7 Day Yoga Holiday with Cultural Adventure in Siem Reap, Cambodia
Yoga and Culture Holiday in Cambodia
If you have always wanted to explore the far corners of the globe, to stretch your understanding of the world, and to see monumental beauty, now is your chance. You are headed on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to Southeast Asia to the breathtaking town of ancient temples, lotus flowers, and Buddhist monks - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Meet the instructors
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Highlights
- Daily yoga classes
- Exhilarating tour of the temple of Angkor Wat
- Several excursions to immerse yourself in Cambodian culture
- Guided biking tour through the Cambodian countryside
- Free time to kick back or explore on your own
- Opportunity to meet and connect with like-minded people
- 6 nights accommodation with daily breakfasts
- Roundtrip airport transfer
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Yoga styles
Accommodation
Facilities
- Swimming pool (outdoor)
- Air-conditioned rooms
- Yoga deck
- Free Wi-Fi
Enjoy hotel-level amenities and service in an intimate and lush garden setting. A saltwater swimming pool is the perfect place to enjoy a cocktail and cool off after a day of adventures in Southeast Asia. All rooms have individually controlled air-conditioning, high-quality linens, cable TV, a private work desk area, a small safe, and a personal refrigerator.
All guests will enjoy private en-suite bathrooms, free Wi-Fi, and fresh filtered drinking water. Room options provide several choices to balance the budget and additional amenities.
While this property is a small, boutique hotel, it is not private to your group, so there are likely to be other guests (adults and children) staying on the property at the same time. The atmosphere of this beloved property, however, remains a quiet oasis. The staff is phenomenal and the food is incredible, which is why Above Yoga chose this property over other smaller properties in the area.
The location is also unmatched. Close enough to walk or take a tuk-tuk to the action of Pub Street, but tucked into a quiet neighborhood down a dirt road.
Deluxe king or twin
The deluxe rooms provide additional space and amenities versus the economy option, with 230-280 square feet of living space and an option for two large single beds, or one king. Stylish decor, plenty of storage, and a small desk add to the ambiance. The stylish, modern bathroom includes a rainfall shower, robes, and slippers.
Please note the deluxe rooms are in the main building and are the most popular choice to find the perfect blend of amenities and value.
Premiere king
If you are looking to splurge or have additional privacy and space on retreat, the premier king is for you, and there are only two available. This option is great for couples! These are the most spacious rooms (380 square feet), and are individually appointed, combining classic European elegance with modern Cambodian charm, and have a separate sitting area and modern luxury bathroom with a rainfall shower, robes, and slippers.
Please note the premier king rooms are situated on the top floor of the hotel, adjacent to the yoga rooftop practice space, and have spectacular sunrise views from the shared patio area.
Program
Overview
You will be guided and cared for by Above Yoga's local team, who is eager to show you Cambodia's world-famous temples, incredible food, ancient culture, and complex history. By the end the week together, you will feel a deep sense of connection to this land, and more importantly, inspired by your life-changing experiences and memories.
All guests will receive a detailed itinerary, packing list, and constant support leading up to and during the holiday. You sign up, pack up and go. Let someone else who has recently traveled to the destination and has local contacts handle all the logistics and planning for you!
There will be daily yoga classes in the private, roof-top terrace practice space; usually flow in the mornings with sunrise and a more Yin or Restorative practice and meditation in the evenings. Classes are taught by experienced and certified instructors.
Schedule
Typical retreat day
- 06:45 Sunrise flow yoga class
- 08:00 Breakfast at the hotel
- 09:00 Excursion/guided tours
- 13:30 Lunch + pool/free time
- 17:30 Yin or Restorative yoga class
- 19:30 Group dinner or free night
Everything on the Above Yoga Retreat is 100% optional. You can skip any classes, activities, or group meals as desired. On this retreat, you tend to start the days a bit earlier to avoid being on a tour (or in yoga class) during the hottest part of the day. There is always plenty of time in the afternoon to relax, nap, or hop in the saltwater pool on-site.
- Included: Yoga class(es), breakfast, temple tours, most dinners
- Not included: Most lunches
Adventure score
This retreat is an activity and adventure score of 4 out of 5. This is not, however, meant to be an indicator that you need to be in extraordinary physical shape to participate. It is meant to indicate that the main touring days will be full (see sample day schedule above).
Please note that the temple, elephant, and biking tours do require a good bit of walking (or peddling). This is usually on flat roads or paths, but often on uneven ground, and in hot and humid conditions. Also, know that you will often be traveling in traditional "tuk tuks" (aka open cabs pulled by motorbikes). If constant creature comforts are a top priority, this is not the best retreat for you.
Included excursions
Angkor Wat
Take a guided tour of the UNESCO World-Heritage site Angkor Wat - the largest religious structure in the world. Learn about the complex history of the temple and its use by both the Hindu and Buddhist religions. Walk past local monks as you explore the grounds and climb to the top for 360 views.
Elephant sanctuary
An absolute highlight for Above Yoga's guests; you will visit a nearby elephant sanctuary. This non-profit center cares for dozens of elephants who were rescued from harsh conditions locally. You will spend a morning observing them as they enjoy their natural surroundings. You will have a chance to get up close as you feed them and walk with them through the forest.
