Exotissimo Travel were recently involved in a project with Hotel de la Paix, Golden Banana Boutique Hotel and Heritage Suites Hotel in assisting the Green Gecko Project to help in packing food and water to three villages and 400 families on the outskirts of Siem Reap. Another 470 families in Kampong Thom received the same assistance.

This CSR initiative was noted in a recent article on Travelfish.org that discussed the vast amounts of money spent in Siem Reap each year yet the province remains the third poorest of Cambodia’s 23 provinces. The flood relief drive and initiative shown by businesses such as those marked above, with the lack of government intervention, was vital in supporting local communities.

Click here to read the article on Travelfish

Designed to combine the tranquil nature of the seaside town of Kep with the new Spa at Knai Bang Chatt resort, ‘Spa Weekend in Kep’ creates the perfect mix for a relaxing 4 day 3 night stay. Combining the highlights of the two extremely scenic provinces of Kampot and Kep, ‘Blend of the South’ delivers the perfect getaway to explore the countryside, local life and Khmer culture. Highlights of the tour are the sunset boat trip towards the sea in Kampot, a trek in Bokor National Park, a visit to a pepper farm and exploring one of the caves around Kampot. Both tours can be booked as modules and in combination with other tours along the coast or with Vietnam’s Mekong Delta or Phu Quoc.
To view the full ‘Spa Weekend in Kep’ program click here.

To view the full ‘Blend of the South’ program click here.

Due to heavy and persistent rain over the weekend downtown Siem Reap along with riverfront properties and access to the Tonle Sap are currently flooded.  Several of our restaurant and spa services are currently not in use along with visits to the Old Market and Artisans D’Angkor currently not possible.  The temples are still operational as are all major services.

Areas of Tonle Sap are currently inaccessible for tours. We are in contact with all clients booked on these trips and making alternative arrangements.

More rain has been forecast for tonight and later this week. We can expect localized flooding to continue for the better part of this week though this presents only a minor disruption to transfers All major roads are operating as normal.

Even though the serious floods hit Cambodia hard, we are happy to announce that the situation is calming and tourist trails are open.

Heavy rain in the Northern provinces has caused the water levels to rise which has resulted in some localized flooding in Siem Reap. This is limited to river front properties, downtown Siem Reap and Tonle Sap access points. All hotels are fully accessible and operational apart from Villa Kiara whose access road is blocked. The floating villages of Chhong Kneas and Kampong Phluck are currently not accessible and our clients are rerouted to Kampong Kleang. Further services that are currently suspended are the quad bike adventure, microlight flights, horse back riding and the camping experience at Wat Amphil, as well as some restaurants along the river. All other services continue to operate as normal and all major Angkor temples are open for visits. In order to protect the UNESCO World Heritage from erosion, only small vehicles of less than 25 seats are currently allowed on the roads around the Angkor Park.

In Phnom Penh the water levels of the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers are high but have not resulted in any flooding and the Cambodian South Coast is not affected by floods. Low lying farm land is flooded along the Northern parts of the Mekong. However, access to tourist destinations is possible in all areas. Sambor Village Hotel in Kampong Thom will remain closed in October for renovation because of previous flood damage. Please rest assured that travel in Cambodia is still possible with little disruption and we are taking the best possible care of clients who are affected by any changes in their itinerary and will augment or upgrade services where possible. Whilst the situation is changeable, our operations team are constantly monitoring and will keep you updated on any developments.

Please contact cambodia@exotissimo.com for more information.

As the Mekong Discovery Project is coming to a close, a range of exciting new activities have been launched along the Mekong: At Wat Sorsor Muoy Roy (‘The 100 Pillar Wat’), Conservation International has set up a Turtle Conservations Project that puts its effort into preserving the rare Mekong Turtles. On Koh Trong Island, the community development project now offers guests to take part in the annual vegetable or rice planting and harvesting activities, or to teach an English lesson to the school kids on the island. The local people are always up for a volleyball match with their visitors which can be hosted on the island’s beach in the dry season. To get away from it all, the pagoda on Phnom Sambok near Kratie offers interesting Buddhist meditation sessions that can range from just one session to a several days’ stay. Our ‘Cycling the Mekong: An eco-experience from Pakse to Siem Reap’ not only offers the delight of crossing borders within a program, but immerses guests in local cultures with interaction at the forefront.

To view a full itinerary of this tour please, click here.

As of 3pm today Siem Reap has experienced prolonged heavy rain resulting in extensive flooding of downtown Siem Reap. More rain has been forecast for the next 3 days. Due to this development we have decided to shut down most operations in this area.

Until further notice we will provide group tours by coaster (25 seater bus) only. This means that any FITs will be grouped together with their individually assigned guides in coasters. We will only provide one group tour to the central temple complex of Angkor Wat and the National Museum as this is the only itinerary we are currently able to operate. The reason for this is the use of smaller vehicles such as minivans and cars are at risk of stalling in the flood water.

We will do all possible to keep all other services such as restaurants the same, though some services are limited so there may be some changes.  No extra charges will be incurred.

