Phnom Penh’s Present & Past

Your tour will start with a visit to The Royal Palace, which is the grand residence of Cambodia’s much loved King and was built by the French in 1866. The main building on the compound is the Throne Room, built in 1917 in the traditional Khmer style it has a tiered roof and a 59‐meter tower, which is influenced by Angkor Thom’s Bayon Temple.

Also on the compounds of the Royal Palace, is the stunning Silver Pagoda, the floor inside it is comprised of more than 5000 silver tiles, which together weigh nearly 6 tons. The pagoda houses a magnificent 17th century Emerald Buddha statue and a 90 kg gold Buddha studded with 9584 diamonds.

Next door to the palace is your next stop, the National Museum of Phnom Penh, which was designed by French historian George Groslier in traditional Khmer style. A landmark and masterpiece in the capital, the museum houses some of the most valuable Khmer Art and is home to a permanent display of Post- Angkorian Buddha statues. Original statues from Angkor also live at the National Museum, which have been replaced by replicas at Angkor itself.

Cambodia’s harrowing history under the brutal Khmer Rouge routine, whilst deeply upsetting, is something that should not be ignored. For those who can handle it, we offer a visit to the S‐21 (Tuol Sleng) prison camp for an in-depth account of the atrocities that occurred, followed by a trip to Choeung Ek. Known as “The Killing Fields”, this seemingly peaceful area located 17km from Phnom Penh was for everyone entering the site the end of the line. Nowadays it is home to a memorial sputa containing over 5000 skulls, which allows the Khmer people to return and honor their ancestors who died by the Pol Pot regime.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, breakfast, hotel

Phnom Penh – Siem Reap

Today you travel by road from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. En route you will have a chance to stop on the way to take photos and witness the everyday lives of Cambodians as you pass through interesting provincial towns, bucolic villages, and delightful scenery. This is no ‘freeway dash’ as you will often slow down to let cows and water buffalos wander across the road, pass horses drawn carriages, and school kids walking and cycling to/from school.

We may choose to stop at Skun, also known, as ‘Spider ville’ due to the deep fried tarantula that is the local delicacy, are you adventurous enough to try one?

Continue to visit Sambor Prei Kuk, which is dotted with hundred Pre-Angkor styled temples. The site, part of the Chenla Kingdom, includes an area of nearly 1000 acres enclosed by double walls, and hundreds temples and towers ; its construction predates Angkor Wat by several centuries.

You may wish to stop off in Kompong Kdei, to look at Spean Pratos – an ancient Angkorian bridge.Overnight in Siem Reap.

Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, breakfast, hotel

Angkor Thom & Angkor Wat

After meeting our tour guide, then we drive to Angkor Thom that was the masterpiece of King Jayavarman VII. Following the occupation of Angkor by the Chams from 1177 to 1181, the new king decided to build an impregnable fortress at the heart of his empire. The scale is simply staggering and we are immediately overwhelmed by the audacity of Jayavarman on arrival at the city’s gates.

We begin to visit Bayon Temple. At the exact center of Angkor Thom, this is an eccentric expression of the creative genius and inflated ego of Cambodia’s most celebrated king. Its 54 towers are each topped off with the four faces of Avalokiteshvara (Buddha of Compassion), which bear more than a passing resemblance to the king himself. These colossal heads stare down from every side, exuding power and control with a hint of compassion, just the mix required to keep a hold on such a vast empire.

We continue to visit Terrace of the Leper King. This intricately carved platform was the royal crematorium and the statue that was originally thought to be the leper king is now believed to be Yama, the god of death. We continue along the Terrace of Elephants, originally used as a viewing gallery for the king to preside over parades, performances and traditional sports.

At the southern end lies the Baphuon, once of the most beautiful temples at Angkor, dating from the reign of Uditayavarman 1 in the 11th century. It has undergone a massive renovation by the French and is now once again open for viewing.

You'll break for lunch at a local restaurant before the 15-minute drive to Ta Prohm, the monastery-temple of Tomb Raider fame. Left as it was ‘discovered’ by French explorer Henri Mouhot in 1860, the tentacle-like tree roots here are slowly strangling the surviving stones.

We journey out to the Mother of all temples, Angkor Wat. Believed to be the world's largest religious building, this temple is the perfect fusion of symbolism and symmetry and a source of pride and strength to all Khmers. Built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II, this is most famous temple at Angkor. We venture into Angkor Wat to enjoy its magnificence in peace and quiet. We begin by unraveling the mysteries of the bas-reliefs that tell of tales from Hindu mythology and of the glories of the Khmer empire. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, breakfast, hotel

Kbal Spean & Banteay Srei

After meeting our tour guide, then we transfer to visit Kbal Spean, about 49km from Siem Reap Town and it is literally means "The head of the River.” It is one of the rivers in 1000 Lingas that made up of unique Lingas. Lingas stands into the riverbed of the Siem Reap River. It was believed that the Lingas spiritually "fertilized” the waters that fed the Eastern bay and irrigated the rice fields.

We head further out through rural countryside to the small but beautiful temple of Banteay Srei. This temple is largely built of pink sandstone, a harder rock that can be more elaborately carved and better survives the rigors of time. This is an opportunity to capture some good photographs of the clear and detailed carvings. Not be missed is Banteay Samre: Its rose-colored sandstone walls are decorated with carvings and bas-reliefs, which are among the most accomplished Angkor has to offer.Overnight in Siem Reap.

Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, breakfast, hotel

Siem Reap departure

We will transfer to Tonle Sap Lake for taking boat trip to visit at Kompong Pluk, where we will have the opportunity to learn about life on the lake. On the way, we will pass floating houses and impressive flooded forests, portraying life on the water. Return back in town, we will go to visit Artisans d’Angkor. In there, we can take a tour through the workshops and watch students as they learn how to create silk fabrics and garments, stone and wood carving, lacquer ware, polychrome products, silver plating and silk paintings.

Transfer to SIEM REAP airport for departure to next destination. It’s time to say goodbye, we thank you for traveling with us and warmly welcome you to come again.

Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, breakfast boat trip