Elsewhere Bar Black Palace

Phnom Penh and Angkor Wat

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6 days (Phnom Penh)

Destinations visited: Cambodia, Phnom Penh, World

Grading:

Discovery and Cruising level

Grading Definitions

Discovery & Cruising

These are our least demanding trips. These journeys of discovery and cruises involve little or no extended activity and are suitable for people with a basic level of fitness and good health. The itinerary may take place in remote areas (with basic facilities) and may involve long travel days on various types of transport. Sightseeing may be conducted on foot and all participants should be capable of carrying their own luggage from vehicle to hotel rooms. These adventures do not go above 2500m and rarely involve camping.
Suggested preparation: Once or twice a week, we recommend you walk on undulating terrain for an hour, for at least 2 -3 months prior to departure.

Adventure Touring

Suggested preparation: Two or three times a week, we recommend you walk on undulating terrain for an hour or more, for at least 3 months prior to departure.

Introductory

These trips involve trekking or walking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to five or six hours a day at a slow but steady pace and should never be misinterpreted to mean they are easy trips. These trips do not spend time at altitudes above 4000m and are usually a week in duration. You will need a reasonable level of fitness and good health.
Suggested preparation: 30 minutes of aerobic type exercise, (either cycling or jogging) three times a week for three months leading up to your trek. For trekking, hill walking with a daypack in variable weather conditions is also recommended. For a cycling adventure, road cycling twice a week for three months prior to departure is recommended.

Introductory to Moderate

These trips involve a combination of what is described in our INTRODUCTORY and MODERATE levels. The emphasis is on introductory activity with several moderate stages

Moderate

These adventures involve trekking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to 6 or 7 hours a day at a steady pace. These trips may spend successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 5,500m and are usually between 10 and 15 days in duration. You will need a good level of fitness and be in good health.
Suggested preparation: 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise, three to five times a week for the three months leading up to your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or road cycling is also recommended depending upon the activity you plan to undertake.

Moderate to Challenging

These adventures involve trekking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to 6 or 7 hours a day at a steady pace. These trips may spend successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 5,500m and are usually between 10 and 15 days in duration. You will need a good level of fitness and be in good health. Suggested preparation: 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise, three to five times a week for the three months leading up to your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or road cycling is also recommended depending upon the activity you plan to undertake.

Challenging

These adventures involve trekking, cycling or rafting in remote areas in variable weather conditions for up to 8 to 10 hours a day (possibly more subject to weather conditions and altitude). This may include spending successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 6000m. These trips may often be over three weeks in duration. You will need an excellent level of fitness, be prepared to carry a daypack weighing up to 8kgs (and in some cases a full pack) and be completely comfortable in adverse weather conditions.
Suggested preparation: One hour of aerobic type exercise, four to five times a week for three to six months prior to departure. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or on/off road cycling is also recommended.

Entry Mtn/Exploratory Treks

These adventures are classed as expeditions. They involve either extreme trekking and or basic mountaineering. Expect remote and poorly defined trails in variable weather conditions for up to 12 hours a day (possibly more subject to weather conditions and altitude). This may include a number of demanding high pass crossings and evacuation may be difficult from remote areas. Suitable for first time mountaineers wishing to take the step from trekking into the realm of mountaineering. Prior experience trekking at altitude is preferable but not essential and you should be comfortable in adverse weather conditions. Prior technical mountaineering experience is not necessary. Terrain will involve low angle snow slopes. Ropes may be used during treks for glacier travel and steeper sections of ice and snow. When mountaineering, basic mountaineering instruction is given by our mountaineering guides.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

Intermediate Mtn Expedition

Participants should be competent and self sufficient in the outdoors and have experience in multi day trekking at altitude. Prior experience on an entry level mountaineering expedition is highly recommended. The terrain will involve low to moderate angle snow slopes and traveling on crevassed glaciers. Experience using ice axe and crampons is preferred but not essential.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

Advanced Mtn Expedition

These are our most challenging expeditions. Clients must have prior mountaineering experience. Most are participatory expeditions & involve load carrying, setting up of camps, cooking and campcraft. Altitude is generally greater than 6500m. Some of these expeditions also involve “technical” climbing and are for experienced alpine climbers / mountaineers only. Technical expeditions involve steep climbing at high altitude (including rock climbing). Participation on one of these expeditions is subject to acceptance by one of our high altitude mountaineering guides.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

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An insight into the historical and cultural highlights of Cambodia

A visit to Cambodia is a truly unique and rewarding experience. There is a rich and proud culture and impressive natural scenery and the spirit and warmth of the people make this an exceptional destination to visit. The highlights of this fascinating country are visited on this short journey of discovery. In the capital, Phnom Penh, with its wide boulevards and idyllic waterfront location at the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap Rivers, we explore the cultural and historical highlights of the city. We visit the Royal Palace, the bustling Russian markets and the powerful Genocide Museum. From Phnom Penh we make our way up river to Siem Reap, near to Angkor Wat, the spiritual heart of Cambodia. The symmetrically perfect Angkor Wat, is just one of a collection of elaborate individual temple sites that are spread over an area of 200 square kms, nominating them as one of the richest in the archaeological world. Our visit of this fascinating site provides a fitting conclusion to a unique insight into this special country of South East Asia.

