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SRI LANKA THE MALDIVES THAILAND VIETNAM CAMBODIA LAOS MYANMAR INDONESIA BORNEO

TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAYS

ExperienceTravel Group

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EXPERIENCE TRAVEL GROUP

W H A T M A K E S A G R E A T

TA I LO R - M A D E H O L I DAY?

Every holiday these days claims to be tailor-made, bespoke or “designed around you”, but what does that really mean?At Experience Travel Group we spoke to some of our clients to find out what is important to you, the traveller. We came up with the following five elements; we feel that getting these right is crucial to creating an unforgettable journey.

stressful file in your inbox and lots of loose ends to tie up, your pre-holiday planning should consist of a lovely personalised and adjustable itinerary which allows you to focus on feeling relaxed and excited about the amazing adventure before you.

4. SUPPORTWhen travelling, complications can arise and you need to know you’re going to be looked after, no matter the circumstances.

Three important questions to ask are as follows

i Does the company I’m booking with have full financial protection in place? As a minimum a great travel company should offer ATOL and ABTA bonding. Affiliation with a kite mark of quality such as AITO (Association of Independent Tour Operators) is a nice bonus.

ii Is there someone on hand to answer my questions after I’ve booked? A dedicated consultant will be there for you throughout the process and be happy to answer your questions.

iii Does the company offer 24-hour in-country emergency support? A great travel company will offer steadfast in-country support should you need it. They will also offer the flexibility to alter your holiday should it be necessary.

5. THE EXPERIENCEYou’ve made it to your dream destination and now it’s time to experience it. Get under the skin of the country by exploring the undiscovered, the weird and wonderful, the people, the traditions, the festivals and delicious cuisine. A well-crafted experience ensures you not only visit the main highlights of a country, but that you do it in a distinctive way, leaving you with deeper insight and a more well-rounded experience than most other tourists. They say “travel is the one thing you can buy that makes you richer”, and experiencing another culture and country from a unique perspective, away from the well-trodden path, will give you memories and stories that will enrich your life for years to come. After all, experience is everything.

1. A GOOD EARThe best way to get the holiday you want is to talk to someone who wants to listen. A great travel consultant will ask you where you’ve travelled, how you travelled and what drew you to the destination of your choice. They’ll find out what you want from your holiday—adventure, relaxation, cultural insight.

You’ll be able to trust a great consultant to make the right suggestions, understand-ing your needs and limits to craft a dream holiday to suit.

2. EXPERTISEThe amount of information available on the internet is overwhelming and can be unreliable. Talking to a real expert who is passionate about this region, who has lived and breathed it themselves, will give you an extra perspective and an even deeper enthusiasm for your destination of choice. Experts know the hidden gems and the insider secrets and their zeal will ensure you get the best holiday. 3. EASEThe planning and anticipation should be fun and stress free. Leave the hard bits to the experts — their job is to oversee the logistics; they’ve done it many times before. From airlines to hotels, visas and tickets, a great consultant will take care of the boring bits efficiently. Instead of a

GOT A QUESTION?

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Experience Travel Group enhance the lives of

the world’s most passionate travellers.

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INTRODUCING

Cambodia

Built during the Khmer Empire, the Temples of Angkor near Siem Reap are the most astounding and popular ruins in Southeast Asia. But these stunning temples aren’t the only jewels in Cambodia’s crown; the country is brimming with fascinating sites that offer a glimpse into its enigmatic past.

As Cambodia recovers from a tumultuous 20th century, urban centres like Phnom Penh pulsate with a new energy and visitors are rediscovering sleepy coastal resorts like Kep and Kampot.

From the exclusive islands of the south to the remote forests of the north-east, call us on 020 3642 6359 and we will help you plan a balanced itinerary to explore its profound history and natural beauty.

“CAMBODIA IS BRIMMING WITH FASCINATING SITES THAT OFFER A GLIMPSE INTO ITS ENIGMATIC PAST”

Beng Mealea temple, nr Siem Reap

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QUAD BIKING AT SUNSET — SIEM REAP Leave the main roads behind and head out into the paddy fields on a private, guided quad bike tour. This is a great way to explore the scenic countryside at dusk with plenty of time to stop and interact with villagers as you pass through local com-munities.

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EXPERIENCE TRAVEL GROUP - CAMBODIACAMBODIA - EXPERIENCE TRAVEL GROUP

Cambodia has endless attractions but a visit to the magnificent Angkor temples is sure to be the main motivation for your holiday.

Since they are the impetus for most people’s visit to Cambodia, the temples can be busy with guides and coach tours jostling for prime photo locations at the main sites at certain times of the day. Experience Travel Group have worked closely with a veteran tour leader to construct 1 and 3-day signature tours at different times from the crowds, that allow you to explore the temples at your own pace against the flow.

