A journey through the ancient and modern Cambodia for 9 days exploring the wonders of the temples of Angkor, some of the most iconic places around Siem Reap and the rumbling streets of the capital city of Phnom Penh. Landscape, portrait and street photography will be just some of the photographic styles we will practice during this 9 days tour. To conclude the trip we will drive out toward the sea, in order to complete our album by taking the last snapshots in the charming coastal town of Kep.
Angkor Archeological Park provides wonderful photographic opportunities. the monuments and the surrounding jungle afford unlimited textural and lighting opportunities for composing a picture. However Cambodia is much more than Temples…
Brief Itinerary:
- The aim of the trip is not only to bring back home great pictures, but also to improve photographic skills, learn how to edit your work and find a personal style by exploring different kinds of photography including landscape, portrait, street, etc.
OUR PHOTOGRAPHERS: Thomas Cristofoletti is an Italian freelance photographer & videographer based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. For the past two years he’s been working on several social video & photography projects in South East Asia for different international NGOs, and his photographs have also been featured in several international travel magazines and newspapers. His work focuses on documenting the day-to-day goings-on and traditions of the people he portrays, as well the places they live in. He has also cofounder of www.punto14.net — a video and photo production company mainly focused on social issues based in Phnom Penh. So far, he’s travelled and made photographic and video reports in: U.S.A., Mexico, Guatemala, Bolivia, Peru, Turkey, Morocco, Japan, Thailand, The Philippines, Laos, Taiwan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and many European countries. His work has been published in several magazines and newspapers in Italy, Spain, Russia, United Arab Emirates and France, and his photos have been exhibited in Italy, Spain, England, US and Cambodia.
Alessandro Vannucci is an Italian freelance photographer & videographer based in Siem Reap, Cambodia. He is specializing in travel reporting, photojournalism humanitarian and documented with photos and video projects.
ITINERARIES EXTENSION * SIEM REAP
Phnom Kulen is located about 60 kilometers from Siem Reap is a holy site where many locals make the pilgrimage to pray. Here you will find an interesting working pagoda with a large reclining buddha and some the best waterfalls in Cambodia. This mountain plateau served as the capital of the first Khmer Empire for more than half a century before it relocated south to Hariharalaya, known today as Roluos. As many as 20 minor temples are found around the plateau, including Rorng Chen temple, the first pyramid built by an Angkorian King, but many of them are difficult to reach. Numerous important sites lie scattered across the mountaintop, which is accessible by foot or by car.
Roluos Group Temple The Roluos Group is a collection of monuments representing the remains of Hariharalaya, the first major capital of the Angkorian-era Khmer Empire. It has become known as the ‘Roluos Group’ due to its proximity to the modern town of Roluos. The ancient capital was named for Hari-Hara, a synthesis of the Hindu gods Shiva and Vishnu. Though there was an existing settlement in the area before the rise of Angkor, Hariharalaya was established as a capital city by Jayavarman II and served as the Khmer capital for over 70 years under four successive kings. Setting the pattern for the next four centuries, the first great Khmer temples (Bakong, Preah Ko, Lolei) and baray (reservoir) were constructed at Hariharalaya. The last king at Hariharalaya, Yasovarman I, built the first major temple at Angkor, Phnom Bakheng, and moved the capital to the Bakheng area in 905 C.E. With the exception of a 20 year interruption in the 10th century, the capital would remain at Angkor until 1422 C.E., 12km southeast of Siem Reap. After the visit to the temples we could continue to Pre Rup where we can have a spectacular view of the sunset.
Every weekend, Cambodia Television Network studio hosts the matches of Neak Pradals (Cambodian Boxers), the most important sporting event for the people of Phnom Penh and a perfect place to take fantastic shoots. Khmer boxing’s roots go way back in history, but unlike Muay Thai, this sport hasn’t any international recognition and it remains somewhat enclosed in Cambodia’s cultural bubble. DAY 01: ARRIVAL – SIEM REAP
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap
The Bayon Temple's most distinctive feature are the many serene faces of the massive stone heads on many of the towers which jut out from the upper terrace and cluster around its central peak. This temple is known also for two impressive sets of bas-reliefs, which present an unusual combination of mythological, historical, and mundane scenes. Then we heading into Baphuon, built in the mid-11th century, it is a three-tiered mountain temple built as the state temple of Udayadityavarman II and dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. It is the archetypal temple of the Baphuon. In April 2011, after 51 years, the archaeologists finished the restoration of the temple. King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia and Prime Minister Francois Fillon of France were among those who first toured the renovated temple during the inauguration ceremony on July 3, 2011. We continue on to another 12th century temple of Preah Palilay, which, over the years has been reclaimed by the trees. *End of the day activity: Introduction to the post-production and editing session.
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap *End of the day activity: Post-production and editing session.
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap In the afternoon we enjoy exploring and shooting in and around the floating village of Kompong Phluk, a cluster of three villages of stilted houses built within the floodplain of the Tonle Sap Lake about 16 km southeast of Siem Reap. The villages are primarily Khmer and have about 3,000 inhabitants between them. Flooded mangrove forest surrounds the area and it is home to a variety of wildlife including crab-eating macaques. We can board a pirogue, a small flat-bottomed boat, to discover how the seasons affect the village over the 12 months of a year. From August to January the water level is still high enough to flood the forest surrounding the Tonle Sap Lake, and so the village ‘floats’, in some places, quite literally. For the remainder of the year you will not see a flooded forest but the houses of the village will appear to be standing on gigantic stilts for no reason, all of which makes a visit to this village worthwhile all year round.
