A journey through the ancient and modern Cambodia for 9 days exploring the wonders of the temples of Angkor, some of the most iconic places around Siem Reap and the rumbling streets of the capital city of Phnom Penh. Landscape, portrait and street photography will be just some of the photographic styles we will practice during this 9 days tour. To conclude the trip we will drive out toward the sea, in order to complete our album by taking the last snapshots in the charming coastal town of Kep.

Angkor Archeological Park provides wonderful photographic opportunities. the monuments and the surrounding jungle afford unlimited textural and lighting opportunities for composing a picture.
Clouds are common and tend to diffuse the light which is somewhat flat even though it is intense. As most of the temples face east the best lighting conditions are in the morning except for Angkor Wat where the best light is in the afternoon because it faces west. the temples surrounded by jungle such as Ta Prohm and Prah Khan can be photographed with good results when the sun is directly overhead and shining through the foliage. Just as one is never prepared for the enormous size and overwhelming beauty of Angkor, one is never ready to leave it. With photographs and visions etched in memory, one need never say good-by to Angkor, for its magic will go with you wherever fate and the gods may take you to colour your thoughts and dreams to life’s very end.

DAY 01: ARRIVAL – SIEM REAP

Upon arrival you will be welcomed by our guide and transferred to your hotel. Tonight you will enjoy a welcome dinner and meet the professional photographer to go over the details of the following day’s photography tour.

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap
Meals included: Welcome Dinner.

DAY 02: ANGKOR TEMPLES

After an early breakfast we set off for Angkor Thom entering by the Southern Gate, which is flanked by the statues of gods and demons on each side. Bayon Temple is a well known and richly decorated Khmer temple at Angkor in Cambodia. Built in the late 12th century or early 13th century as the official state temple of the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII, the Bayon Temple stands at the centre of Jayavarman’s capital, Angkor Thom.
The Bayon Temple’s most distinctive feature are the many serene faces of the massive stone heads on many of the towers which jut out from the upper terrace and cluster around its central peak. This temple is known also for two impressive sets of bas-reliefs, which present an unusual combination of mythological, historical, and mundane scenes. Then we heading into Baphuon, built in the mid-11th century, it is a three-tiered mountain temple built as the state temple of Udayadityavarman II and dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. It is the archetypal temple of the Baphuon. In April 2011, after 51 years, the archaeologists finished the restoration of the temple. King NorodomSihamoni of Cambodia and Prime Minister Francois Fillon of France were among those who first toured the renovated temple during the inauguration ceremony on July 3, 2011. We continue on to another 12th century temple of PreahPalilay, which, over the years has been reclaimed by the trees.
In the afternoon you will proceed to Ta Keo, or as it is otherwise known, the Pyramid Temple, and then on to the unrestored BanteayKdey Temple.
At the end of the day you will enjoy a photo shoot at the main temple of Angkor Wat.

*End of the day activity: Introduction to the post-production and editing session.

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap
Meals included: Breakfast.

DAY 03: ANGKOR TEMPLES

Get up early (packed breakfast provided) and head off in time to catch the sunrise at Angkor Wat or SrahSrang and enjoy a photo shoot while the sun comes up, casting its beautiful golden glow on to the temple and making it an even more memorable sight. We continue to Preah Khan, a ruin built after the success of Jayavarman VII’s victory over the invading Chams in 1191. Unusually the modern name, meaning “holy sword”, is derived from the meaning of the original—NagaraJayasri (holy city of victory). Then it’s off through the Victory Gate and Western Gate of Angkor Thom. The Victory Gate is about 500 metres north of the east gate; the Victory Way runs parallel to the east road to Victory Square and finishes at the Royal Palace, north of the Bayon.
In the afternoon we will be shooting at the jungle temple of Ta Promh, where the trees and vines growing out of the ruins are perhaps the most distinctive feature. This is also where Angelina Jolie filmed the first Tomb Raider movie, playing Lara Croft in 2000. We drive on to Pre Rup, known as the mountain temple and constructed of pieces of clay bricks, laterite and sandstone, and was erected in 961. Known as the Royal Bath, we stop for a unset shoot at SrahSrang Temple.

*End of the day activity: Post-production and editing session.

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap
Meals included: Breakfast.

DAY 04: ANGKOR – FLOATING VILLAGE

After an early breakfast at the hotel we drive to BanteaySrei, passing through the stunning Cambodian countryside, through paddy fields with cattle and water buffalo and locals working in the fields. This temple was only discovered in 1914, memorable for the deep carvings in the beautiful pink sandstone.
In the afternoon we enjoy exploring and shooting in and around the floating village of KompongPhluk, a cluster of three villages of stilted houses built within the floodplain of the Tonle Sap Lake about 16 km southeast of Siem Reap. The villages are primarily Khmer and have about 3,000 inhabitants between them. Flooded mangrove forest surrounds the area and it is home to a variety of wildlife including crab-eating macaques. We can board a pirogue, a small flat-bottomed boat, to discover how the seasons affect the village over the 12 months of a year. From August to January the water level is still high enough to flood the forest surrounding the Tonle Sap Lake, and so the village ‘floats’, in some places, quite literally. For the remainder of the year you will not see a flooded forest but the houses of the village will appear to be standing on gigantic stilts for no reason, all of which makes a visit to this village worthwhile all year round.
*End of the day activity: Final Post production and editing session using the photos taken during the trip.
 
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap
Meals included: Breakfast & dinner.
 
