Siem Reap Ritual & Water Blessing Tour 

The Cambodian people believe in and practice the water blessing, particularly at the Buddhist temple in the rural community. Locals frequently visit the monk to receive a water blessing since it is a special and well-liked event that may be used for various purposes, such as receiving blessings or casting away bad luck. You will also have the experience of riding the boat to the lotus field and learn about how lotuses grow and how people use them in real life through religion and belief. Additionally, you will be instructed on how to prepare the flowers to give to the monk at the pagoda. You also can experience making your own lotus paper, lotus yarn, lotus seeds bracelet and lotus meditation wicks and incense sticks. After you get all this experience, we are going to have lunch at a small hut. You will learn about the specifics of temple life and the monks’ point of view at Wat Po. The function of the monks who reside in the temple is one of the aspects, according to our co-host, that make it so significant to the Cambodian people. After that, we will present the lotus flowers to the monks, so get ready to accept a blessing from a monk. Following the monk’s blessing, a crimson ritual bracelet will be presented as a gift for living harmoniously and continuing to be blessed. You are free to pray for anything you can imagine, including good fortune, safe travel, and long life. Then, you’ll be driven back to the hotel by our local expert.

Highlights

• An authentic boat rides at the lotus field
• Shopping in the local market 
• Having lunch such as local foods 
• Experience of making your own lotus products 
• Picking up some flowers to off the monks
• An insightful of Buddhism practice and stories
• Getting a sacred monk blessing and a ritual bracelet
• Unique Spiritual Relief and Blessed

Tour Itinerary

Stop At a Local Market near Phnom Krom:

We will spend 15 minutes there. We will stop there to get some fresh fruits or local snacks while we visit this market. A great chance to learn and interact with locals about a rural Cambodian market lifestyle.

Stop At a Small Village near Lotus Farm:

Our guide will show and explain about the real situation of Cambodian rural lifestyle. What is the difference from city living, especially the people who are living near the lake? Go around the village learning about the situation and experience with handmade hammocks from water-lilies.  You will get the boat riding for 15 minute to go the lotus fields, along the way of boating riding you will enjoy with fresh air, view around the lake, the boat ride also allows for more educational aspects and explanations like buffalos, a wildlife, animals, and nature conservation and the current challenges faced in it. The information and explanation about the lotus in general will be provided by the story of the whole lotus process. That very important plant is in Cambodian daily life both for gastronomic use but also for cultural/religious/spiritual life and then you can pick up the lotus flower to prepare to offer to the monks.

Stop At Open-air Small Hut:

After taking 15 minutes back from the boat ride, we will have the cold coconut, fresh fruit and snack that we brought from the local market for you to enjoy. Take some time to relax on the hammock and enjoy the landscape beauty around. 

Stop At Lotus Farm Workshop:

A guide around the workshop to learn about the process of turning the lotus fiber into textile. Getting yourself ready to make your own lotus paper, lotus yarn, lotus seeds bracelet, lotus meditation wicks and incense sticks. You will be given your creation as a gift home. Enjoy the delicious lotus tea and cake at the tea lounge. 

Stop At Lotus Farm Restaurant:

We will head to the local lunch at the small hut nearby to try delicious meals and take a rest for an hour on the hummock, especially tasting the lotus dishes that remind you of the lotus journey and offers.

Stop At Wat Po Buddhist Temple:

The host will make sure to give insightful information and knowledge and learn about a lot of important aspects of religion and spirituality. Then our host will let you have time to open the questions and digest the information. Before starting the water blessing the host will guide you to think on what they would like to wish during the monk blessing in order to calm down their minds and prepare mentally for that very special monk blessing moment. The greeting and questions that you could ask the monk and explaining a bit more what the monk’s blessing about. After 10 minutes of blessing, you will get to change before returning back to the hotel.

What’s Included

• Hotel Pickup and Drop-Off
• Authentic boat ride 
• Local Lunch 
• Lotus Workshop
• Monk Gratitude offers 
• Local English-speaking guide
• Tour transportation (Tuk-Tuk)
• Fresh fruits, coconut and Snacks
• Water refill and cold towel
• A memorable gift back home from the tour

What is excluded?

• Tips and Gratuity
• Other Expenses

Additional information

• Dress code: comfortable clothes and spare clothes for changes
• Bring flip-flop 
• Mosquito spray
• Refill bottle 
• Bath towel