Lets go Indochina - Travel and more

Additional Info

• Detail Itinerary:

  DAY 1 - Our guide and driver will meet you at Phnom Penh airport and transfer you to your hotel for check in. Leisure time to relax and unwind.
  
  DAY 2 - Morning: Today we will learn about the capital of Phnom Penh, from its earliest vestiges until life in the present day. Our first stop will be the Royal Palace, located a short way back from the banks of the Tonle Sap river. Constructed in the 19^th century when the capital of Cambodia moved from Oudong to Phnom Penh, the Royal Palace has been the home of the Kings of Cambodia since 1866.  The palace is a true testament to Khmer architectural and aesthetic proficiency so prevalent in their royal and religious monuments. Within the royal palace is the Silver Pagoda, where Wat Preah Ko Royal Temple is located, housing Cambodia’s most revered national treasures such as gold Buddhas, a baccarat emerald Buddha, and a revered Buddha statue decorated adorned with a modest 9,584 diamonds. From here we will visit the National Museum. Built in 1917, it is quintessentially Khmer in its design, and is home to the country's most important historical and archaeological artefacts which include over 14,000 items including ceramic and bronze sculptures and ethnographic objects from pre-historic times until today.

  We will then have lunch. We recommend Friends Restaurant, a local initiative started in 1991 to train local disadvantaged youth in hospitality and life skills.

  Afternoon: After lunch we will visit Cheung Ek Memorial (or the Killing Fields) was a place where during the relatively recent Cambodian genocide under Pol Pot many victims were taken to be killed and tortured and their bodies buried at the site. It is a somber reminder of a harrowing past, and although understandably it can be quite a tough place to visit, it does afford the visitor a better understanding of the important recent history of this country.

  After visiting the Killing Fields we will make our way to Tuol Sleng (or S21), which was initially a school which was later used by the Khmer Rouge to torture and kill all those suspected of treason or non-conformity to their ideology. Now it’s a museum which depicts this distressing period of history, which has been kept as it was discovered by Vietnamese forces in 1979, where some of the torture equipment and other items used are still present today.

  On arrival back into Phnom Penh we will take to the waters of the mighty Mekong River for a sunset cruise, before having the rest of the evening free to relax and discover Phnom Penh at your leisure.

  DAY 3 – An early start, we shall set off on the road to Siem Reap, making some stops to take in Cambodia’s beauty along the way. After breakfast, we will travel to Kampong Cham, a large town with a bustling river community, one hour from Phnom Penh to visit Nokor Bachey Temple, an 11^th century temple built under the reign of Suryavarman II, which shares many similarities with other temples built by the same king (including Angkor Wat).

  After Kampong Cham we shall leave for Siem Reap, making a final stop at Kampong Thom to have lunch before visiting Sambor Prei Kuk. This amazing place 20km from the main town, consists of a selection of over 100 temples from one of the earliest civilizations in Cambodia, the 7^th Century Chenla. Scattered amidst the jungle are the remains of over 100 temples, and the place has a deeply spiritual, even slightly eerie feel. Some are just rubble now, but others are incredibly still in good condition with fine carvings and complex structures to be admired throughout. From here we will continue on to Siem Reap.
  On arrival check in at hotel and enjoy free leisure time in the evening.

  DAY 4 – Morning: We commence with a visit to the infamous and treasured legacy of Angkor Wat. The masterpiece and holy grail of the temples of Angkor, Angkor Wat is the world’s largest religious building and an insurmountable legacy left by Suryavarman II. Believed to be the world's largest religious building, there is almost one kilometer of exquisitely detailed carvings depicting the intricacies of the Khmer empire through dramatic and humorous stories of love, life, war, religion and mythology. Marvel at the quincunx of towers, and the powerful energy that this sublime temple inspires, and admire the carvings and architectural symmetry and perfection of the complex as a whole.
  We shall continue our visit to Preah Khan, an immense creation from the prestigious king Jayavarman VII, dedicated to his father. Known as ‘Sacred Sword’, the site was built on an area where Jayavarman VII and his army successfully defended Angkor by crushing a Cham invasion in 1191. The immensity of this majestic site have to be seen to be believed; left largely unrestored, there was a dance hall, university, and pilgrimage house all within Preah Khan’s great walls..

  Lunch in Siem Reap town.