Highlights

Phnom Penh with its bustling markets and Royal Palace
Angkor Wat
Exploring the surrounding temples in the Angkor complex
Viewing the Cambodian landscape

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Phnom Penh

You will be met on arrival at the airport and transferred to the group hotel, centrally located in the heart of Phnom Penh, the present-day capital of Cambodia. The city suffered much during the long war years and the subsequent abandonment from the Khmer Rouge but today its wide, riverside boulevards are bustling with activity. Phnom Penh never became a thoroughly colonial city but it has a unique blend taken from Asian and French traditions. The story of the capital of Cambodia dates back to an event in the year 1327. It is said that a rich widow named Don Penh found a tree with five Buddha's in it. She thus founded a pagoda Wat Phnom Don Penh, the monastery on the Hill of Lady Penh. In 1434 the city founded years earlier by King Ponhea Yat was completed and in 1866 became the capital. Today Phnom Penh is a bustling city built at the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. The city is reminiscent of its French colonial days reflected in the evocative European architecture.

Day 2 In Phnom Penh

This morning we will take a city tour, visiting the National Museum. This visit would not be complete without spending time at the Royal Palace which has been the residence of King Norodom Sihanouk since his return to the country in 1992. It is a combination of both Khmer style and French architecture. The compound was not disturbed during the vandalism that affected Phnom Penh during Pol Pots reign, and its Royal Temple is a treasure house. In the afternoon there will be visits to the Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocide - an intense experience and sobering reminder of the recent and very horrific history of Cambodia. This will be followed by a visit to the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek located about 10 km outside of the city. Time will also be set aside for personal exploration. We will spend the rest of day exploring the bustling Toul Tompong Market (Russian Market).

Day 3 Drive to Siem Reap

Following an early breakfast we will depart for the bus trip to Siem Reap. On arrival at our hotel wel meet our temple guide and have a short briefing before lunch. This afternoon we start our discovery of the Angkor complex with a visit to the Rolous group, the ancient capital of the 9th century, including the temples of Preah Ko, Bakong, and Lolei.

Day 4 At Angkor Complex

Our program this morning takes in the return of Angkor as Capital - 950 to 1000 AD. We begin with Preah Rup, the East Mebon, which is reached en route to the exquisite Banteay Srey, after a short drive through the countryside. All were constructed between 950 and 1000 AD. From the road our guide can point out in the far distance the Kulen Mountains where the sandstone was quarried hundreds of years ago. Returning to Siem Reap in the heat of the day is essential - time to relax, have lunch and absorb the sights seen in the morning. After lunch we visit the vast West Baray and drive out to Angkor Wat for the remainder of the afternoon to take in the "Flowering of Angkor Civilisation - 1000 to 1150 AD". The 2 - 3 hour guided tour will take in the vast shaded Angkor Wat galleries. There will also be free time to explore the upper levels of the temple. We may also be lucky enough to watch a sunset from Phnom Bakheng - the first major temple of its kind to be constructed in this area (893AD).

Day 5 At Angkor Complex

We continue our chronological visit to the temple complexes this morning with "Angkor Civilisation under threat - 1150 to 1200 AD". Following a stop at the visitors centre to learn of the recent reconstruction and preservation projects, our sightseeing takes in one of the regions most fascinating ruins - Ta Prohm. This is a ruin that was once totally enshrouded by jungle, and still stands in the shade of tall jungle cover. After Ta Prohm we explore Banteay Kdei and the neighbouring lake of Sras Srang - "the Kings bath". Following lunch and a short rest at our hotel, we take in the final component of our program - the Angkor Civilisation - 1200 to 1250 AD. We begin at the distant Ta Som and Neak Pean, before entering the walls of Angkor Thom from the northern gate to visit Bayon and the Terrace of the Elephants. A number of other sites will also be visited in Angkor Thom from earlier periods in Angkorian history, such as Baphuon (1060 AD) and Phimeanakas (950 - 1050 AD).

Day 6 Siem Reap, trip Concludes

As it is departure day there are no activities planned. Depending on your flight arrangements there may be time for some last minute shopping before being transferred to the airport for your flight out of Cambodia.

Additional Information

Inclusions

5 breakfasts
airport transfers on day 1 & day 6
expert bilingual guide
comfortable well located hotels
private air conditioned vehicles
sightseeing as listed in itinerary
site entry fees

Summary

5 nights hotel

Trip Main Activities

Adventure Touring

Group Size Min

Group Size Max

Accommodation Summary

Equipment Required

Specialist gear required include walking boots and day pack (a comprehensive gear list is provided in the pre-departure information provided on booking).

What You Carry

In your daypack you will need to carry a rainjacket, water bottle, camera gear, valuables and personal items such as sunscreen, lip-eze etc.

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Book this trip with World Expeditions on their site

from
USD$860

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