Battambang Encounter
from $???*
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4 days / 3 nights
Ref: BE-4D |
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• Fascinating Cruise • Floating Villages • Laid-back Battambang • Angkorian Temples •
• French Colonial Architecture • Traditional Village Life • Beautiful Silk Weaving •
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DAY 1: Siem Reap to Battambang Cruise
- / L / D
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An early start as your encounter with Battambang begins with what is possibly the most fascinating journey in Cambodia, a cruise across the Tonle Sap (South East Asia’s largest lake) and along the beautiful winding Sangker River. This journey takes 6 to 10+ hours and the range of sights experienced is incredible. Throughout the journey you pass through intriguing floating villages and are surrounded by timeless scenes: men fish and repair their boats or extend their floating houses, women cook and wash up in kitchens at the sterns of the boats/homes, and children leap from rickety wooden porches to splash around for your (and their) entertainment. As you enter the Sangker River you pass the protected wetland of Prek Toal, which is home to over 120 species of water and forest birds, some endangered. The narrow Sangker River will captivate you as around each corner it seems there is a new vista - boats laden with fish traps, floating villages, fish farms, stilt houses rising out of the water, an abundance of birdlife, and green swathes of rice paddies stretching into the distance. After a delightful journey you will arrive in the laidback and charming ‘city’ of Battambang, famed for its fading French colonial architecture, where you will be transferred to your hotel. After freshening up and having lunch in a local restaurant you  will follow the banks of the Sangker River to the ancient remains of Wat Ek Phnom. Again this journey is a highlight as you pass through picturesque villages where it appears life has remained unchanged for centuries – look out for the unique antique covered bridges. Wat Ek Phnom dates back to the 11th century, the reign of Suryavarman I, the ruins are now dilapidated but this makes for an atmospheric setting. Today the temple sits in the grounds of a modern pagoda surrounded by lotus ponds, small streams and rivers, giving the feeling of being on an island. Being at Wat Ek Phnom and traveling back to Battambang is a real delight around late afternoon when the golden glow is ideal for photographing the idyllic scenes. Back in Battambang you will be taken to a local restaurant for dinner.
(Depending on the time of year and expected cruise duration you will be provided with a packed lunch to eat on the boat and will be taken directly to Wat Ek Phnom upon arrival in Battambang) |
DAY 2: Battambang Temples & Traditional Village Life
B / L / -
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This morning you head out 15km to the south west along a bumpy and dusty road to visit the striking hilltop pagoda of Phnom Sampeau. Phnom Sampeau is well-known to all Cambodians because of the local legend of a beautiful woman, Rumsay Sok, and a jealous crocodile! To reach the summit pagoda requires climbing 700+ steps, however, fortunately there is a track which winds its way more gently up the mountain side. This massive limestone outcrop is dissected by a number of caves some more accessible than others, with some containing unexpected reminders of Cambodia’s history. Despite the stunning views of the Cambodian countryside from the top, the pagoda itself is unexceptional, however Phnom Sampeau is an important site in terms of Cambodia’s recent history. During the Khmer Rouge era, some of the pagoda buildings were used as a prison and interrogation centre – victims were then pushed through a hole in the roof of a cave to fall to their deaths. Some caves contain shrines where you may pay your respects to these helpless victims. Phnom Sampeau was of strategic significance as recently as the factional Government – Khmer Rouge fighting of 1995, and there are still two large field guns on the mountainside pointing off to what were Khmer Rouge positions. Afterwards you will drive to the  village of Ksach Puoy on the banks of the Sangker River. This area grows a variety of tropical fruits and after the rainy season farmers plant all kinds of vegetables along the fertile river banks, here you can enjoy a walk along the banks learning about traditional agriculture – also a great opportunity to taste juicy oranges, sweet pineapples, and many other fruit… The village pagoda is beautiful, according to local monks it is over 100 years old constructed when Battambang was under Thai rule. The cooing of the many pigeons, the lily ponds, the teak trees lining the river, and the surrounding banana plantations make for a peaceful setting. You will also have the opportunity to visit SABORAS Handicraft Centre which produces local crafts such as kramers (traditional Khmer scarf) and silk shirts. The Centre provides training and income opportunities for poor widows and helps to preserve traditional weaving methods. Not far from Ksach Puoy is Cambodia’s first vineyard – Prasat Phnom Banan Vineyard – you will stop here for a tasty lunch comprising organic vegetables and a spot of wine tasting! After lunch you will be shown around the vineyard and the process of producing wine in the tropics will be explained. Despite Cambodia being a French colony the French never introduced vineyards as they thought it would be impossible to produce wine in the tropics. The organic vineyard was only planted in 2001 and the first wines produced in 2004, a perfect opportunity to support a fledgling industry by purchasing a few souvenir bottles… After this enjoyable rest you will continue a few kilometers further south to the well  preserved 11th century mountaintop Angkorian temple of Phnom Banan. At the base of the mountain you are faced with a steep laterite staircase flanked by nagas. After climbing the 350+ steps you are treated to a wonderfully peaceful setting with superb views across the surrounding countryside, with small villages dotting the endless rice paddies, punctuated with the characteristic sugar palm trees – a wonderful sunset location. Whilst waiting for the sunset the more energetic can take the scramble down the mountainside to discover L’Ang But Meas cave. After a short squatted crawl the cave opens into two magical large airy caverns, one with a large stalactite hanging from the ceiling with sacred sparkling water dripped from it into a bowl below. Local legend says that drinking this water leads to knowledge of the past, present, and future… On return to Battambang the evening is free at your leisure. |
