Spa, wellness and meditation in Cambodia

Take a tuk-tuk ride through a vibrant and rapidly growing capital. Starting at the Independence Monument, you'll travel along Riverside, by the Chaktomuk River, to Wat Phnom. This hill, resembling a small mound, is home to a pagoda and is known as Wat Phnom Daun Penh, the pagoda of Grandmother Penh's Hill. It was here that Madame Penh is said to have built a shrine in 1373 to house four very rare bronze Buddha statues. The Cambodian capital was later named after this monument.

Then set off to explore the National Museum, which houses one of the world's largest collections of Khmer art, consisting of more than 14,000 pieces, of which approximately 2,000 are on public display.

You will end this visit not far from here, at the Royal Palace of Cambodia, the extraordinary residence of King Norodom Sihamoni.

The Royal Palace is a sacred place, avoid short clothing, you must cover your shoulders and wear trousers or a long skirt.

The Lanka Pagoda symbolizes the close relationship between the resident Khmer monks and the Sri Lankan monks. The central activity of this visit is a meditation session led by a resident monk. It's an excellent way to free your mind and connect with your inner self.

To conclude this day, a boat trip on the Tonlé Sap for an unusual view of Phnom Penh and dinner on the water after sunset.

Transfer by private vehicle (car or minivan) to Siem Reap, the city-province that is home to, among other things, the magnificent temples of Angkor. A must-see destination par excellence, the city also borders the equally famous Tonlé Sap lake and its floating villages.

In the morning, at the crossroads of national roads N6 and N7, be adventurous and take full advantage of a "gastronomic" stop in the town of Skun, famous for its grilled spiders and insects.

On the way, on the outskirts of Kampong Thom, let's discover the magnificent pre-Angkorian temples of Sambor Prei Kuk. This archaeological site has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 2017, thanks to its status as an ancient capital before the rise of the Khmer Empire, which would establish itself in Angkor a few centuries later. A pivotal site at the crossroads of Buddhist, Hindu, animist, and even Persian and Greek cultures since the 7th century AD, as we will discover.

The visit to Sambor Prei Kuk is done on foot to cover the various temples. The walking distances aren't very long, but the sun being close to its zenith at that time of day can make the visit tiring. If you get tired, don't hesitate to ask your guide to shorten the tour.

We then head towards the village of Kampong Kleang located on Tonlé Sap Lake, about 1.5 hours by car from Siem Reap. There, we board a private boat to explore and visit the floating village.

A day trip by tuk-tuk to visit the wonderful temples of Angkor located around and inside the walls of Angkor Thom.

We will discover Angkor Wat, a symbol of the height of the Khmer Empire during the Angkorian era. Within the Angkor Thom complex, explore Bayon with its numerous towers adorned with gigantic faces, Baphuon with its colossal 40-meter reclining Buddha statue, Phimeanakas, the Terrace of the Elephants with its diverse sculptures, and the Terrace of the Leper King.

Let's conclude with Ta Prohm, famous for its immense trees with sprawling aerial roots, or, if you're willing to brave the crowds, with a sunset from the heights of Phnom Bakheng (note: Phnom Bakheng is off-limits to children under 12 and the authorities limit access to 300 people at sunset, creating a queue).

Due to an already packed schedule, we are intentionally skipping some of the smaller temples on the circuit, such as Banteay Kdei, Thommanon, Chau Say Tevoda, and Ta Keo. If you are keen to visit these sites, please inform your guide at the beginning of the day so they can adjust the itinerary accordingly.

In the morning, we depart to visit the temples of Preah Ko, Bakong, and Lolei, which together form the Roluos group. Erected at the end of the 9th century, these pre-Angkorian Hindu temples were the first to be built using permanent materials. Marking the beginnings of classical Khmer art, they served as a model for nearly 300 years.

With your guide, take advantage of your visit to the Aranh Sakor Pagoda, just a short distance from Siem Reap, to participate in a sacred Buddhist ritual. Receive a purifying blessing under the sign of water, which will bring you good fortune.

