Siem Reap Golf Vacation (5 days/4 nights)

No golf on your first day as you relax and acclimatise. You will collect your Angkor Conservation Area entrance pass, and continue onto the Small Circuit instead. This tour includes the huge pyramid of Takeo, and the jungle-clad Ta Prohm, which are very famous by the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Tomb Raider’. You continue to visit Sras Srang which is known as the King's bathing pond and Banteay Kdei before exploring Prasat Kravan- an elegant brick temple. After lunch, you explore the impressive Royal City of Angkor Thom where you will find the Bayon- a temple famed for its many gigantic carved faces smiling beguilingly down at you. You will also visit other important sites in this immense walled city including the pyramid of Baphuon, Phimeanakas, and the royal viewing stands known as the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. If you have the time, your guide will take you to an excellent spot for watching a mesmerising Angkor Wat sunset. The evening is free at your leisure.

This morning, you will take the scenic 15km drive to the village of Puok which give an insight into the every day life of Cambodians. Once you arrive at the Phokeethra Country Club, you are given an opportunity to change and you will be introduced to your well trained English speaking caddie who will escort you in your golf cart. You also have the opportunity to warm-up on the putting green and/or the driving range before your tee-off time. Once you have completed the 18th hole, you will have the opportunity to relax in the well-appointed Club House where you can enjoy discussing the good and bad points of your game. You may have lunch here or return to Siem Reap for lunch. After lunch you take a short 15km drive to Phnom Krom- the large hill that looms closer, and enjoy a relaxing cruise on the Tonle Sap lake- the largest lake in South East Asia. You will see the traditional floating village of Chong Kneas and witness their daily life - it is quite a sight seeing a whole bamboo village complete with homes, gas stations, schools, hair dressers, and even karaoke bars floating on a lake (but no golf course yet!). After the cruise, you may climb Phnom Krom. As you reach the top, in the grounds of a modern day pagoda, you will discover the remains of a 9th century temple. You will then be treated to a glorious sunset over the surrounding paddy fields as the sun drops into the vast Tonle Sap. Afterwards, you will return to Siem Reap where you will enjoy a delightful dinner.

Once again, you head out to Phokeethra Country Club and prepare for your second round of this very challenging course. Enjoy the surroundings as you strive for an improved score. Now, you have an understanding of the course. After your round, you will be met by your guide and taken to the nearby Artisans d’Angkor Silk Farm. Artisan’s d’Angkor give an opportunity to young Cambodians to find gainful employment in their home villages by teaching traditional Khmer handicraft techniques such as stone and wood carving, lacquering and gilding, and silk weaving. Silk has always been intrinsic to Cambodian culture yet unfortunately many of the sericulture specialists and the mulberry trees themselves, were lost during the Khmer Rouge period. The Silk Farm is re-establishing the tree, re-introducing sericulture, and enabling the ancient silk weaving tradition to flourish once again. You will be shown around the farm and see the full process, from mulberry tree planting to finished silk clothing and home accessories. There is an on-site boutique which allows you to find quality souvenirs where not only will your purchase be a genuine piece of local art but you will also be supporting the next generation of Khmer craftsmen and women! On the return journey to Siem Reap, if time allows, you will stop-off at the West Baray, a vast Angkor Empire man-made reservoir that still contains water today, and is a popular recreational area. This evening is free at your leisure.

Today, you take a rest from the golf and let your body and mind recover for your last round in the tomorrow morning. However, you may choose to rise early today to catch the sun rising from behind Angkor Wat’s five carved towers - after being awed you return to your hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, it is time to further discover the magnificent Angkor Wat which is the world’s largest religious building. After being initially inspired by its overall size, you will explore in more detail, get up close and personal to fully appreciate its architecture and intricately detailed bas-reliefs. Believed to have been undertaken as a temple and mausoleum for King Suryavarman II at the peak of the Khmer Empire in the first half of the 12th century, Angkor Wat is the best-preserved of the Angkorian temples, truly one of the wonders of the world. You will return to town for lunch. After that, you head 30km north to visit the captivating and beautiful temple of Banteay Srei or ‘Fortress of the Women’. The journey allows you to experience the beautiful Cambodian countryside as you pass through small typical villages. On-route, you will visiti Banteay Samre. Banteay Srei is an elaborately decorated temple, embellished with floral motifs and scenes from the Ramayana, all carved from pink sandstone. It is said the carvings must have been done by women as the detail is too fine for the hands of a man. This evening, you will enjoy dinner and a mesmerising Apsara dance show within the delightful and traditional setting of the Angkor Village Apsara Theatre.

This morning is your final round of golf at the Phokeethra Country Club. Having had a non-golfing day yesterday and a chance to reflect on what you learned about the course in your previous 2 rounds. Today is your chance to leave with a personal best! After your round, you may choose to celebrate in the club house or return to Siem Reap for lunch. After lunch, you are free until your transfer to catch your onward flight and leave the home of the Angkor Empire with many unforgettable golfing and cultural memories.