Cambodia small group voluntourism trip (sorry the pretty pictures can make it slow to load)

Your Cambodian Adventure That Counts 9 days / 8 nights (22nd February & 11th October, 2014) Price per person US$3,360*

info@handsupholidays.com

call: +1 201 984 5372 (from USA)

+44 207 193 1062 (R.o.W)

Overview Once the mightiest empire in South East Asia, the Khmer people built a vast city and what to this day is still the largest religious monument in the world. The Angkor complex, abandoned in the 15th century and reclaimed by the jungle, remained mostly forgotten till French archeologists began the restoration process in the late 19th century.

The artistry and architecture of the various temples is phenomenal and it takes little imagination to be transported back 700 years and picture these ruins as a thriving city. However, it is also impressive to see nature pay no heed to the structures and reclaim its territory. Gigantic roots reaching over ruined walls certainly add to the magic and mystery.

Perhaps it is this resilience that has enabled the engaging Cambodian people to bounce back so quickly from a devastating conflict and the brutal regime that decimated the population in the latter half of the 20th Century. Poverty is still a huge

issue, but there is no animosity. Instead there are easy smiles and lots of laughter, especially among the children, who can amuse themselves for hours with basic implements.

It is among these people in a small community that you will be able to make a difference. Many poor families are enterprising and hard working, but just need that little boost to lift them to the next level. Providing them with a decent place to live means that they can devote their meager resources to feeding and educating their family without having to worry about where they will sleep.

During your relaxation time, explore the local markets in Siem Reap. The artistic talents of the 15th century seem to have been passed on to current generation. The markets are filled with exceptional young artists. Perhaps in a few years the paintings of one of the children you helped will be on sale in these very markets?

Day 1: (-,-,D)

Day 2:

SIEM REAP You arrive in Siem Reap, in the north of Cambodia, and are transferred to your hotel.

SIEM REAP -ANGKOR COMPLEX-SIEM REAP This morning, it is time to begin your exploration of the amazing UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor ("Holy City").

In the evening you are given a briefing by your local guides on your fabulous week ahead. Your welcome dinner will be at the Funan Restaurant.

Your hotel for the next eight nights is the Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa in Siem Reap. You have a deluxe room.

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(B,L,D)

Between the years 900 and 1200, the Khmer Empire produced some of the world's most magnificent architectural masterpieces in this area.

Dotted with numerous temple complexes, the urban sprawl of this once mighty economic center stretched for more than 390 sq miles (1,000 km2), making it by far the largest city of the preindustrial age and 90% larger than any other city at that time.

Begin with the complex of Angkor Thom, which is surrounded by a 24 foot (8m) high wall, forming a perfect square. Let yourself go back in time as you enter through the ancient South Gate, a magnificent stone gate carved with elephants and four giant faces. On each side of the entrance path a row of 54 gods and 54 demons hold on to the sacred Naga snake.

call: +1 201 984 5372 (from USA)

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From Angkor Thom continue on to the Bayon Temple, which sits in the exact center of the city.

This 12th century masterpiece is a study in grandeur and is renowned for its 54 towers with enigmatic faces representing the 54 provinces of the Great Khmer Empire.

you sample delicious Khmer Cuisine at Viroth’s, a stylish and comfortable modern restaurant set in a quiet garden.

Another must-see are the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King, both world renowned for their intricate bas-reliefs.

Day 3:

Then it is time to switch to a bicycle to explore one of the most illustrious of all temples, Ta Prohm.

Ta Prohm is unique in that it has been left largely as it was found: overgrown by jungle trees and vines, with many parts of the temple crumbling to the ground. This makes the ‘Tomb Raider Temple’ one of the most picturesque and memorable of the Angkor temples. Your guided tour of the elaborate complex will help to bring the history to life.

No doubt ready for a break, you will be able to rest and compare photos over lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, you’ll visit the illustrious Angkor Wat. Built during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, Angkor Wat is constructed following the model of Mount Meru, the temple mountain and home of the Hindu gods.

Inside the temple, the walls are covered with stone carvings and bas-reliefs depicting Hindu mythology and the wars Suryavarman II fought during his reign. Among archeologists Angkor Wat is famous for the more than 2,000 Apsara dancers adorning the temple. Construction is thought to have taken around thirty years of intensive labor.

Today, Angkor Wat is depicted on Cambodia's national flag as it symbolizes the soul of the Khmer people.

After a fascinating day of temple exploration, you are transferred back to your hotel. In the evening, info@handsupholidays.com

Overnight at the Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa in Siem Reap.

