This morning we’ll take a street art city tour by tuk tuk. As we wind through the city’s frenetic streets, we’ll view murals and street art from the top artists in Cambodia. Afterwards, we’ll rest and unwind over lunch at a local Khmer restaurant. In the afternoon, we’ll head to the local art district to see Khmer traditional painters and sculptors, which will provide a sense of how the arts have continued to develop since the Khmer Rouge genocide. This evening, we’ll wander along the lively riverfront, which boasts a variety of dining options. Feel free to stay and linger into the night, or head back to the hotel for an early night’s rest.

We’ll begin the day on a somber note with a guided tour of Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. This critical historical site provides necessary insight into the devastating Khmer Rouge genocide, and also creates context for the importance of Cambodia’s recent art revival. We’ll then travel to a local Buddhist pagoda and monastery, where we’ll have the opportunity to speak with a monk about Buddhist traditions and practices in the region, some unique to Cambodia. Following lunch at a favorite local spot, the afternoon will be yours to rest and relax. (Be sure to check out the hotel’s rooftop pool and bar.) We’ll reconvene in the evening at the National Museum for an Apsara dance performance, which showcases the many traditional styles—and colorful regalia—of Cambodian dance.

We'll begin the morning with a visit to Open Studio Cambodia, a project founded by your guide, Lauren, to support emerging Cambodian artists in Kampot Province. Some of the artists will join us to share their life stories, which have served as the inspiration for their work. One of the artists, Chan Phoun, will speak about how an occupational accident as a child laborer led him to harness the power of art for self-improvement and rehabilitation. Chan has been kind enough to invite us to his family home on a nearby rice farm, where we'll join him for a traditional lunch. In the afternoon, we’ll continue to a local pepper farm that's working to revive the lost art of cultivating the world’s finest black pepper, in addition to other herbs and spices, following decades of war. From here, you can sit and cool off with some ice cream, take an optional tour and tasting, or stroll back to town through the picturesque salt flats and enjoy the rest of the evening on your own.

Returning to Phnom Penh, we’ll stop to visit a local shaman in a neighboring village. During our visit, he’ll explain and demonstrate shamanistic rituals commonly practiced throughout contemporary Khmer society, and help us to understand the key roles they play in the everyday lives of millions of Khmers. Following a ritual demonstration, anyone interested can have their future foretold and ask questions. We’ll then continue to Phnom Penh (around 3.5 hours), and we'll enjoy a late lunch once we arrive. After checking into our hotel, the rest of the day is yours to relax or explore. 

This morning after breakfast, we’ll take the one-hour domestic flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, we’ll check into our hotel and have some time to get settled and explore the area. Later in the afternoon, you'll have the option to attend a French-style circus arts performance at the Phare Ponleu Selpak Big Top just outside Siem Reap—a magical performance full of acrobatics, variations on traditional dramas, and live music. Ticket sales support a reputable visual and performing arts school in Battambang.

This morning, we’ll leave the hotel early enough to catch the sunrise over the ancient temples of Angkor Wat. (It’s well worth it, and also helps to beat the crowds and the intense heat.) During a guided tour of the vast Angkor Wat complex, we’ll stop and explore four temples: Angkor Wat (the big main temple), Bayon (Angkor Thom), Terrace of the Elephants, and Ta Prom. Keep in mind that this will involve a considerable amount of walking and standing over the course of about five hours; bring good walking shoes, lightweight clothing that covers your knees and shoulders, and sun protection. In the afternoon, we’ll return to our hotel for a chance to relax and freshen up. We’ll meet back up for happy hour at Miss Wong’s Cocktail Bar in the bustling central area of Siem Reap. Take a walk around after dark for shopping, street vendors, vibrant nightlife, and great people watching.

This morning, we’ll take a short drive to a quiet countryside location, home to one of only two lotus textile production houses in the world. Coined as “vegan silk,” lotus fiber is spun by hand by teams of local women into high-quality, sustainable fabrics. After a showroom visit, we’ll have lunch in town. On our final afternoon, we’ll visit the home studio of the internationally acclaimed couple, Svay Sareth and Yim Maline. They’ll speak to us about their individual installation work, durational performance, drawings, and sculptures. From there, we can gallery hop and get a feel for the thriving contemporary art scene before enjoying a farewell happy hour on a local rooftop.

Our time together ends this morning in Siem Reap. From here, we invite you to extend your stay and explore further on your own, or catch flights home from Siem Reap International Airport (REP). Until next time!