This trip is operated by The Different Travel Company (ATOL 6706) for Arthur Rank Hospice Charity (Registered Charity No: 1133354). The flights in this brochure are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.caa.co.uk. Information Pack Arthur Rank Hospice Charity Cambodia Trek and Community Project Challenge 10 th – 20 th October 2020 Cambodia The Kingdom of Cambodia is a country in Southeast Asia that shares borders with Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city. Siem Reap, a city near the famous ruins of Angkor Wat, is Cambodia's main destination for tourism. Evidence of Cambodia’s darker, more recent past is captured in deeply moving sites such as the Toul Sleng Museum and the Killing Fields, which tell the story of the genocide under the Khmer Rouge. Agriculture has long been the most important sector to the Cambodian economy, with around 59% of the population relying on agriculture for their livelihood (with rice being the principal crop). Other important industries include garments, construction and tourism. Siem Reap and Angkor Wat Siem Reap is a vibrant city combining modern structures with old colonial buildings and classic Khmer architecture. It is home of the world famous UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor, located only 5.5km north of Siem Reap, which includes Cambodia’s main tourist attraction, the magnificent Angkor Wat (wat means temple in Khmer). The Angkor temple complex is the largest religious monument in the world, and the first glimpses of this incredible site are rivalled by only a few other sites on earth. The site of Angkor Wat stretches 402 acres and comprises a central structure within a walled outer enclosure, set on a large space of open ground surrounded by an impressive moat. It is understood to have been built in the early 12th Century by the Khmer King Suryavarman and was dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Its purpose was to be the King’s temple, and his mausoleum upon his death. The temple of Angkor Wat represents the mythical sacred peak of Mount Meru, and is adorned with images of the deities believed to dwell there. The Angkor site includes the following popular monuments: The South Gate, the Bayon, the Baphuon, Phimeanakas, the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. Giant trees, rising towards the sky, growing out of the ruins and a jungle-like atmosphere, have made of the ‘tree temple’ Ta Phrom one of Angkor’s most popular temples among the visitors.
Transcript
This trip is operated by The Different Travel Company (ATOL 6706) for Arthur Rank Hospice Charity (Registered Charity No: 1133354). The flights in this brochure are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.caa.co.uk.
Information Pack
Arthur Rank Hospice Charity
Cambodia Trek and Community Project Challenge 10th – 20th October 2020
Cambodia
The Kingdom of Cambodia is a country in Southeast Asia that shares borders with Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city. Siem Reap, a city near the famous ruins of Angkor Wat, is Cambodia's main destination for tourism. Evidence of Cambodia’s darker, more recent past is captured in deeply moving sites such as the Toul Sleng Museum and the Killing Fields, which tell the story of the genocide under the Khmer Rouge. Agriculture has long been the most important sector to the Cambodian economy, with around 59% of the population relying on agriculture for their livelihood (with rice being the principal crop). Other important industries include garments, construction and tourism. Siem Reap and Angkor Wat
Siem Reap is a vibrant city combining modern structures with old colonial buildings and classic Khmer architecture. It is home of the world famous UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor, located only 5.5km north of Siem Reap, which includes Cambodia’s main tourist attraction, the magnificent Angkor Wat (wat means temple in Khmer). The Angkor temple complex is the largest religious monument in the world, and the first glimpses of this incredible site are rivalled by only a few other sites on earth. The site of Angkor Wat stretches 402 acres and comprises a central structure within a walled outer enclosure, set on a large space of open ground surrounded by an impressive moat. It is understood to have been built in the early 12th Century by the Khmer King Suryavarman and was dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Its purpose was to be the King’s temple, and his mausoleum upon his death. The temple of Angkor Wat represents the mythical sacred peak of Mount Meru, and is adorned with images of the deities believed to dwell there. The Angkor site includes the following popular monuments: The South Gate, the Bayon, the Baphuon, Phimeanakas, the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. Giant trees, rising towards the sky, growing out of the ruins and a jungle-like atmosphere, have made of the ‘tree temple’ Ta Phrom one of Angkor’s most popular temples among the visitors.
This trip is operated by The Different Travel Company (ATOL 6706) for Arthur Rank Hospice Charity (Registered Charity No: 1133354). The flights in this brochure are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.caa.co.uk.
Information Pack
Trip overview This spectacular 5-day trek is a wonderful way to experience Cambodia. The route takes us through rice paddies, jungles and traditional villages, encountering local people, ancient temples and monasteries along the way. With mountains, rivers, Buddhist sites, waterfalls and farmland, this jungle adventure offers a unique glimpse into Cambodian life and culminates in an arrival at the magnificent temple complex at Angkor. We will explore this staggering site before continuing with the project phase of our challenge: two days spent assisting at a community project near Siem Reap.