DAY 05: SIEM REAP – PHNOM PENH

After breakfast we transfer to the airport to take a short flight to the capital city of Phnom Penh. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check in. Note: early check will depend on the room availability.
In the afternoon we head for our first shoot at the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda.
Walls divide the palace into three main compounds. On the north side is the Silver Pagoda, to the south side is the Khemarin Palace and the central compound contains the Throne Hall. The buildings of the palace were built gradually over time, and some were dismantled and rebuilt as late as the 1960s but some of the older buildings date back to the 19th century.
The Silver Pagoda houses many national treasures such as gold and bejeweled Buddha statues. Most notable is a small 17th century baccarat crystal Buddha known as the “Emerald Buddha” of Cambodia and a life-sized gold Maitreya Buddha decorated with 9584 diamonds, the largest of which weighs 25 carats. It was created in the palace workshops during 1906 and 1907; the gold Buddha weighs in at 90kg and is dressed in royal regalia commissioned by King Sisowath. During King Norodom Sihanouk’s pre-Khmer Rouge reign, the Silver Pagoda was inlaid with more than 5,000 silver tiles and some of its outer facade was remodeled with Italian marble. However only a small area of these tiles are available to be viewed by the public.
After the visit to the Royal Palace we move to the Olympic Stadium, designed by Cambodia’s most noted architect, Vann Molyvann, who was part of the New Khmer Architecture movement of the 1950’s and 60’s. At one of the magnificent courtyards of the building, we will watch people taking part in massive aerobics classes, play football, power walk and a whole array of different exercises. This is a perfect spot to capture some stunning images of a typical Cambodian slice of life by the light of the setting sun.

*End of the day activity: Final Post production and editing session using the photos taken during the trip.
 
Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh
Meals included: Breakfast.
 
DAY 06: PHNOM PENH

After breakfast we will proceed to ToulSleng Museum and Russian market. ToulSleng Museum was former high school, which was used as the notorious Security Prison 21 (S-21) by the Khmer Rouge regime from its rise to power in 1975 to its fall in 1979; an estimated 17,000 people were imprisoned at TuolSleng. At any one time, the prison held between 1,000–1,500 prisoners. They were repeatedly tortured and coerced into naming family members and close associates, who were in turn arrested, tortured and killed. After this, we will visit the infamous Russian Market with its huge selection of souvenirs, curios and silks, several jewelers and gold-sellers, for sure one of the best markets in town to buy fabric – and of course take some memorable images.
Later in the afternoon we will have a chance to shoot at the Orrusey Market& the Central Market, the perfect environments to practice street photography and get a chance to see how the locals really live. You can find almost anything at the Orrusey Market such as fresh food, household supplies, garden tools, electronics, accessories, clothing, decoration and much more. The Central Market or Psah Thom Thmey is a large market constructed in 1937 in the shape of a dome with four arms branching out into vast hallways with countless stalls of goods. When it first opened in 1937, it was said to be the biggest market in Asia.

*End of the day activity: Final Post production and editing session using the photos taken during the trip.

Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh
Meals included: Breakfast.
 
DAY 07: PHNOM PENH – KAMPOT

After breakfast we check out from the hotel and make our way to the little French colonial city of Kampot. The transfer will take about 2-3 hours.
Cambodia’s finest pepper is produced only in Kampot. Pepper fields surround downtown Kampot. The pepper, which is almost all exported, is considered the finest pepper across the globe. It comes in 3 main varieties, black, red or green.
The salt fields (which can be visited only from December till May) are close to the ocean so that the salt water can feed the fields. The fields are then blocked from the ocean, and the water is allowed to evaporate slowly, leaving salt crystals behind. This process is repeated many times. The raw salt is then collected and piled up in warehouses in the salt fields. It is then delivered to the salt factory, where it is cleaned, Iodine is added, and packaged in 50 Kilogram bags for shipment throughout the country. We can also get some good shots of the sunset over the sea.

Accommodation: Hotel in Kampot
Meals included: Breakfast.

DAY 08: KAMPOT – KEP

After breakfast we will check out from our hotel and transfer to Kep. On our way to the coast, we will stop to visit the caves of Phnom Ta Aun. These caves form part of a limestone formation with chimneys and intriguing rock formations, some of which are revered as shrines and adorned with pagodas and they’re one the most respected places for the locals. After this we will head to Kep to shoot at the local crab market where dozens of women buy, sell, and cook the crabs. This is another chance to shoot an authentic snapshot of Cambodian life. After checking in at your hotel will you will have free time to relax go swimming.

Accommodation: Hotel in Kep
Meals included: Breakfast & lunch.

DAY 09: KEP – PHNOM PENH – DEPARTURE

After breakfast you will be free to relax until your departure transfer to Phnom Penh airport for your flight.

Meals included: Breakfast.

COST INCLUDES:

– Accommodation on double/twin room sharing basis;
– Airfare from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh with tax and fuel surcharge
– All meals as stated;
– All tours and transfers in private air-con vehicle
– English speaking guide
– Professional photographer with final post production and editing session using the photos
– All entrance fees
– Boat excursion
– Bottle of drinking water, soft drink and tissues.

COST EXCLUDES:            

– All airfares & airport taxes.
– Visa;
– Travel insurance;
– Beverages in the restaurants where meals are included
– Gratuities to guide and driver  
– Personal and other expenses such as porterage, bar bills and laundry not stated in the itinerary.