15
days ex Phnom
Penh
$1310.00 CDN - $870.45 US. + AIR
If joining from the VIETNAM
TOUR, there will be the additional air from
Saigon to Phnom Penh and extra night hotel,,
If we are
doing the air, we will have this included
in the return air fare + cost of hotel
Battambang,
Angkor Wat, pre-Angkor temples, Kompong Cham,
Sihanoukville
With a rich
and ancient history, smiling people and beautiful
nature, Cambodia is a wonderful country to explore. We are proud to
offer this new adventurous trip that takes
us right around the country and incorporates
significant sites at the Angkor complex, rural towns, beach resorts and French colonial
sites. What a great way to discover the heart
of Cambodia!
Welcome to
the Intrepid way
of travel. We hope that you enjoy travelling
in Cambodia as much as we do. With a rich and ancient history,
smiling people and beautiful nature, Cambodia is a wonderful country to explore. After decades of
horrific war the heart of Indochina is now a peaceful land where we are proud to offer
this new and adventurous trip. Taking us
right around the country and incorporating
significant sites at the Angkor complex, rural towns, and beach resorts, this is a
great way to discover the heart of Cambodia.
Travel style
Intrepid Original.The original - and dare we say the best! These are the
trips that have made Intrepid the world's leading operator of small group
adventure holidays to Asia. Intrepid Originals have something for everyone - variety
being the key. Variety in places visited, activities undertaken, people met
and the accommodation and transport we use. There's something new and
different every day. Some meals and activities are included, while there
is free time to explore and do as you wish.
Group size
12 maximum.
Accommodation
Hotels/guesthouses (14 nights).
Transport
Bus, various boats, plane.
Physical rating
General sightseeing
can be made a little strenuous due to humid and hot conditions. There
are some long travel days. Steps up into the temples at Angkor can be very steep and uneven.
Culture shock rating
Cambodia is a developing country where many
people are extremely poor. Facilities and infrastructure are often poor.
Dossier notes
1. The operation of this trip is subject to the status of the Australian
Dept. of Foreign Affairs' Travel Advisory for Cambodia. The itinerary of the trip may change
at short notice to ensure the safety of our passengers, and the trip
will be cancelled if we consider travel in Cambodia unsafe.2. Please allow US$70 cash
for the internal flight between Battambang and Phnom
Penh, and domestic departure tax. Your Tour
leader will assist in the purchase of this ticket.
Itinerary
Days 1-2 Phnom Penh
Your fellow travellers
will be arriving at all times from around
the world today, so there are no arranged
activities for the daytime. We will however
hold a pre- trip meeting at 6 pm, followed
by a group dinner. Your leader will leave
a note at reception explaining this. Phnom
Penh, Cambodia's
capital city, is
set on a major junction of the Mekong River
and Tonle Sap River and boasts some fine
examples of French-inspired architecture.
We visit the chilling Toul Sleng torture
centre and the 'killing fields' of Choeung
Ek. We will also have free time to explore
the Silver Pagoda, the Royal Palace or the
Russian Market. Sisowath Quay, along the
riverside, boasts some beautiful old French
architecture, a variety of cuisine and coffee
shops and a great view of the bustling river
and street traffic.
Days 3-4 Kampongs Cham and Thom
What a great start
to our trip as we take to the Mekong river
in fast boats for the ride to Kampong Cham
(approx. 2 hrs) where we overnight. We visit
Wat Nokor and there are riverside walks you
can take to explore the area. Alternatively,
relax down by the Mekong with a cold drink
or watch the sunset from the new Japanese
Friendship bridge. It's time to experience road travel as we catch a
bus to Kampong Thom. On the way, we take
a quick stop at the town of Skoun for an
opportunity to sample the local delicacy
of fried spiders. We then go on to Phom Suntok
- a unique mountain temple full of carved
reclining Buddhas - a mere 956 steps to the
top but worth it for the great views over
the surrounding countryside. Strung out along
the banks of the Stung Sen river,
Kampong Thom is a rather sleepy town. In
the late afternoon we drive out to Sambor
Prey Kok, a 7th century forest city.
