Tour Cambodia and Vietnam

Welcome to Vietnam! Our travel adventure begins with an important welcome meeting at 18:00. If you arrive early, go out and discover the city's mix of old and new, east and west. Be sure to try a baguette or some of the excellent coffee on offer, both signs of the city's strong French influence. Equally essential are visits to the Reunification Palace (the site of South Vietnam's surrender in April 1975) and the War Remnants Museum. Since there isn't much time to explore Ho Chi Minh City on this tour, we highly recommend spending an extra day or two before the tour actually starts, just to get a taste of this bustling city. After the important meeting, why not take a taxi to the Ben Thanh night markets, full of good food and local items to buy? It's a perfect start to our adventure in Southeast Asia!

Our journey continues by public bus through the rural Vietnam and Cambodia to Phnom Penh (about 10 hours including two border crossings and lunch). The capital of Cambodia is located at a major crossroads of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers and boasts some excellent examples of French-inspired architecture. You might want to take a cyclo tour of the city's attractions, including the central market, the US embassy, Wat Phnom, the Mekong riverfront, the independence monument, and the royal palace. If you're in the mood for shopping, stop by the art deco Psar Thmei (central market) or travel to Psar Tuol Tom Pong (the Russian market) for the best range of local souvenirs.

A day to explore the whirl and bustle of Phnom Penh. Visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Choeung Ek killing fields. These serve as a somber reminder of the violent rule of the Khmer Rouge. Here we might learn more about this challenging but important chapter of history: if you prefer not to visit these sites, simply inform your leader. Otherwise, the rest of the day is free for you to explore. You might visit Wat Phnom, a Buddhist temple shrouded in myth, or the National Museum and its excellent Khmer collection. In the evening, perhaps go out with your group for a drink overlooking the Tonle Sap river.

This morning we will take a local train to Kampot, one of Cambodia's most charming ancient cities. Renowned for its pepper, Kampot has supplied this vital spice for many years during colonial rule to most French restaurants. Today, the region is more famous for its durian plantations, a spiky and pungent fruit that you will either love or hate: try it and see for yourself! We will follow our leader for a walk along the riverbank and observe the French architecture, discover the local heritage buildings, and perhaps grab a cup of coffee on the veranda of one of the riverside restaurants to enjoy the view of the Bokor mountain range. Here, it is also highly recommended to get a traditional massage from the local enterprise Seeing Hands: one of the most enjoyable ways to support a local charity, you will wear a loose cotton pajama and then entrust yourself to the skilled hands of one of the blind masseurs. In a country without social security, the training and support provided by the centers enable blind Cambodians to support themselves. This afternoon, we will head to the Kampong Bay river pier and board a local boat for a cruise with a breathtaking view of the sunset over Mount Bokor.

A day off in the peaceful town of Kampot today. For a unique photo opportunity, head to the town center, where a gigantic durian statue stands in the middle of a roundabout. Perhaps look for some delicacies to take home at the covered market. The nearby countryside is also a pleasure to explore: among Kampot's pepper and rice fields, there's a salt field and a limestone cave. Inside the cave, you'll find the small 7th-century brick temple of Phnom Chhnork.

This morning, we will take a private vehicle into the rural areas of Cambodia to the village of Chambok in the Kampong Speu region. There will be plenty of natural beauty to discover here, and the Chambok community is renowned for its ecotourism. Upon our arrival, a member of the Chambok community will guide us on a walk through the village and will be happy to talk about the history, lifestyle, and local ecotourism projects of their community. We will meet the families with whom we will spend the night and settle into our host families before wandering around the village and exploring at our own pace. Perhaps we'll head towards a nearby waterfall: if it's warm enough, we might even opt for a swim! This evening, we will head to the community center to enjoy a traditional Khmer dinner prepared by the women of the community. We may also witness a traditional dance performance: tonight will be an unforgettable local experience!

Let's take a public bus to Siem Reap (about 3.5 hours). The small but expanding town of Siem Reap is the gateway to the Angkor archaeological site. This is the most popular destination for travelers throughout Cambodia, perhaps even in Southeast Asia. The markets are a great place to shop or to try some inexpensive and delicious street food. Included today is a visit to an organization that provides job opportunities to local women through an enterprise focused on the traditional weaving of Cambodian water hyacinth.

Oggi visiteremo il famoso complesso di Angkor con la nostra guida locale. Questi templi sono stati costruiti tra il IX e il XIII secolo, quando l'Impero Khmer esercitava l'influenza preminente nel sud-est asiatico. Si crede che i templi rappresentino il mondo cosmico e siano in perfetto equilibrio, simmetria e composizione. I bassorilievi e i disegni architettonici finemente intagliati sono strabilianti e ci saranno alcune opportunità fotografiche spettacolari a qualsiasi ora del giorno! Le rovine sono sparse su circa 160 km quadrati, ma il gruppo principale di templi si trova vicino a Siem Reap. Avremo tutto il tempo per apprezzare appieno i grandi siti archeologici di Angkor Wat, Bayon e Ta Prohm coperto dalla giungla, tra gli altri.

There are no activities planned for this last day, but those who wish can participate in optional activities such as a cooking class or a Zipline tour in Angjok. Afterwards, our journey will have come to an end!