6 days / 5 nights - Beyond Angkor
Tour
Day 1: Arrival Siem Reap
Arrival at Siem Reap and transfer to
your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.
Accommodation at your hotel.
 Day
2: Siem Reap and Angkor
Breakfast at hotel. We begin our visit
with some of the most beautiful temples on
the small circuit, including the huge
pyramid of Takeo, built in the 10th century.
We continue to jungle-clad Ta Prohm. This
temple was a monastery built by Jayavarman
VII as a residence for his mother. We
continue to visit Sras Srang, the royal pool
situated opposite the East Gate of Banteay
Kdei. It is known as the King's bathing
pond. Finally we take in Prasat Kravan, an
elegant brick temple from the 10th century
with some fine brick carvings in the
interior.
In the afternoon, we continue our Angkor
encounter with a visit to the spectacular
temples of the grand circuit. We first
explore Preah Khan or Sacred Sword, one of
the largest temples at Angkor with huge
corridors extending in every direction.
Built by Jayavarman VII in the 12th century,
this is a highlight of Angkor. We continue
to Neak Poan, a delicate temple set in a
square pool and surrounded on all sides by
fountains and ponds. Next is Ta Som and its
famous strangler fig tree smothering the
eastern gate. We wind up at Pre Rup, built
in the 10th Century by Rajendravarman. Pre
Rup means turning the body and the Khmer
people believe this temple was used for
cremations. This is the perfect place for
sunset over the beautiful Cambodian rice
fields.
DAY 3: Siem Reap and Angkor
We rise early today to catch the sunrise
over the mother of all temples, the world's
largest religious building, Angkor Wat. We
return to the hotel for breakfast and later
in the morning explore Angkor Wat in more
detail to view its architecture and bas
reliefs. This temple is the largest
religious buildings ever constructed and is
truly one of the wonders of the world.
Believed to have been undertaken as a temple
and mausoleum for King Suryavarman II at the
peak of the Khmer empire in the first half
of the 12th century, Angkor Wat is the
best-preserved of the Angkorian temples.
We visit the sites of Angkor Thom. This
Royal city was first built under the reign
of Udayadityavarman II in the 11th Century.
We continue to visit the South Gate, flanked
by demons and gods engaged in a tug of war
to obtain the elixir of immortality and the
Bayon, a temple mountain built by Jayavarman
VII. It is situated in the center of the
city of Angkor Thom. It is a three-tiered
pyramid with its entrance facing east. We
also visit other important sites in this
immense walled city, including the pyramid
of Baphuon, Phimean Akas, and the royal
viewing stands known as the Terrace of the
Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King.
Accommodation at your hotel.
DAY 4: Siem Reap and Angkor
Breakfast at hotel. This morning, we
head north to visit the elegant temple of
Banteay Srei built by a Brahman in the 10th
Century, this temple was dedicated to Shiva.
The famous pink sandstone structure bears a
series of beautiful sculptures, lintels,
pediments and friezes. It is said they must
have been carved by women as the detail is
too fine for the hands of a man. This gives
us the origin of the Khmer name, Fortress of
the Women. Continue to Kbal Spean, commonly
known as the River of a Thousand Lingers,
this is an area of riverbed carvings and
lush jungle. There are several carvings of
Hindu deities in the sandstone here, as well
as thousands of lingers in the riverbed
itself. This site was only rediscovered in
1969 and is a tranquil place with an
attractive waterfall. It is 50km north of
Siem Reap. In the afternoon we head to Phnom
Krom to visit typical floating villages and
view Tonle Sap Lake. Then return to town for
the night. Accommodation in Siem Reap.
DAY 5: Siem Reap to Phnom Penh
Breakfast at hotel. We take a ferry down
to Phnom Penh. Arrival at Phnom Penh and
transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, we
visit to the harrowing genocide museum at
Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields of Choeng
Ek, both enduring memorials to the gruesome
and brutal rule of the Khmer Rouge.
Accommodation at Hotel.
DAY 6: Phnom Penh Departure
In the morning, we visit the Royal
Palace, located on the shores of the Mekong.
Inside its walls are the Throne Hall, the
Chan Chaya Pavilion, used for performances
of classical dance, the Napoleon III
Pavilion, and the King and Queen's
residential quarters. Next stop will be the
Silver Pagoda, home to a glittering array of
Buddhist statuary. We also visit the
National Museum, home to the world’s leading
collection of Khmer sculpture. Situated near
the Royal Palace, Cambodia's National Museum
offers a charming setting for the stunning
collection of Khmer art.
After lunch in town, we visit the Central
and Russian Markets. The Central Market
(Psar Thmey) is distinctive for its central
domed building built by the French in 1937
with 4 wings leading off it. The Russian
Market (Psar Toul Tom Pong) is an excellent
place to pick up a few bargains, especially
antiques, souvenirs and cheap brand-name
clothes. Transfer to airport for departure. |
