This is an example of one of our tailor-made holidays in Cambodia - we'll be pleased to design similar Cambodia vacations with dates and itinerary customised to your personal preferences. For example, you may wish to spend more or less time at any destination, or deviate from this itinerary, just contact us at our Enquiry Form page or send an email to enquiry@haivenu-vietnam.com

Siem Reap and the Ancient sites
Upon arrival, we will pick you up and drive you to your hotel for check in, allowing you some time to settle, before we transport you to the otherworldly site at angkor. We will make a start by visiting Angkor Thom and the Bayon, which despite its impressive size is but a fraction of a complex believed to have covered an area of 3,000 sq. km (1,150 sq. miles). From its beginnings, in 802 AD, the Angkor complex was the expression of Hindu beliefs, which was later supplanted by the arrival of Buddhism.

The Bayon reflects this marked architectural change with great clarity, and is famous for its large staring heads, which may be familiar to film afficionados from 'Apocalypse now.' You will also visit the Elephant and Leper King terraces and Baphun temple, and in the afternoon visit the most famous of all the monuments, the colossal and confounding Angkor Wat, scupturally, architecturally and artistically unrivalled anywhere. A sunset overview of the complex is provided by Phnom Bakheng hill.

The following day, you will be able to absorb a glimpse of the sheer scale of the Angkor civilisation's building project, by visiting some of the outer sites, including the monastic Preah Khan, East Mebon temple-mountain, Ta Prohm, an irrisistable camera seducer, with sinuous tree roots coiling through its superstructure, Prasat Kravan and Srah Srang lake and its landing terrace.

Phnom Penh and the ' Killing fields '
After breakfast, We will finish our visit to Angkor with the Rolous group, the surviving Hindu remains of Angkor's first capital, which includes the Bakong temple, Lolei temple and Preah Ko (sacred bull), whose name derives from the bull statues at its entrance towers. The rest of your afternoon will be free until your transfer to the airport for your short flight to Phnom Penh, and your hotel.

If Angkor is a homage to the wonderful creative skills to which mankind can aspire, today's visit will reflect a sober awakening to the depths of destruction of which we are also capable, with such depraved zeal. The irony of using Tuol Svay Pray high school as an interrogation and torture 'facility' used to 'process' children, among others, prior to being sent for execution, will not be lost on anyone, looking, as it does, much like any modern school block. Today it is the Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocide, with displays giving account of those times and memorials to those incarcerated here by the Khmer Rouge. The inmates would then be sent to our next destination of Choeung Ek, 'the killing fields' for extermination and disposal into burial pits, which the victims were forced to dig themselves. It is estimated that 15,000 men, women and children were killed at Choeung Ek, which was but one of of many such sites around the country. Phnom Penh also suffered much destruction in those times, and was entirely emptied of its population, but the many old and splendid temples were left untouched, and in the afternoon we will visit the Silver Pagoda and National Museum, after which you can unwind and relax on a sunset cruise of the Chatomouk river.

Bright Water, Bright future
In the morning, we will drive you to Sihanoukville to your beachfront hotel, where for the rest of the day and the two following days, you will be able to relax and spend your time in your own way, taking advantage of soft white sands, palm trees, and the sighing of sifting surf, during which you may wish to reflect and arrive at some perspective on the stark contrasts implicit in your tour.

Farewell...
On your last day we will pick you up from your reverie at the beach and transfer you to the airport at Phnom Penh for your onward or homebound flight.

Meals: seven breakfasts and four lunches

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The prices for this sample tour are per person in £ (GBP):
These prices are valid until December 31, 2008. Please note: bank transfer fees are not included.

At the time of quotation, Haivenu reserves the right to adjust prices to take account of unusual movements in currency markets, hotel and transport costs as a result of inflationary price pressures in oil and other commodity markets.

* 'Single room occupancy' refers to the accommodation element of the programme only, and applies to someone who is travelling with others but requires an additional room for him or herself. Single traveller prices are available on request.

Our prices include:

•  Breakfast and accommodation sharing a twin or double room.

•  Pick-ups and transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle as specified in the itinerary above (Please note: pick-ups will be by a guide and driver or, where a guide is not necessary, a driver only. All unaccompanied drivers will be briefed in advance, and will carry a mobile phone to ensure smooth transfer arrangements)

•  Domestic flight ticket: Siem Reap – Phnom Penh , excluding domestic airport taxes.

•  Boat cruises as specified in the programme.

•  Travel in an appropriate private air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced safe driver.

•  The services of experienced English-speaking guides as indicated in the itinerary (please note: guides will be on hand from pick-up until guests' return to their hotel or reaching their destination). Free days or part days will not include the services of a guide unless requested and included in the final itinerary.

•  Where necessary, entry fees for all visits as mentioned in the programme.

•  Lunches and dinners (as specified in the itinerary) in the best local restaurants, or picnics where no suitable restaurant is available.

•  VAT and other taxes

Our prices do not include:

•  International flight tickets and airport tax.

•  Visas

•  Dinners, except as specified above.

•  Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.

•  Camera fees (if any)

•  Insurance.

•  Surcharges for Peak seasons (if any)

•  Christmas Eve's dinner and Gala dinner (if any)

Hotel list for First Class standard:

•  Siem Reap: Raffles Grand Hotel D'Angkor (***** a historical hotel with colonial architecture – State room)

•  Phnom Penh : Raffles Hotel Le Royal (***** a grand historic hotel in the heart of the city – State room)

•  Sihanoukville: Sokha Beach Hotel (****located on Sokha beach with a long private stretch of sand and a striking view, Junior Suite room)

Hotel list for Deluxe standard:

•  Siem Reap: Sofitel Royal Angkor (***** closest to the Angkor Wat Temple complex – Superior room)

•  Phnom Penh : Inter-continental (***** in the heart of the business district of Phnom Penh – Deluxe room)

•  Sihanoukville: Sokha Beach Hotel (****located on Sokha beach with a long private stretch of sand and a striking view, Club Suite room)

Hotel list for Superior standard:

•  Siem Reap: Angkor Hotel (**** inspired by the rich heritage of Khmer culture – Deluxe room)

•  Phnom Penh : Sunway Hotel (**** city centre, surrounded by colonial buildings - Deluxe room)

•  Sihanoukville: Sokha Beach Hotel (****located on Sokha beach with a long private stretch of sand and a striking view, Deluxe sea view room)

Hotel list for Mid-range standard:

•  Siem Reap: Apsara Holiday Hotel (***the new hotel in Siem Reap, ten minutes from the airport – Run Of House room)

•  Phnom Penh : Juliana Hotel (*** gateway to the rich cultural heritage of Cambodia - Superior )

•  Sihanoukville: Sokha Beach Hotel (****located on Sokha beach with a long private stretch of sand and a striking view, Deluxe garden view room)

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