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Stay Cambodia | 13 days | Cambodia, the pearl of Asia

2023-05-15T10:48:48.054Z

Highlights: With Les Voyages F, discover the beauties of Cambodia: from €4,700. From 10 to 22 November 2023, the "pearl of Asia" dazzles the visitor with its majesty. Accompanied by Cyril Drouhet, director of photography and reports at Figaro Magazine, embark on a tailor-made itinerary, to discover the thousand and one wonders that the country offers you. At its peak, the Khmer empire was the largest in mainland Southeast Asia.


FIGARO VOYAGE SÉLECTION – With Les Voyages F, discover the beauties of Cambodia: from €4,700. From 10 to 22 November 2023.


Often unknown, the "pearl of Asia" dazzles the visitor with its majesty. Hectares of jungle bathed in the mists of the early morning and suddenly, the silhouettes of the temples of Angkor that emerge and surprise the visitor with their impressive size: at its peak, the Khmer empire was the largest in mainland Southeast Asia. Here is the typical image we have of Cambodia. Yet, if it is real, it struggles to portray all the diversity of this kingdom.

Accompanied by Cyril Drouhet, director of photography and reports at Figaro Magazine, embark on a tailor-made itinerary, to discover the thousand and one wonders that the country offers you. First of all, Phnom Penh, the capital rebuilt after the passage of the Khmer Rouge and field of action of the formidable association Tous à l'école de Tina Kieffer; then the province of Kratié and the red lands, the encounter with elephants, these sacred animals, and finally the province of Preah Vihear with its jungle and its millennial temples. Cambodia has not finished surprising and enchanting you!

Program

Day 1 l Friday 10 November 2023 • PARIS • SINGAPORE

Meet your Figaro guide at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport.

10:40 a.m.: Departure on a regular direct Singapore Airlines flight.

Day 2 l Saturday 11 November 2023 • SINGAPORE • PHNOM PENH

06:15: Arrival in Singapore for stopover.

07:40: Stopover in Singapore.

08:35: Arrival in Phnom Penh (local time).

Upon arrival in the Cambodian capital, you will be greeted by an immigration officer. He will take care of your customs registration procedures.

You will then be transferred to your hotel and enjoy a few hours of free time to rest or start exploring the surroundings.

Lunch at the hotel.

In the afternoon, visit the Royal Palace and the adjacent Silver Pagoda. It is the official royal residence of Cambodia. At the centre of this group of gold-roofed buildings stands the throne room, built in 1863. It is within its walls that the main religious and royal ceremonies take place.

The Silver Pagoda, also known as Wat Preah Keo, was built in 1892 and restored at great expense in 1962. The impressive amount of gold, silver and diamonds that adorn its façade attracts the rays of the setting sun. Inside, more than 5,000 silver tiles decorate the floor of the pagoda. A show of beauty.

Like the locals, you will continue your discovery of the city by tuk-tuk, the traditional means of transport. En route, you'll visit Wat Phnom, the main Buddhist temple, and pass several iconic buildings, including the famous Independence Monument, designed by Khmer architect Vann Molyvann at the request of Prince Sihanouk, to celebrate the country's independence in 1953.

Dinner and overnight at the Palace Gate Hotel*****.

Cambodia, the pearl of Asia Adobestock

Day 3 | Sunday, November 12 • PHNOM PENH • KRATIÉ

In the morning, you will visit the association Tous à l'école de Tina Kieffer.

You will continue with the visit of Tuol Sleng. Also known as the S-21, Tuol Sleng is arguably the most notorious of Cambodia's 189 interrogation centers. During the Khmer Rouge era, between 14,000 and 17,000 prisoners were held there, often in primitive cells and inhumane conditions. Only 12 prisoners reportedly survived. A moving dive into the darkest pages of the country's history.

You will have lunch on the road to Kratié where you will visit the temple of Wat Nokor.

In the late afternoon, arrival in Kratié and board a ferry to Koh Trong, the sleepy island.