We’re not going to give away all the secrets here, the route will always be changing and tailored to you, but perhaps you’ll visit Pre Rup temple at sunset when other tourists are swarming around Phnom Bhakong. Maybe you’ll eat a picnic breakfast at dawn in atmospheric Ta Phrom when everyone else is crowded at Angkor Wat, then cycle across to Angkor Wat when the others have gone back to their hotels for breakfast.

EXPERIENCE

ANGKORWITH ETG

DISTINCTIVE EXPERIENCES

THESE ARE FIVE OF OUR FAVOURITE WAYS TO EXPERIENCE CAMBODIA’S MANY HIGHLIGHTS; CALL US ON 020 3642 6359 FOR MANY MORE PERSONALISED SUGGESTIONS.

SEAFOOD IN KEP & KAMPOTThe sleepy towns of Kep and Kampot offer some of the best seafood in Southeast Asia. Visit the stilted, over-water shacks where the catch is cooked fresh as the fishing boats arrive. Try fried Kep crab in Kampot pepper sauce or the national favourite, Fish Amok.

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BAMBOO TRAIN IN BATTAMBANGExperience communal trans-port like a local with a trip on the bamboo train in Battam-bang. This classic rail journey, which ambles along well-worn tracks, is not only a unique off-the-beaten-path experience but an exciting way to see the lovely surrounding countryside.

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GIBBONS IN RATANAKIRI Travel through the rural villages and farmland of Cambodia’s Ratanakiri province before plunging into the region’s jungle, home to the exceptional northern yellow-cheeked gib-bon. Discovered in 2010, we offer the rare opportunity to see this endangered species in its natural habitat.

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CAMBODIA’S HISTORY – PHNOM PENHThe Khmer grandeur of the Roy-al Palace and relics from French Indochina set the tone on a guided tour of Phnom Penh, whilst a visit to Tuol Sleng Mu-seum is crucial to understanding what Cambodians lived through under Pol Pot. The museum is a sobering interlude but it puts thriving, present-day Cambodia into illuminating perspective.

04.

G OT A QUESTION?

Flights & Hotels Visas & Vaccinations Tipping & Currency

Or to discuss the best time to go

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NOTES FROM PHNOM PENH

Jake Corke

Very few westerners know Cambodia as well as Jake. He speaks fluent Khmer and has explored every nook and cranny of Cambodia having led countless tour groups around the country. He works as our local consultant making sure our experiences are as fresh and exciting as possible. Why do you keep going back to Cambodia? Cambodia casts a spell on those who are receptive to its magic. Mystical ruins tell of its ancient past, a tragic episode scars its recent history and a beautiful countryside maintains its traditions and spirit.

What’s the most interesting festival? Bon Om Touk (The Water Festival), usually celebrated in October or December. Boat races are held around the country from the Tonle Sap River to the Royal Palace.

What’s your favourite time of year? October and November. The rains end, everything is green, the fields are alive with local life and the humidity drops. June is good too, as the first rains have arrived and the heat of the hot season recedes.

Tell us a good local spot? The Riverside in Phnom Penh. After 5 pm locals come to play football, learn the latest Korean pop dances, or just mill around. When it gets busy you can retire to a balcony bar and enjoy the merriment with a sundowner.

What’s the defining characteristic of Cambodians? The people are the soul of this magical land. Their warmth, resilience and grace continue to mesmerise me.

Angkor Wat temple complex

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TAILOR IT - Common Questions

CAMBODIA EXPLORER

TAILOR IT

Kep

Cardamon Mountains

Battambang

Phnom Penh

SIEM REAP

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1. SIEM REAP TO PHNOM PENH: FLY OR ROAD?

When you factor in airport transfers and checked luggage the hour-long flight between Siem Reap

and Phnom Penh might be just as long as the five-hour road trip. Plus, the drive gives you the

opportunity to explore the countryside and villages along the way.

2. HOW LONG IN SIEM REAP?

If time allows, we recommend staying longer than the standard three nights. In addition to the many temples within the UNESCO site there’s Tonle Sap lake with fascinating floating villages like Kampong

Phluk, the excellent Landmine Museum, superb Khmer restaurants and, of course, the tranquillity of

your hotel to enjoy.

3. WHICH BEACH?

Cambodia has some superb beach and island resorts (see Song Saa page 26) with more on the way - especially on islands off the south coast.

But for an added adventure, you could cross into Thailand and boat over to the magnificent islands

of Koh Chang National Park.

This privately guided tour invites you to discover the alluring temples of Angkor before travelling through Cambodia’s astounding landscape and learning about its contrasting history in more depth.

