Morning
Today, we will have a fantastic tour to learn about life in a typical Cambodian village. Not only can we meet friendly locals, but we can also discover traditional village customs and cultures.
In the morning, there will be a local guide picking us up early for a 25-minute drive to TaBrak Village.
When we come, we will enjoy a packed Western breakfast provided by the hotel and share this meal with a local family. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about their active village lives.
After that, it is time to climb on an ox cart for a 30-minute ride to a local market. Here, we can take a brief but fascinating stroll to acquaint ourselves with Cambodian produce and daily trading activities.
Following this, we will have a 1 km walk through the picturesque countryside, surrounded by paddy fields and sugar palm trees, which are very common in Cambodia.
Along the way, there are many chances to interact with villagers by engaging in seasonal activities like rice planting, weaving thatch roofs, or making fish traps. The experience varies depending on the time of year, ensuring a fresh and authentic perspective.
The morning itinerary ends at a local pagoda, where your family will receive a special water blessing from Buddhist monks - a memorable moment of peace and good fortune.
Afternoon
The afternoon brings more discoveries as we make a stop at the 9th-century Bakong Temple, an integral part of the Roluos group and a former center of Khmer civilization.
Next, a short boat trip brings us to Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It will be a pity if we miss it since it introduces us to life on the lake in a more visual way.
Continue reaching Kampong Phluk; it is a less touristy village suitable for diving deep into the lives of local fishermen and their families amid the flooded mangrove forest. We will board a local boat to admire submerged stilt houses, floating houses, and impressive flooded forests, getting a good feel for life on the water.
As part of the adventure, we will get to have a taste of a family meal prepared in one of the floating houses once we finish discovering all.
NOTE: Due to low water levels during the dry season, boat trips are only possible from June to March. However, an alternative floating village at Chong Kneas can be arranged instead.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight in Siem Reap