Days 5 - 7 Siem Reap and Angkor Wat
A long drive takes us up to Siem Reap (approx. 5 hr), leaving the afternoon
free to explore the town and market. It's sunrise to sunset on Day 6 as
we make the most of our visit to the world famous Angkor Wat. Our local
guide shows us around the magnificent remains of the ancient Khmer empire
of Angkor, close to the town of Siem Reap. We explore the great archeological
sites of Angkor Wat, the Bayon and the jungle-covered Ta Phrom. These temples
were built between the 9th and 13th centuries when the Khmer Empire was
the pre-eminent influence in South-East Asia. The temples are believed
to represent the cosmic world; set in perfect balance, symmetry and composition.
They are scattered over an area of some 160 sq km, but the main cluster
of temples is close to Siem Reap. There is plenty of time to explore at
our own leisure. The intricately carved bas-reliefs and architecural design
are mind blowing and there are spectacular photographic opportunities at
sunrise.We will also visit Banteay Srey Temple, one of the finest examples
of Classical Khmer Art. From here, a short drive takes us to the base of
some nearby mountains where we can embark on an easy jungle trek to Kbal
Spien. Here you will see magnificent Hindu sculptures which were carved
into the river's granite banks and bed more than a thousand years ago.
The path can be challenging in the wet, but the more difficult sections
have bamboo hand-rails and wooden steps.
Days 8-9 Battambang
An early morning boat ride of approx 4-5 hours takes us along the river to
Battambang. Cambodia's second
largest city is an attractive riverside town with traces of French elegance,
friendly Khmer people and well preserved colonial architecture. There is
time to explore the town and to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. We take a
trip to Phnom Sampeau where you can climb to the hilltop temple and see
the remains of Khmer Rouge victims from a 'killing field' located in two
caves. There are other Ankorian temples in the area that can be visited
if you wish.
Day 10 Kep
Leaving Battambang, we take a morning flight to Phnom Penh (approx.1 hrs)
where we transfer to a bus for the four hour drive to Kep. Once a seaside resort for elite French colonialists it is being
revived as one of Cambodia's better
coastal get-aways. A palm-fringed road lines the coast and the town is
on a small headland. This is the time to go for a beach stroll, explore
the old resort town or just kick back in a hammock and enjoy a drink or
two as you watch the sun set over the islands and mountains.
Day 11 Kampot
A short drive (approx. 30 mins) brings us to the sleepy riverside town of
Kampot. After a quick check-in to our hotel we drive up to Bokor National
Park (approx. 2 hours) where we take a relatively easy 4 -5 hour jungle
walk. If the season is right we can stop for a refreshing dip in the waterfalls.
Our walk ends in Bokor, an old French hill resort
with a casino, King Sihanouk's summer palace and some great views out over Cambodia's
southern coastline. We return to Kampot to spend the night and there is
time to explore the town before we head off on Day 12 to Sihanoukville.
Days 12-13 Sihanoukville
Miles of untouched beaches and wonderfully friendly people await us in this
new coastal resort. Weather permitting, we take
a boat trip to one of the nearby islands where we are free to relax amongst
swaying palms, white sands and blue waters. There is also plenty of time
to explore the town, the market, the pagodas and the view from Sihanoukville's
surrounding hills.
Days 14-15 Phnom Penh
A short bus ride returns us to Cambodia's capital city by mid day (approx.
4 hrs), leaving the afternoon free for further exploration or maybe some
last minute shopping. As no activities are planned for Day 15 you may leave
at any time.
Time to head home on the 15th day…..
DEPOSIT INFORMATION;
$500.00 Canadian (non refundable) at time
booking, + Cost of Insurance
balance due November.
15th-2003
Use your credit card or make cheques payable
to Wego Tours & Travel B.C. Reg. #2463-6
Travel insurance….
Travel insurance
including emergency medical repatriation
cover is compulsory. You will not be permitted
to participate in the trip until evidence
of travel insurance has been sighted by your
group leader.
THIS IS MANDATORY
WITH YOUR DEPOSIT AND COVERS BOTH MEDICAL
AND CANCELLATION & INTERRUPTION INSURANCE….
RATE
TO AGE 59 FOR VIETNAM TOUR ONLY-
$143.00
CANADIAN FOR UP TO 23 DAYS
FOR CAMBODIA TOUR ONLY –
$116.00
CANADIAN FOR UP TO 23 DAYS
FOR BOTH TOURS TOTAL-
$293.00
CANADIAN FOR UP TO 45 DAYS
Health
There are no specific health requirements for entry into Cambodia.
