Guestbook

"My tour with Nathan changed not only the way I take photographs, but also the way I will travel from now on. As well as the technical training on how to get the most out of my camera and how to improve my shots with post-production software (which have improved my photography out of sight) Nathan coached me on how to interact with the people we met along the way. It's this that made it possible for me for the first time to photograph people in a relaxed and natural setting. I went to places I'd never normally go and spoke to people I would never normally have met. I would recommend Nathans tours and tuition to anyone who enjoys taking photos and is looking for adventure."

Welcome to Cambodia. My 'Private Tours' offer an insiders guide to Cambodia from a photographic perspective usually for between 2 to 4 people ( See my Group Tours to join 4 - 9 like minded people).

I use flexible dates and flexible itineraries ( Again see my Group Tours for fixed dates and fixed itineraries) in the hope that they can fit in with your travel plans. My major motivation is to encourage you to see Cambodia in a slightly different way than you might by yourself or with other larger tour companies. On a very personal level I can guide you around Cambodia, help you truly engage with the culture and share some of photographic expertise at the same time.

After being a professional photographer for 20 years I know how important it is to be in the right place at the right time and after living/ working/ teaching photography in Cambodia for 4 years I am happy to share my hard learned lessons to make sure you get the best out of a relatively short trip. The fact that I speak a little of the language also helps to take pictures of local people in a natural environment and keep your trip running smoothly. In this context I can teach complete beginners or provide invaluable guidance and logistic support for seasoned professionals - and every thing in between.

The key aim of my Private Photography Tours is to tailor make an itinerary to insure it does exactly what YOU want it to do, when YOU want to do it. A 'Private Tour' itinerary can be anything from 1 day in Phnom Penh to 3 days in Siem Reap or 2 weeks exploring the whole country. Within the agreed time frame, I hope to offer the right balance of guidance and photographic assistance that not only enhances your Cambodian experience, but also dramatically improves your potential to take great photographs.

My private tours often include Phnom Penh and Siem Reap for the Angkor period temples but I take pride in showing my visitors the little secrets beyond the obvious tourist attractions to discover the real Cambodia.

My itinerary's can also include - rural communities -forested mountains - Eco resorts - fishing villages -floating villages - waterfalls - river cruises - fresh water dolphins - elephant sanctuary's - raw coast line and un-spoilt islands - even the last strong holds of the Khmer Rouge.

I leave it up to you to find your own way here so the best way to start is to let me know where you might want to pick up a tour (usually Phnom Penh or Siem Reap but could just as well be Koh Kong or Kampot etc) and then let me know the kind of things you expect to see and do.

I am very flexible but at the end of this page I suggest 17 single day activities. The idea is you can start a tour on any given day you like from Day 1 to Day 17 and then run it for as many days you want forward or backward, as long as it runs in sequence I.E Day 1 to Day 6 ( day 1,2,3,4,5,6) or Day 9 to Day 6 ( day 9,8,7,6).

Because I live in Phnom Penh I am happy to run 1-day tours that start here, but any other combination of days will need to be a minimum of 3 days at my advertised cost.

Note*(shorter trips are available but I will usually charge for travel time to and from start or finish point, but always just ask)

If you have already made your own arrangements for accommodation and don't need to travel to different locations I can offer my services to teach and guide you for $200 a day to include local transport fees.

However on longer tours it often makes sense for me to make arrangements for your accommodation and transport as well. Don't worry I don't profiteer from this part of the service but I can organize all the groundwork for accommodation and transport before you arrive, to allow you more time just to think about your photography and enjoy your experience.

It's not always this straight forward but to simplify things, I try to offer three distinctly different packages as 'day rates' that include your accommodation and transport (see below) to be multiplied by the number of days guidance you want (i.e. 3 days in Siem Reap with standard guest house accommodation and standard Tuk Tuk transportation will cost 3 x US$240 = US$720) but this may be subject to variation i.e. if you are traveling long distances you might want to travel by taxi rather than local transport so you can stop to take more photos etc.

As a rough guide line you can use the following 3 options to give you an idea of my pricing multiplied by the number of days you want to tour, but I will supply an 'all in cost' with your finalized itinerary.

STANDARD DAY RATES: Clean, safe, local guest house in most cases offering A/C, en suite bathroom, hot water, TV, internet access + local transport usually Tuk Tuk or hired bicycle. $220 a day/per person or $240 a day for couple or two people willing to share a twin room.

MORE UP MARKET DAY RATES: Nice mid range Hotel with nice en suite bathroom, A/C, TV, Safe, wi-fi access, often swimming pool and massage + transport by private taxi usually a Toyota Camry. $270 a day/per person or $300

TOP DAY RATES; Top notch Hotels when possible (sometimes not outside the big cities) with either urbane chic or renaissance charm that won't leave you wanting + chauffeur driven 4 wheel drive vehicle (Mr., Oun's, Mitsubishi Pajero). $350 a day/per person or $400 a day for couple or two people willing to share a twin room. a day for couple or two people willing to share a twin room.

1) When you want to travel
2) Where you want me to start the tour (usually Siem reap or Phnom Penh)
3) How many days you want to tour and the kind of things you want or expect to see.
( perhaps using the listed itineraries at the end of this page as example)
4) How you would describe yourself as a photographer. ( i.e complete beginner, just bought a digital SLR and think I should be getting more out of it or a professional photographer who wants to be in the right place at the right time without the hassle of looking for decent accommodation and haggling with taxi drivers in a foreign language)
5) If you do want me to organize your transport and accommodation then let me know what standard you expect (i.e. basic, up market, top notch see above)

Note*(obviously there might be questions you might want to ask - but please just ask and I will answer as well I can)

From that point I will send you an itinerary and a suggested price.