*End of the day activity: Final Post production and editing session using the photos taken during the trip.
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap
DAY 05: SIEM REAP – PHNOM PENH In the afternoon we head for our first shoot at the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda. Walls divide the palace into three main compounds. On the north side is the Silver Pagoda, to the south side is the Khemarin Palace and the central compound contains the Throne Hall. The buildings of the palace were built gradually over time, and some were dismantled and rebuilt as late as the 1960s but some of the older buildings date back to the 19th century. The Silver Pagoda houses many national treasures such as gold and bejeweled Buddha statues. Most notable is a small 17th century baccarat crystal Buddha known as the "Emerald Buddha" of Cambodia and a life-sized gold Maitreya Buddha decorated with 9584 diamonds, the largest of which weighs 25 carats. It was created in the palace workshops during 1906 and 1907; the gold Buddha weighs in at 90kg and is dressed in royal regalia commissioned by King Sisowath. During King Norodom Sihanouk's pre-Khmer Rouge reign, the Silver Pagoda was inlaid with more than 5,000 silver tiles and some of its outer facade was remodeled with Italian marble. However only a small area of these tiles are available to be viewed by the public. After the visit to the Royal Palace we move to the Olympic Stadium, designed by Cambodia's most noted architect, Vann Molyvann, who was part of the New Khmer Architecture movement of the 1950's and 60's. At one of the magnificent courtyards of the building, we will watch people taking part in massive aerobics classes, play football, power walk and a whole array of different exercises. This is a perfect spot to capture some stunning images of a typical Cambodian slice of life by the light of the setting sun. *End of the day activity: Final Post production and editing session using the photos taken during the trip.
Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh
Later in the afternoon we will have a chance to shoot at the Orrusey Market & the Central Market, the perfect environments to practice street photography and get a chance to see how the locals really live. You can find almost anything at the Orrusey Market such as fresh food, household supplies, garden tools, electronics, accessories, clothing, decoration and much more. The Central Market or Psah Thom Thmey is a large market constructed in 1937 in the shape of a dome with four arms branching out into vast hallways with countless stalls of goods. When it first opened in 1937, it was said to be the biggest market in Asia. *End of the day activity: Final Post production and editing session using the photos taken during the trip.
Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh
DAY 07: PHNOM PENH – KAMPOT The salt fields (which can be visited only from December till May) are close to the ocean so that the salt water can feed the fields. The fields are then blocked from the ocean, and the water is allowed to evaporate slowly, leaving salt crystals behind. This process is repeated many times. The raw salt is then collected and piled up in warehouses in the salt fields. It is then delivered to the salt factory, where it is cleaned, Iodine is added, and packaged in 50 Kilogram bags for shipment throughout the country. We can also get some good shots of the sunset over the sea.
Accommodation: Hotel in Kampot
Accommodation: Hotel in Kep
This tour is private and can be tailor-made to suit your travel needs. As a result the price is quoted in US dollars and shown on a per-person basis. The 'Price From' quoted above is for parties of 2, 4 and 6 people and for accommodation in 3 star hotels. The final price will be privately quoted, based on the number in your party, your preferred time of travel, grade of hotel and any additional services requested. Please click on the BOOK NOW button and fill in the booking form, after which one of our travel consultants will customize the best value holiday for you.
We are aware that a good tour must have good hotels. In Indochina particularly, hotel price makes up most of the cost of your holiday in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. All of our prices are calculated on a twin-shared basis. As a guide, Travel Loops defines hotel grades as follows:
>> Superior Level (3 star hotels in good locations): > 60 USD/room/night
Price based on twin shared accommodation.
1. Entrance Fees.
2. Meals. When the meals are not included in the program and you want to look for a good place to eat, your guide assit you and recomend a good one from our list of approved restaurants. Breakfast is usually a mixture of Western and Vietnamese cuisines. We endeavor to ensure that a choice of western and Vietnamese breakfasts is supplied; however, there may be occasions when only a Vietnamese breakfast is available in some remote locations.
3. Private Transfers & Airport Pick-up and drop-off.
4. Professional Tour Guide.
5. Accommodation.
6. Service Charge & Government Taxes.
7. Arrangements Fees.
8. Domestic airfare from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh (1way only)
TOUR EXCLUDES: 1. International Airfares, Airport Tax, Fuel Fee, Service Charge
2. Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar & Laos Entry Visa Fees.
3. Excess Baggage Charges.
4. Personal Expenses.
5. Meals.
6. Single Room Supplement.
The hotels listed below are just our suggestions offering the best value for this trip according to the hotel category chosen., but Travel Loops also offers more options to cater for different grades, personal taste, and budget. Please let us know if you have any specific choice of hotels, or personal preferences/requirements. Note: Our first choice for each level of accommodation has been highlighted in orange. As mentioned above our selection criteria are based on: prior client reviews, hotel management and staff training, facilities maintenance, location, business relationship and advantages given exclusively to our clients on price and service.
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