This blessing is a Khmer practice dating back millennia. It takes place inside the pagoda and begins with the harmonious chanting of the monks, a way of wishing you good luck, a safe journey, and a long life. This is followed by a longer ritual, still marked by the monks' refrain, who this time also apply holy water to your face.

At the end of the ritual, the monks adorn your wrist with a red bracelet, a sign that the blessing has been successfully performed.

Practical information:

Bring a change of clothes and a towel to dry yourself after the water blessing.

Dress code: Dress appropriately, covering your knees and shoulders.

After nightfall, we discover Siem Reap by night, crisscrossing the city with a variety of stops to eat, drink and experience the local Khmer nightlife.

A morning introduction to the Navutu wellness practice including:

- Deep relaxation promotes physical, mental and emotional healing

- Improves anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD

- Promotes more restful sleep

- Rebalances the body's systems (nervous, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, etc.)

- Releases toxins

- Reduces pain

In this private session, you can choose to be guided through a relaxing meditation to soothe and calm the mind, or learn and practice various meditation techniques that you can then practice on your own. There are many forms of meditation with the same intention, but different techniques resonate differently with each individual. Trying several forms allows you to select the technique that resonates most deeply with you.

Next, we finally visit the Lotus Farm by Samatoa, a unique production workshop showcasing the most environmentally friendly method for making fabric from lotus fiber. After an introduction to the sacred lotus flower and its significance in Asian cultures, we will observe each step in the creation of this rare and prized fabric, favored by leading fashion designers: harvesting the stems; spinning, which transforms the fibers into high-quality yarn; weaving to create the finished product; and finally, recycling the unused parts of the plant for medicinal, nutritional, and cosmetic purposes.

Your driver will drop you off at Siem Reap airport for your flight to Sihanoukville.

After landing and collecting your luggage, a driver will be waiting for you at the airport to take you to the pier in Sihanoukville, a seaside town in the south with beautiful sandy beaches and gateway to the paradise islands of Koh Rong.

Boat transfer to Koh Rong from the Sihanoukville pier.

Embark on a half-day adventure off the coast of Koh Rong Island to the floating village of Prek Svay! An authentic and unspoiled place, ideal for meeting the local people. The trip also includes a snorkeling session and lunch in the heart of nature.

The boat is not privatized.

As night falls, you board a boat from the island and head out to sea... You'll sail for a few minutes before the captain decides to head to a secluded bay. Dark and silent, it's the perfect place to admire the glow of bioluminescent plankton... Shake the water for an even more amazing effect!

Free day at your convenience (no service included).

A taxi is arranged for your transfer by road to Kep, a charming seaside town renowned for its crab market and national park, ideal for a lovely walk.

The Kampot region is internationally renowned for its exceptional pepper. A visit to Kampot wouldn't be complete without a tour of one of the region's many pepper plantations!

In the morning, we head towards Secret Lake which offers a magnificent panorama with a view of the mountains.

Then we visit the famous family-run pepper farm, La Plantation, with one of their French-speaking guides who will explain the origin and reasons for the pepper's renown. You will learn more about the cultivation methods and how to cook with this famous pepper.

A free day at your convenience.

Return by car to Phnom Penh, where you will enjoy free time to stroll around town, do some shopping and find some nice souvenirs for your loved ones before the end of your trip.

In the evening, between well-being and indulgence, enjoy the treatments and massages provided by the expert hands of Bodia Spa, an establishment renowned for the quality of its services and the attention paid to the training of its staff.

Included treatment: Bodia Classic; thanks to the renowned benefits of essential oils, our massage therapist increases the flow of energy throughout the body. This treatment improves blood circulation, relaxes muscles, and relieves tension by soothing both body and mind.

Free time before our evening transfer to Phnom Penh International Airport.

We will need to vacate our room before noon. If our flight is in the evening, we can leave our luggage at the hotel reception for one last stroll around town.