Come with us on this unique vegan travel opportunity. Learn about Cambodia and Khmer culture, explore Angkor Wat and its ancient civilization, all while eating delicious vegan food.
Itinerary
Day 1: PHNOM PENH
Day 2: PHNOM PENH
Day 3: PHNOM PENH
Day 4: BATTAMBANG
Day 5: BATTAMBANG
Day 6: BATTAMBANG
Day 7: BATTAMBANG
- Check into our boutique guesthouse, complete with an art gallery and 100% vegan restaurant!
- Detailed Orientation Meeting where you will get to know your fellow travelers and adventure leaders better as we discuss the adventure ahead and have our Introduction to Khmer Culture, Etiquette & Language, and Cambodia’s History.
- Experience our first Khmer tuk-tuk ride from our vegan guest house to the confluence of the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers.
- Relaxing riverside walk along the Tonle Sap River where locals end their day eating and drinking with friends, exercising, and chilling out, we’ll join in the festivities with some local drinks and accidentally vegan snacks.
- Hop aboard a riverboat where we’ll get to see the Phnom Penh skyline from an alternative viewpoint whilst cruising on the river. Whilst onboard, we’ll enjoy a vegan feast with multiple varieties of mock meats and plenty of local vegetables, washed down with a selection of ice-cold drinks.
Day 2: PHNOM PENH
- Prepare for the day over our first Khmer vegan breakfast, accompanied by fresh juices and Cambodian coffee.
- Visit the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum with our friends, who will try to help you understand not only about the troubling times that Cambodia has faced, but also as importantly, about how the healing and recovery process has enabled the nation to move forward.
- Meet a local family who will welcome us to their vegan restaurant in the heart of Phnom Penh where we will enjoy a selection of traditional Khmer dishes which have been veganized.
- Explore Phsar Toul Tompoung with our friends, discover and taste the accidentally vegan Cambodian dishes and snacks along the way, and wander the local neighborhood streets with a long-time resident of the capital who will share inspiring stories of present-day locals, their livelihoods, and their culture.
- Just a short walk from our hotel we will be hosted for dinner by our Khmer friend at her vegetarian restaurant where we will be joined by some of our Phnom Penh friends for a ‘vegan meet-up”.
- Before this traditional Cambodian dinner, complete with veganized Khmer culinary classics, we will be taught Khmer eating etiquette, teaching us about what each dish is, how to eat it properly, and as importantly – how to eat as a family together politely.
- Vegan Meals Included Today: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner & Drinks
Day 3: PHNOM PENH
- A leisurely walking tour from our guesthouse to the Phnom Penh riverside area visiting Preahyouvong Pagoda, which has been engulfed by rapid development but still stands proudly at the heart of the community.
- Our local guide and friend will introduce us to the area around Independence Monument and Sihanouk Statue, before passing through Wat Botum Park en route to the Royal Palace, home of the Silver Pagoda.
- Lunch will be a veritable vegan feast as guests of one of the leading local vegetarian restaurants in Phnom Penh.
- An introduction to the seasonal, tropical fruits of Cambodia (including a tasting session) before heading back out for the evening, taking in the sunset in the bustling Royal Palace Park.
- Enjoy the best vegan Indian food in Phnom Penh! Who doesn’t love a taste of vegan India on their travels? But it’s about much more than just that, because, Indian cultural influences in the region date back to ancient times when Hinduism arrived in Southeast Asia brought by early Indian traders, merchants, and monks, among others. Some of Southeast Asia’s largest kingdoms (the Khmer empires included) were local Hindu Kingdoms whose system of government, language, scripts (Khmer script is a direct descendent of the South Indian Pallava script of the Pallava Dynasty of South India), and other cultural aspects had heavy Indian influences.
Day 4: BATTAMBANG
- Enjoy our Cambodian train trip as we wave goodbye to Phnom Penh, and make our way to Battambang taking in scenic views of rice fields, palm trees, villages, and pagodas!
- Be welcomed by our hosts with local street food snacks and ice-cold drinks before heading to your rooms or even straight to the inviting pool!
- After a long day of travel, we’ve arranged a movie night complete with popcorn and vegan burgers. Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten: Cambodia’s Lost Rock and Roll is a thought-provoking yet thoroughly entertaining film that will further introduce Khmer culture and life through music during the pre-Khmer Rouge era..
Day 5: BATTAMBANG
- Enjoy our first poolside vegan breakfast, designed especially for us at our charming boutique hotel in Battambang.
- Learn about veganized Khmer cuisine with a hands-on cooking demo and lesson, during which we will be creating our own delicious lunch
- Be the first-ever tour group to learn about Buddhism in this special lesson as guests of the Preah Sihanouk Raja Buddhist University of Battambang.
- Our time at the Buddhist University will include guided meditation, reflection, and an in-depth tour of the pagoda.
- Heritage walk through the historical lanes, boulevards, backstreets, and back alleys of old Battambang. With its unique history reflected in its architecture dating from the 19th to early 20th century, Battambang is estimated to be home to over 800 structures dating from the French colonial era all the way to the Sangkum Reastr Niyum period, which came shortly after the country’s independence in the mid-1950s.
Day 6: BATTAMBANG
- Enjoy a full day as guests of the inspirational teachers, students, and team at Phare Ponleu Selpak where we’ll learn about the work they do to help and uplift communities and youth through their unique educational and cultural development and preservation programs.
- Lunch and dinner will be specially prepared and nutritionally balanced vegan meals, that have been kindly created by the chef and nutritionist based at Phare Ponleu Selpak.
- Whilst at Phare Ponleu Selpak we’ll take part in a series of workshops, including local music and instruments, and live performance and circus skills. Anyone fancy running away with the circus?