DAY 3: Banteay Chhmar & Sisophon
B / L / -
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After breakfast you will visit Battambang Museum which houses a small treasure trove of beautifully sculpted lintels and other substantial artifacts from all over Battambang Province, including pieces from Phnom Banan. It is then time to bid farewell to Battambang as you head 120km north, passing through Sisophon, on route to the massive and remote temple complex of Banteay Chhmar (Narrow Fortress), built by Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. Banteay Chhmar was a large strategic city and the base for the Khmer Empire’s political management of its western and northwestern provinces, now provinces of Thailand. Its layout was similar to Angkor Wat, with a central tower and four smaller outer temples, and housed one of the largest and most impressive Buddhist monasteries of the Angkorian period. It is generally thought that the city was built as a memorial to four of Jayavarman’s generals and his son who lost their lives in the victorious battle against the Chams, the battle being featured on a bas-relief on the eastern enclosing wall. Today, as you approach the jungle surrounded Banteay Chhmar you catch glimpses of the temple’s lotus filled moat and enter via an eastern causeway. As you make your way to the inner enclosure you clamber over piles of stones, the remains of fallen towers and walls, some having fallen naturally, others fallen as a result of looters stealing supporting structures. Make your way to the western enclosing wall where you will find the remains of intricate carvings including scenes of daily life during the Angkorian period, and the spectacular 32 armed god Avalokiteshvara.  You will also see sections of the wall missing, these were illegally stripped out by the military in 1998 and trucked across the border en route for sale in Bangkok. Fortunately Thai police intercepted them and they have been returned to Cambodia and are now housed in the National Museum in Phnom Penh. This is a peaceful temple and the sun filtering through the jungle canopy creates a cooling, dappled effect, perfect for enjoying the provided picnic lunch. You will return to Sisophon where you will overnight in a local hotel. Sisophon, known as Svay (mango) by the locals, is a non-descript Cambodian town, and although it does not have any noteworthy sights to see it gives an insight into everyday Cambodian town life. The town also has the reputation of having the friendliest inhabitants in Cambodia! |
DAY 4: The Silk Trail
B / - / -
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In the past Cambodia was world renowned for its exquisite silk, much of which was traditionally hand-woven and dyed using natural colours from plants and minerals. However, the sericulture industry almost disappeared during the Khmer Rouge period and many of the essential mulberry trees were destroyed, as a result much of the silk woven in Cambodia today is imported from Vietnam and China. To counter this there are now various concerted efforts by numerous organisations throughout the country to reintroduce mulberry trees so that the all important silkworm can be cultivated locally. Today on your way back to Siem Reap you will visit two such sites. The first centre is the traditional silk weaving village of Phnom Srok around 55km to the east of Sisophon, Phnom Srok is famed for producing the exquisite Khmer 'Golden' silk. As you walk around the village you will hear weaving looms clack away under the stilt-houses and see mulberry tree branches flecked with furry silkworm cocoons. The villagers are very proud of what they are achieving and are only too happy to show you the work they do. As well as silk the village is also famed throughout Cambodia for the thick cotton kramas (traditional scarves) it produces. 15km from Siem Reap you reach the village of Puok which is home to the Artisans d’Angkor Silk Farm. Artisan’s d’Angkor creates the opportunity for young Cambodians to find gainful employment in their home villages by teaching traditional Khmer handicraft techniques, such as stone & wood carving, lacquering & gilding, and silk weaving.  The Silk Farm is re-establishing the mulberry tree, re-introducing sericulture, and enabling the ancient silk weaving tradition to flourish once again. You will be shown around the farm and see the full process, from mulberry tree planting to finished silk clothing and home accessories. There is an on-site boutique which allows a great opportunity for finding those last minute quality souvenirs, where not only will your purchase be a genuine piece of local art but you will also be supporting the next generation of Khmer craftsmen and women! On the return journey to Siem Reap (if time allows) you will stop-off at the West Baray, a vast Angkor Empire man-made reservoir that still contains water today, and is a popular recreational area. Afterwards you will be returned to your hotel (or to Siem Reap International Airport if you have an onward flight, leaving the home of the Angkor Empire with many unforgettable memories). |
| *The cost of the above tour is $??? (US dollars) per person based on 4 people travelling together and sharing 2 rooms in medium standard accommodation. |
| If there are more of less than 4 people travelling in your party, or if the above suggested itinerary does not fully meet your needs please email us as we will be happy to discuss alternative arrangements. |
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- All sightseeing tour and transfer services as detailed in the above itinerary
- English speaking local guides
- All accommodation based on 2 sharing a room
- All entrance fees for attractions included in the above itinerary
- Private air conditioned vehicles
- All boat trips
- Daily drinking water whilst sightseeing
- All meals as detailed in the above itinerary
(B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D = Dinner)
- Services not detailed in the above itinerary
- International flights to and from Siem Reap
- Cambodian Visa fees (currently $20 per person)
- International airport departure tax (currently $25 per person)
- Expenditure of a personal nature
- Travel insurance
- Any payment / money transfer charges
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