lunch at Kampong Chhnang. Continue to Phnom Penh. We will arrive in Phnom Penh in the afternoon and we transfer to your hotel.

This morning, leisure at hotel. It is good to take a rest after driving a long journey from Battambang. In the afternoon, we will pick you up for lunch at Romdeng restaurant - another arm of the successful Friends International organization who do fabulous work in providing training, schooling, and job opportunities for Cambodia’s street children. Romdeng is a training restaurant that specializes in food from Cambodia’s provinces. We then explore the stunning Royal Palace complex, home to the Cambodian royal family and a symbol of the nation. We begin amid the beautiful royal gardens, landscaped with tropical plants and studded with gleaming spires. We enter the Throne Hall where the royal receptions are held and the Cambodian king's coronation took place. We then pass the Napoleon III Pavilion made from iron, a gift from the French emperor in the 19th century. We continue to the Silver Pagoda, named after the 5000 silver tiles covering the floor, each weighing 1kg. Inside are some of the country's most cherished treasures, including a life-size gold Buddha studded with 9584 diamonds, the largest weighing 25 carats. There is also a delicate emerald Buddha made of baccarat crystal, which gives the temple its Khmer name of Wat Preah Keo (Temple of the Emerald Buddha). Later, we return to your hotel or walk around some of the factory outlets where you may have a chance for shopping. Very good opportunities for winter wares with good price. (Export quality branded products). Accommodation at your hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, we will visit the Khmer Rouge History of: Tuol Sleng Museum: We come face to face with the horrific crimes of the Khmer Rouge. Tuol Sleng was a former high school that the Khmer Rouge turned into a center for interrogation, torture, and death. Today it is a museum of torture and serves to remind visitors of the terrible atrocities that came to pass in Cambodia. 17,000 people passed through the gates of this prison and only seven lived to tell the tale. The Khmer Rouge were meticulous in their record-keeping, photographing all the prisoners and many of these haunting black and white images are on display in the cells. Enemies of the revolution were killed here, as well as many Khmer Rouge loyalists, denounced by an ever more paranoid political party. It became a production line for killing, as those that worked within its walls were unwaveringly loyal to Pol Pot. The party did not make mistakes, so those sent here had to be guilty. The role of the prison was not to prove innocence but to confirm guilt. Tuol Sleng is a profoundly moving experience and not everyone will want to visit. However, it is key to understanding the hell into which Cambodia descended and how far it has come in the years since. Lunch at a local restaurant. Later you can visit the Russian Market where souvenirs can be collected. Return to hotel to freshen up. The remainder of the day is free at your own leisure.

Breakfast at your hotel or packed breakfast. We will transfer to the train station while your luggage will be transferred by car to Kampot. The journey is about a 2 and half hour drive and it is fun to avoid the traffic too. Upon arrival at Kampot Train station, your driver will meet you and transfer you to the hotel. Lunch at the hotel. Later, we will have a boat trip on the Kampot River for sunset. Enjoy your sunset cruise and drinks. Later, we return to town and have dinner before we return to the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. 08:30 hours, meet and greet at your hotel. We will have a short drive to La Plantation or Bo Tree Pepper farm. Upon arrival at the farm, you will meet our tour guides and learn about the project. During the pepper and spice tasting session, we share with you some tips and recipes to cook with our spices back home. Enjoy our traditional Khmer dishes prepared with our spices. In the afternoon, we continue to Crab Market before returning to your hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Later, we transfer to Phnom Penh for 2 hours drive and connect with your home flight at Phnom Penh International Airport.