Angkor Wat Overland Adventure (Sihanoukville to Phu My) (Single)
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Port
Sihanoukville, Cambodia
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Activity Level
Strenuous
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$3399.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
3 days / 2 nights
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Meals Included
Meals included
Day 1 (D) Sihanoukville - Siem Reap
Leave the ship at Sihanoukville and begin your day with a visit to the splendid Intra Ngean Pagoda - the city's most prominent religious site. Intra Ngean takes pride of place overlooking the town and seascape beyond. Here, you will receive a monk's blessing. This traditional ceremony includes the monks sprinkling water and flowers over you while chanting prayers. It is believed that this traditional Khmer blessing ceremony cleanses bad spirits from the past and brings good luck for the coming year.
You will visit the Public School. See firsthand how the next generation of Cambodians are receiving an education. You'll have a chance to interact with the children, who are as fascinated by you as you are by them.
Transfer to the airport for a flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival in Siem Reap, meet your guide and drive to a local restaurant for lunch (flight times permitting; alternatively, a boxed lunch will be provided).
Continue the drive to Chong Kneas Village on the Tonle Sap Lake -- the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and the lifeblood of the Cambodian fishing industry. Hop aboard a small, shaded boat and move between the floating homes and small fish farms to experience the daily life of lake dwellers up close.
Enjoy dinner and a cultural show at the hotel in Siem Reap this evening.
Hotel: Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort (or similar)
Day 2 (B/L/D) Siem Reap - Angkor Wat - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
After a light pre-breakfast snack is served, transfer by tuk-tuk around 4:45am to Angkor Wat in time for sunrise. Watching the sunrise at Angkor Wat is a breathtaking experience and a must-do when visiting Cambodia. As the first light of dawn illuminates the ancient temple, the silhouette of its iconic towers reflects in the surrounding water, creating a magical scene. The soft, golden hues of the sunrise enhance the beauty and grandeur of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering a peaceful and awe-inspiring start to the day. It's a moment that captures the essence of Angkor Wat's timeless majesty and is truly unforgettable.
Return to the hotel for breakfast.
Travel to Angkor Thom -- the last capital of the Khmers. The stunning Bayon Temple here is a 12th-century masterpiece that lies at the center of Angkor Thom and is a wonder of symmetry and grandeur. The exterior gallery walls have extensive bas reliefs, but the highlight is the 'faces' -- more than 200 of them, with the famous half-smile playing on their lips. PJ de Beerski wrote of them, "godliness in the majesty and the size, mystery in the expression."
Another of the Angkor temples lies at Ta Prohm. This temple has been left largely in its natural state since its 're-discovery' by French explorers. Surrounded by jungle, its labyrinth of stone hallways is overgrown with the roots and limbs of massive banyan trees that envelop it like tentacles. It is one of the largest temples at Angkor, dedicated in 1186. Historians have noted its mystical charm. Entering the courtyards is like stepping into a new kind of vegetable world -- not of branches and leaves, but of roots. Ta Prohm is an exhibition of the mysterious subterranean life of plants, offering an infinite root. variety of cross sections. "Huge trees have seeded themselves on the roofs of the squat towers, and their soaring trunks are obscured from sight, but here one can study in comfort the drama of those secret and conspiratorial activities that labor to support their titanic growth," said Norman Lewis in A Dragon Apparent.
After lunch at the hotel, you will enjoy a daytime visit to Angkor Wat. This is the largest temple in the world, with a volume of stone equaling that of the Cheops pyramid in Egypt. It is unlike all other Khmer temples in that it faces west and is inspired by 12th-century Hinduism. Its symmetrical towers are stylized on the modern Cambodian flag. Conceived by Suryavarman II, Angkor Wat took an estimated 30 years to build. It is generally believed to have been a funeral temple for the king. It has been occupied continuously by Buddhist monks and is well-preserved. Intricate bas-reliefs surround Angkor Wat on four sides. Each tells a story. The most celebrated of these is the Churning of the Ocean of Milk, which is located on the east wing. In it, the Naga serpent is twisted by demons and gods to spurt out the elixir of life.
Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant this evening.
Day 3 (B/L) Ho Chi Minh City - Phu My
After breakfast, you're headed to the airport for a flight to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Upon landing, enjoy a late lunch at a local restaurant in the former capital.
Explore the former Presidential Palace, now known as Reunification Palace. This historic building was made famous when a North Vietnamese tank crashed through its front gates in 1975, signaling the end of the Vietnam War. It has changed little since that time and is now retained as a museum. Your tour will include the reception and dining rooms of the President's quarters, the basement with its ancient American-made telecommunications equipment still in place, and strategic military maps lining the walls.
Drive past the Notre Dame Cathedral (currently undergoing restoration; scaffolding may be in place) -- a neo-Classical structure dating back to the 19th century. Then, step inside the Saigon Central Post Office, notable for its perfect combination of neo-classical European architecture and Asian décor.
Visit the History Museum. Built in 1929, this facility houses an excellent collection of artifacts illustrating the evolution of the cultures of Vietnam, from the Bronze Age Dong Son civilization to Cham, Khmer and modern-day Vietnam.
Meet the ship at the pier in Phu My.
Notes:
Tour sequence may vary. Modest attire is required for visiting temples; no fitted or collarless tops are allowed; shirts/blouses must cover shoulders; trousers must cover knees; shorts and skirts above the knee are permitted. A wrap is not sufficient. Wear closed-toe shoes. The Apsara Authority will not allow children under 12 years old to climb up to the top level of Angkor Wat. The drive from Saigon to Phu My port is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. Bring sturdy non-skid walking shoes. The tour is guided; an escort from the ship's staff may or may not also accompany the group. You must book this overland PRIOR to sailing. Tour operates subject to meeting a minimum number of participants. The cut-off date is 60 days before the ship's call at Sihanoukville. Due to the popularity of this tour and strict booking conditions, cancellation fees start 60 days prior to the call at Sihanoukville. Airport assistance and transfers, transportation by air-conditioned coach, accommodation, all entrance fees and flights indicated in the itinerary, an English-speaking guide (unless otherwise noted), water on the vehicle, and meals (as indicated) are also included. Gratuities and personal expenses are not included. Bring your passport with you on tour.
Important information regarding visa requirements:
It is solely each participant's responsibility to obtain any necessary visas, tourist cards and vaccinations, if required, to participate in Overland Adventures and/or Overnights and to keep apprised of any policy changes. Visas may be required for any/all countries your tour departs from and travels through and for the country where you will re-join the ship. Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the completion of the cruise. Your travel agent can assist you with your visa needs. If you require further assistance, Holland America Line's preferred visa service is CIBTvisas. US and Canadian citizens can reach them by phone or email: US citizens: 866 788 1100 or email customerservice@cibtvisa.com. Canadian citizens: 866 935 8472 or email customerservice@cibtvisas.ca. CIBTvisas phone numbers and email addresses for Dutch, German, Australian, United Kingdom, Belgian, Singapore, Spanish, Swiss and French citizens can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions section of Holland America Line's website, in the Cruise Preparation area. Applications and additional information can be downloaded from the CIBTvisas website at https://CIBTvisas.com/hollandamerica. You must advise CIBTvisas of your Overland Adventures or Overnights, as the visa requirements for these vacation enhancements may vary from those required for your cruise.