Project
We will spend two days assisting on a local community project in Knapor Village, travelling there each day from our hotel in Siem Reap (approx. 45 mins. drive). This is an area of significant poverty. The activities we will be involved with will vary depending on the most urgent need in the community at the time but previous groups have improved facilities at a local school, community centre and even local homes. Depending on our project, we will be assisting with tasks such as light construction, refurbishment or decorating work depending on the need at the time. No experience is necessary and there are tasks anyone can get involved in.
Difficulty and terrain This trek is graded as moderately challenging. You will trek along established routes through villages, farmland and jungle with some short sections of road, some steep sections and a few hills. You can expect rocky and uneven terrain underfoot and possibly slippery and muddy ground, especially after the rain. Regular breaks are taken but long days are inevitable. It is essential that you are fit enough to trek for at least 8 hours at a time for consecutive days; don't expect it to be easy. You are required and expected to train in preparation for this and your training should include hill walking and trekking up and down gradients. The Different Travel Company has the right to refuse anyone who they feel is not fit enough for the challenge for the health and safety of the individual, and the group.
This trip is operated by The Different Travel Company (ATOL 6706) for Arthur Rank Hospice Charity (Registered Charity No: 1133354). The flights in this brochure are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.caa.co.uk.
Information Pack
What is the climate like? You can expect highs of 30°C during the day and lows of around 26°C at night. Weather conditions will vary but in general you will experience hot but cloudy days with occasional short rain downpours and high humidity. It’s important to be prepared for all weather conditions and temperatures. Please note: the temperatures and conditions above are historically accurate however, climate change impacts the seasons so you may experience uncharacteristic conditions which are out of our control. Should this happen the guide will assess the situation and make decisions to ensure the best enjoyment and ultimate safety of the group as a whole. Who accompanies us? The trek is accompanied by local professional English-speaking guides who have an excellent knowledge of the region. You will also be supported by a team of local support staff and drivers and a UK Different Travel Company tour manager.
Where will we stay? You will stay in a hotel in Siem Reap for a night at the start of the trip and four nights at the end. During the trek you will stay in traditional stilt house homestay accommodation for four nights (the entire group stays together in a village), of which one night we stay in the pagoda hall of Wat Preah Kral, a Buddhist monastery. This hall is separated away from the monks. The trek accommodation has simple bathroom facilities with cold water showers and Asian-style squat toilets. Hotel accommodation has en-suite bathroom facilities.
What about meals? Breakfast, lunch and dinner, is provided throughout the trek as specified on the itinerary. Tables, chairs, plates, mugs and cutlery are all provided and you may be able to purchase drinks at the homestay depending on availability (payable locally). Medical Declaration A medical form must be completed by everyone at the time of registering, and all pre-existing conditions, medications used and other medical issues must be noted and, if requested, confirmed by your GP. Is there an age limit? You must be aged 18 or above to join this trip. It may be possible for you to participate if you are 16 or 17 years old but you must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. There is no upper age limit.
This trip is operated by The Different Travel Company (ATOL 6706) for Arthur Rank Hospice Charity (Registered Charity No: 1133354). The flights in this brochure are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.caa.co.uk.
Information Pack
Trip cost £295 registration fee payable at time of booking then you are asked to fundraise at least £3,995 for Arthur Rank Hospice Charity. A self-funded option is also available which comprises a £295 registration fee plus your self-funded trip cost balance of £2,020 plus you are asked to fundraise £1,975 for Arthur Rank
Hospice Charity. You will have full support of the fundraising team. What is included? Return flights from London
(including baggage*, current airport taxes and fuel supplements), transfers and transport in Cambodia, accommodation as specified, meals as specified, local guides and support crew on trek, trek permits, entrance fees (including Angkor Wat), project materials and co-ordination, UK Different Travel tour manager. *airline baggage allowance will be advised closer to the time of departure. Trip Does Not Include: Personal expenses (such as drinks, souvenirs, etc.), any vaccinations required, travel insurance, tips (approx. £20-25 per person), personal trek kit etc.
ATOL Protection.
This trip is operated by The Different Travel Company (ATOL 6706) for Arthur Rank Hospice Charity (Registered Charity No: 1133354). The flights in this brochure are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.caa.co.uk.
N.B. The itinerary may change due to weather conditions, the ability of the group and so on. We will do our best to keep to the itinerary but we cannot be held responsible for changes that occur outside of our control. In all circumstances your local guides and Different Travel tour manager will have the final say in the interest of the group’s health and safety.