Day 7: BATTAMBANG
- Travel by bike, foot, and tuk-tuk through rural Cambodia to witness, experience, and begin to understand rural Khmer life with our trio of local long-time residents of Battambang.
- Tasty traditional home-cooked family dinner with a local family who have veganized their favorite family recipes just for us.
- Learn from local families about their craft of preparing rice paper and dried bananas, which we will enjoy, as their guests in their homes for a tasty vegan Khmer lunch.
- Enjoy a family-style meal as guests of the family who run the longest-standing vegetarian restaurant in Battambang. Three generations of this vegetarian family have been serving veggie and vegan food to the locals for more than 25 years, for us they will prepare special vegan versions of some of their favorite and best-selling dishes.
Day 8: CAMBODIA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
Day 9: CAMBODIA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
- Our final Cambodian ‘road trip’ sees us head deep into the countryside.
- Spend time with the inspirational team from Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary, during which we will learn as much as we can about their project to protect the Cambodian countryside from deforestation, development, and illegal hunting.
- We just know you’re going to love our vegan buffet-style meals at Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary which offers a subtle blend of Khmer and Thai cuisines which is due to the proximity to the Thai border and also that some of the kitchen teams are from Thailand!
- The chance to watch “Love & Bananas: An Elephant Story” whilst staying as guests at one of the projects that are supported by the Save Elephant Foundation.
- Our friend and the knowledgeable host will be watching the documentary with us and will be on hand to answer all of your questions!
Day 9: CAMBODIA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will continue with the Khmer / Thai fusion from the talented team at Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Jungle walks where we will learn about the fauna and flora that call this protected sanctuary home.
- Spend time observing the trio of resident elephants, in their own environment and understand their stories.
- Get ‘hands-on’ and lend our support to a variety of essential tasks that need to be undertaken at Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary including preparing the elephants (and other resident rescued wildlife) meals.
- Our final dinner will be another ‘hands-on’ experience as we work alongside the kitchen team to prepare and create a vegan feast for everyone!
Day 10: SIEM REAP
Day 11: SIEM REAP
Day 12: SIEM REAP
Day 13: SIEM REAP
Day 14: SIEM REAP to PHNOM PENH
- Spend time in a village where we will visit some of the projects that we support. Whilst there, enjoy a vegan lunch with our hosts who live in the village.
- Check in to our home in Siem Reap an absolutely stunning boutique luxury resort located in the leafy old-French quarter in the heart of town, whose charitable foundation does some excellent work in the local community.
- Enjoy a private and personal presentation of the remarkable “Temples Decoded” show, in the shadows of Wat Athvea, a 12th-century Hindu temple on the outskirts of Siem Reap.
- For our first meal in Siem Reap we will enjoy a vegan feast at a very vegan-friendly local restaurant that donates 50% of its profits to its staff team and an educational NGO. Not only will the meal be delicious but it’s always good to know that we are supporting organizations and projects that go above and beyond to make a difference.
Day 11: SIEM REAP
- Visit the Preah Norodom Sihanouk-Angkor Museum where exhibitions of objects found during an archaeological excavation in the park are displayed, this will begin our introduction to the Angkor Archaeological Park.
- Begin to explore the ancient capital of Angkor and the magnificent temple complex that is home to the iconic Angkor Wat via local tuk-tuk. You’ll be introduced to what these stunning structures all mean, both then, and now, understanding their stories and their greater reflection of the communities they were built amongst.
- Continue to enjoy our home in Siem Reap an absolutely stunning boutique resort located in the leafy old-French quarter in the heart of town, whose charitable foundation does some excellent work in the local community.
- Learn about a local foundation dedicated to helping Cambodians overcome poverty at their sustainable community farm, projects, and schools in the village of Banteay Srey.
- Sit down with a super talented chef at his veggie garden paradise in a finely converted traditional Khmer home for a special vegan fusion feast he is preparing for us.
- Experience Phare, The Cambodian Circus, in their big top on the edge of town with a special evening where we’ll enjoy a pre-show Cambodian street food reception with pre-show entertainment, followed by an inspiring circus performance that continues the story of the people and history of Cambodia.
Day 12: SIEM REAP
- Learn about the history of the hotel that we call home, and more about the excellent foundation that they have created.
- Further adventures exploring the temples of Angkor via tuk-tuk with our excellent local guide.
- What promises to be a memorable vegan lunch with one of our favorite chefs that we will be involved in the creation of.
- Enjoy some ‘downtime’ and make the most of our luxury boutique resort home, and relax next to the stunning swimming pool.
- This is the only evening where we have left the evening free for you to explore, but don’t worry we’ve got plenty of suggestions as to what you can do and where you can eat!
Day 13: SIEM REAP
- Continue to explore the temples of Angkor on our final full day in Cambodia and get to witness both sunrise and sunset in unique and memorable locations.
- Enjoy a delicious vegan lunch at an inspirational NGO hospitality school that is run by a wonderful vegan couple. The vegan tasting menu that we will enjoy was originally created for Paul, his wife, and their friends for Christmas dinner last year!
- Join one of your hosts Paul, and his (vegan) family and (vegan) friends, who all call Siem Reap their home, for a farewell gala dinner in a vegan-friendly locally owned restaurant in Siem Reap. Enjoy home-cooked and family-style veganised versions of classic Khmer cuisine, the perfect way to remember Cambodia.
Day 14: SIEM REAP to PHNOM PENH
- Special Taste of Cambodia vegan fusion breakfast.
- Special vegan picnic lunch packed.
- Airport transfer from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh or International Airport.
Tour Includes
Not Included
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