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DAY 1 - Siem Reap

Meet on arrival at Siem Reap airport and transfer to the Sofitel Angkor / or the Shinta Mani Hotel

Time Permitting , take a boat ride on the Tonle Sap  

DAY 2 - Sightseeing in Angkor  

PREAH KHAN: a temple built by King Jayavarman VII with towered 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.  

NEAK PEAN: built by King Jayavarman VII (ruled 1181 to 1201), it is a Buddhist temple consisting of a square pool with four smaller square pools arranged on each axis.  In the centre of the large central pool is a circular island encircled by two nagas with intertwined tails. 

TA SOM: built in the late 12th century by Jayavarman VII for his teacher, Som.  Ta Som means old Som. 

EASTERN MEBON: temple erected by Rajendravarman (ruled from 944 to 968), it is located on a former islet in the centre of the Eastern Baray.  The base of the temple is guarded at its corners by stone figures of harnessed elephants. 

PRE RUP: built by Rajendravarman II (ruled 944 to 968), it consists of a pyramid shaped temple with the upper-most of the three tiers carrying five square shrines arranged as a quincunx.  The name means turning the body and refers to the traditional method of cremation. 

Visit Angkor Wat

The crowning jewel of Khmer architecture, ANGKOR WAT is the national symbol and the highlight of any visit to Cambodia. The largest, best preserved, and most religiously significant of the Angkor temples, Angkor impresses visitors both by its sheer scale and beautifully proportioned layout, as well as the delicate artistry of its carvings. To approach the temple, first cross the vast moat, continuing along a broad causeway lined with naga balustrades. As you enter the main building, ascend through a series of galleries and courtyard before reaching the central sanctuary, which offers beautiful views back over the causeway and across the surrounding countryside. On the way, stop to enjoy the intricate stonecarvings that adorn nearly every surface, with some 1,700 Apsaras, or celestial dancers, sculpted into the walls. Along the outer gallery walls run the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which narrates stories from Hindu mythology, including the famous Churning of the Ocean of Milk. Angkor Wat is stunning at any time of the day, but sunrise and sunset are especially beautiful times to watch the play of light on the stones.Visit Phnom Bakheng for sunset -  Overnight in Siem Reap  

DAY 3- Siem Reap

Balloon over Angkor  Located half a kilometer to the west of Angkor Wat, this stationary balloon offers stunning views over Angkor, Phnom Bakheng, the Western Baray and Siem Reap town. The duration of each visit is approximately ten minutes.

Sightseeing in Angkor -

Visit Angkor Thom 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 cermonies, 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 you will find giant stone faces smiling enigmatically down at you from every angle.

TA KEO: built by Jayavarman V who ruled from 968 to 1001), it was the first Angkorian monument built entirely of sandstone and was dedicated to Shiva.  The summit of the central tower is 50 meters high and is surrounded by four lower towers. 

TA PROHM: one of the most popular attractions of Angkor as much of the jungle has not been cleared and it looks very much as most of the Angkor monuments would have appeared when European explorers first stumbled across them. 

PRASAT KRAVAN: the five brick towers were built for Hindu worship in 921 and are notable for the bas-reliefs cut into the bricks on the interior walls.

DAY 4 -Siem Reap to Kampong Thom Sambo Preykok   

Collect by car and depart for Kampong Thom.  Visit the Tonle Toch River and the nearby fishing villages. Overnight at the Stung Sen Royal Garden Hotel.                     

DAY 5-Kampong Thom to Kampong Cham  

Continue by road to Kampong Cham.  Visit the Wat Nokor , the holy mountain Phnom Pros and Phnom Srei.  Overnight at the Mekong Hotel 

DAY 6- Kampong Cham to Phnom Penh  

Visit the village of Rocca Kong and the Silk Island.  Afterwards an excursion by boat on the

Mekong River down to Phnom Penh. Arrive Phnom Penh for 2 nights at the Intercontinental or / Amanjaya Pancam Hotel .

DAY 7-Phnom Penh

Sightseeing in Phnom Penh - Visit the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda The ROYAL PALACE AND SILVER PAGODA stands on the site of the former citadel, Bantey Kev (built in 1813). Visitors are not allowed to some portions of the grounds, as the palace is the official residence of King Norodom Sihamoni. The silver pagoda is often called the Pagoda of the Emerald Buddha or Wat Preah Kaeo after the statue housed there. The wooden temple was originally built by King Norodom in 1892 and inside its floor is comprised of more than 5000 silver blocks which together weigh nearly 6 tons.

Visit Tuol Sleng

Learn about a chapter from Cambodia's more recent, tragic, past at the TUOL SLENG MUSEUM (Museum of Genocide). Formerly the Tuol Svay Prey High School, in 1975, this became the interrogation and torture facility for the Khmer Rouge regime - at that time known as Security Prison 21, or simply S-21. Kept largely unchanged, this prison now showcases photographs and exhibits about the thousands of victims that passed through these doors - only seven of whom came out alive. 

Day 8 – Departure