14 days / 13 nights - Cambodia Relax
Tour
Day 1: Arrival at Siem Reap
Arrival at Siem Reap and transfer to
your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure or
stroll around the town. Accommodation at
your hotel.
Day 2: Siem Reap – 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
After an early breakfast at the hotel,
we drive to Kompong Thom where we visit the
6th-century Chenla capital of Sambor Prei
Kuk, the most important pre-Angkorian site
in Cambodia and the first major temple city
in South-East Asia. Before we arrive Sambor
Prei Kuk, we stop in the town of Kompong
Kdei to see a beautiful Angkor-era bridge
with 22 arches and naga balustrades. After
lunch in Kampong Thom, we head to Phnom
Penh. Arrival at Phnom Penh and
accommodation at your hotel.
Day 6: Phnom Penh
Breakfast at hotel. 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.
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 7: Phnom Penh to Keb
We start early on the drive to Kampot, a
charming riverside town, rich in colonial
architecture. It is good based to explore
Bokor Hill Station. On the way south, we
stop to visit the old temples of Ta Prohm at
Tonle Bati and Prasat Neang Khmau, also
known as temple of the black virgin. Lunch
at a local restaurant. Later in the
afternoon, we enjoy a boat trip on Kamchay
river to visit a Cham minority village. We
then, drive to Keb for your accommodation.
Day 8: Keb to Sihanoukville
After breakfast, we drive to
Sihanoukville, also known as Kompong Som,
Cambodia's leading beach resort. There are
white-sand beaches around the headland,
unspoiled islands off the coast.
Accommodation at Sokha Beach Resort.
Day 9: Sihanoukville – Ream Park –
Boat trip
After breakfast at the hotel, we make a
half day visit to the maritime national park
of Ream, exploring the mangroves by boat and
viewing wildlife on the shore. Ream National
Park, near Sihanoukville, is a coastal park
occupying 21,000 hectares. Sights include
lowland and dwarf evergreen forest, long
stretches of white-sand beach, submerged
coral and sea grass. Mangrove forest within
the park supports a rich diversity of flora
and fauna. Return to Sihanoukville. The
afternoon is free to relax on the beach or
swim in the sea.
Day 10: Sihanoukville – Leisure
Breakfast at hotel. Day at leisure on
the beach. Accommodation at your hotel.
Day 11: Sihanoukville – Koh Rong
Samland Island
Breakfast at your hotel. We take a full
day boat trip to Koh Rong Samland Island to
explore unspoiled beaches. Snorkeling or
Diving activities can be organized. Return
to Sihanoikbille. Accommodation at your
hotel.
Day 12: Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh
Breakfast at your hotel. In the
afternoon, we drive back to Phnom Penh.
Arrival at Phnom Penh and transfer to your
hotel.
Day 13: Phnom Penh
Breakfast at hotel. We 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. We then continue to
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.
In the afternoon, we take a boat trip to
Koh Dach, an island in the middle of the
Mekong River that is famous for Khmer silk
weaving. You will find most of families have
at least one loom underneath their wooden
stilt houses. This is a great place to
wander around meeting local people in their
natural habitat with no traffic noise or
pollution. We return to Phnom Penh during
sunset time. Arrival at Phnom Penh and we
transfer to FCC Restaurant for your farewell
Dinner. Accommodation at your hotel.
Day 14: Phnom Penh – Departure
Breakfast at hotel. Day at leisure until
we transfer to airport for departure flight.
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