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SIEM REAP-BANTEAY SREY-ROLUS GROUP Early this morning, before breakfast, you’ll join your guide to watch the sun rise over Angkor Wat. On a clear day, this is a spectacular sight.

Return to your hotel for breakfast followed by an absorbing tour to Banteay Srey, traveling via the back roads.

On your journey, you will pass local villages and schools and encounter people going about their day to day business. When you stop at local communities along the way, your guide will help you communicate with these warm people and you will begin to get a feel for life in Cambodia.

Depending on the season you may get to see how rice paper is produced, or taste palm wine and palm sugar, which are popular local products.

Visit the Landmine Museum which promotes awareness of the dangers of landmines, both in Cambodia and worldwide. This is still a huge issue even decades after the end of the war. Like many Cambodian children, Mr. Aki Ra, the museum founder, was trained as a child soldier under the Khmer Rouge regime and is working today as a de-miner.

The museum also serves as a rescue center for a number of landmine amputee children trying to fend for themselves on the streets of Phnom Penh, or surviving in impoverished rural communities.

Following this sobering experience it is time to visit the “gem” of the Angkor area. However,

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before you explore this temple, enjoy a picnic lunch in a relaxed setting.

The lovely temple of Banteay Srey, the so-called “Citadel of the Women” remains the best preserved temple in Cambodia. It displays some of the finest examples of classical Khmer art.

Banteay Srey is also unique in that it is constructed of pink sandstone, which is seen nowhere else in Angkor.

The next stop is the Rolous group of temples.

Rolous was the first town created by the kings of Cambodia. The first edifice to be built was the temple of Preah Ko. This temple is composed of six brick towers still partly covered by stucco and was dedicated to Jayavarman II. The second temple of the Rolous group is the Bakong temple, built in 881 AD. This was the state temple and also the largest in the city.

Rest your weary feet and continue on by ox cart through the countryside (this is the traditional form of transportation in Cambodia). This ride will take about 30 minutes and will allow you to view beautiful landscapes and gain further insight into the lives of the Cambodian people.

On the way back to Siem Reap, a small detour off the main road will take you to the community where you’ll spend the coming days building a home for an impoverished family. After getting your bearings you’ll return to Siem Reap with the rest of the afternoon free to explore the local markets, or to relax by the salt water pool sipping cold fruit juices.

Dinner will consist of a traditional style Khmer meal at Champey, an elegant yet comfortable restaurant.

After dinner you may wish to stretch your legs and explore the nearby night market, which abounds with high quality art and souvenirs.

Overnight at the Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa in Siem Reap.

Day 4:

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GIVING BACK IN THE COMMUNITY After breakfast you’ll receive a full briefing on what you will be doing and how your house building project will be run. Take in the rural way of life on the 30 minute transfer to the district of Puok where you will meet the family you will be assisting. They are all different, some are a little shy to begin with, others are gregarious, but they are all very grateful for your generous assistance.

Listen to a full safety briefing before splitting into teams to start work on the project. The house building will take four days. Each day you will be provided with water, snacks, fruit and a tasty Cambodian lunch to keep your energy up.

In the afternoon you’ll finish building at around 5.00pm and you’ll be transferred back to the hotel. Later enjoy a well-deserved dinner at the trendy Nest restaurant.

Overnight at the Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa in Siem Reap.

Day 5:

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GIVING BACK IN THE COMMUNITY Your house building project continues. Don’t forget to take time to interact with the locals and learn about their lives. Children are always eager to be entertained and there is nothing like kicking a ball around to break down cultural barriers.

Your lunch is at the project site.

Again you’ll finish building at around 5.00pm and you’ll be transferred back to the hotel. Tonight your dinner will be set in the tropical garden of the Bopha Angkor restaurant. After dinner you may want to treat yourself to a refreshing drink on the lovely terrace overlooking the Siem Reap River.

Overnight at the Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa in Siem Reap.

Day 6:

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GIVING BACK IN THE COMMUNITY As your building project continues to take shape, you’ll feel increasingly part of the small community and you’ll again eat lunch on site.

Dinner will be at the Madame Butterfly restaurant.

Overnight at the Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa in Siem Reap.

Day 7:

(B,L,D)

GIVING BACK IN THE COMMUNITY Today is a special day. You’ll again work through the morning and eat lunch in the village. However, this afternoon, local Buddhist Monks will perform

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call: +1 201 984 5372 (from USA)

+44 207 193 1062 (R.o.W)

a blessing ceremony to officially hand the home over to the family.

There will then be a chance to visit the local school, where you’ll no doubt see some of the children you have met. Their conversations with you over the past few days should help them on their next English test.

