AUTHENTIC CAMBODIA

DAY 1 : SIEM REAP ARRIVAL

After arriving in Siem Reap, transfer to hotel and check in.

Half day excursion to Tonle Sap. Explore the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia. The Tonle Sap is an ecological hot spot and the most productive inland fisheries in the world. Enjoy a boat trip on the lake and learn how people live in their floating villages.

Overnight in Siem Reap

DAY 2 : SIEM REAP (B / - / -)

Full day Angkor Tour by Tuk Tuk :

Visit Angkor Wat by Tuk Tuk, Cambodia’s unique transportation. The crowning jewel of Khmer architecture, Angkor Wat is the national symbol and the highlight of any visit to Cambodia. The largest, best preserved, and most religiously significant of the Angkor temples, Angkor impresses visitors both by its sheer scale and beautifully proportioned layout, as well as the delicate artistry of its carvings. To approach the temple, first cross the vast moat, continuing along a broad causeway lined with naga balustrades. As you enter the main building, ascend through a series of galleries and courtyard before reaching the central sanctuary, which offers beautiful views back over the causeway and across the surrounding countryside.

On the way, stop to enjoy the intricate stone carvings that adorn nearly every surface, with some 1,700 Apsaras, or celestial dancers, sculpted into the walls. Along the outer gallery walls run the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which narrates stories from Hindu mythology, including the famous Churning of the Ocean of Milk. Angkor Wat is stunning at any time of the day, but sunrise and sunset are especially beautiful times to watch the play of light on the stones.

Angkor Thom: the fortified city of Angkor Thom covers an area of 10 square km. Enclosed by a wall and wide moats, the city includes many of Angkor's most popular sights. Enter by the monumental SOUTH GATE over a causeway lined on either side by statues of demons and gods, each carrying a giant naga. Continue to the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper Kings, former spaces for public ceremonies, both adorned with dramatic bas reliefs.

Visit the ruined Baphuon, Royal Enclosure and Phimeanakas before continuing to the mysterious Bayon Temple. In this temple, one of the most popular and compelling in Angkor, explore the galleries of beautifully preserved bas reliefs and ascend narrow stairs to reach the central sanctuary, where you will find giant stone faces smiling enigmatically down at you from every angle.

Ta Prohm is one of the most popular attractions of Angkor as much of the jungle has not been cleared and it looks very much as most of the Angkor monuments would have appeared when European explorers first stumbled across them.

Overnight in Siem Reap

DAY 3 : SIEM REAP (B / - / -)

Half day cycling tour:

In the morning you will experience the real Cambodia by bicycle. You will get off the beaten tourist track, cycle through a beautiful countryside and get a glance into people’s daily life. Back in the hotel at around 14h and afternoon free at leisure.

Overnight in Siem Reap

DAY 4 : SIEM REAP (B / - / -)

Full day Beng Mealea and Bantrey Srei.

Beng Mealea was built as a Hindu temple, but there are some carvings depicting Buddhist motifs. Its primary material is sandstone and it is largely unrestored, with trees and thick brush thriving amidst its towers and courtyards and many of its stones lying in great heaps. A new built road makes it easy to reach the temple that is situated around 80km outside from Siem Reap.

Afternoon proceed to Bantrey Srei, which dates back to 967 AD. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and is famed for the intricate friezes carved into its red sandstone walls. On the way back, we will visit Banteay Samre, which was built during Suryarvaman II’s rule in the middle of the 12th century.

Overnight in Siem Reap

DAY 5 : SIEM REAP – KAMPONG THOM (B / L / D)

Early morning drive to Kampong Thom and visit Sambo Prei Kuk.

Founded by King Isanavarman I during the seventh century, Sambo Prei Kuk was once the capital of Chenla known as Isanapura, and was a religious center dedicated to the worship of Shiva. Collectively, the complex consists of more than a hundred temples built of solid bricks, laterite and sandstone and from the remains. It is understood that several successions of kings have maintained this site as their capital, each time adding more temples and monuments to the capital city.

In the afternoon get a glance into daily life from the local people in the Isanborei Community. Overnight in homestay with a local family.

Overnight in Kampong Thom

DAY 6 : KAMPONG THOM – PHNOM PENH (B / - / -)

Overland transfer to Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s bustling capital city. On the way stop at the workshops of the stone masons near Santuk, and at the infamous Spider and Insect Market in Skun.

Overnight in Phnom Penh

DAY 7 : PHNOM PENH (B / - / -)

Full day city tour in Phnom Penh: Today you will discover Phnom Penh. The National Museum is the country’s leading historical and archaeological museum. It was officially inaugurated by King Sisowat in 1920. The buildings are inspired by Khmer temple architecture and house more than 14,000 items.

The Royal Palace is a complex of buildings, even though it is generally understood to be the royal abode of the King of Cambodia. The compound was the citadel of King Ponhea Yat (1393-1463) and rebuilt to its present state in 1886, when King Norodom (1834-1904) relocated the royal capital from Oudong to Phnom Penh. The buildings with beautiful towering spires are a great example of classic Khmer architecture found in Cambodia today. Inside the palace grounds, the noises from the street are silenced by the high walls surrounding the compound. While tourists cannot enter the area of the royal abode, visitors can gain entry to the Throne Hall (Preah Tineang Tevea Vinichhay) where coronations and official ceremonies take place, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Preah Keo Morakot), Stupas (Chedei), a Royal Dining Hall, the Chan Chhaya Pavilion and a French-style building that was a gift from Napoleon III.

Silver Pagoda: lies within the grounds of the Royal Palace, which is situated near the banks of the Mighty Mekong. Originally a wooden structure, the palace was initially constructed in 1892 during the reign of King Norodom, but rebuilt to its present grandeur by King Norodom Sihanouk in 1962. The king spared no effort to make this a true embodiment of brilliant Khmer art. More than 5300 pcs of 1.125 kilo silver tiles are used to cover the floor of the Silver Pagoda, and the silver pieces collectively weigh over six tons.

Toul Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21): Learn about a chapter from Cambodia's more recent, tragic, past at the TUOL SLENG MUSEUM (Museum of Genocide). Formerly the Tuol Svay Prey High School, in 1975, this became the interrogation and torture facility for the Khmer Rouge regime at that time known as Security Prison 21, or simply S-21. Kept largely unchanged, this prison now showcases photographs and exhibits about the thousands of victims that passed through these doors only seven of whom came out alive.

Overnight in Phnom Penh

DAY 8 : PHNOM PENH (B / - / -)

Free at leisure until transfer to the airport for departure flight to next destination.

End of our services.