Temple tours
In addition to Angkor Wat, you will visit several other local temples such as Ta Prohm (as known as the temple from the movie Tomb Raider) built more than a thousand years ago and overtaken by huge strangler fig trees. You wll also visit the incredibly detailed Angkor Thom and its famous gates.
Biking adventure
Venture out of the town of Siem Reap as you cycle past small villages, palm trees and water buffaloes. This guided epic bike ride was an absolute highlight of the week for guests last time and it ends with a stunning sunset (and a cold beer if you choose) with 360 views of rice paddy fields.
Local village visit
Get off the beaten path of average tourists, as you will have the chance to visit the village and home of the guide and family, as well as meet lots of their neighbors. You will take educational and fun gifts for all the village kids, too.
Instructors
Katie Overcash
Katie specializes in Restorative and Trauma-Sensitive Yoga. She completed her 200-Hour YTT in 2016 and has since taken extensive continuing education in restorative yoga with Judith Hanson Lasater. She loves the gentler styles of practice as they complement her passion for helping others work through anxiety and stress. She also runs her private therapy practice. Katie has also been on 10+ retreats with us! She's led the retreat to Morocco and been a co-teacher on countless others.
Retreat location
This holiday will take place at Siem Reap, Cambodia. The property is tucked away from the bustling streets of Siem Reap, but just minutes away from the markets and nightlife of Pub Street.
Where is Cambodia?
Cambodia is a country in Southeast Asia and is bordered by Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. Above Yoga highly recommends extending your trip after the retreat to explore other parts of Cambodia (like the bustling capital of Phnom Penh), or places like Phuket or Chiang Mai, Thailand or Hoi An or Ha Long Bay in Vietnam. There are also direct connection flights to Singapore, Hong Kong and other major hubs in Asia.
Why Cambodia
It is a beautiful nation of 17 million people with a complex and storied history, including one of history's most impressive empires (the Khmer Empire of the 900s - 1400s) and one of the world's darkest modern genocides (the reign of the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s). Modern Cambodia is a beautiful mix of new development, preserved ancient temples, welcoming people, and unique cuisine (that's rarely experienced outside of the country's borders). In your free time, they are happy to help you book other local excursions like visiting a floating village or checking out a local market to buy spices and fruits for a chef-led Cambodian food cooking class.
Unique features
Activities
- Cooking classes
- Massage
- Swimming pool (outdoor)
General
- Air-conditioned rooms
- In-room safe
- Terrace
- Yoga deck
Services
- Free bottled water
- Free Wi-Fi
- Tour assistance
Food
Daily on-site breakfast is included, as well as two lunches and four mindfully-curated group dinners in magical settings to experience the local cuisine (all dietary preferences/restrictions can be accommodated). The hotel’s on-site restaurant is open all day and can even provide room service to retreat guests.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
- Other dietary requirements on request
Things to do (optional)
Additional excursions
You will have plenty of time to book additional excursions and explore town on your own. Such as a visit to a local floating village or a bustling market to prep for your cooking class with a chef. You can also witness the sunrise at Angkor Wat. Above Yoga's on-site team and the hotel staff will help you book and plan out anything extra you'd like to do.
- Hop in a tuk-tuk or take a quick stroll over to the famous Pub Street area to shop, have a fish pedicure, enjoy a night out on the town or just explore
- Enjoy a tropical cocktail poolside (you don’t even have to get out of the pool to order) - happy hour specials every day!
- Visit additional temples or other sites (easily arranged through hotel)
- Check out Cambodia’s version of Cirque du Soleil with a social enterprise spin - the Phare Circus
Spa treatments
Indulge in an on-site spa experience at the hotel’s garden zen spa (pedicure, massage, facial, body scrub) for additional cost.
What's included
- Daily yoga classes
- Local guide for all tours
- Temple ticket (3-day pass)
- Guided tours of local temples
- Visit to an elephant sanctuary
- Guided biking tour of the countryside
- Journaling workshop
- Visit to a local village
- Donation to local school children
- Assistance with booking additional excursions
- Private social media group for participants
- Pre-retreat Zoom meeting
- A detailed itinerary, packing list, and constant support leading up to and during the retreat
- A mobile-friendly, secure web app for use on the retreat
- 6 nights accommodation
- Daily on-site breakfast
- Five (5) curated group lunches or dinners
- Wine + beer with group dinners
- Airport transfers
What's not included
- Airfare
- Other meals not mentioned above (3 lunches, 2 dinners)
- Any alcoholic beverages
- Additional non-alcoholic beverages outside of mealtimes
- Spa experiences
- Privately booked excursions
- Shopping
- Optional gratuities for hotel staff or tour guides
- Cambodian tourist visa (36 USD)
- Optional trip insurance (highly recommended)
- Vaccinations
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport
40 km
Transfer included
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport (SAI). Transfer from and to the airport is included. Above Yoga will pick you up from the airport.
Above Yoga highly recommends you fly to the region at least a day earlier than required in order to give yourself additional time if there are flight delays or cancellations. The retreat program will start at around 6 p.m. on the first day and end at 10 a.m. on the final day. If you wish to explore other parts of SouthEast Asia, such as Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and other parts of Cambodia, Above Yoga would be happy to offer suggestions.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookYogaRetreats.com. All major credit cards supported.