Arrivals and Opening

Welcome to Cambodia! Arrive at Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (SAI) and enjoy a private transfer to your hotel.

Rest and relax until you join the group for a special Welcome Dinner this evening to kick off the journey ahead.

Overnight: Tara Angkor

Sightseeing in Siem Reap

After breakfast, head out for a full day of sightseeing in Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor Wat.

The Angkor Wat temple complex will be your main destination today. Built at the behest of the Khmer King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century originally as a Hindu temple to the God Vishnu and eventually transformed into a Buddhist temple, Angkor Wat remains Cambodia’s greatest symbol of national pride and is even featured on the country’s flag.

In addition to Angkor Wat, explore the neighboring Bayon Temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces, and Ta Prohm, a temple embraced by the roots of enormous fig trees.

Lunch will be at a restaurant within the temple zone today.

After your full day of touring, return to the hotel to rest before tonight’s group dinner.

Overnight: Tara Angkor

Floating Villages

Enjoy another full day of sightseeing in Siem Reap after breakfast.

Visit the floating village of Kampong Phluk, built on stilts over the waters of Tonlé Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant along the way.

In the late afternoon, return to the hotel to refresh before reconvening as a group for dinner.

Overnight: Tara Angkor

Kids Play International Community Day

After breakfast, depart for Kids Play International’s center, where you will join the grantee for their weekly Play Fair Community Day.  The day will start with an introduction with staff and coaches and the day will involve lots of activities and sports with the youth while learning play fair skills. Enjoy lunch in Siem Reap.

In the afternoon, visit the Roluos Group Ruins, the earliest temples of the Angkor area, built in the late 9th century. This will include a visit to Preah Ko, which is the largest temple of the Roluos group with an active Buddhist monastery, and known to draw lesser crowds than the Angkor Wat complex. It was built by Yasovarman I, the founder of the first city of Angkor and Bakong.

This evening, return to the hotel to refresh before tonight’s group dinner.

Overnight: Tara Angkor

Kids Play International

Enjoy breakfast together at the hotel this morning before setting out for a full day site visit with Kids Play International. Throughout the day, interact with students, staff, and possibly students’ families to engage in activities and have enriching conversations about gender issues in Cambodia and the impact of using sports to teach about gender, education, and health. You will also have time to meet key players of the organization and hear about the monitoring and evaluation of their nonprofit. Lunch will be with the Kids Play International staff and coaches at the Spitler School, another community resource for Cambodian children.

After the visit, return to the hotel to relax and freshen up before a group dinner.

Overnight: Tara Angkor

Transfer to Phnom Penh

After breakfast, check out from your hotel and transfer to Phnom Penh, about a 6-7 hour drive.

Along the way, stop for lunch and visit the tarantula village of Skuon. Once infested with spiders and faced with severe famine during the rule of the Khmer Rouge, this town found a simple solution to a scary problem––eat the tarantulas! You will have the option of trying these local delicacies along with your full group lunch.

This afternoon, arrive in Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital and most populous city, and the meeting point of the great Tonlé Sap and Mekong Rivers. Check in to your hotel and take some time to freshen up before dinner.

Overnight: Anik Palace

Mith Samlanh

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning before setting out for a full-day site visit with Mith Samlanh, including lunch. After an introductory session, you will take part in a city tour with a focus on the work of Friends-International/Mith Samlanh which provide an in-depth look at the challenges faced by marginalized communities of Phnom Penh. The next activity is alongside home-based production beneficiaries and vocational training teachers to learn more about ChildSafe activities. Your visit will include lunch at the Mith Samlanh center today.

After your visit, return to the hotel to relax before this evening’s group dinner.

Overnight: Anik Palace

Reflecting on Cambodia’s History

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning before today’s activities.

Today, visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. While these are never easy experiences, we encourage those visiting Cambodia to learn and honor the country’s recent history under the rule of the Khmer Rouge, a short but incredibly violent period that included the genocide of up to 3 million people.

Return to the hotel in the late afternoon to rest and reflect. A group dinner will be arranged in the evening.

Overnight: Anik Palace

Sightseeing in Phnom Penh

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning before transferring to the city for a full day of sightseeing. Visit the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, National Museum, and the Wat Phnom Buddhist Temple.

Afterward, participate in activities for the Bon Om Touk water festival, a national holiday marking the end of monsoon season! Cheer on the dragon boat races and release prayer-filled lanterns to celebrate with the locals. A group lunch will be organized during today’s adventures.

This evening, return to the hotel to relax before dinner.

Overnight: Anik Palace

Retreat to the Jungle

Check out after breakfast this morning and transfer to the Farmhouse Resort & Spa, just one hour north of Phnom Penh. While not far from the city, this next destination will feel like a world away.

The Farmhouse Resort is located in the countryside, surrounded by rice paddy fields and small rolling hills of the Cambodian jungle. Upon arrival, check in and settle into your room before enjoying a farm-to-table lunch, with ingredients all grown locally.

The Farmhouse is connected to and is the main funder for the The Smiling Gecko project, where children receive schooling according to international standards and young adults receive professional training. In the afternoon, you will have a unique opportunity to tour the project and farm.

Enjoy some free time this evening before dinner. Reflect on your trip with a soak in the resort’s plunge or saltwater pool, a yoga session, or schedule a spa treatment.

Overnight: Farm House Retreat

Cooking Class & Return to Phnom Penh

After breakfast this morning, enjoy the grounds of the Farmhouse and take a tour of their active farm and garden.

This afternoon, transfer back to Phnom Penh for a final group Farewell Dinner as you reflect on the incredible experiences you’ve had and the inspiring people you met in Cambodia.

Overnight: Anik Palace

Departures

Enjoy one last breakfast together before today’s departures or continued travels. Individual airport transfers to Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH) will be arranged based on individuals’ flight times.

If you are interested in extending your trip and exploring this region of the world, click here to explore Elevate Destinations’ customizable itineraries to Vietnam and other destinations in Asia.

For more information about this incredible journey to Cambodia with Together Women Rise, be sure to visit the following pages:

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