As soon as the situation improves and we can access more of the temples and attractions we will resume normal operations.  Please see below for the current restrictions:

• The central temple complex of Angkor Wat, Bayon and Angkor Thom are accessible and will remain so. All other temples are off limits until further notice.
• The airport road is only partially flooded and can be accessed by coaster. The main international hospital is still accessible via road 6.
• Operations in the northern provinces are off limits inclusive of Kampong Thom, Battambang, Kampong Cham, Kratie and Steung Treng.
• Land transfers are being carefully monitored near Kampong Thom on route 6. The situation is changeable. If the route becomes impassable we will advise clients to remain in Siem Reap or transfer by air to Phnom Penh.

We anticipate these conditions to ease after 3 to 5 days after which limited services will resume as normal.

Our operations teams are on 24h standby to assess the situation and we are remaining flexible with clients who may wish to amend their travel plans and continue onto their next destination.  We are in close contact with the airlines and are able to make or change flight bookings if required.

All agents with clients in country will be contacted by a member of the Exotissimo team today. We will send another update on the situation on Monday.

For emergencies the operations team can be contacted on +855 (0) 12 907 097

Best Regards,
The Exotissimo Team

Asia’s continual rise as a travel destination has once again been proven in a recent survey held by a leading travel magazine. These findings reflect the high demand Exotissimo Travel has experienced for tailored programs to Asia, the area they both live and work in. Results from the survey showed Bangkok retaining its position for the second year as the world’s number 1 city. An intoxicating fusion of textures and flavors, Bangkok has always been a strong attraction to travelers both within Asia and across the world.

Exo’s day trips within Bangkok are amongst the most regularly booked, compiled by experts within Bangkok, they provide an excellent insider’s view to the ‘City of Angels’. Programs such as ‘Culinary Delight of Bangkok’ and ‘Absolute Art – Bangkok’ provide a great introduction to Thailand and its fascinating culture.

Siem Reap in Cambodia, home to the eighth wonder of the world Angkor Wat, debuted at number 7. A long time favorite destination, Siem Reap is impossibly charming and adapted over recent years to meet the needs of international clientele. Exo’s soft adventure trekking modules within the area such as ‘Trekking Angkor – Siem Reap’ and ‘Trekking Kulen’, allow interaction with the stunning landscape and friendly locals.

Our 6D5N ”Trek Angkor’ tour reveals the Kingdom’s secret charms by visiting places many travelers don’t usually don’t get to see. Our 6D5N ”Trek Angkor’ tour reveals the Kingdom’s secret charms by visiting places many travelers don’t usually don’t get to see.

Visit Wat Athvea and wander through picturesque villages with rice fields now flourishing and releasing a beautiful fragrance. Finish the day with a breathtaking view and cocktail from Phnom Krom hill. A private monk blessing at sunrise revitalizes your body before hiking up Phnom Bok hill and on to the picturesque temple of Banteay Samre. Trekking from Angkor Wat to Angkor Thom is a unique way to see a number of magnificent ruins. Glimpses of small temples can be spotted amongst dense jungle, towers appear looming overhead and the verdant jungle along the way is simply breath taking. Daily treks are between 10-15km but taken at a gentle and enjoyable pace. We have selected boutique hotels to match the character of this relaxing and charming tour. Click here to see the full itinerary.

Please contact cambodia@exotissimo.com for more information.

One of the most intriguing ways to explore the beauty of Cambodia is by taking a private traditional river boat on the Mekong or Tonle Sap. Satra and Regina, two charming wooden vessels are available for day trips. Chartered from Phnom Penh, The Satra can host 8 passengers on day trips and 2 guests on overnight stays. Alternatively, the larger Dara is suitable for 10 passengers for day trips and 5 for overnight guests.

Both boats are equipped with small but tastefully decorated cabins featuring fans, bathrooms, mosquito-nets, and spacious dining and lounging areas. Each boat comes with a private chef, renowned for providing delicious Khmer food. Day trips will take guests to interesting and rarely visited places along the Tonlé Sap and Mekong Rivers including Koh Chen, an island where silverware is produced, the beaches of Preak Bang Kang and several floating villages. The boats can be chartered for trips anywhere, offering a personalized and tranquil way to explore Cambodia’s lifelines, its mighty estuaries. To view the full itineraries for these day-trips please, click here.

Discover Cambodia’s capital from an elevated perspective, with the news that Helistar are extending their services to Phnom Penh. Taking off from the VIP terminal of Phnom Penh International Airport, the French built Eurocopter and Robinson helicopter comes equipped with luxury leather seating, air conditioning and experienced expatriate pilots.

Tours encompass sightseeing around Phnom Penh and the confluence of the mighty rivers Tonle Sap, the Mekong and Tonle Bassac. Alternatively, you can take a scenic flight to Oudong, the temple mountain, or the rural province of Takeo. A great way to enhance a Phnom Penh stay! For more information please contact Cambodia@exotissimo.com