After time exploring Angkor, your guide will take you off the tourist path to discover the lively markets and diverse architecture of Battambang. In Phnom Penh you’ll learn about Cambodia’s volatile past. The pace will slow and you’ll relax in the rural beauty of the Cardomom Mountains and on the tranquil shores of Kep, a former French Colonial resort that’s been restored to its former glory.

EXPLORE THE REMOTE NORTH-EASTLeave the typical tourist trail behind and explore some of Cambodia’s more remote regions. Swim in crater lakes, trek in dense forest and glimpse gibbons in the wild near Ratanakiri or boat on the Mekong and spot Irrawaddy dolphins near Kratie.

SAIL DOWN TO VIETNAMWatch the scenery change from country to country as you take a speedboat out of Phnom Penh and cross the border towards Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. Leisurely four-day cruises like the Pandaw explore the “rice bowl” region in-depth and take you all the way to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) in style.

CALL IN AT KAMPOTJust a stone’s throw from Kep is the co-lonial riverside town of Kampot. Enjoy the markets and dine on the famous pepper crab on a daytrip or stay a few nights and discover the Bokor National Park.

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Travel & Siem ReapBattambangPhnom PenhCardomom MountainsKep

Day Location

Favourite Hotel“4 Rivers (see

page 26): without doubt our favourite hotel we have ever

stayed in.”

Favourite Experience

“The personal accounts of our local guide in Phnom

Penh enhanced our understanding of

Cambodia’s history.”

Surprise Stop

“On approaching the Car-damom Mountains we were

stopped and presented with bananas – an offering to ensure good luck on the

journey.”

Guy De Boursac and Berit Scott

“We wanted to combine a full tour of Cambodia with a taster of Thailand and Sri Lanka. Experience Travel Group helped us put together a seamless tour of all three fascinating countries.

Aside from the incredible architecture and astounding history, one of the highlights of Cambodia for us was the delicious food. We loved it when our driver stopped off on road journeys to let us taste delicious and authentic Khmer street food. We even tried deep-fried spiders at a local market en route to Phnom Penh!”

THE TRAVELLER S’ TALES

ITINERARY PLANNING

CAMBODIAWITH ETG

This page focuses on one of our favourite ways to tour Cambodia. It’s followed up with a handful of ways you could ‘tailor it’ to suit your own timescale and personal travel style. Call us on 020 3642 6359; we create hand-crafted itineraries tailor-made for you.

Street scene, Phnom Penh

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WE VERY MUCH WELCOME VISITORS TO OUR OFFICES. PLEASE CALL AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT: +44 (0)20 3642 6359 7 PRESCOTT PLACE, LONDON, SW4 6BS INFO@EXPERIENCETRAVELGROUP.COM WWW.EXPERIENCETRAVELGROUP.COM

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SHINTA MANI— Siem Riep

This Bill Bensley-designed courtyard-style hotel is within walking distance of the town centre and not only offers epic service, with touches like complimentary ice cream around the relaxing pool area, but it’s also heavily invested in the local community and sustainable tourism.

GOVERNOR’S HOUSE — Phnom Penh

This traditional colonial-style mansion is wonderfully located within walking distance of the river and main tourist sites of Phnom Penh. But with only 12 rooms, a peaceful courtyard and pool, it still manages to feel intimate.

4 RIVERS FLOATING LODGE — Cardomom Mountains

An utterly unique art deco mansion with an oceanfront view and beautiful pool and gardens, Knai Bang Chatt offers a laid-back atmosphere. The restaurant at the adjacent sailing club and the nearby crab market ensure that you won’t get hungry!

Located in the middle of the jungle, 4 Rivers consists of luxury tent-style rooms suspended over the river. Proximity to nature means it’s great for everything from jungle walks to kayaking, and its seclusion means you’re guaranteed a very peaceful stay.

KNAI BANG CHATT

— Kep

A rural riverside location and traditional stilted cabins are coupled with fantastic excursions to explore the countryside by foot, kayak or swimming. The relaxed mood and freshly cooked Khmer food only add to the familiar atmosphere.

CHAMPA LODGE — nr Kampot

Off Cambodia’s coast sit two tiny islands that are connected by boardwalk to create a luxury retreat. The villas are exclusive and private yet in total harmony with the surroundings. The all-inclusive package is outstanding and includes bespoke marine safaris, cultural experiences and the option to dine as and when you please.

SONG SAA — Koh Rong Archipelago

H A N D - P I C K E D

HOT ELSCambodia

CAMBODIA - EXPERIENCE TRAVEL GROUP

The distinct feature of Cambodia’s accommodation is the variety of small, atmospheric hotels found in its towns and cities. These are neatly complemented by original retreats in rural locations and sophisticated luxury resorts on the coast and islands.

At ETG we’re dedicated to uncovering hidden urban gems and remote havens on your behalf. We only have room for a selection of our favourite hotels here; call us on 020 3642 6359 for more.