Dinner and overnight at the Soriyabori Resort Hotel ***.

Cambodia, the pearl of Asia JL MOREAU DELERISA

Day 4 | Monday 13 November • KRATIÉ • LES TERRES ROUGES

This day will be dedicated to the discovery of the island.

By bike or tuk-tuk, depending on your preference, you will be led to explore the different landscapes of this incredible and miraculously preserved island. Typical houses on stilts, buThes peacefully grazing, fertile land to the horizon... Immerse yourself in the best that rural life in Southeast Asia has to offer!

The island is particularly famous for its fresh products. Grapefruit, rice, coconut and other varieties of local fruits grow here in abundance and make delicious snacks.

At the end of the morning, go to the pier and departure for the

"Red Earth". Back on the mainland, you will take a spectacular route along the Mekong River. Along the way, you will make a stop in Prek Kampi to try to observe the Mekong dolphins, a cetacean considered sacred in Cambodia.

Picnic lunch.

Arrival at the Lodge des Terres Rouges in the late afternoon. Enjoy a few hours of free time to rest, enjoy the hotel facilities or stroll around the surroundings.

Dinner and overnight at the Lodge des Terres Rouges****.

Cambodia, the pearl of Asia Adobestock

Day 5 | Tuesday, November 14 • LES TERRES ROUGES

Spend this day in contact with one of the most majestic animals in Asia, the elephant.

Upon arrival at the Airavata Foundation, a short presentation will allow you to learn more about the mission of this "new generation" elephant camp, which offers an ethical and responsible alternative to mass tourism, often accused of animal abuse. In Airavata, elephants thrive in semi-freedom. The staff, native mahouts, develop a unique approach to conservation, which allows the visitor to enjoy an experience that is as natural as it is cultural.

You will take part in the preparation of milk bottles for baby elephants that have just been born. You will then meet Ikeo, the domesticated elephant. You will attend the bathing and health check of the impressive animal. You will then accompany the cubs and their mothers into the forest, where they will spend the rest of the day.

Back at the camp, you will observe the training of the other elephants.

Lunch and free time until early afternoon.

Then go for a walk... on the back of an elephant! To the majestic rhythm of horn mammals, you will reach the Katieng waterfall.

When you return, it will already be time to pick up the rest of the herd in the forest and attend the evening routine: washing in the river, distribution of rations, etc.

You will then take the road towards the rubber plantation, located a few kilometers from the foundation. The opportunity to visit the adjacent plant and learn a little more about rubber processing.

Dinner at the elephant camp.

Overnight at the Lodge des Terres Rouges****.

Cambodia, the pearl of Asia STANISLAS FAUTRE

Day 6 | Wednesday, November 15 • THE RED LANDS

In the morning, you will visit the local market in Banlung, where minority women from the surrounding area sell the produce from their fields. The opportunity to buy some fresh products for the ride that awaits you.

You will then take the road towards the northwest of the province. You will pass through Kroeung villages as well as huge bamboo forests before arriving at the village of Voeune Saï, the local economic hub. Divided into two distinct parts, one Chinese, the other Laotian, the village enjoys a certain prosperity. A short stroll through its lively streets will be an opportunity to observe the peculiarities of the local architecture, typical of the rural provinces of Southeast Asia.

Picnic in the village then departure for the Se San River.

You will board traditional boats for a ride up the Se San River. Another way, quieter, to immerse yourself in the landscapes along the water...

You will finally reach the village of Koh Peak, where the animist kachoch tribe of the hills resides. This ethnic minority is particularly known for the singularity of its funeral rites. When a member of the community dies, he is buried in the jungle on the outskirts of the village. After this funeral, the family organizes a second celebration during which an animal, often a cow or a buThe is sacrificed. The deceased received a jar of rice alcohol and paintings and sculptures to adorn his grave. Traditionally, these sculptures take the form of a male entity and a female entity, each decorated with attributes that the deceased will use in the afterlife.

