Private Tour: HERO Rats & Angkor National Museum
Description
A half-day visiting nearby museums with an experienced guide. See the “Hero Rats”, who are working to de-mine the Cambodian countryside, visit the Siem Reap killing fields and Angkor National Museum.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your day starts with a pick up at 8am or 13pm by your driver and experienced guide. Visit Wat Thmei, one of the killing field memorials, a small memorial stupa which contains the skulls and bones of victims killed during the regime of the Khmer Rouge during 1975 – 1979.
We continue the tour at Apopo Visitor Center to learn about the history of conflict in Cambodia and the impact the region’s landmines has on the local communities. In place to make a difference are what’s known as the “Hero Rats”. Used because of their light weight, the rats have been trained to sniff buried landmines, a huge help in de-mining the region. Watch the rats in action at the helm of their trainers. (This experience is closed on weekends and public holidays and will be replaced by War Museum.)
The day ends with a visit to the Angkor National Museum, an archaeological museum dedicated the collection, preservation and presentation of Angkorian artifacts. The collections are mainly dated from Khmer Empire's Angkor period circa 9th to 14th centuries, with most of the artifacts discovered in and around the Angkor archaeological sites nearby.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Our tour guide and driver will meet you at the hotel lobby of your accommodation at 08:00 am or at 14:00 pm (optional) and pick you up for the tour.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- There are two options of your choice that the tour can start in the morning at 08:00am or in the afternoon at 01:00 pm
- Please kindly note: Angkor National Museum is currently closed, therefore, the itinerary may be amended.
Reviews(16)
Visitors to Siem Reap should not miss this tour. The information provided by our guide, Aaron, about his personal experiences with the Killing Fields was riveting. Additionally, the Hero Rats tour was one of the highlights of our time in Siem Reap.
Missed the rats thing due to Cambodian New Year so went to Cambodia Landmine Museum instead. Also went to Killing Fields and Angkor National Museum.
Good tour,but did not get to see the rats museum due to being closed due to Cambodia New Year. Instead visited Cambodia Landmine Museum which was a bit out of town. Then visited the Angkor National Museum which was huge.
The Hero Rats, the Killing Fields and the Museum all provided a great in depth experience of understanding the fields that they were related to with excellent pre stations.
Recalling the horrors of the Khamer Rouge and the killing fields, there is hope for removing the millions of remaining land mines across Cambodia. This is a stop that you must not miss, even if the title is off-putting. Here, you see how these intelligent rats from Tanzania in Africa can be trained to identify land mines and save hundreds and hundreds of lives, essential to this day where the threat continues nationwide. The rat's trainers demonstrate the training and lifesaving work that these rats and their handlers do. You can support the mission by going and by donating to a US 501c3 if you are as moved as we were.
We had seen something about Hero Rats on TV and then learned from the hotel that they actually had a place where you could go see them and learn more. We did many amazing things on this trip and this definitely ranked among our favourite. We had no idea how amazing these rats are or that this breed can be trained to do more than find live landmines. We learned about how they are chosen, trained and cared for. We also got to see a demonstration of how they work the fields before getting to hold one. They are excessively cute. If you have a negative view of rats, these guys will change your perspective. Highly recommend visiting the HERO Rats. It's an incredible program worth supporting.
We are on a OAT post trip to Cambodia following 24 days in Vietnam Here they train Giant imported African Rats (known as “HeroRATS) to locate explosives (smell of TNT). They presented us with a demonstration of how a rat identifies the landmine. The rats are trained by mixing in the smell of TNT with the treats they like. Want to hold a 3 pound rat = you can!!!!! NOT for TOM!!!
Had a great time and enjoyed the wealth of knowledge my guide provided to make the experience truly memorable. The Apollo Rat center was a fascinating. Yes, can be done on own without a tour, but booking via this tour took all the headaches or thought out of the process. The Angkor Museum is a fantastic museum. Loads of artifacts and a good primer to understanding what you see when you go to Angkor Wat. Guide was a wealth of knowledge, and moved at a pace to match mine. Highly recommend.
After speaking someone at our hotel they said it was interesting and worth a visit if we had time. We took at Tuk Tuk and turned up, cost was $10 and lasted about 45 mins. Lots of boards displaying the work they undertake, a session of information then a demonstration with one of the rats. After you can hold them. The tour ends with a short film, we enjoyed our visit and learnt that is bits just Cambodia that use them.
The hero rats are amazing. I really enjoyed learning about their activities to save lives. Our guide to the Angkor museum was extremely friendly, knowledgeable and was willing to adapt to what we wanted to see.
