Itirenary:
- Day 1 - Upon arrival at Siem Reap International Airport, transfer to hotel.
Free activities for the rest of the day.
- Day 2 - Golf - Play one round of 18-hole golf at the Sofitel Royal Angkor Golf & Spa Resort.
Free activities for the rest of the day.
- Day 3 - Guided-tour to the Rolous Group of temples including the 9th-century-erected Preah Ko temple, Bakheng, the
largest and the most complex temple of the Rolous group, and the four-brick-tower temple of Lo Lei. After lunch, head to
Small Circuit to witness the Prasat Kravan (Cardamon sanctuary), where we will experience the stunning image of the eight-armed
Vishnu in the largest central tower. Next is Banteay Kdei, a massive Buddist temple with four concentric walls, Srah Srang (Royal
Bath), Ta Prohm, which is best known for its originally charming look, with trees and roots intertwined with the carvings and
chambers of the buildings. After that east of Angkor Thom, stand the Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda that are known as the twin
temples, and to Takeo, the only temple never completed and yet is one among the finest. Finally, a fine dinner in Siem Reap
town.
- Day 4 - Tour Angkor Thom - Enjoy spectacular view of sunrise at Angkor Wat. Tour the most popular South Gate of
Angkor Thom's before going to Angkor Thom (the temple) which was built by Angkor's greatest king, Jayavarman VII. The major
attraction of Angkor Thom is the Bayon, whose exact function and symbolism is still unknown until now. Then Bapoun,
which is one of the most spectacular of Angkor’s temples in its heyday, the Terrace of Leper King, another mysterious site to
find out and to the Terrace of Elephants that once served as the base for the king's grand audience hall for public ceremonies.
Finally, visit one of the World's Seven Wonders, Angkor Wat, which is considered the most important archaeological
site in Southeast Asia. Tour ends with a relaxing view from the Phnom Bakheng Hill before dining at the local restaurants.
- Day 5 - Tour Great Lake - Enjoy sunrise at Angkor Wat again before breakfast at the hotel. After that head to Pre Rup
(the pyramid-shaped temple) then to East Mebon, Ta Som, Neak Pean, Preah Khan and Baksei Chamkrong that all represent the unique
feature of Angkorian sites. The afternoon is the time to experience boat trip on the Great Lake Tonle Sap, which is renowned for
its basin of fresh water fish (10 tons/ 1Square Km in the 60's). Visitors may also view the fresh water exhibition where we can
see various kinds of fish in Tonle Sap Lake before continuing to visit the Floating Village. After enjoying the sunset at Phnom
Krom, we dine out at a restaurant with Khmer Traditional Dance Show
- Day 6 - Free activities or shopping until time for the airport for your departure flight.
Hotels include:
- Raffles Grand Hotel
- Sokha Angkor Hotel
- Prince D'Angkor Hotel
- Khemara Angkok Hotel |
Other services include:
- Hotel daily breakfast
- Tours and local transfers on fully air-conditioned luxury vehicles.
- English speaking guide
|
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Some Information on Cambodia
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A Brief Update on Cambodia - October 2007:
If your impression of Cambodia is that of a place of unending wars, platform for East-West conflicts, long and
unforgettable sufferrings of the killing fields, landmines, famine and helpless people aimlessly wondering in their
own land with the ubiquitous blues of the EU logos ever present in the background, you are not entirely wrong and,
no thanks to the media. Someone responded to GOLFnTours' entry for a promotional advertisement in a forum on golf
in Cambodia by saying one would likely run the risk of getting his b**** blown off walking the fairways! Well, so
much for business for us, and again no thanks to the forumite's unhelpful comment borne out of ignorance!
If there were b**** likely to be blown off it would have happenned there long before it became a fairway. Hopefully that
did not have to happen and was not at all necessary in the long hard climb back to normalcy, for the country and
its people did not wait for outsiders to finish deliberating if the place was safe for a visit.
Matter of fact, if you had recently visited the country you would surely agree that much of what's so bleakly
painted of the country has more or less, at least in the writer's view, been put to place, except for perhaps a
thing or two, like the number game among the powers to decide who should sit on the bench of judges should an
international trial court be held to try the war criminals, who are perhaps quite happily dying of old age one
after another but certainly faster than the simple number of judges could ever be agreed upon. Other than that, what you
see is what you get, just like anywhere else in the same stage of development and fortunes (or the total lack
of it)!