Return to Banlung.

Dinner and overnight at the Lodge des Terres Rouges****.

Cambodia, the pearl of Asia JL MOREAU DELERIS

Day 7 | Thursday, November 16 • LES TERRES ROUGES • PREAH VIHEAR

In the morning, you will take the road towards Preah Vihear.

Located on the border with Thailand, this very rural province is home to the famous Temple of Preah Vihear, perched on top of the Dangrek Mountains.

Lunch at a local restaurant along the way.

In the afternoon, arrival and check-in at the hotel. Then enjoy a few hours of free time.

Dinner and overnight at the Jaya Hotel ***.

Day 8 | Friday, November 17 • PREAH VIHEAR • SIEM REAP

In the morning, you will take a seat in a 4x4 that will take you through the Dangrek Mountains to the temple of Preah Vihear. Dedicated to Shiva, it is a masterpiece of Khmer architecture. Dominating the plain of Cambodia, it is composed of a series of sanctuaries connected by causeways and stairs. It is estimated that the beginning of its construction dates back to the eleventh century. In the ninth century, however, a hermitage already occupied the premises. Particularly well preserved, the site offers a breathtaking view of the plain and the surrounding villages.

Vous prendrez ensuite la route en direction de Koh Ker. Capitale de l'empire d'Angkor de 928 à 944, le site abrite encore aujourd'hui une série de temples et de monuments disséminés au cœur de la jungle. Parmi la multitude de temples qui composent cet ensemble architectural, seuls quelques-uns sont ouverts aux visiteurs. Vous aurez le privilège d'en visiter deux : le Prasat Krahom et le Prasat Thom.

Déjeuner dans un restaurant local en cours de route. Route vers Siem Reap.

Dîner et nuit à l'hôtel FCC by Avani*****.

Jour 9 | Samedi 18 novembre • SIEM REAP

Cette journée très spéciale sera dédiée à la découverte de l'un des joyaux du royaume cambodgien : les temples du parc archéologique d'Angkor Vat.

Mondialement connu, Angkor est l'un des principaux sites archéologiques de l'Asie du Sud-Est. Et ce n'est pas sans raison… Les vestiges de ses nombreux temples sont éparpillés sur près de 400 kilomètres carrés, couverts en partie de jungle. Jadis, la cité accueillit jusqu'à un million d'habitants, tous issus de la civilisation prospère des Khmers, née au IXe siècle et qui connut son apogée au XIIe siècle avec le dernier grand roi bâtisseur, l'infatigable Jayavarman VII.

Vous ne pourrez que vous enthousiasmer devant la finesse et la précision des sculptures et des gravures qui parent les galeries des temples, en particulier celles d'Angkor Vat, du Bayon et de Banteay Kdei. En vous approchant, vous remarquerez qu'elles relatent la vie quotidienne de la cité, les querelles des divinités ou encore les batailles et les victoires. Chaque détail a son importance.

Far from being frozen in time, the city continues to live and evolve to the rhythm of tuk-tuks that convey visitors and street vendors who offer refreshments and fresh fruit, the galloping vegetation sometimes mingling with buildings.

Dinner and overnight at the FCC by Avani***** hotel.

Day 10 | Sunday, November 19 • SIEM REAP

In the morning, you will take the road towards Beng Mealea.

On site, discover an impressive architectural ensemble on which nature seems to have regained its rights. Built in the twelfth century under Suryavarman II, Beng Mealea is largely inspired by Angkor Wat but also has some singularities: it is surrounded by a huge moat and its center contains impressive sculptures. The central tower has completely collapsed and now serves as a support for the vines that are gradually invading it. A visit that looks like an Indiana Jones adventure!

Lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, you will take the road to Banteay Srei and Banteay Samrè, two temples with completely different styles. Dating back to the tenth century, Banteay Srei is particularly well preserved and famous for its pink sandstone walls adorned with

Sculptures of apsaras. Banteay Samrè, meanwhile, is a Hindu temple of the twelfth century, built in the style of Angkor Wat.

