Morning arrival. Fast-track visa service provided on arrival. 

You are met outside the terminal by your Travel Expert and escorted to your hotel by luxury vehicle and check into your hotel in town.

After settling in and feeling refreshed we journey back in time to experience the recent tragic history of Cambodia with a visit to the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21), a former high school. In the Pol Pot era this school was transformed into a prison that was notorious for the horrific torture of prisoners. After interrogation the prisoners were then transferred to the killing Fields of Cheung Ek, to be killed. 

 (Note: We feel that a visit to Tuol Sleng is enough to learn about the tragic history, and with significant increase in heavy traffic to get to the Killing Fields, we no longer include this as standard. However please let us know if you wish to go and we will include for you on this day) 

After this sobering experience, we then cheer ourselves up with a visit to the nearby Russian Market (Psah Tuol Tom Pong), a lively indoor and outdoor market where you will find antiquities, silver and gold jewellery, gems, silk, kramars, stone and wood carvings, as well as T-Shirts, and cheap designer clothing and accessories (of varying quality) that have found their way there from the Phnom Penh garment factories. Return to Hotel thereafter. 

Phnom Penh itself has become an epic fast-growing vibrant and trendy urban centre with a vibrant nightlife to match. Combining exotic local street food and lively nightlife, enjoy the sights, smells, sounds, tastes, and atmosphere of Phnom Penh on an evening cuisine tour by tuk tuk (known locally as a ‘remok’). 

Led by an informative local guide, start with a cocktail while soaking up the stunning panoramic views of this fast-developing city, before making multiple stops to local markets and small street-side vendors; tasting the very best of Cambodian street food. For the main meal, sample traditional cuisine while listening to songs from the 1960s, Cambodia’s golden era of music, at a vibrant live music restaurant. 

After one final secret dessert stop, return to the hotel or continue to one of Phnom Penh’s trendy late-night spots.

This morning we visit the site of Wat Phnom which marks the legendary founding place of Phnom Penh. An attractive and vibrant area with a small hill and a working Pagoda on top, your expert guide will regale you with history and myths and legends abound. 

Then in the afternoon we fly to Siem Reap (schedule TBC), and transfer in to your hotel on arrival. 

Afternoon activities can be arranged pending the timing of the flight arrival into Siem Reap.

If time this afternoon is relatively short we take a short drive out to the school of Bokator. 

Bokator, known formally as Labokator, is a Khmer material art form that involves close hand-to-hand combat, ground techniques, and weapons. Bokator is one of the earliest Khmer material art and second in age only to the Mon-Khmer style of Yuthakun Khom. Moreover, this martial art is said to be the close quarter combat system used by the armies during the Angkor era. Practitioners are trained to strike with knees, elbows, hands feet, and even the head. Short sticks are commonly used as a weapon. 

During the dark time of the Pol Pot regime (1975-1979) those who practiced traditional arts were either systematically exterminated by the Khmer Rouge, fled as refugees or stopped teaching and hid. After the Khmer Rouge regime, the Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia started and native martial arts were completely outlawed. Its only since 2004 that the art form began a resurgence thanks to the return of Bokator’s grandmaster, who fled the country in the 1970s. 

We witness a training session at the school, meet the participants and learn more about this ancient art form. 

Note: With special permission Asia Concierge can arrange a private Bokator performance at one of the outer Angkor temples or a nearby local pagoda for an intimate and personable experience. 

This evening we have a superb introduction to Siem Reap with a dinner at one of the finest restaurants in town, before we continue to the theatre for a top performance viewing of the locally famed Phare Circus (best seats). ]

Return to hotel thereafter.

This morning we head back into Angkor and ascend the mountain temple of Bakheng. Affording stunning panoramic views, we have an extra special “behind the scenes” tour with our resident Archaeological expert with the World Monuments Fund - Ginevra Boatto, to gain fascinating new insights into one of the worlds most treasured archaeological sites. 

World Monuments Fund, founded in 1965, is the leading independent organization dedicated to saving the world’s most treasured places. WMF has completed more than 600 projects in 90 countries. One of WMF’s most important activities has been its work at Angkor, which began in 1989. 

Ginevra Boatto studied science and technology for cultural heritage at University of Padua, Italy. She received a fellowship from Leica Geosystems to conduct a research on the integrated use of 3D data and thermal infrared images. She earned her PhD in 2010 in the field of 3D virtual reconstruction of anthropological and archaeological heritage. In 2010 she joined a Cambodian NGO in Phnom Penh as management advisor. Ms. Boatto finally joined World Monuments Fund in Cambodia at the beginning of 2012 and is currently in the position of Representative, Southeast Asia. 

After our in-depth visit, we head back to Siem Reap and stop at the Tlai Tno Association. The Association is a small non-profit set up with international and local support with a vision to enable Khmer artists to perform high quality traditional Cambodian music and dance as a career in comfortable working conditions. They accomplish this by teaching them age old skills and techniques to become independent traditional Cambodia art performers. 

Meaning “dignity” in Khmer, TlaiTno operate from a small covered stage set behind a traditional wooden house on a quite village road near the beautiful Preah Enkosai pagoda in Siem Reap. The setting and location is an authentic experience in itself. 

TlaiTno is more than just another dance show as we take you behind the scenes with the performers as a skilled teacher guides us through an introduction to traditional Khmer musical instruments and a step by step guide through traditional dance movements and postures. The experience gives an insight into the complexity and depth of Khmer dance, its rich meaning and how it relates to great Hindi epics such as the famous Ramayana. 

Return to Hotel for lunch. Free afternoon at leisure or return to Angkor to explore other temple sites as recommended by your Travel Expert.

Morning at leisure until check out. 

2 hours, 30 minutes prior to your appointed flight departure time, your Travel Expert will escort you from the hotel to the airport departures entrance, before proceeding through immigration and customs. 

Note: The check-out time will be at 12h. Late check-out is subject to room availability. Your Travel Expert will be pleased to make these arrangements with the hotel on your behalf.