However, you should consult your doctor for current information and prescriptions
for vaccinations, anti-malarial requirements and any reasonably foreseeable
illnesses. We recommend that you carry a First Aid kit as well as any personal
medical requirements (including a spare pair of glasses). Please be aware
that for legal reasons our leaders are prohibited from administering any
type of drug including headache tablets, antibiotics, etc. Please ensure
that you are adequately prepared.Intrepid recommends the services of International
SOS for all the medical requirements of our travellers and staff when travelling
in Vietnam and Cambodia.
International SOS's 24 hour clinics have expatriate doctors and specialists,
and can be found at the following locations: CAMBODIA: Phnom Penh - House
161, Street 51, Sang-Kat, Boeung Pen, Khon Doun Penh, Clinic Tel: 855-23-216
911. Web: www.internationalsos.com
Money exchange
Officially the Cambodian Riel is the unit of currency. Unofficially however,
$US runs the country and is the currency you should bring, mostly in cash.
Clean bills of small denominations are best. Travellers cheques
can be difficult to change. The use of credit cards is very restricted, mainly
to major hotels.
Spending money
You will need to allow enough money for meals,
drinks, shopping and additional sightseeing. Please also bring an additional
US$100 as an 'emergency' fund, to be used if circumstances outside Intrepid's
control (eg. a natural disaster) necessitate a change to our planned
route. This is a rare occurrence.
Departure tax
From Phnom Penh US$20 for international flights and US$5 for domestic flights.
Keeping in touch - communication while on the road
If you need to be contacted while travelling we
recommend that you set up an email address that can be accessed on the road,
rather than relying on postal mail. Email cafes are becoming increasingly
commonplace and cheap throughout the regions we visit, and has quickly
become the preferred way for our leaders and travellers to stay in touch.
If someone wishes to contact you in an emergency while you are on an Intrepid trip we recommend that they contact your local booking
agent, or Intrepid's Melbourne office on tel. (613) 9473 2673 or email emergency@intrepidtravel.com.
We recommend that family and friends don't try to contact you through phoning
hotels en route, as our hotels are subject to change, and our hotel receptions
often don't have English speaking staff.
Arrival complications
We don't expect any problems, and nor should you, bu if for any reason you
are unable to commence your Intrepid trip as scheduled, please make the following
contacts as soon as possible:
For all Intrepid Group trips - your starting point hotel, requesting that
you speak to or leave a message for an Intrepid trip leader. If this is unsuccessful,
contact Intrepid's Melbourne office on tel. (613) 9473 2673 or email emergency@intrepidtravel.com.
If you have pre-booked an airport transfer and have not made contact with
our representative within 30 minutes of clearing customs and immigration,
we recommend that you make your own way to the Starting Point hotel, following
the Joining Instructions in the trip dossier. Please apply to your travel
agent on your return for a refund of the transfer cost if this occurs.
Your fellow travellers
As you travel on an Intrepid Group trip you
will be exposed to all the pleasures and maybe also some of the frustrations
of travelling in a group. Your fellow Intrepid travellers
will probably come from all corners of the world and are likely to be
of a variety of ages too. We ask you to be understanding of the various
needs and preferences of your group - patience with your fellow travellers
is sometimes required for the benefit of everyone's travel experience.
Remember too that you have responsibilities to the group. If you are
requested to be at a place at a certain time, ensure that you don't keep
the rest of the group waiting. We have found time and time again that
the very best trips we operate are those where the dynamics within the
group work well - this takes just a little effort on your part.
Your group leader
All Intrepid group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders. The
aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to
help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the
places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and
see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends.
You can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of all aspects of the
countries visited on the trip - historical, cultural, religious and social.
We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add
to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting- we think it's the best of
both worlds.
Your leader is available from 12 midday on arrival day until
12 midday on departure day.
Responsible travel
We believe strongly in low impact or rather
positive impact tourism at Intrepid. Broadly speaking this means that
we try to minimise the negative aspects of tourism on the local cultures
and environments that we visit and highlight the positive aspects.
