Day 1: Arrival in Siem Reap by Noon. Overnight in Siem Reap.
We will be picked up by our driver who will escort us to our hotel in Siem Reap. After check-in we spend the rest of the day at leisure. There will also be an introductory session in which the Skipper will brief the group about the following days of the Photo Tour.
Day 2: Sunrise at Angkor Wat and the Grand Circuit.
Gazing sunrise with majestic beauty of Angkor Wat temple. This morning at 5:00am you will depart your hotel for Angkor Wat, the largest and most breathtaking monument at Angkor. Built as the funeral temple for Suryavarman
II who ruled from 1112 to 1152, Angkor never fails to reward the first time or repeat visitor with its grand scale, surreal bas reliefs and unbelievable attention to detail. We enter the temple complex from the quite east side of Angkor Wat to avoid the crowds and will spend the morning exploring one of man’s most magnificent creations before returning to the hotel for a late breakfast. After breakfast you will start your full day visit to the South Gate
of Angkor Thom and the temples of Bayon, Baphoun, Phimean Akas, The Royal Enclosure, the terraces of Elephants, the Leper King and Preah Khan.
Next we’ll explore Ta Prohm. This jungle-clad temple with overgrown trees exudes a haunting and exotic atmosphere. The magnificent tree roots push between the temple’s huge stone blocks in a strange embrace. Ta Phrom is particularly amazing in the late afternoon light after most of the crowds have left. Today you will finish the tour with an unforgettable sunset at Pre Rup or Srah Sarong before returning to your hotel.
Note: Visiting temples or other religious sites in Cambodia, visitors are advised to follow a dress code consisting of long trousers or skirt which covers the knees as well as covered shoulders. Skirts, short shorts, tank tops and revealing clothing are culturally insensitive and not allowed.
Day 3: Banteay Srey and Kampong Kleang Village; Overnight in Siem Reap.
Explorer a jewel of Khmer art of Banteay Srei and experience the way of life in Kampong Kleang village. This morning at 08:00am visit Banteay Srey, which for many years was off limits due to its remote location and Khmer Rouge activity. Built in the late 10th century and dedicated to Shiva, Banteay Srey’s pink limestone walls contain the best bas reliefs of any temple at Angkor. If you are interested, you may choose to visit the Cambodian Landmine Museum, Prevention and Rehabilitation Center. It is estimated that more than 110 million land mines are buried throughout the world. Buried within Afghanistan, Angola, Iraq, Kuwait and Cambodia are the largest concentrations of land mines. In Cambodia, efforts at clearing mines around Angkor Wat and the major tourist sites have been successful. However, millions of mines remain buried and significantly impact the lives of the Cambodian people. Learn about the center’s efforts and work on this visit.
After lunch you will drive to Kampong Kleang village. Imagine wooden houses on 10 meter tall stilts, surrounded by water in the wet season and on the flood plains of the lake in the dry season. In the late afternoon, we will catch a wooden boat from Kampong Khleang to the Tonle Sap Lake. Both sides of the river are lined by floating houses that look amazing nestled on the great lake. From here you have a picturesque view of the floating house
and local people’s way of life and take as many photos as you want. We include a few soft drinks and local beers on the boat so you can enjoy some sundowners before heading back to Siem Reap.
Day 4: Phnom Kulen National Park.
After breakfast, your private guide and driver will take you on a journey through the stunning countryside for a visit to the mysterious waterfall at Phnom Kulen. Phnom Kulen (or Kulen Mountain) translates as “Mountain of Lychees”. It is located in Svay Leu District roughly 48km north of Siem Reap. Phnom Kulen is an isolated chain of small mountain plateau of moderate height lying south of the Dângrêk Mountains and appears as a long silhouette on the horizon. Geologically Phnom Kulen is formed of sandstone and it was important as a quarry in Angkorian times. Kulen is now a protected area and as of 1992 has acquired World Heritage status from UNESCO. The Samré tribe was formerly living at the edge of Phnom Kulen, quarrying sandstone and transporting it to the royal sites at Angkor and beyond. The area is also easily defended as the infamous KhmerRouge used the location as a final stronghold as their regime came to an end in 1979. Recently Archeologists have located some 30 temples on Phnom Kulen using helicopter-mounted lasers to measure variations in ground height through dense vegetation. Phnom Kulen is widely regarded as the birthplace of the ancient Khmer Empire.During the constructional period of the ancient temples in the ninth century, sand stones were brought from this sacred mountain to Angkor. It was here at Phnom Kulen that King Jayavarman II proclaimed independence from Java in 802 A.D. The site is known for its carvings representing fertility and its waters hold special significance to the people of Cambodia. Just a few inches under the surface of the water, over 1000 carvings of Yoni and Linga are etched into the sandstone riverbed. The waters are regarded as holy, given the sacred carvings which also include a stone representation of the Hindu god Vishnu lying on his serpent Ananta, with his wife Lakshmi at his feet. A lotus flower protrudes from Vishnu’s navel bearing the god Brahma. We will also visit Preah Ang Thom that houses a large statue of Buddha. It was built in the 16th century and is eight meters high. Preah Ang Thom is the sacred and worshipping god for Kulen Mountain. Besides Preah Ang Thom, Chhok Ruot, footprints of Preah Bat Choan Tuk, Peung Chhok, Peung Ey So and Peung Ey Sey, can also be seen. The river then ends with a beautiful waterfall. We will also visit the Terrace of Sdach Kum Ling has a small brick-built ruined temple in its centre. It was covered by lava for hundreds of years. After a cool refreshing swim in the waterfall you will have a local Khmer lunch and relax a little.
Day 5: Beng Mealea Temple.
This morning, your private driver and guide will pick you up at hotel’s lobby for drive to visit Beng Mealea. Beng Mealea is a spectacular jungle temple, located about 40 km north of Siem Reap. Beng Mealea (meaning lotus pond in Khmer) is a sizable temple, orientated towards the east. It has been largely reclaimed by nature with trees and moss covering the ruins. It gives a shady and quiet atmosphere and the lack of other visitors makes this temple really special. There is extensive carving of scenes from Hindu mythology, including the Churning of the Sea of Milk and Vishnu being born by the bird god Garuda. Causeways have long balustrades formed by bodies of the seven-headed Naga serpent. Constructed during the reign of king Suryavarman II, the layout is similar to that of Angkor Wat. Its scale is huge; being well over 1 square kilometre. The moat has no perimeter wall unlike Angkor Wat. If you approach via a causeway Beng Mealea appears to be a huge pile of rubble partially hidden in the trees. Once you get closer the high walls and the ancient Khmer Architecture reveals itself.
Day 6: Departure from Siem Reap.
We will spend the early hours of the day at leisure until our driver transfers us to the Siem Reap Airport, and then take our flights back home with many a memory of a historical place and its always rejoiced beauty.
