Siem Reap and the spectacular ruins at Angkor will surely be the highlight of this new Cambodia tour. This trip will take you the stunningly beautiful and awe inspiring Siem Reap. You will get to take in all the culture and history that Siem Reap has to offer. You’ll get to meet the charming locals, see stunning temples, wonderful scenery, enchanting markets and take an Ox cart ride that make this the perfect choice for a great Cambodian adventure! On top of all this you will also get to take a different look at Khmer heritage by learning how to cook some delicious local delicacies.

TOUR SUMMARY

Day 1: Siem Reap

Day 2: Siem Reap

Day 3: Siem Reap

Day 4: Siem Reap

DAY 1: SIEM REAP

Today you will arrive in the legendary town of Siem Reap, the former capital of the great Khmer Empire and now a town full of ambling lanes full of stalls proffering local food and interesting handicrafts which will have you mentally trying to find more room in your suitcase. On arrival at the airport, you will meet with your tour leader and then transfer to hotel. Your tour leader will brief you on everything you would like to know about the area, from the history and culture to distinctive and enlightening curiosities not available to most first-time visitors.

Having checked into your hotel and some time to refresh, we invite you to walk around the town itself. Start your exploration around 2pm with a guided tour to some of the more fascinating corners of the Old Town of Siem Reap. Stop at an Artisan Angkor shop, which is a showcase for Cambodian crafts with pieces inspired by Angkor heritage as well as fashionable handmade clothing and decorative items that can suit contemporary lifestyles. Cross picturesque Siem Reap River to Wat Damnak, a living temple with monks praying, a vibrant school and a colourful “forest of stupa”. Receive a special blessing from one of the monks, which includes the tying of a blessed string around your wrist. Walk back across the Pedestrian Bridge to the Old Market and your guide will lead you through the maze of undercover stalls selling fruits, vegetables, meat & fish, household goods… and of course, lots of souvenirs! Your guide will also suggest the best dining options available, from international restaurants to hidden Cambodian culinary gems. Pub Street (and the surrounding alleys) in the evening offers a wide variety of restaurants and bars to choose from… Continue to the Night Market for some great souvenir shopping or perhaps a “Dr Fish” massage. Later, return to the hotel.

Overnight in SIEM REAP. Accommodation is included in this package.

DAY 2: SIEM REAP

Today we immerse ourselves in one of the most astounding archaeological sites in the world. The magnificent Angkor complex of temples is scattered over an area of 200 square kilometers, with only Egypt’s Nile Valley providing any kind of comparison in terms of such a vast array of monuments. The Khmer kings ruled from this ancient seat, reigning over the largest, most prosperous and sophisticated kingdoms in the history of South East Asia. At the height of their power, the kings of Angkor controlled territories that extended from the tip of the Indochina peninsula, northward to Yunnan and from Vietnam, westward to the Bay of Bengal.

We start early at Ta Prohm when the birds and parrots outnumber the tourists. Ta Prohm is especially serene and beautiful in the early morning. It is one of the highlights of any visit to Angkor, giant trees spread their roots across the temples giving the impression that nature is very much in control. Shrouded in dense jungle the temple of Ta Prohm is ethereal in aspect and conjures up a romantic aura. It was built about mid-12th century to early 13th century (1186) by the King Jayavarman VII, dedicated to the mother of the king (Buddhist). It made famous by the movie Tomb Raider. Leaving this amazing jungle temple behind, we drive towards to Bayon, is perhaps Angkor’s most moving temple. The base reliefs are among the most interesting in Angkor and offer an insight into the past. They show re-enactments of the war against the Chams and also scenes of daily life depicting childbirth, pig fights, drinking and farming. There are also 54 standing towers each bearing four faces of a figure believed to represent both Loksvara (the Bodhisittva of compassion) and the great King himself. These faces literally come to life with the changing light of the rising sun. We time our visit when most other visitors have departed to encourage a truly magical experience!

