Sacred Half-Day Monk Blessing at Oudong from Phnom Penh

Description

Discover Oudong, Cambodia's former royal capital, on a private half-day escape from Phnom Penh. Climb to panoramic hilltop views over the sugar palms and receive an authentic blessing ceremony from local monks. Rise early and set off from Phnom Penh for Oudong, the royal capital where Cambodian kings were crowned between 1618 and 1866. Climb the ridge linking the two humps of Phnom Oudong, walking past shrines and stupas dedicated to great Khmer rulers including King Monivong and King Ang Duong. Panoramic views over the countryside reward you at the summit, reached either by gravel road or by steps. The highlight is a personal blessing ceremony. Monks chant while sprinkling water and flowers, a traditional Khmer ritual believed to cleanse misfortune and bring good luck, before tying a sacred string around your wrist to be worn until it falls away on its own. A Khmer set lunch at a local restaurant lets the morning settle before your return to Phnom Penh.

Tour Options

Itinerary

What's included

Pickup Locations & Times

Hotel pickup is available from most centrally located Phnom Penh hotels. Transfer outside these areas, supplements apply.

Important Information

• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• This tour is operated on full private basis with English-speaking guide. Other languages are on request / subject to availability and supplementary charges may apply
• Return transfers for this excursion apply only / are inclusive for customers staying in and inside Phnom Penh. Transfers outside these areas, including any accommodation outside this area such as Koh Dach, Tonle Bati, and Oudong, any of the river and cruise ferry terminals and Phnom Penh International Airport are excluded. Supplements apply for customers who want to join this excursion outside one of these regions.
• To avoid any issues pertaining obtaining an arrival visa at the airport, please ensure that your passport contains at least two empty pages. Failure to do so may result in not gaining entrance into the Kingdom of Cambodia.
• To respect local customs and respecting the religious sites and temples on this tour, it is customary for guests to take off their shoes before allowed entrance. Your guide will inform you in advance for which of these sites this is applicable.
• Natural elements of any kind have a destructive effect on electronic equipment. It is the customer’s own responsibility to ensure that any camera, mobile telephone or other device is properly wrapped and protected against these elements. We cannot be held responsible in any way for negligence and/or not following suggestions for any damage related to this.
• Please ensure that you bring sunglasses, a hat /cap and sunblock with a high SPF factor when traveling with us on this tour – even when it is cloudy, the sunrays still have an immense power.
• It is the responsibility of the customer to provide us with the correct hotel information, should pick-up and drop-off services be included in the package. Any changes in accommodation outside 24 hours will be handled accordingly: changes within 24 hours may be on request.
• In the event of no-show or change of accommodation without prior consent and confirmation from us within 24 hours may result in the applicable cancellation charges as outlined in the terms and conditions.
• This tour is only operational in the morning.

Frequently asked questions