TIME: 5 days 4 nights
TRANSPORT: By air/ car
ORIGIN: Ho Chi Minh City
DESTINATION: Cambodia – Siem Reap
Highlights* Explore the big circuit of Angkor: Preah Khan * Capture the essence of the antique capital of Angkor Thom (12 century) * Visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. * Enjoy a boat ride on the Tonle Sap Lake at Kampong Phluk Village .
DAY 01 ARRIVAL – SIEM REAP – ANGKOR WAT TOUR (no meal)
Upon arrival at Siem Reap airport, meets and transfers to hotel for check in. Lunch not included
Visit to the unique interior brick sculptures of Prasat Kravan, SrahSrang (“The Royal Baths” was once used or ritual bathing), BanteayKdei (surrounded by 4 concentric walls), Ta Prohm, one of the area’s most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. NeakPean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake) and Preah Khan temple, Built by the King Jayavarman VII. Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, the temple of Preah Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation. Dinner not included and night at hotel
DAY 02 SIEM REAP – ANGKOR WAT TOURS (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Visit the antique capital of Angkor Thom (12 century): the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Bayon Temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, the Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Lunch not included
Visit to the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Enjoy wonderful sunset from the top of Pre Rup Temple.Dinner not included and night at hotel
DAY 03 SIEM REAP – PHNOM KULEN MOUNTAINS – BANTEAY SREY (B)
Breakfast at hotel. We will drive up Kulen Mountains for the visit to a Grand Buddha Statue, the River of Thousand Lingas and the Great Waterfall. Lunch not included. On the way back, we will visit to Banteay Srey, known as Citadel of Women or a Pink Temple,, and BanteaySamre Temples. Dinner not included and night at hotel
DAY 04 SIEM REAP – BOAT TRIP – KHMER VILLAGES – SIEM REAP (B/L)
Breakfast at hotel. In the morning, we will enjoy a boat ride on the Tonle Sap Lake at KAMPONG PHLUK VILLAGE. This is the largest permanent fresh-water lake in South East Asia and flows into Tonle Sap River, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. We will see a fishermen’s “floating village” with floating schools, floating police station, etc. It is same as a big village floating on the lake, and the “village” move from place to place following water levels and current. Lunch at local restaurant
In the afternoon, we will drive out of the city to the Khmer Village (see below details)
Khmer Tractor Ride to Remote Temple – Half Day
In the afternoon, drive via the Khmer Village. You will go past rice paddies, palm trees, ox-drawn carts and the odd ruin. A visit to a local family can also be included, which adds a unique personal touch to the whole excursion.
Tour Highlights:
- See rice planting—June to December. Rice harvest—December
- See villagers’ vegetable farm such string, eggplants.
- See remote temple in the jungle called BanteayAmpil (You don’t need Angkor Pass for this temple)
Return to Siem Reap in the evening.Dinner not included and night at hotel
DAY 05 SIEM REAP – DEPARTURE (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Siem Reap airport for flight to next destination