If you agree we can make a booking.

With regards to payment I usually just ask for half the agreed fee to be paid at the end of your first day of the tour and then the other half of agreed fee only on successful completion of the whole tour - so you cant go wrong there ( If you dont like me after the first day - don't pay me. If you are not happy with your tour at the end of it - don't pay me)

Note*(If you are booking along time ahead of the date or if you require high end accommodation then there are occasions when I might need a deposit to secure your tour)

Am; introductory work shop to how, what and when to take travel photography photos in Cambodia.

I keep my itinerary close to my chest here, but you can be rest assured that my inside knowledge of nearly 90 visits to the sites of Angkor will be shared with you in a way you will go home with pictures that you will proud of for a very long time.

I am happy to discuss this privately before hand especially with regards to how hard you want to push yourself but I try to keep my itinerary's both a secret and seasonal to take advantage of different strengths at different times of year. Contrary to expectation the wet season can often be the best time of year to visit when Cambodia is at it's greenest and it's water levels there highest but the dry season undoubtedly brings more reliable sunrises and sunsets.

Am/ Pm; Day time stroll around Cambodia’s 2^nd largest city and probably best intact colonial buildings.

Late afternoon ride on Cambodias unforgettable Bamboo Train through paddy fields at Sunset

Am; 1 ½ hour boat trip around fascinating floating village of Kompong Chnnang + visit to local artisans of clay pots still fashioned without the aid of a potters wheel

Pm; onto to Udong a 17^th to 19^th capital of Cambodia. A stupa littered hilltop and great views make this a great place for sunset.

* Note (Kompong Chnnang and Udong can just as easily be a one or two day trip from Phnom Penh) )

Pm; Russian Market, Wat Phnom, Central Post Office and the national museum, before late afternoon stroll down the river front and sundowner cocktails at the famous FCC ( Foreign Correspondants Club)

Am; Early morning start to an unforgettable day seeing the side of Cambodia only a local could show you.

Already one of my favorite day trips from Phnom Penh (I run most weekends) this charming Island is almost a stones throw from the capital city but reveals such a different way of life it could be thousands of miles away. Many tourists miss out on this side of Cambodia after several years of visiting I have great friends there that help us enjoy the local village life.

Day 9 (Koh Kong / Waterfalls and Mangroves)

Am; head down to Koh Kong nestled in the foot hills of the Cardamon mountains stopping off at beautiful Tat Tai waterfall en-route.

Pm; Late evening boat trip through Mangrove forest.

Over night in river side hotel Koh Kong. (local guest house, nice mid range hotel available)

Day 10 ( Sre Amble / Sleepy fishing ports and beach for sunset)

Am, Check out some of Koh Kongs and Cambodia’s most unvisited fihing ports along this fabulous coast line.

Pm; head back to Nataya beach resort via Sre Amble. Arrive late afternoon at beautiful isolated seaside resort with infinity swimming pool and 300m walk way out to sea. Rumored to be good for Dolphin spotting.

Note* (Over night Nataya Resort only mid range hotel available)

Day 11 (Nataya beach resort / Relax on beach, local fishing villages, salt plains)

Am; either just relax or explore the local area including large and small fishing ports and salt plains in the lower levels of Bokor mountain (Day trip to top of Bokor Mountain should be able to be fazed in after October 2010)

Pm; transfer to Kampot famously laid back with sleepy charm this former thriving town (due to local pepper productions) is slowly regaining it’s former glory.

Am; Stroll around town plus visit to local hamlets set in glorious rice paddies and pepper plantation along the wonderful road in-between Kampot and Kep.

Pm; arrive late afternoon to relax around the environs of the local crab market, and enjoy a few sun downers while the last catches of the day come in.

Am; head back to Phnom Penh via the caves at Kompong Trach, Cray Fish lunch at Takeo

Pm; visit to ancient Angkor site Phnom Chisor and lotus flower plantation.

Overnight Phnom Penh (local guest house, nice mid range hotel available)

Pm; head to Modulkiri via Kompong Cham – enjoy short stroll around town before heading to Elephant sanctuary.

Note* (Over night in Elephant Sanctuary basic guest house but at mid range hotel price due to access and support of elephants)

Pm; continue to Kratie – best place to see the last fresh water Dolphins of the Mekong

Overnight Ratanaikiri (local guest house, nice mid range hotel, top notch hotel available)

Note* (You can start a tour on any given day you like from Day 1 to Day 17 then run it for as many days you want forward or back as long as it runs in sequence ie. Day 1 to Day 6 ( day 1,2,3,4,5,6) or Day 9 to Day 6 ( day 9,8,7,6)) .

Note* (Because I live in Phnom Penh I am happy to run 1 day tours that start there any other combination of days will need to be a minimum of 3 days at my advertised cost. Shorter trips are available but I will usually charge for travel time to and from start or finish point, but always just ask.)

Note* (If you don't want to do these tours by yourself and/or would prefer the added insurance of ATOL protection then please see my GROUP TOURS that I run in association with UK adventure tour company All Points East)

Note* (For the more courageous I also drive a motorbike (Honda - Trans Alp 600cc) which is a great way to see parts of the country and get to places that many tourists simply wont see. You can simply jump on the back or if you want to hire your own bike I can arrange that and then guide you.)

Note* ( If you want to make a present of a ' Private Tour ' then gift vouchers are available.)

See MY PORTFOLIOS > TOUR GALLERIES> Cambodia Private Tours for photographs taken on these trips.