Cambodia sits on the Gulf of Thailand. If you must recall, some foreign backpackers were kidnapped for ransom during
the dark days of the Khmer Rouge at the famous beach of Kompongsom or Sihanoukville and later killed in the bodged
attempt to settle on the terms for release. Otherwise, this is what I found on internet search:
"...and so you will find many unspoilt beaches as well as coral islands basking just offshore in the warm
tropical sea. A day at the beach can be followed by a sumptuous meal of fresh seafood at a restaurant on beachfront.
Cambodia can also boast many rivers offering unique tourist experiences and for those who want to get close to
nature, the forest reserves and parks offer hikers the opportunity to enjoy luxuriant flora..."
No name check was done on author but it certainly could not possibly be the forumite fearing the fairways.
You could do it only once!
A Brief History of Cambodia:
The modern day Khmer began from the Hindu Kingdom of Funan in the First Century A.D. Much of its modern day customs
and languages evolved from this period. Distinct characteristics
of that period still remain today. These features can be recognized in ancient buildings, farming methods and
the style of the present day clothing, just to name a few.
The State of Funan was situated in today's southern province of Takeo and lasted for a period
of 600 years. This dynasty gave way to the powerful Angkor Empire that was eventually responsible for establishing
the Khmer Kingdom, as we know it today.
The Angkorian kings are believed to have come from
India and Javanese part of today's Indonesia. The dynasty reigned for a period of 650 years, and their empire
covered much of Southeast Asia. Their territory stretched from Burma to the South China Sea and further north
to Lao.
This golden period saw the building of the most ornate and extensive temples known to
mankind. These spectacular constructions were built throughout the kingdom and Angkor Wat, is of course the most
famous. Besides the majestic temples and courts, the Angkor Kings were also responsible for huge
agricultural feats of engineering which included sophisticated irrigation
systems, great water reservoirs, and countless canal systems that guaranteed food transport. Some of these systems
are still in use today.
However, in the late 13th. Century a sudden shift of power took place. Angkor was invaded and eventually, completely
ravaged. Mankind's most predominant creation on earth was plunged into total destruction. The entire population
and wealth of a once proud civilization was abandoned and covered by tropical forest.
Following the abandonment of Angkor, Cambodia's capital population migrated south to Phnom Penh. The destruction
of the mighty Angkorian capital also caused a decline, adaptation, and eventual replacement of Hinduism with
Buddhism becoming the national religion.
For the next several hundred years, Cambodia often found itself encroached by neighbouring Thai and
Vietnamese forces. They resisted, but eventually it was the colonial power French who seized power and placed
Cambodia under its rule. In 1941, 18 year-old Norodom Sihanouk was crowned the King of Cambodia.
In 1945 the Japanese ousted the France and King Norodom Sihanouk took the opportunity to free Cambodia from foreign
control. Cambodia was granted its independence in 1953 marking the end of a 90-year rule of the French. In 1959,
King Norodom Sihanouk abdicated the throne, turning the position of Kingship
over to his father, Preah Bat Norodom Soramarith. The Prince himself became the Head of State and ruled the
government.
From the sixties to the end of the millenium, Cambodia again was in political turmoil. This time it became the
ground for struggle for control between the big powers of the cold-war. The consequent instability did not only result in impoverishing the
country, thousands if not more of its people lost their lives in a wasteful and unprecedented manner for which the
international community, for all its power and wisdom on humanity, is still unable to find a solution to
accountability for the saddest past of this tiny but one of the great civilization of the world.
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card!"
Golf Courses in Cambodia:
If you had read much of the sections above, you would probably not be entirely surprised that golf in Cambodia
is in fact a new past time for both foreigners and locals alike and, it is developing fast. Until the 90s golf was
understandably almost unheard of in the country because of the political turmoil. But with its entry into ASEAN
and the world community golf is slowly but surely taking its place as a medium through which friendship and
business ties can be forged. Hopefully in not too long a future it would follow in the footsteps of the more developed
neighbour in the region by becoming a sport for all.
There aren't too many golf courses at the moment in Cambodia, relatively speaking when comparing to the more
affluent countries surrounding it. But for whatever existing courses one could find now, it could well prove a
blessing in disguise when having to decide on where to play. The few courses now open for business in Phnom Penh
and Siem Reap are generally new, designed by top names and well maintained, thanks in part to the top golfer in
the country in the Prime Minister, himself an accomplished low-handicapper and an on-going enthusiast in the
sport.
