A fascinating side trip to Siem Reap
Add even more meaningful moments to your Southeast Asian exploration by including a visit to the beautiful city of Siem Reap, Cambodia! Enjoy three-nights at the luxurious Zannier Phum Baitang Resort, a paradise in the region, and a perfect place to use as your home-away-from home during your visit. Your days will be filled with stunning ancient temples, vibrant culture and delicious cuisine - all set among the beautiful landscapes of northwestern Cambodia.
At Travel Beyond, we believe your trip should be designed just for you, not for the masses. Our travel consultants create a custom itinerary for each client, offering recommendations for places and experiences that best fit your style. The itinerary below was planned for a past client, but we’re sharing it for travel inspiration and as an example of what a trip to Siem Reap might look like. Let us know when we can design a trip just for you!
Not ready to return back to reality? This excursion is an example of an extension that can be added onto many Southeast Asia trips. They are not standalone itineraries, but rather an opportunity to add an extra experience focused on your own travel taste.
Upon arrival, you will be assisted through airport formalities before meeting your guide for your private transfer to Zannier Phum Baitang Resort. Accommodations will be reserved for three nights in a stilted villa, including breakfast daily. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to relax before your evening food tour.
Your resort is situated on 20 acres, with beautiful gardens and iconic rice paddy fields dotting the grounds. The architecture is inspired by Khmer culture and your personal villa will reflect the stilted farmhouses that are traditional in the area. Your resort has two swimming pools, a spa, a lounge and onsite restaurants for your enjoyment.
This evening, you will be met by your guide who will escort you on a special dine-around experience in Siem Reap town.
Khmer cuisine is one of the true pleasures of a visit to Cambodia and the foodie scene has enjoyed a great renaissance in recent years. Local and international chefs share their talents at exciting new venues across the city. Tonight you will see some of the best Siem Reap has to offer: explore artists ateliers, dine at good cause training restaurants, experience the creative fusion and splurge on the best soufflé Amok in town!
For added adventure, you will embark on tonight’s dine-around aboard a Khmer Remork (tuk tuk)! You will have a lot of fun and enjoy a true taste of Siem Reap!
Zannier Phum Baitang ResortMeals: Breakfast / Dinner
This morning you will visit Angkor Wat, the largest temple in the world, with a volume of stone equaling the Cheops pyramid in Egypt. Unlike all other Khmer temples, it faces west and is inspired by 12th Century Hinduism. Built as the funeral temple for Suryavarman II, who ruled from 1112 to 1152, Angkor Wat took an estimated 30 years to construct. It has been occupied continuously by Buddhist monks and is very well preserved. The four sides of Angkor Wat have intricate bas reliefs and each tells a story. The most celebrated, the Churning of the Ocean of Milk, shows the Naga serpent being twisted by demons and gods to spurt out the elixir of life.
Afterward, switch gears to learn about a very special project between the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) and APOPO, a non-governmental organization that works with African Giant Pouched Rats. These “Hero Rats,” as they are known, are trained to detect both landmines and tuberculosis using their extraordinary sense of smell.
You will enjoy a shared tour to see this amazing project in action. Learn how the Hero Rats detect TNT using their remarkable sense of smell and hear about the tireless efforts being made to clear rural areas of landmines after decades of conflict in the country. Meet the Mine Detection Rats and their handlers to witness how they clear a mock up mine field. The Hero Rats are too light to detonate landmines so face no risk during their work. The animals work no more than 3-4 hours per day and even have sunscreen carefully applied to their ears and tails while they go about their business. When they are not “on duty,” the rat are treated like true heroes, enjoying spacious, cool lodgings with plenty of fresh fruit and attention from their keepers.
This evening, enjoy an unforgettable show at Phare Ponleu Selpak. Meaning “the brightness of art,” the show originated in 1986 in the “Site 2 Refugee Camp” on the Thailand border. The association uses art and expression and was originally formed to help young refugees overcome the trauma of war. Today, they aim to support community development and provide social and educational help to children through the revival of Khmer culture, which was significantly damaged during the Khmer Rouge regime. They focus on rehabilitating street kids, orphans, children in high-risk situations and their families. Sit-down and enjoy an hour of pure Cambodian theatrical and acrobatic performance while helping a worthwhile cause at the same time.
Zannier Phum Baitang ResortMeals: Breakfast / Dinner
This morning you will embark on a shared visit to the Kulen Elephant Forest, a haven for 14 “retired” elephants. For 22 years, the elephants gave rides to visitors in the Angkor temples. Today, they live in their natural habitat and socialize freely in the lush forest. There is no riding and there are no tricks – the elephants receive the best of care and you will enjoy the opportunity to step into their world for a short time. Experience the daily life of the elephants, accompany them as they venture into the forest and spend time observing them as they enjoy their natural surroundings.
Enjoy the afternoon and evening at your leisure to enjoy the amenities of your hotel and relax before you depart Cambodia tomorrow.
You may opt to visit the onsite spa, styled after the architecture of Angkor Wat. The holistic wellness spa is set amid tropical gardens and offers treatment rooms, sauna, steam room, yoga pavilion, fitness center and an outdoor infinity pool. Experience one of the relaxing traditional Khmer therapies and rituals including a water blessing by a Buddhist monk. After, you can visit one of the hotel’s two restaurants, both offering local and international cuisine, or visit the lounge for a classic Cambodian-style cocktail.
Zannier Phum Baitang ResortMeals: Breakfast
Today after breakfast, you will be met for your private transfer to the Siem Reap airport for your onward flight.
N/AMeals: Breakfast