Dinner at the restaurant.

Overnight at the FCC by Avani***** hotel.

Day 11 | Monday, November 20 • SIEM REAP

Take advantage of a less intense day of sightseeing to indulge in outdoor activities that will allow you to discover Cambodia differently.

You will embark on a cruise on the revered Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. You will sail in the middle of the many fishing villages that line its shores. A unique point of view on this singular way of life: schoolchildren returning from school by boat, stall shops, community centers on stilts... Here, life is organized along the water.

Lunch at the restaurant.

The afternoon will be free, which will allow you to rest or make some purchases from the artisans of the surrounding villages.

Dinner and overnight at the FCC by Avani***** hotel.

Day 12 | Tuesday, November 21 • SIEM REAP • SINGAPORE

Enjoy a morning of free time to pack, have lunch at the hotel, then hit the road to the airport.

16:40 p.m.: Take-off to Singapore on a scheduled Singapore Airlines flight.

20:05 p.m.: Arrival in Singapore for stopover.

Overnight on board.

Day 13 | Wednesday 22 November • SINGAPORE • PARIS

00:15: Take-off of your Singapore Airlines flight.

07:15: Arrival at Paris-Charles de Gaulle.

Accommodation

Cambodia, the pearl of Asia PHNOM PENH PALACE GATE HOTEL & RESORT

Ideally located in the heart of the capital, just a few steps from the main attractions of the capital, the Palace Gate Hotel & Resort is a recent luxury establishment. The building, a colonial villa, was the seat of power of the French colonial government. Today a 5-star hotel, it offers its visitors all the comforts necessary for an unforgettable stay in the Cambodian capital.

Cambodia, the pearl of Asia RATANAKIRI LODGE DES TERRES ROUGES

A fusion of modern comforts and traditions of the past, Lodge des Terres Rouges is the first and only boutique establishment in the mountainous province of Ratanakiri. Visitors will enjoy a breathtaking view of the calm waters of Lake Banlung. The buildings that make up the hotel complex are built in the purest Cambodian tradition.

Cambodia, the pearl of Asia JL MOREAU DELERIS

Combining comfortable accommodation with a traditional Angkorian ambience, Soriyabori Resort is a timeless property consisting of 13 traditional Khmer wooden houses built in the north of Koh Trong Island. To live there is to experience an immersion in a traditional and preserved Cambodia.

Cambodia, the pearl of Asia PREAH VIHEAR JAYA HOTEL

The Preah Vihear Jaya Hotel is ideally located, close to the local market and only twenty kilometers from the Preah Vihear Temple. The rooms, simple and elegant, have been designed to highlight Khmer hospitality and lifestyle. Each room has its own open terrace, surrounded by tropical plants.

Cambodia, the pearl of Asia SIEM REAP FCC BY AVANI

Former residence of the French governor, this historic mansion has been renovated and today offers all the comfort and luxury necessary for an unforgettable stay. You will undoubtedly appreciate its peaceful and intimate atmosphere, far from the noise and animation that surround the temples of Angkor.

The price includes

  • Air transport Paris/Singapore/Phnom Penh and Siem Reap/Singapore/Paris on direct flights of Singapore Airlines in economy class
  • Airport taxes ($120 to date)
  • Taxes and local services
  • Transport and transfers by air-conditioned coach
  • Accommodation in a double room in the hotels mentioned
  • Full board from lunch on day 2 to lunch on day 12
  • Drinks at lunches and dinners 1 glass of wine or 1 beer, water, coffee or tea
  • The tourist visa ($30 to date)
  • Tips: guides/drivers/hotels
  • Luggage port
  • Conferences/visits/excursions/entrances, according to the program
  • Local French-speaking guides
  • A travel diary
  • Mutuaide Assistance sickness-accident-repatriation-luggage insurance
  • An accompaniment Figaro

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2023-05-15

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