  Afternoon: After lunch we commence our exploration of Angkor Thom. Known as the ‘Great City’, Angkor Thom was Jayavarman VII’s ultimate creation, his true expression of design excellence. Angkor Thom was an entire city housing 150,000 people across nine square kilometers which thrived upon a complex system of agriculture and waterways. 5 magnificent gates 23 metres high spiritually guard the complex - we will enter through the Victory Gate, complete with a causeway with two emanating rows of Devas and Asuras wrestling a powerful Naga. From here we will converge upon the centre of this extraordinary city, and begin to explore, starting with the Elephant Terrace, a royal platform used as a viewing gallery for grandiose royal spectacles, decorated wonderfully with statues of elephants. Adjacent is the Terrace of the Leper King, unique for possessing the statue of Yama (the Leper King), god of Death. From here we will proceed through the forest to Preah Palilay. Guarded by a large Buddha this is a small but beautiful temple from the 13^th century. Afterwards we will proceed to Phimeanakas, a 10^th century largely uncarved but beautifully constructed pyramid temple affording terrific views, before Baphuon, an imposing 50 metre tall temple dedicated to Shiva which houses one of the world’s largest reclining Buddhas. And finally to Bayon, arguably the most stunning of all the Temples of Angkor, adorned with 37 towers decorated with wonderful giant
  stone faces and beautifully decorated carvings throughout.
  Finally we will proceed to Srah Srang, a stunning man-made lake used by kings of old for bathing, irrigation and leisure where we will stop at a gorgeous spot to appreciate the sunset.
  Evening time free for leisure in Siem Reap – overnight at hotel.

  DAY 5 – Morning: We will start the day by visiting one of Angkor’s most iconic gems, Ta Prohm. Of Tombraider fame, Ta Prohm is an Angkorian treasure, and it’s going to stay that way. A fascinating aspect to Ta Prohm (except for its size, beauty and pleasantly eerie atmosphere) is that it can be appreciated perfectly as it would have been a mere 900 years ago, as it has been ‘left as it was found’ by the French explorers who discovered it in the 19^th century. Ta Prohm is a sight to behold, a veritable maze with exquisite carvings and gigantic golden trees strangling the stone foundations at every juncture. From here we will proceed to Ta Som - built at the end of the 12^th Century and dedicated to Buddhism. Peaceful and atmospheric, Ta Som is built around one central shrine, and similar to Ta Prohm is entered through towering gates or gopuras with the enigmatic  faces of the Devaraja beckoning you in. And once inside, explore the fine carvings and elegant aesthetic of the site. After Ta Som we shall visit Neak Pean, or the ‘Entwined Serpents’. Neak Pean is a beautiful site where a small intricate temple sits elegant and proud on an artificial island located in the centre of the Preah Khan Baray – a bright blue pond surrounded by mangroves, forest and Angkorian walkways. As the sun moves west the temple’s reflection emanates in the pond, only being disturbed by the odd ripple caused by the inquisitive fish in the pond.
  
  Lunch in Siem Reap

  Afternoon: In the afternoon we will leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and head out 45km from Siem Reap to Kbal Spean. Set within beautiful Cambodian countryside and a popular place for the locals to enjoy family picnics, Kbal Spean, also known as the valley of the 1000 lingas, is a remarkable place where natural meets man-made phenomenon – 1000 hand carved lingas lie on the bed of the Kbal Spean River downstream from the stunning waterfall, believed to have been placed there in ancient times to fertilize the river. Feel free to bathe in the water of this sacred pool. After Kbal Spean we shall head to nearby Banteay Srei 30km from Siem Reap, a unique and exquisite temple, glowing red and in perfect symmetrical detail, which possesses a truly unrivalled beauty all of its own. The carvings here are undoubtedly the most detailed of any of those in Angkor, and on close inspection the perfection and attention to detail is quite remarkable. As the sun will set around us, Banteay Srey in the soft light of dusk is nothing short of spectacular.
  Overnight in Siem Reap.

  DAY 6 – Morning: Today we’ll visit the beautiful Great Tonle Sap Lake, the largest lake in Southeast Asia. After taking in the rice paddies and local way of life to reach the water’s edge, we will transfer to our boat and proceed to sail through mangroves, visit floating and stilted villages, and experience a fascinating, traditional and unique way of life. This lake with an area of 16000 square kilometers during the height of the wet season is an astonishing place, so significant to Cambodia and Southeast Asia as a whole, and it’s home to great number of rare species of wildlife and some of the most resourceful communities on this earth. On our way back to Siem Reap we shall visit Wat Athvea, a little known 12^th century temple set in a riverside village. Silent except for the occasional chanting of monks and birds, Wat Athvea is an elegant temple set in these peaceful and serene surroundings. Here you will be treated to lunch with the monks where you can share each other’s worlds and experiences.

  Lunch in Siem Reap town.
  
  Afternoon: If time permits after lunch we can visit the local markets and the best of Siem Reap town, or simply relax in your hotel before we transfer you to the airport for your onward flight.

• Price:
• Gallery:
• Map:
• Book: