Secrets of Angkor 05 Days/ 04 Nights

Upon arrival you will be met by your tour guide at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

Please note that hotel check in time is from 14:00. Early check in is subject to hotel availability and with extra fee.

The rest of the day is at your leisure to relax, enjoy your hotel’s facilities, and explore the city. Your guide will make arrangements for the following day.

Included meals: None

Accommodation in PHNOM PENH

After breakfast, you will visit Phnom Penh including the Royal Palace complex. This palace dates from 1866 and was the last one built during the French colonial period.  The same complex houses the Silver Pagoda, named for the over 5000 silver tiles that cover its floors. Its original name is Wat Prakeo, meaning Temple of the Emerald Buddha. In this temple you will see a collection of Buddhas in gold, silver, crystal, and bronze. 

Continue to National Museum, built in 1917.  Housed there are over 5,000 statues, lingas and others artifacts arranged according to pre- Angkor and post –Angkor periods of Cambodia history.

After that, you will visit Wat Phnom is situated near the northern boundary of the city. The original temple was built in 1372 by a rich Khmer lady named "Penh" who found a collection of statues of the Buddha washed up on the river bank and decided to house them on a nearby hill "Phnom". The site contains some good examples of Khmer architecture and statues. Wat Phnom is frequented by the locals as a place of worship and a favorite weekend picnic spot.

In the afternoon, you will visit Toul Sleng (S-21). In the years before 1975, Toul Sleng was a high school in Phnom Penh, but when the Khmer Rouge came to power it was converted into the notorious prison known as S-21. During the Khmer Rouge regime, around 20,000 people were kept in prison here, and tortured to confess their ‘anti-revolutionary’ behavior. Some died under the torture and were buried in a shallow mass grave on the prison ground, but most prisoners were executed at the Killing Fields. Only 7 inmates survived the Toul Sleng prison.

We continue to visit Choeung Ek (Killing Field) the site of a former orchard and mass grave of victims of the Khmer Rouge killed between 1975 and 1979 about 15 km south of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, is the best-known of the sites known as The Killing Fields, where the Khmer Rouge regime executed over one million people between 1975 and 1979. Mass graves containing 8,895 bodies were discovered at Choeung Ek after the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime. Many of the dead were former political prisoners who were kept by the Khmer Rouge in their Tuol Sleng detention center. Here, was the place where victims transported from Toul Sleng or S-21 and other places in the country were detained.

Included meals: Breakfast

Accommodation in PHNOM PENH

After breakfast, depart Phnom Penh for Seam Reap by private vehicle with driver only. This trip takes about 6 hours by driving including technical toilet stop.

A short stop at Spider markets in Skun district, where it’s very popular to sell a variety of fried spider serving as a snack for local people, if you dare you can taste it, yummy!

Upon arrival in Seam Reap, transfer to hotel for check in. Enchant by the beautiful sunset and fascinating view of the whole Angkor Wat at Bakheng Mountain (if weather permit).

Included meals: Breakfast

Accommodation in SEAM REAP

After breakfast, you will visit the ancient city of Angkor Thom. A short stop at South Gate. Angkor Thom was the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of King Jayavarman VII. This city is surrounded by an 8 meters high wall, drawing a perfect square. Enter the city through the ancient South Gate, an impressive stone gate carved with Elephants and four giant faces. On each side of the entrance path a row of 54 Gods or Demons is holding the sacred Naga snake.

From here, we continue to visit Bayon Temple in the exact center of the city. This 12th century masterpiece is a study in grandeur and is well-known for its 54 towers with enigmatic faces representing the 54 provinces of the Great Khmer Empire. Baphuon Temple, Phimean Akas Temple, Elephants Terrace & Leper King Terrace, Royal Palace, Woman and Man Pond are also must-visits as they are both known for their intricate bas-reliefs.

In the afternoon, we proceed to visit Ta Prom Temple built in the Bayon style largely in the late 12^th and early 13^th centuries. It has been left in much the same condition in which it was found, the photogenic and atmospheric combination massive fig and silk cotton trees grow from the towers and corridors, offering some of the best ‘tree-in temple’.

After that, we will visit the famous Angkor Wat. Built during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, it is constructed following the model of the temple mountain symbolizing the Mount Meru, home of the Gods. Inside the temple, the walls are covered with stone carvings and bas-reliefs depicting Hindu mythology and the wars King Suryavarman II fought during his reign. Moreover, Angkor Wat is well known for the more than 2,000 Apsara dancers decorating the temple. Construction is thought to have taken around thirty years of intensive labor. Today, Angkor Wat is figured on Cambodia's national flag as the temple symbolizes the soul of the Khmer people.

During sunset, Angkor Wat is less visited, and the Apsaras will shine in the most beautiful light. Return to your hotel, where you can enjoy the evening at leisure.

Note: During the visit of the Bakan Tower of Angkor Wat Temple Visitors are required to wear proper attire, covering shoulders and knees (no short, miniskirt or short trousers). Children under twelve years old are not allowed to climb up this tower. It will be closed on the Buddhist religious days (four days a month). 

Included meals: Breakfast

Accommodation in SEAM REAP

After breakfast, we travel to the “gem” of the Angkor area, the pretty temple of Banteay Srey, about 35 km from Seam Reap city which is best viewed in the warm morning light. The so-called “Citadel of the Women” remains the best preserved temple in Cambodia. It displays some of the finest examples of classical Khmer art as this small temple is noted for its truly

remarkable fine bas-reliefs. Banteay Srey is unique in that it is constructed of pink sandstone, which is seen nowhere else in Angkor.

On the way back, you will have the possibility to stop at local communities along the way and your guide will help you to interact with the local community to learn about the way of life here. Seize the opportunity to taste Palm Wine and Palm Sugar (seasonal) and other popular local produce. After that, we continue to visit Banteay Samre. Banteay Samre is a temple at Angkor, Cambodia located east of the East Baray. Built under King Suryavarman II and King Yasovarman II in the early 12th century, it is a Hindu temple in the Angkor Wat style. It is one of the most complete complexes at Angkor due to restoration using the method of anastylosis. Unfortunately, the absence of maintenance over the past 20 years is evident.

In the afternoon, the driver transfers to the boat pier. Take the private boat and reach to Kampong Pluk Floating Village. it’s about 20 Km locates on the Southeast of Seam Reap city. Over 3,000 inhabitants are real Khmers, their households made of wood and bamboo built on stilts of about 6 to 7 meters high. During dry season when the level of the water is low and lack of water those buildings looks like the skyscrapers. At this time of the year many of villagers move out onto the lake and build a provisional stilted houses. In wet season while the water level rising up again, the dwellers move back to their permanent houses on the flood plain, the stilts now hidden under the water. People made a living by catching fishes produce as well as smelly fish paste, fermented fish, smoked fish, dried fish, dried, prawn etc. Upon arrival this village we will explore the above activities and we can have a chat with children at private English class, then stop at Buddhist Island to see Buddha paintings.

Included meals: Breakfast

Accommodation in SEAM REAP

Breakfast at hotel. Free at leisure.

Your tour guide and private car will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.

Please note that hotel check-out time is by noon 12:00. Luggage can be deposited at hotel after check-out. Hotel late check-out is subject to hotel availability and with extra fee.

Included meals: Breakfast