Day 1: Arrival in Siem Reap
Upon arrival in Siem Reap, after customs clearance, we meet the local guide who will accompany us to the hotel for check-in. Time at leisure for some relaxation. Overnight stay. Day 2 : Siem Reap – Angkor Thom – Angkor Wat – Ta Prohm This morning, we travel along a road surrounded by large old trees. Suddenly, a giant stone gate appears: the entrance to Angkor Thom, called “the great city.” Immediately we are faced with a series of massive smiling faces carved into the rock that seem to emerge from nowhere: we are in the Bayon Temple, built around the 12th-13th centuries, a stunning building surrounded by 54 towers, each adorned with 4 faces. After our visit, we continue to the Baphuon, a temple dating from the 11th century, whose restoration, led by French architects, has only recently been completed. We admire the 350-meter Elephant Terrace, which was used for royal audiences and public ceremonies. We continue our visit to King Leper’s Terrace, built in the 12th century and covered with magnificent Apsara sculptures. In the afternoon, we visit the world’s most famous temple, Angkor Wat. Starting from the central corridor, we immediately realize its grandeur and cannot remain indifferent to its artistic architecture, from the wonder of its structure to the small details all around. We continue the day as explorers with a visit to Ta Prohm, a temple literally eaten by tropical nature. In the evening, we test the incredible energy of the Phare Circus where young students tell the story of their land through theater, music, dance and modern circus arts. It’s back to the hotel to let the excitement of the first day of our wonderful adventure settle in and for proper rest before setting off again for new experiences. Day 3: Siem Reap – Kompong Kleang – Kratie (330km/5h30) . Good morning! After a nice breakfast, we depart for Kratié province to arrive at the floating town of Kompong Khleang and board a local boat led by a village captain. We cross Tonle Sap Lake at a leisurely pace for an opportunity to catch a glimpse of the small floating villages, Khmer or Viet. In this region of Cambodia, in fact, you may even encounter Vietnamese families. The small local boat is equipped with a motor that makes it easy to move from the village and along the various canals leading to the Great Lake. Only once we reach the end of the canal can we realize the immensity of this lake, whose horizon stretches as far as the eye can see. In the late afternoon we arrive at Kratié, the village on the bank of the Mekong where a colony of rare river dolphins lives. After dinner, we stay overnight at a guesthouse to fully savor the taste of East Cambodian life. Day 4: Kratié / Sambor / Island in Kratie (43km/1h) . Wake up. Breakfast awaits before we embark on exciting new experiences.
Today we leave for Sambor village to sail to the island on the Mekong River where we finally get to live closely with the local community, hosted by local families, to immerse ourselves in their daily lives. After lunch shared with our hosts, the guide will introduce the project and our mission in the presence of the village chief who joins us to get to know us. Before starting the activities, we carve out some free time for an exploratory bicycle ride around the village and its rice fields. At the end, we prepare to share a community-organized dinner and our first night at our new families’ homes. Day 5 to Day 8: Our Island Mission Begin our mission on the Mekong River Island 50km from Kratié. Sharing our days with locals allows us to discover local life and experience unforgettable moments. We take advantage of the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the Khmer culture, a culture of welcome and warmth, by participating each morning in a 1-hour lesson of their language that allows us to acquire some basic terms useful for communication with our hosts. It’s time to get our hands dirty and be an active part of village development projects. This week we participate in the construction of the chicken coop. At the end of the activities, some free time to explore the island or learn how to cook typical dishes together with our new friends.
Day 9: Island in Kratie / Sambor / Phnom Penh (315km/6h)
It is time to say goodbye each to his or her family and to the village where we have left a tangible and precious mark and which, in return, leaves us with indelible memories. By boat we return to Sambor for a visit to the pagoda before departing for Phnom Penh, where we arrive in the late afternoon. Nostalgia is already setting in…we just have to immerse ourselves in the vibrant streets of this incredible city where Khmer culture has been contaminated by French colonization.
Day 10: Phnom Penh and Depart.
After breakfast, we leave our luggage at the hotel to wander around the capital a bit more and discover the magic of the market and the beauty of the colonial buildings. A private transfer takes us to the airport in time for our flight back to Italy. The Experience has come to an end but the memories will remain indelible in our minds and those of our Khmer families.