We continue our visit to the ancient city of Angkor Thom, built by the most prolific of all temple builders King Jayaverman VII. Having expelled the marauding Chams from Angkor, the king set about building a huge walled city, surrounded by a wide crocodile infested moat and entered through 5 enormous ornate gates. Within the great walls were numerous temples, palaces and residences. We take an in depth look at the Terraces of the Elephants and the Leper King, the Royal Palace, and Baphoun. We then move on to the best preserved South Gate and return to our hotel for a refreshing or a swim.

In the afternoon we return to visit some of the most well preserved carvings in the region at Angkor Wat, one of the world’s most impressive temples constructed between the 9th and 13th centuries and the largest Hindu structure in the world. The temple is home to hundreds of fine carvings of Apsara and Hindu mythology. Stroll around the massive hallways to discover small shrines still in use today by the local people. Return to one of the grass terraces in front of the five massive towers of Angkor Wat to watch the sunset before transferring back to your hotel.

This evening we enjoy a wonderful dinner performance of traditional Apsara and Folk dances. Although not as famous as Thai dance, Khmer Apsara dance is actually where Thai dance originated from. Tonight we are entertained by dances originally saved for Royal audiences in Siem Reap’s most beautiful.

Overnight in SIEM REAP. Accommodation is included in this package.

DAY 3: SIEM REAP

This morning we take a different look at Cambodia’s cultural heritage and learn about Khmer cooking. We head off with our chef who takes us to the local market to purchase the ingredients for our cookery class. The market visit is an experience in itself and is a fascinating insight into daily life and Khmer herbs, spices and produce. We then return to a wonderful space where we prepare a wonderful meal. Our chef and teacher is on hand to ensure that our methods are sound. At the end of the morning we get to taste the fruits of our labors and enjoy a wonderful, self-prepared lunch.

This afternoon we head out to the Cambodian countryside and get to really understand how people live. We make a stop at The Pouk Silk Farm. Here, talented locals receive vigorous training in traditional Khmer methods of weaving. This helps to preserve the countries cultural heritage while again supporting the local economy. Visitors can see the silk making procedure from the silk worms, through the cocoon stage, dying, weaving etc …We then take an Ox-cart or Buffalo-cart ride through the villages and countryside. Using the traditional mode of transportation, and supporting a community based project, we can experience a slice of daily life as we pass people working in the fields and smiling waving children.

We continue our way to visit Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Cambodia. Encircled by mangrove forest, the lake is home to over 100 different bird species, turtles, crocodiles and otter and an important source for the local fishing production. Here we take a boat cruise through a manmade canal which takes us to the massive Tonle Sap Lake. This is the largest lake in South East Asia and increases its size by up to 4 times during the monsoon. The lake is the pulsing heart of Cambodia and is where many Cambodians make their daily living. It is the home to many communities living on floating villages around the lake observing people at work and children at play as we meander around the school, hospital and family dwellings, all constructed on the water. We bring a packed of some soft drinks and snacks and stay on the rooftop of our own simple private chatter boat to watch the sunset or to enjoy the structure of surrounding become gold color when the sun almost set. A wonderful way to spend our evening in the kingdom with fund and relaxing!

Overnight in SIEM REAP. Accommodation is included in this package.

DAY 4: SIEM REAP

Today is the last day of your tour where you can spend some more time exploring before you leave to travel home. We wish you a comfortable journey home and are sure you will take with you some wonderful memories of Cambodia.

* Hotel check-out times are midday. Late check-out is not included.

PRIVATE TOUR

*Accommodation & Transportation is subject to availability at booking moment & Tour price is subject to seasonal fluctuations

Included:

• Transfer from and to the airport
• Hotel accommodation based on Twin-sharing
• Daily Breakfast, Dinner on arrival day & Dinner show on day 2
• All transfers with private air-conditioned (mini)buses if not stated otherwise
• Local English speaking tour leader
• All entrance fees for the sites
• Activities mentioned in Itinerary

Excluded:

• International flights
• Personal expenses (drinks, laundry, telephone, etc.)
• All other meals
• Gratitude for driver and guide
• Visa fees
• Travel Insurance, airport taxes or any other government fees or additional surcharges
• Optional excursions