It is always a sad moment for all when the time comes to say goodbye to the family and the rest of the community and head back to Siem Reap for the last time.

Dinner is at the Cassia restaurant, where you can reminisce fondly about the warm people you met and feel gratified that have provided a home for a family in need.

Overnight at the Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa in Siem Reap

Day 8:

(B,L,D)

SIEM REAP-FLOATING VILLAGE-SIEM REAP After breakfast you embark on a journey to the great Lake Tonlé Sap, the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia - its size varies greatly depending on the season, as it is swells to about four times its size during the wet season.

Board a local boat and visit Chung Chnas, a village made up of traditional stilted houses. Life here is quite different and your guide will walk you through the things you see as you enjoy the gorgeous lake scenery.

A picnic lunch will be served in one of the floating houses, quite a unique experience.

Note: Due to low water levels during the dry season, the boat trip is only possible from June to March. In April/May, we organize an overland visit to Kampong Pluck instead. It is equally interesting, as you can walk among the stilted houses instead.

After lunch it is time to head for Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve. This vital sanctuary has been

called "the single most important breeding ground in Southeast Asia for globally threatened large water-birds." The reserve covers 31,282 hectares at the Northwest tip of the Tonle Sap Lake and plays host to species including Greater and Lesser Adjuncts, Black-headed Ibis, Painted Stork, Milky Stork, Spot-billed Pelican, GreyHeaded Fish Eagle and many more species.

You’ll return to town with some free time to make last minute purchases or get your soak up more of the laid back atmosphere in Siem Reap, before your farewell dinner. The Square 24 restaurant offers traditional Khmer food with a modern twist; almost a comment on your past eight days in this wonderful country.

Overnight at the Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa in Siem Reap.

info@handsupholidays.com

Day 9:

(B,L,-)

SIEM REAP-DEPARTURE Take in the hustle and bustle of the Central Market one last time before heading to Artisans d’Angkor: a project established in 1992 in order to support Cambodian arts and crafts and to help young people find work in their villages by continuing the practice of traditional arts. Visit workshops that specialize in wood and stone carving, as well as gilding and silk processing.

When you are all shopped-out, you can enjoy a bite to eat at the Asian Square restaurant.

In the late afternoon, you are transferred to Siem Reap International airport in time for your departure flight.

call: +1 201 984 5372 (from USA)

+44 207 193 1062 (R.o.W)

TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT: Email bookings@handsupholidays.com with these details: 1.

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Trip Destination: Trip date: Number of people booking: Participant name(s) and email address: Phone number:

You can reserve your trip with payment of 20% deposit, with the balance paid at least 60 days prior to the start of your trip. You can pay your deposit by bank transfer (in US$ or GBP) or by credit card (in GBP only, and a 2% handling fee applies). Please indicate which option you prefer.

All bookings are subject to our usual Terms and Conditions except that any payments you make are fully refundable should we fail to reach the minimum number of participants for your trip within 60 days of your trip start date.

Included ✓ 9 days 8 nights tour itinerary. ✓ Accommodation based on Double/Twin Room with breakfast in a Deluxe Room at Victoria Angkor ✓ Transfer by private A/C vehicles & back up truck ✓ Oxcart ride ✓ Boat trip to floating village & Bird Watching ✓ Local fruits, snacks, soft drink, drinking water and cool towel during day trip & project ✓ Logistical coordination ✓ Meals as indicated in itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner). ✓ 01 English Speaking guide for the Angkor visit and house building ✓ All entrance fees as indicated in itinerary ✓ International flight reconfirmation (if needed) ✓ Donation for house building and logistics (US$ 375 per person)

Not

included

✓ Alcoholic drinks and drinks at mealtime in restaurant + Optional visits + Personal expenses (telephone, laundry...). ✓ Visa on Arrival for Cambodia (US$ 20) ✓ International airport tax ✓ Personal travel insurance (must include helicopter evacuation for Cambodia). ✓ Tips for guides, driver, boat crew and hotel’s porters. ✓ Any meals not included in the itinerary. ✓ All flight tickets and departure taxes

IMPORTANT NOTES:  We require the purchase of travel insurance that covers the cost of emergency medical evacuation for this trip. We recommend World Nomads. Click here to obtain a quote.  Volunteer activities may change from those noted above, depending on the needs of the project.

CONFIRMATIONS:  No services are booked yet. We will not process reservation before receiving your reservation request.  We reserve the right to reserve alternative options if the proposed service is not available at the time of booking.

Key B = Breakfast L = Lunch BL = Boxed Lunch D = Dinner * Price is excludes flights and is based on sharing a room with one other person