Meals
Travelling with Intrepid you experience the vast array of wonderful food
that is available in the Intrepid world. Generally
meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating
options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and
with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally
food is cheap. As a rule our groups tend to eat together to enable you to
taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There is
no obligation to do this though. Your group leader will be able to suggest
favourite restaurants during your trip.
Meal inclusions
No meals included. An indication of how much you will spend on meals during
the trip is approximately US$250.
Laundry
All hotels offer laundry services at low cost.
As we're on the move a lot, consider bringing with you a small amount
of biodegradable soap for those laundry emergencies.
Visas
It is your responsibility to arrange visas before
you travel. Your travel agent can assist. Below are the visa requirements
for Cambodia valid at the time
of printing:Cambodia: Required for all nationalities. If
you to fly into Phnom Penh you can obtain a visa on arrival. You
will be required to fill in 1 application form, provide 1 passport-size
photograph and pay US$20 cash. You will be issued with a one month tourist
visa. Alternatively, Visas are issued from the Cambodian Embassy or Consulate
in your home country.
For information on the location of your nearest embassy or consulate we recommend
the following website: <http://dir.yahoo.com/Government/Embassies_and_Consulates/>.
What to take
You will be on the move a good deal, so pack
as lightly as possible (try to stay under 10 kg /22lb). It is in your
own interest as you are expected to carry your own luggage. Most travellers
carry their luggage in a pack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder
strap would suffice. Suitcases are not recommended for Intrepid travellers!
Mosquito nets are provided in most hotels. Bring a small day pack for
the trek, as you will be carrying your own clothes, cameras etc.
Check list
Travel documents: passport, visa, travel insurance, air tickets, voucher,
Health requirements arranged, Money: travellers cheques/cash/credit card,
Money pouch, First aid kit, Day pack to carry your personal needs during
the day, Alarm clock Torch/flashlight, Mosquito repellent, Hat, sun cream
and sun glasses, Refillable water bottle, Tampons can be difficult to buy
in Cambodia, Cambodian travel guide - great for history and general information,
Raincoat or umbrella for the afternoon showers during the wet season (May
to October), Comfortable walking shoes.
Local dress
When packing be aware that dress standards
are conservative throughout Asia. Loose, lightweight, long clothing
is both respectful and cool in the predominantly hot Asian climate.
Safety
Many national governments provide a regularly
updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel.
We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest
travel information before departure. Please refer to to our website's
Safety page for links to major travel advisories.
We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling,
for the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, travellers' cheques,
cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewellery at home - you
won't need it while travelling. Many of the hotels we use have safety
deposit boxes which is the most secure way of storing your valuables.
A lock is recommended for securing your luggage.
Note that your group leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part
of the trip itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Your
leader will accompany you on all included activities. During your trip you
will have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it
easy or explore at your leisure. While your group leader will assist you
with options available in a given location please note that any optional
activities you undertake are not part of your Intrepid itinerary,
and Intrepid makes no representations about the safety of the activity or
the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement
when selecting an activity in your free time.
Please understand we run adventurous holidays in countries where the standards
of accommodation, transport, hygiene and medical facilities are not the same
that you are used to at home or would find on a conventional holiday. For
more details on the type of conditions and safety standards you can expect
on your trip, Intrepid's operational safety policy is accessible via our
website at http://www.intrepidtravel.com/search/safetypolicy.php. We recommend
that you take a moment to read through this policy before travelling, and
would appreciate any feedback on how well it is being implemented in the
field.
A couple of rules
Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on Intrepid trips.
Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land, but
also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a
part of local culture in some parts of Asia, but is not acceptable for Intrepid travellers.
Intrepid's philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter,
and in particular the local people who make the Asian region the special
place it is. The exploitation of prostitutes is completely contrary to this
philosophy. Our group leader has the right to expel any member of the group
if drugs are found in their possession or they use prostitutes.
Joining point
Puncak Hotel
No.115-155, Street No.172
Sangkat Chey Chumneah
Khan Don Penh
Phnom Penh
Tel/Fax: (855 23) 211 061.
Joining instructions
To arrive at the Intrepid joining point in Phnom
Penh take a public taxi. As you leave the airport there are is a booth for
arranging your taxi. The price is US$7. The hotel we use is known by the
drivers.
Finishing point
Puncak Hotel(Details above)
