FAMILY holiday in Cambodia

Welcome to Cambodia! 

We will arrange for your airport transfer direct to our beautiful resort hotel in a quiet part of Siem Reap.

You will have time to settle in, and explore our immediate area, or maybe the pool, before we meet to head out to the APOPO Hero Rat centre and then for a welcome dinner.

We will learn about the incredible work that the APOPO centre and their HeroRATs on this engaging short tour about 45 mins tour. You learn how these intelligent and highly trained African giant pouched rats detect landmines and save lives in Cambodia and beyond. 

Our welcome dinner will be served at Spoons Café which is a part of EGBOK (Everything’s Gonna Be OK), an NGO that aims to give disadvantaged Cambodian students skills that will allow them to pursue a career in the hospitality industry.

Transport: Airport transfers from Siem Reap airport (approx 45 mins)

Meals: Welcome dinner

Accommodation: Navatu Dreams Resort

After breakfast, you enjoy a short transfer to Bakong Village for an authentic countryside experience. Explore the local way of life with a relaxing bicycle ride through peaceful village roads, followed by a traditional ox cart ride offering a glimpse into Cambodia’s rural heritage. Continuing with a visit to the local market, where guests can experience the daily lifestyle of the local community, observe traditional trading activities, and discover fresh produce, local snacks, and the vibrant atmosphere of village life.

Now, you are ready to have a delightful picnic lunch in a natural setting cottage surrounded by lush greenery at Bakhong My Village. The peaceful atmosphere makes it an ideal spot for families to relax, enjoy quality time together, and let children play freely in a safe environment.

The rest of your afternoon is free at leisure.

You may experience a private kids and family yoga session at Navutu Dream Resort, designed to bring families together through gentle movement, relaxation, and mindfulness in a peaceful tropical setting or massage or just chill out by the pools!

Inclusion: Cycling through the countryside, ox-cart riding, lunch

Accommodation: Navatu Dreams Resort

Meals included: Breakfast, cooking class lunch

Get up early for an eye-catching sunrise around 5:30am at Angkor Wat, then you will have a refreshment fruit and coffee before jumping into the discovery of the temple before the influx of visitors. 

Angkor Wat was built in 1113-1150 and is said to be one of the world’s largest religious monuments. The central tower reaches a height of 65 meters where you may also climb up and enjoy a breathtaking view. 

Return to the hotel for your breakfast and relax for the rest of the morning. 

Your afternoon begins with an exploration of a Remork Motor (TukTuk) by the lady drivers of Siem Reap. It is the easiest and fun way to look around Siem Reap and a great way of supporting local women, who don't traditionally work in these kind of roles. 

Kids will enjoy a scavenger hunt at Ta Promh and Bayon Temple, located in Angkor Thom. It is a unique and engaging way to explore the temple complex. Your friendly guide will give your kids some scavenger hunt lists and some guidelines to help your children organise the game in order to win the prize among the challengers. In this fun game, each child requires a phone or tablet for taking photos (if possible).

Optional climbing up at Bakheng Temple which is situated on a hill and provides panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, including the iconic Angkor Wat temple complex where you will enjoy sunset views with the fresh air of nature.

After visiting these magnificent temples, tonight you will have a well-deserved dinner at local restaurant with a traditional Apsara and the traditional dance show which you will enjoy during your dinner.

Inclusion: Full Day Temple Tour including scavenger hunt with gifts for kids, and sunrise at Angkor Wat

Transportation: Local Remork Drivers

Accommodation: Navatu Dreams Resort

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Today you'll head out from Siem Reap town for about 40 minutes, passing along local villages, rice fields scenery where you can see how rural life is. Upon arrival at the lake inlet, you'll get on a private wooden boat from Mechrey’s pier to visit the floating village on Tonle Sap Lake. It is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, connecting to the Mekong river. Tonlé Sap Lake plays as of central importance role for Cambodia's food provision.

Then you are ready for a delightful half-day kayaking adventure. Enjoy the stunning scenery of the countryside, glide through vibrant floating villages, and explore the serene mangroves of Tonle Sap Lake.  We’ll then paddle further into the tranquil mangrove forest, where you can peacefully kayak through lush surroundings. Keep an eye out for a variety of water birds. Experience the tranquility and beauty of nature on this unforgettable tour!

