FOOTPRINTS IN CAMBODIA
A cultural tour of Cambodia

After many years Cambodia is once again on the minds of travelers in pursuit of experiencing culture, learning about history and making friends. The framework of Cambodian life was established in the 8th century with the Angkorian era transforming the kingdom into an artistic and religious power. Today the monuments of this era are pleading to be re-discovered. Our 5 day Footprints in Cambodia tour explores Cambodia’s rich past and its burgeoning future as the cities and culture of this land are re-discovered and reborn.

Day 01: Arrive Phnom Penh (CAMBODIA)
Sohm swaakohm! (Welcome in Khmer) We arrive in Phnom Penh, the Cambodian capital, located at the confluence of the beautiful Mekong, Bassac and Tonle Sap rivers. The city is considered to be the loveliest of the French-built cities of Indochina and was founded as a small monastery in 1372 by a rich Khmer woman by the name of Penh after she found four Buddha statues in a tree trunk on the bank of the Mekong.  She set up the monastery at a nearby hill or “Phnom”. 
Overnight: Sunway Hotel, Phnom Penh (2 nights)

Day 02: Phnom Penh
We start the day with a visit to the Wat Phnom temple, where the first pagoda was built. Later we explore Wat Ounalom, built in 1443 to house a single hair of Buddha and comprised of 44 structures facing the Silver Pagoda. Next we tour the National Museum containing a fine collection of Khmer art including a beautiful 6th century bronze statue of Vishnu.  The Tuol Sleng Museum (Museum of Genocide) became the Khmer Rouge’s main torture and interrogation center and was known as Security Prison 21. We culminate the day with a visit to the Central Market, distinguished by its central dome and filled with shops selling jewelry, fabrics and all kinds of souvenirs making it a great place for shopping. (B)

Day 03: Phnom Penh/Siem Reap (Flight)
This morning we take a short flight to Siem Reap where we tour the majestic Angkor Wat. This temple was constructed over a period of 30 years and illustrates some of the most exquisite examples of Khmer and Hindu art. In 1992, the monuments and the city of Angkor were declared a World Heritage Site.  Our next stop is at the Angkor Thom, a fortified Royal City (10 square kilometers/4 square miles) encircled by a moat 100 metres/109 yards wide with five monumental gates.  In the center of the walled city are the most important monuments including the Baphuon, the Terrace of Elephants and the Bayon - Jayavarman VII’s temple mount standing at the center of Angkor Thom.  This is one of the most popular and interesting of Angkor’s monuments with its narrow corridors, steep flights of stairs and an amazing collection of towers.
Overnight: Angkor Century Hotel, Siem Reap (2 nights) (B)

Day 04: Siem Reap
We spend another day at Siem Reap and visit more interesting sites.  Banteay Srei, built late in the 10th century, is a square Hindu temple with entrances on the east and west. We also visit the three central towers decorated with male and female divinities and beautiful filigree relief work.  Banteay Samre, Ta Keo and Ta Prohm. One of the most popular attractions of Angkor, Ta Prohm looks very much as most of the Angkor monuments would have appeared when European explorers first stumbled across the site. Pre Rup and Eastern Mebon wrap-up an extraordinary day of sightseeing. (B)

Day 05: Depart Siem Reap
Today we bid farewell to this unique Mekong country as we are transferred to the airport for our departure flight.

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Departure Dates
2012 English Speaking Departures Daily
Inclusions
Tour Price Includes Tour Price Does Not Include Hotels as mentioned (or similar) International airfares & departure taxes Meals as mentioned (B=Breakfast D=Dinner) Insurance & visa fees Domestic airfare Phnom Penh/Siem Reap Drink/beverages with meals All sightseeing and transfers by private transportation Tips/gratuities Services of local English speaking guides   Entrance fees
Tour Price
We accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA $ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for clients outside North America). Bestway Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received, and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please download Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf Note: to read this file you must have Adobe Acrobat.
Departure Double Occupancy Single Room Supplement 2012 US $ 980 695 US $ 195
Estimated International Airfare - International airfare is NOT included in this tour
Canada - West Coast US $ 1200 USA - West Coast US $ 1000 Canada - East Coast US $ 1300 USA - East Coast US $ 1100
Participants
This tour operates on a minimum of 02 and a maximum of 10 participants.
Notes
Customised Itinerary If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you. Foreign Language Departures Please contact us for information on French, German, Italian and Spanish speaking departures. You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844.