Enjoy Rural Cambodia!

Day trips from Phnom Penh - Kandal

This is a day trip north of Phnom Penh - experience Cambodia's rural life just a few kilometres from the city
Phnom Penh is a relatively small city with rural life being visible only a few kilometres from the city.  Our day trip will take you through rural villages, where you will witness every day rural life. We will take you to visit a temple called Phnom Praset and on the way you will see many interesting and unique examples of rural Khmer life such as horse carts carrying goods, families travelling in ox carts, women collecting lotus lilies to eat or sell and Vietnamese fish farms.  The famous sugar palm tree of Cambodia can be seen wherever you look and you can see evidence of its many uses along the road e.g. dug out canoes and kitchen utensils are made from the trunks of these trees, roofs or walls of houses are made from the leaf, primitive ladders are fixed to the side of the trunks which are used by farmers to collect the palm juice during the months of November to March.  This juice is also made into 'skor tnot' - palm sugar which is used in cooking
You will see edible snails and lotus seeds for sale as you pass along the road, fresh fish wrapped and sold in lotus leaves and other Khmer delicacies depending on the season

Once you reach the temple complex you'll be surprised by the ruins said to be dated back to the 7th century. Despite the poor condition of the temple, it is easy to see that this temple has very different carvings to other temples throughout Cambodia so for those particularly interested in architecture, this is an interesting temple to visit
There is a reclining Buddha further up the hill from the old temple.  Reclining Buddhas are not a common sight in Cambodia so many visitors may be surprised to see this.  A new temple built in 1993 sits at the top of the hill where there are reasonable views of the surrounding rice fields (provided it is not the hazy time of the year).  The Sap River and surrounding floodwaters are easily seen during the wet season which gives one a good perspective of the flooding and extent of surface water throughout Cambodia

After leaving the temple, the road continues through more sugar palm and rice fields before giving way to views of Oudong (17th-19th centuries) – the former royal capital of Cambodia.  Stupas are seen at the top of this group of hills, and there is a nice view from the top for those interested in seeing more temples
For those interested it is possible to visit a village that specialises in making silver and copper ornaments.  This village has been making these for many, many years – perhaps because it is close to the former royal capital.  The village has now become famous for selling them both nationally and internationally.  Many houses practise this art as their only source of income and often many families are involved in this cottage industry.  One can see the moulding of silver into thec shapes of various animals, fruit or vegetables, the method ofc applying patterns and adding appendages such as elephant trunks orc tusks etc.  Even if you are not interested in buying such pieces, it is worth witnessing this ancient art form.  Similar pieces can be seen at many markets throughout Cambodia

Tariff - Day trips from Phnom Penh - Kandal

All prices in USD	1 person	2 persons	3 persons	4 persons
Phnom Praset and Oudong Trip includes: Transfers Phnom Penh - Kandal return Entrance fees Phnom Praset and Oudong, silver village Drinks (water, soft drink/beer) Morning tea, afternoon tea, lunch Personal tour guide (including informal stops to explain interesting sites along the way)	$140	$90	$70	$60

 

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