Note The tour operates year-round; however, between March and June, due to low water levels, we kayak only in the floating village and through the canals to the open lake, but not in the mangrove forest.

On the way back, you will visit the Sala Bai Hotel School where underprivileged local young people learn skills that enable them to find gainful employment in the hospitality industry. Here you will have tasty lunch which also helps to finance one training student day.

(Notes The Sala Bai opens from Monday-Friday and closes during public holidays or school break.

Inclusion: Boat excursion & kayaking, and Lunch at school training restaurant 

Accommodation: Navatu Dreams Resort

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Today, you have the option of enjoying some free time to chill out by the pool, perhaps do some yoga or have a spa treatment.

Or you might like to take the opportunity to head out to Phnom Kulen or do a Pottery Workshop.

Phnom Kulen means mountain of lychees and it's a symbol of Cambodia as the birthplace of the ancient Khmer Empire. The site is one of the national parks and not just the waterfalls and reclining Buddha that it is famous for, but also many obscure ruins of temples in the jungle, intertwined with nature, art and architecture dating from the early 9th century.  On the mountain top where you will climb up to see the Buddha and have a panoramic view, then explore the local market and downhill hiking about 1Km to the waterfall, which offers a scenic and spiritual journey through Cambodia’s sacred landscapes.  The journey ends at the stunning Kulen waterfall, where you can cool off in its refreshing waters, making it a perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. The mountain has been the holiest mountain in Cambodia since ancient times and remains so today.

You will have a picnic lunch and relax at the cottage near the waterfall.

Along the way, you stop for a visit to the Banteay Srei Butterfly Centre (BBC) consists of a netted tropical garden with thousands of free-flying butterflies, all of which are native species to Cambodia. The revenue from tourist admission provides support for local poverty alleviation and conservation project

On the trip, you will stop and taste Nom Banh Chok “Cambodian noodle” is a unique Khmer dish, loved by locals and tourists alike. It consists of rice noodles topped with a green fish gravy and heaps of fresh green beans, bean sprouts, banana flower and other greens, do not forget green chilli.  

The drive to Phnom Kulen is approx. 1.5 hours.

Pottery workshop 

Today you have the option to join a pottery class at Khmer Ceramic where the centre also provides training and job opportunities to disabled or disadvantaged young people. You will be instructed on how to make the Angkorian bowl from the first throw of a pot on the wheel and use different tools to function the pots, decorating a few creative pieces to be glazed and fired. You can take home one lovely little souvenir you made from a great experience.

Accommodation: Navatu Dreams Resort, Siem Reap

Meals included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch

Inclusions: Butterfly Centre, Phnom Kulen ticket, local noodle snack

Today you get to experience home cooking with a family in the countryside. First, you will visit the local market to buy some ingredients and herbs and vegetables, for your cook. Next, you will join the pretty traditional wooden house of this local Cambodian family and get into the kitchen and learn to prepare typical Khmer dishes. 

Then, accompanied by your hosts, you will go to the pagoda to offer part of your culinary preparations. You will have the opportunity to learn more about the life of a Monk and Theravada Buddhism and a way of life that most people incorporate into their daily life. You will get to meet the Monks, experience a sacred water blessing for good luck and prosperity - a very special experience during your travels

Then it's back to the home and ready for your lunch that you cooked.

The rest of the afternoon is yours to relax by the pool.

Tonight, you will have dinner in the open-air seating of Phare Cafe and you will be entertained with a special performance of the circus at Phare Ponleu Selpak. It is an NGO that has improved the lives of children and young adults. Inside the campus, you will enjoy a spectacular show put on by a talented and energetic young performer.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Navatu Dreams Resort

Included activities: Home-cooking class, dinner, circus performance (Seat B)

Your unforgettable trip in Siem Reap, Cambodia comes to an end today as you head to the airport to travel onward. We hope your visit has been memorable–and just a taste of all that this incredible and hospitably country has to offer.

You might like to add on an extra night in Siem Reap or travel elsewhere in Cambodia. Contact us for more information.

We look forward to seeing you on another Pip & Co Travel trip soon!

Transportation:  airport transfer for departure (from Siem Reap hotel to Airport)

Meals: Breakfast