Overview

Located at the meeting of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers, Cambodia’s energetic capital, Phnom Penh, is known for its rich history, friendly locals, and world-class food scene. The primary drawcard of the city is its visible heritage - the National Museum of Cambodia features a millennium’s worth and more of an incredible Khmer design. The monumental Royal Palace, the official residence of King Sihamoni, houses the famous Throne Hall, used for coronations and ceremonies. Within the Royal Palace is the spectacular Silver Pagoda, named for its floor covered with five tons of gleaming silver. The Tonle Sap riverfront area provides a charming place to enjoy a meal and some fine French wine (an enduring colonial legacy), while the local nightclubs provide a fun time out on the town, complete with karaoke singers and stage dancers.

Best known as the gateway to the magnificent ancient temple complex of Angkor Wat, Siem Reap is a pleasant town with lovely French colonial and Chinese architecture and a laid-back ambience. The main attraction here is of course the Angkor complex. Covering an area larger than Paris, it encompasses scores of exquisite temple structures featuring intricately carved detail – dancing ladies and lotus flowers embellish the walls, and five-headed naga (serpent deities) fan out from chunks of rock. Abandoned for unknown reasons thousands of years ago, it was rediscovered in 1860 by a French explorer, Henri Mahout, and has been Cambodia’s crowning glory ever since. Other attractions in and around Siem Reap include an array of arts and crafts shops, a cultural village that allows a glimpse into traditional local life, and a bird sanctuary on the outskirts of town.

5 Nights 6 Days Available on request

Batch Dates and Charges

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Highlights

COMPREHENSIVE ITINERARY COVERING PHNOM PENH AND SIEM REAP.
VISIT TO THE SAMBOR PREI KUK TEMPLE (WORLD HERITAGE SITE).
VISIT TO NATIONAL MUSEUM OF CAMBODIA IN PHNOM PENH.
MAJOR MEALS IN INDIAN RESTAURANTS.
FOUR STAR HOTEL ACCOMMODATION.
TOUR LED BY EXPERT ARCHEOLOGIST - DR. MANJIRI BHALERAO.

Itinerary

Day 1: PHNOM PENH
Arrival in Phnom Penh at 0900 hrs and transfer by air-conditioned vehicle to the hotel. Visit National Museum and Royal Palace in Phnom Penh. Dinner and overnight at Anik Boutique hotel / similar. Meals included: Lunch and dinner.

Day 2: SIEM REAP
After breakfast, departure to Siem Reap. (Approx 7 hrs with stops en route).

On the way, we will have a stop in Skuon. Internationally known as Spiderville, the Cambodian town of Skuon hosts one of the most unusual markets in the world. At first sight, it looks like any other market in Asia, but it does focus on a product you won't find in many other places. Skuon market has become world famous, due to the fried spider snacks that are so popular here. Among all the fruit and vegetable stands, you'll see women carrying large trays, full of fried and spiced spiders, some the size of a grown man's palm.

Sambor Prei Kuk temple is a cultural and historical site located in Sambor village, Sambor commune, Prasat Sambor district, about 25 kilometers northeast of Kampong Thom provincial town. The site was once an old capital named Isanapura and a religious center for the worship of Shiva Brahmanism. In 2017, Sambor Prei Kuk was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Lately, today we will have a stop at one of the oldest bridges of Cambodia viz. Kampong Kdei bridge (Naga Bridge) before heading next to Siem Reap city.

Overnight in Siem Reap. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Day 3: SIEM REAP
Banteay Srei is one of the most beautiful temples in Angkor. Built from pink sandstone, the walls are covered in exquisitely preserved carvings of unusual delicacy. Banteay Srei is often spoken of as the jewel of Khmer art and described as a gem of a temple, this small monument of pink sandstone boasts some very fine sculptures with no equivalent in other Khmer temples. The site is exquisite and its access is a nicely landscaped garden.

Today, it is one of the most visited complexes in Cambodia’s Angkor region. The conservation and restoration of Ta Prohm is a partnership project of the Archaeological Survey of India and the APSARA (Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap).

The temple of Ta Prohm was used as a location in the film Tomb Raider featuring the character Lara Croft portrayed by Angelina Jolie. The trees growing out of the ruins are perhaps the most distinctive feature of Ta Prohm, and "have prompted more writers to descriptive excess than any other feature of Angkor.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Day 4: SIEM REAP
Wake before sunrise this morning and make the 15-minute journey with your guide by tuk-tuk to Angkor Wat, a legendary UNESCO World Heritage Site. Said by some to symbolize the soul of the Khmer people, the magnificent temple was built during the reign of King Suryavaman II in the early 12th century. Historians believe that many of the fascinating bas reliefs and stone carvings immortalize many of the mighty king’s wars. Images of Apsara dancers decorate the five famous towers which replicate the universe according to Hindu mythology.

We will take you to a serene viewpoint where you can experience the dramatic sunrise as the first rays of the day kiss the magnificent temple good morning. Continue to explore 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.

The fortified city of Angkor Thom covers an area of 10 square km. Enclosed by a wall and wide moats; the city includes many of Angkor's most popular sights. Enter by the monumental South Gate over a causeway lined on either side by statues of demons and gods, each carrying a giant naga. Continue to the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper Kings, former spaces for public ceremonies, both adorned with dramatic bas reliefs. Visit the ruined Baphuon, Royal Enclosure, and Phimeanakas before continuing to the mysterious Bayon Temple. In this temple, one of the most popular and compelling in Angkor, explore the galleries of beautifully preserved bas reliefs and ascend narrow stairs to reach the central sanctuary, where giant stone faces smile enigmatically down from every angle.

Overnight in Siem Reap. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Day 5: SIEM REAP
Visit Preah Khan temple

Preah Khan is a temple built by King Jayavarman VII with towering enclosures and shoulder-hugging corridors in a jungle setting. Preah Khan covers a very large area but the temple itself is enclosed within a rectangular wall of around 700 by 800 meters.

Visit Banteay Kdei Temple

A massive Buddhist temple dating from the second half of the 12th century, Banteay Kdei is surrounded by four concentric walls, the outer walls measuring 500 by 700 meters. Thereafter visit Srah Srang.

Srah Srang is a basin east of Banteay Kdei measuring 800 by 400 meters with a tiny island in the middle where only the stone base remains of what was once a wooden temple.

Visit Neak Pean temple

Neak Pean is a Buddhist temple that sits in the middle of a circular artificial island in Jayatataka Baray.

Overnight in Siem Reap. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Day 6: END OF ITINERARY
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the Siem Reap Airport in time to board the home-bound flight. End of Services.

Inclusions/Exclusions