EXPLORE MYSTHIQUE ANGKOR & LEGENDARY MEKONG IN 9 DAYS

Arrive Siem Reap, Siem Reap – Treasures of the Kingdom of Cambodia, special welcome all warmly to everybody, a moment of courtesy meeting then self-introduces with our Cambodian tour guide in the meeting point’s Siem Reap.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

After breakfast, we depart to Preah Khan Temple. It is located northeast of Angkor Thom and just west of the Jayatataka baray, with which it was associated. It was the center of a substantial organization, with almost 100,000 officials and servants. Next is Neak Poan, “the entwined snakes” is a small temple located on an island in the center of the now dry Jayatataka baray, a water reservoir 3,500-meter-long and 900 meter wide. Continue to Tasom offers some beautiful photo spots, especially the rear entrance where tree roots adorn the gateway.

You’ll also visit the Akira Landmine Museum, to learn more about Cambodia’s modern history. By the end of the day, you’ll have a greater understanding of Cambodia’s ancient and recent past.

Drive to the rural outskirt 35km from Angkor area to visit the smallest, but magnificent, Banteay Srei built in the 10th Century and dedicated to Shiva. The temple was the birthplace of Khmer classical style architecture and the bas-relief work is the best example of Khmer classical art remaining. The pink sandstone structure bears a series of striking and beautiful sculptures, lintels, pediments and friezes. Khmers say the temple must have been carved by women for the details are too fine for the hands of a man. On the way back stop at Pradark Village, where you will see the villagers making palm sugar, handicraft for selling to tourist. It’s a nice chance for you to see the local people living at the country side with their struggling for daily life.

Not to be missed is Banteay Samre: Its rose-colored sandstone walls are decorated with carvings and bas-reliefs, which are among the most accomplished Angkor has to offer.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

We start very early in the morning so we can capture the iconic picture of the pre-dawn facing Angkor Wat temple. Sunrise at Angkor Wat can be a busy venue especially during the months of December, January, February and March.

After sunrise, we will explore the vast and rich of Angkor Wat temple, taking pictures at different angles, playing with light and shadows and capturing the most beautiful devatas carved in sandstone.

Next destination will be the Ta Prohm “Tomb Raider” fame. Ta Prohm has been abandoned to the elements, a reminder that while empires rise and fall, the riotous power of nature marches on, oblivious to the dramas of human history. Left as it was ‘discovered’ by French explorer Henri Mouhout in 1860, the tentacle-like tree roots here are slowly strangling the surviving stones, man first conquering nature to create, nature later conquering man to destroy.

Next, at the Golden Hour, will be the impressive Bayon temple with its 54 towers and 216 faces overlooking the defunct city of Angkor Thom. The final stop will be at one of gate of Angkor Thom to capture sunset over the moat.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Depart for the Tonlé Sap. You will enjoy a boat ride on the Tonle Sap Lake. This is the largest permanent fresh-water lake in Southeast Asia and flows into Tonle Sap River, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. You will see a fishermen’s “floating village” with floating schools, floating police station, etc. It is same as a big village floating on the lake, and the “village” move from place-to-place following water levels and current. You will go to local pagoda, where you should change to clothes you can get wet in as here you will experience the ceremony “SrouchTeok”, which roughly translates into “Water blessing”. A monk will chant in ancient Pali as he splashes water over you, washing away your sins and bad luck so you can start fresh and by being a good person can increase your good luck.

Visit the Rolous Group including Lolei, Preah Ko & Bakong temple first. This island temple consists of four brick towers on a double plate rite platform. The 3 temples Bakong, Lolei and Preah Ko – located 11 Kilometers (6.8 miles) southeast of the Siem Reap Market – comprise the Rolous group of monuments and are dating back to the late ninth century and is the earliest site of the 600 years Angkor Period that is open to visitors.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

We leave Siem Reap and head north to the mountainous border area and to the last Khmer Rouge outpost near Anlong Veng, where we visit the home of the former military Ta Mok. Anlong Veng was the last highland in the Khmer Rouge, which surrendered to the government forces in the late 1990s.

We drive up to the hill (by 4×4) to visit an amazing Khmer temple Preah Vihear. The Preah Vihear Temple, registered as a World Heritage List in 2008, is on a peak overlooking Cambodia and is the subject of the latest battles with Thailand. We climb the top of the temple of Preah Vihear along the winding road, which is very steep in some places, and finally emerges at the other enclosure of this temple in the king of the mountains. We explore the temple on foot and continue to the last level, clinging to a cliff in the Dangrek Mountains and high hundreds of feet above the lowland of Cambodia.

Overnight at Preah Vihear.

We leave the historical, cultural and temple-rich part of the country to get to know the larger Mekong regions. We take a boat trip to explore most beautiful part of the Mekong. It extends south along the Mekong from the border to Laos to Stung Treng. Available only by boat, it is a paradise for endangered mammals, birds and fishes with a unique, flooded forest system that is a photographer’s dream.

Overnight in Stung Treng.

We leave Stung Treng for Phnom Penh.

Depart to Kampi, one of the many deep pools where the rare river dolphins gather to feed. We board a local boat and cruise out into the mighty Mekong for a chance encounter with these gentle creatures.

We leave Kratie and travel Southeast to the bustling provincial city of Kampong Cham. Arrive in Kampong Cham, we visit the bamboo bridge built across the mighty Mekong River connecting mainland to Koh Pen Island. During dry season (Jan-May), we can visit the bamboo bridge built across the mighty Mekong River connecting mainland to Koh Pen Island.

En route, there is the chance to pause at Skuon, where it is possible to sample the local delicacy of deep-fried tarantula.

Overnight in Phnom Penh

After breakfast, we meet our guide and hop on Cyclo, an original means of transport from Phnom Penh and a fun way to explore this vibrant city. First visit Wat Phnom is a Buddhist temple located in center of Phnom Penh City. It was built in 1373 and stands 27 meters above the ground. Next, we visit to the Royal Palace compound build in 1866 by the Predecessors of King Norodom, is the most conspicuous feature and one of impressive colorful Khmer-style Palaces. Nearside the Royal Palace is Silver Pagoda (The Emerald Buddha temple), display plenty of Buddha Statues that were decorated and made by diamond, emerald, gold and silver, continuing visit to National Museum, the distinctive red building with a beautiful Khmer architecture was built since 1917 and contains more than 5000 art objects made of sandstone, bronze, silver, copper, wood and others. Travelers will proceed to visit Independence Monument, which was constructed in 1954 after Cambodian took their country back from French colony.

We will stop at Central Market is located in the heart of the Phnom Penh. The Khmer name of the market is Phsar Thmei, which translates to “new market”. The Central Market was built in 1937 during the French colonial period, in Art Deco style, and is painted bright ochre.

We will enjoy a cruise for view sunset on the Mekong and Tonle Sap River (1 hour). Situated at the “Four Arms” where the Mekong meets the Tonle Sap River before splitting into two branches, Phnom Penh offers the ideal location to discover the mighty Mekong.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Transfer to Phnom Penh airport (no guide) for departure to next destination. It’s time to say goodbye, we thank you for traveling with us and warmly welcome you to come again.