The temples of Siem Reap are well-known to every traveler that considers taking a Cambodian vacation. Home to several of the most famous temples in the world – including of course, the legendary Angkor Wat – there’s no end of fascination for cultural explorers seeking the historical sights and spectacular temples.
As an innovative Asia tour provider however, we dig deeper in the places we offer tailor-made tours to, with the aim to enable travelers to do more than just scratch the surface of a destination. One such option that sets us apart in the historic Siem Reap region is our Phare Circus Experience Cambodia tour.
The lesser-known circus is a contemporary treat which aims to reinvigorate a touch of Cambodian culture that was lost during the dark days of the Khmer Rouge, who made an abolition of the arts one of their priorities.
Once the reign of the Khmer Rouge ended, a small group of refugees from Anchanh Village in Battambang sought to bring back a part of national culture and established the non-profit NGO Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPS Association).
The PPS has played a major role in using art to help promote Khmer culture over the last 20 years and enabled a large number of young people to develop skills and forge careers as artists.
Our unique Siem Reap tour experience enables travelers not only the chance to take in the unique show, but also the opportunity to enjoy a private visit to meet with the troupe and enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at their show rehearsals.
The four-day Cambodia vacation also takes travelers to Tonlé Sap Lake and Battambang (known as the ‘arts capital of Cambodia’) to see where the Phare story began. Travelers will also have the chance to further understand how locals are attempting to rebuild their nation from a cultural aspect by paying visit to the Sammaki Gallery and Battambang Museum, as well as stopping at the Phare Ponleu Selpak School of Music, Visual and Performing Arts, to see the Phare project in action.
If scratching beneath the surface of a destination and exploring lesser-seen sites is important to you, be sure to get in touch with our tailor-made Travel Specialists who will strive to offer you unique off-the-radar cultural experiences you can’t find elsewhere.
