Cambodia

On arrival in Siem Reap, you will be welcomed by a guide who will accompany you to your hotel for check in. Your guide will help you converse with the locals with the locals, if need be. You have the entire day to yourself to unwind and absorb the Cambodian vibe. Overnight Stay at Siem Reap

Following breakfast, you will charter a ‘remork’ (Cambodian tuk-tuk) to the ancient city of Angkor Thom. Angkor Thom was the last capital of the once great Khmer Empire under the reign of King Jayavarman VII. You will enter the city through the ancient South Gate, which has an impressive stone entrance carved with elephants and four giant faces. The entrance path is lined on either side by sculptures of deities and demons holding the sacred Naga snake. Next, you will visit the Ta Prohm temple, which is one of Angkor’s most atmospheric temples. Built in the mid-12th to early 13th centuries, Ta Prohm is largely overgrown by jungle trees and vines, with many parts of the temple crumbling to the ground. You will have lunch at Angkor Café. The afternoon is given over to Angkor Wat, the biggest religious structure in the world and a masterpiece of Khmer architecture. Built by King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, Angkor Wat was constructed following the model of the temple mountain symbolizing Mount Merou, the home of the Gods. The walls of the temples are adorned by carvings and bas-reliefs depicting scenes from Hindu mythology and the wars Suryavarman II propagated during his reign. You must not miss witnessing the mesmerising sunset at this temple. You will be in awe of how the warm evening light changes the manifestation of the 2,000 Apsara sculptures that adorn the temple. Overnight Stay at Siem Reap

You will have breakfast at the hotel. You can opt to have the entire day at leisure for yourself or opt for our optional activities: Optional: Tonle Sap Lake (Half day) You will head to Tonlé Sap by the boat. Tonlé Sap, is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, The Lake is officially designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and covers an area of around 250,000 hectares in the dry season. Due to a unique quirk of nature, the swollen waters of the Mekong River force the Tonlé Sap River to reverse its flow northwards during monsoon season. This, in turn, feeds and expands the lake, which then spreads over the surrounding flood plain. After this, you will visit Kompong Phluck, a village of stilt-houses on the lake passing by impressive flooded forests on the way. You can reach the village by boat. (Note: Due to low water levels during the dry season, the boat trip is only possible from June to March. However we can alternatively arrange for a trip to Chong Kneas which is another floating village). Optional: Beng Mealea temple visit (Half day) After breakfast, you will head into the beautiful Cambodian countryside towards quiet Beng Mealea, which is around 65km from Siem Reap. Undiscovered for centuries, the temple has only recently been made accessible and remains un-restored. Indeed, it is one of the very few temples near Angkor that visitors can climb through. Optional: Phare Ponleu Selpak in Siem Reap (Evening) For a cultural evening with an anarchic edge, attend a performance of ‘Phare, the Cambodian Circus’. Set up in Battambang in 1994 by young returnee Cambodians from refugee camps in Thailand, the Phare Ponleu Selpak initiative was founded as a means of using art to overcome the trauma of civil war. The hour-long show mixes traditional and modern theatre, music, dance, acrobatics, juggling and contortion with story themes drawing on Cambodian life and society. Overnight Stay at Siem Reap

You will have some free time at hand to relax after breakfast. You are scheduled to leave for the airport to board a midday flight to Phnom Penh. On arrival in the Cambodian capital you will be welcomed by a local English speaking guide and will be taken to your hotel for check in. Phnom Penh was once considered as one of the most beautiful cities in the Orient, and despite its recent turbulent history, it still retains a colonial charm. Cambodia’s capital is a bustling city, majestically located at the confluence of the mighty Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers. The city’s wide tree-lined boulevards and collection of colonial-era buildings reflect the timeless splendor and add to the allure of the city. A driver will greet you in the afternoon to take you on a Cyclo tour around Phnom Penh’s most remarkable sights. You will first, head to Wat Phnom temple, the founding place of the city, then continue along the riverfront to the Royal Palace. The grand structure dates back to 1866 and houses the Silver Pagoda, named for the over 5000 heavy 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. Overnight Stay at Phnom Penh

Like all good things that come to an end, this soulful experience too, shall end for another journey to begin. You have some leisure time in the morning, after which you are scheduled to board your homebound flight. Tour Ends