This trip is operated by The Different Travel Company (ATOL 6706) for Arthur Rank Hospice Charity (Registered Charity No: 1133354). The flights in this brochure are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.caa.co.uk.
Information Pack
Itinerary Day 1-2 (Sat 10-Sun 11 October 2020): London – Siem Reap
Depart London on an indirect overnight flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival in Siem Reap we transfer to our hotel to check in and freshen up before a group dinner and a briefing on the week ahead. Meals: Dinner
Day 3 (Mon 12 October 2020): Siem Reap – Kulen Mountain - Thma Chrounh We set off this morning for the drive to Phnom Kulen (Kulen Mountain), one of the most sacred mountains in Cambodia, and a National Park. It was originally called Mahendraparvata and was where Jayavarman II (a 9th Century king) declared himself King of Kings, making Phnom Kulen the birthplace of the Khmer Empire, unifying local overlords after many years of fighting. From here we trek uphill from a monastery through dense forest, enjoying beautiful mountain views and passing through small villages and farms to reach the village of Thma Chrounh where we stay in a local homestay. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. 12km / approx. 3 hours walking.
Day 4 (Tue 13 October 2020): Thma Chrounh– Preah Ang Thom Our trek continues through small villages and lush jungle, passing hidden ruins of ancient temples along the way. This afternoon we reach Preah Ang Thom, a 16th century monastery famous for its giant reclining Buddha. We stop for lunch by a cascading waterfall before continuing to our homestay a short walk away. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. 22km / approx. 6 hours walking.
Day 5 (Wed 14 October 2020): Preah Ang Thom –Srah Damrei - Wat Preah Kral
After breakfast we set off into the jungle again and uncover the peaceful and hidden site of Srah Damrei, meaning ‘elephant pond’. This recently rediscovered place is hidden deep in the forest and is home to impressive life-size carvings of an elephant and a number of lions that are over 1000 years old. After lunch by a meandering stream we continue to Preah Kral monastery, where we spend the night in the pagoda. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. 14km / approx. 5 hours walking. Day 6 (Thu 15 October 2020): Wat Preah Kral– Ta Penh We head downhill this morning through the jungle to Phumi Sorsey, a small village where we stop for lunch. We then continue through paddy fields, farms and other small villages before reaching Ta Penh, where there is time to meet the local villagers before spending the night in a homestay. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. 22km / approx. 8 hours walking.
This trip is operated by The Different Travel Company (ATOL 6706) for Arthur Rank Hospice Charity (Registered Charity No: 1133354). The flights in this brochure are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.caa.co.uk.
Information Pack
Day 7 (Fri 16 October 2020): Ta Penh – Anh Chanh – Angkor Wat
Our final day of trekking sees us walking across a red soil path through the paddy fields, before eventually reaching the world-famous Angkor Archaeological Park where we will explore the most famous of its temples, Angkor Wat, a visually spectacular, massive three-tiered pyramid, 65 metres high, and surrounded by a moat of more than 5km in length. After exploring the temple complex we will transfer to our hotel in Siem Reap. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. 18km / approx. 6 hours walking.
Days 8-9 (Sat 17 – Sun 18 October 2020): Knapor Village Community Project
Spend two days assisting on a local community project in Knapor Village. You will stay at a hotel in Siem Reap and transfer to the project each day (approx. 45 mins). Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 10 (Mon 19 October 2020): Angkor Today is our final chance to explore the mighty temples of Angkor including a visit to the famous Bayon, a temple adorned with carvings of 216 smiling faces and incorporating over 11,000 figures. We will also visit the iconic ancient tree-covered site of Ta Prohm, well known for the trees growing out of the ruins, creating a very atmospheric experience. This evening we will enjoy a farewell dinner. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 11-12 (Tue 20 - Wed 21 October 2020) Siem Reap - London
Depending on flight times there may be time for some further sightseeing in Siem Reap. Perhaps take a wander to the old market which sells everything from fresh fish to household items. Transfer to the airport for the return flight to London, which may arrive on Wednesday, depending on flight schedules. Meals: Breakfast.
This trip is operated by The Different Travel Company (ATOL 6706) for Arthur Rank Hospice Charity (Registered Charity No: 1133354). The flights in this brochure are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.caa.co.uk.
Information Pack
Kit list
ESSENTIALS HYGIENE OPTIONAL
E-tickets + pre-departure info Shampoo + conditioner Video camera + charger
*You are recommended to wear your hiking boots on the plane, or carry them in your hand baggage in the unlikely event of your checked baggage being delayed or going missing.
PLEASE NOTE: This list is just a guideline and is not exhaustive – it does not take into account your personal
preference or requirements so please adapt this list accordingly. If you have any questions about anything on this packing list, please contact [email protected] for more information.
