Day 1: Arrival in Phnom Penh
Arrive in Phnom Penh and transfer to hotel. This city was once considered one of the most beautiful in the Orient, and despite its recent turbulent history it still retains a colonial charm.
In the afternoon, visit Phnom Penh including the Royal Palace complex. This palace dates from 1866 and was the last one built during the French colonial period. The same complex houses the Silver Pagoda, named for the over 5000 silver tiles that cover its floors. Its original name is Wat Prakeo, meaning Temple of the Emerald Buddha. In this temple you will view a collection of Buddhas in gold, silver, crystal, and bronze. Continue on to the National Museum, built in 1917. Housed there are over 5000 statues, lingas and others artifacts arranged according to pre- Angkor and post –Angkor periods of Cambodia history.
Overnight in Phnom Penh
Day 2 : Phnom Penh – Siem Reap
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your departure to Siem Reap.
Arrival in Siem Reap, meet your guide and transfer to the hotel. Start visiting the Great City of Angkor Thom, by motor trailer which was the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. This city is surrounded by a 8 m high wall, each side of the city is 4 km long. It draws a perfect square you access this town through 5 gates; 4 of them represent the cardinal points and the 5th one the Victory Gate was the one leading dir3ectly to the Royal Palace Area.
In the afternoon, visit the biggest religious temple in the world; the magnificent Angkor Wat Temple. Built by Suryavarman II, in early 12th century Angkor Wat is constructed following the model of the temple mountain symbolizing the Mount Merou, home of the gods.
Return to the hotel after watching the sunset at Angkor.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 3 : Siem Reap – Big Circuit – Small Circuit
In the morning, enjoy the visit to the temples of the Big Circuit, beginning with the Preah Khan Temple. This temple was built approximately during the same period as Ta Prohm, and originally served both as a religious university and a temple. Continue to Neak Pean, unique because it is not a temple but a sanctuary placed in the center of an artificial lake and connected to 4 surrounding ponds exactly at Cardinals points. Your final visit will be to the small temple of Ta Som, a Buddhist temple built under Jayavarman VII.
In the afternoon explore the temples of the Small Circuit. The most famous among these is Ta Prohm temple, built in the mid 12th to early 13th centuries. Ta Prohm is unique in that it has been left largely as it was found: overgroswn by jungle trees and vines, with many parts of the temple crumbling to the ground. This makes Ta Prohm one of the most picturesque and memorable of the Angkor temples. Your visit will also include Banteay Kdei, a Buddhist monastery from the late 12th Century, and Srah Srang, also known as the “pool of ablutions”. End your tour at the twin towers of Chau Say Tevoda and Thommanon.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 4 : Leaving Siem Reap
After breakfast, drive to Tonle Sap Lake where you will have the opportunity to learn about life on the lake. Tonle Sap is South East Asia’s largest freshwater lake with its size varying greatly depending on the season. During the dry season it is roughly 2,500 km2, swelling to about 4 times it size in during the wet season: 10,000 km2! We will board a boat and visit Kampong Pluck where we’ll see floating houses, farms and even a floating hospital.
Or visit the Artisans d’Angkor to see wood and stone carvings or visit the local markets before transferring to the airport for the departure flight.
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