Cambodia Golf & Country Club of Phnom Penh -
Located 35 km west of the capital city, this 18-hole 7,100-yard course was the first in Cambodia to be built. There
is apparently no record of the name of the designer despite the fact that it openned as recently as 1996. Amongst
all the golf courses in the country, it has perhaps the most natural and native vegetation as its backdrop with
delightful green plants, rocks, fruit trees and the distant mountain all forming part of the tapestry of a
beautiful surrounding. If at all, the course is rather flat; but it could well be the genius behind the forgotten
designer to reflect on the general terrain of Cambodia as a land-locked level-plane country. The front nine has
generous tree-lined fairways while the other features more water hazards in the form of man-made ponds. The most
memorable of the holes is the confidence-testing Par-3 186-yard Hole#3 with water in between. Otherwise, watch out
for the silently sitting sand traps along the fairways of this wonderful course.
Royal Cambodia Golf Club of Phnom Penh -
Located 10km west of Phnom Penh, this is the second 18-hole golf course to open in Cambodia. It is a 7,075-yard
course set amongst rice paddies and coconut palms. Relatively easy to manage, the course runs on mostly flat
terrain if you find the water in the lakes not particularly hazardous to your game.
Perhaps owing to its historical first and its proximity to the seats of power in the country, it is particularly
popular among high officials who include none other than the Prime Minister himself having had some spectacular
scores here before. But otherwise on its own, it breathes aristocracy alongside the
Royal Selangor Golf Club
of Kuala Lumpur,
The Manila Club
of the Philippines,
The
Rawamangun of Jakarta and the
Dalat Palace Golf Club of Vietnam.
The Angkor Golf Course of Siem Reap -
Located close to the heart of Siem Reap, the Angkor Golf Course is a Nick Faldo-designed 7,230-yard Par-72
Championship Course. It features generous fairways, impressively bold bunkering and subtly undulating greens that
not only encourage but reward creative landing shots. In the designer's own words, it
'challenges all standards
of golfers', it will be an
'enjoyment to everyone' and
'..this golf course will
become world renowned'
Phokeethra Country Club of Siem Reap -
Located 15km west of Siem Reap and in proximity to the famous Angkor Wat area, this picturesque and undulating
course is a Par-72 and 7,226 yards long. Designed by V Golf Design Ltd. of Bangkok in 2007, it has sweeping,
tree-lined fairways and generous greens. But it is in the natural lakes and water hazards combining with fast
greens and tricky bunkers that one would be fully tested. For the record, water hazards are found in all but one
hole. Because of that all the Par-3s in particular, are very challenging. But the most memorable hole belongs to
the Par-5 588-yard Hole#18 located in front of the clubhouse. Fringed by water, there will be two carry-overs over
ponds before the green. It requires a fairly straight tee-off to the middle of the fairway to avoid deep sand
bunkers and water hazards so as to lay up for a second over-the-water placement shot in preparation for the third
pitching for a good landing on the picturesque island green. Both the fairways and the greens are turfed with
paspallum grass. The same year the course openned, it hosted the inaugural Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open.
Being in the region of a rich historical past, the course incorporates some of the stone relics as part of its
features. Playing here, one is amply reminded of the history of the country. In fact connecting the end of the 9th.
hole to the 10th. tee is the restored ancient stone bridge of Roluh which dates back to the 11th. Century and is
actually older than the much better known Angkor Wat. It is also an icon of the Khmer Culture, the impression of
which is widely used in the country. The club is part of the Sofitel group and for those staying at the Sofitel
special golfing privileges and discounts can be expected.
Are you ready for some real Golf in Cambodia now? Let's hit the trail and go back to the packages....
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This page provides ready golf packages for the various hot golf destinations in Cambodia or Kampuchea.
Content in this page is similar to but at least as much as those contained under the blinking
'Golf Packages' located at the top-left corner of this page as well as on most other pages. The reason for this apparent
repetition is to facilitate ease of page-indexing by search engines. Visitors are welcome to browse and check for availability
and details of packages on offer. New packages are constantly re-packaged to suit the various travel seasons in the region.
In as much as GOLFnTours.com could elaborate on the individual packages, prices as stated are best taken as the nearest
indication of what they should cost. All order enquiries on packages similar to those listed in this page shall be subject
to final confirmation.
