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Day 1: Banteay Srei and Grand Circuit Heritage
Today, start the exploring by visiting the most interesting temples outside Angkor Thom city. Departing your hotel around 8.00 am, you begin with first stop at Pre Rup Hindu temple built as the state temple of Khmer king Rajendravarman and dedicated in 961 or early 962. It is a temple mountain of combined brick, laterite and sandstone construction.
Continue a drive for the intricately carved and well-preserved Banteay Srei. The detailed reliefs on this smaller sandstone structure are regarded as the finest, most skillfully crafted in Cambodia. Banteay Srei has only been accessible since the late 1990s, when the Khmer Rouge left the area.
Return your journey back and visit Neak Pean temples, an artificial island with a Buddhist temple on a circular island in Jayatataka Baray and continue your afternoon to Preah Khan temple, a ruined but highly atmospheric mélange of tree roots and crumbling stone structures. Construction of this site was commissioned by the great ‘temple builder’ Jayavaraman VII (in honour of his father) and a visit to this smaller site makes for an interesting contrast with the more imposing Angkor Wat. Preah Khan is currently being restored by the World Monument Fund and in places is in remarkably good condition. Late afternoon return to town after a memorable day exploration.
Day 2: Angkor Wat Highlights and Sunrise Guided Tour
We begin with a pre-dawn departure from your hotel for sunrise outside Angkor Wat. Enter the great temple in darkness (please bring a torch) from the little-visited eastern side, and creep along hoary cloistered corridors past the longest stretch of bas-relief carvings in the world. Soak up the atmosphere of dawn at Angkor, from the edge of one of the ancient library pools. We then explore the interior of the great temple, spending a thorough two hours discovering the corridors, central chambers and upper terraces of this truly great temple. Your expert local guide will decipher the myriad of stories behind the bas-relief carvings, and give you an insight into life during the height of the Khmer empire.
We end our tour at Angkor with breakfast outside the temple (breakfast is not included), and a short rest. Continue the morning visit the jungle-enveloped Ta Prohm – one of the most atmospheric of all temples in Angkor. Once home to 2,740 monks, Ta Prohm today looks much as it did in the early 1850s, when French explorer Henri Mouhot ‘rediscovered’ this crumbling site.
Continue the morning to Angkor Thom city. Pass by the famous Terrace of the Leper King, and the Terrace of Elephants before arriving Bayon Temple. At ‘The Bayon’ (12th century) we see its beautifully crafted central towers, covered in more than 200 enormous faces, then continue to the southern Gate of Angkor Thom, flanked by a row of 54 stone figures on each side – gods to the left and demons to the right – and the fortified city of Angkor Thom. Enjoy the rest of the peaceful atmosphere at Angkor Archaeological Park before heading back to your hotel. Tour end between 12.30-1.30pm.
Day 3: Half Day Tonle Sap Fishing Village & Flooded Forest
This morning at 8.00 am depart your hotel for the journey through the countryside to the world’s second largest freshwater Tonle Sap Lake.
The Tonle Sap one of the world’s most productive bodies of fresh water. In the wet season, the Tonle Sap Lake swells to 12,000 km². During the dry half of the year, the lake shrinks to as small as 2,500 km², draining into the Tonle Sap River. Each year, millions of fish come to spawn in the seasonally flooded forest surrounding the lake, attracting a myriad of water birds as well as people, who have settled in villages along the shores and who live with the rhythm of the water. This ecosystem was classified as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1997.
Take a boat trip to ‘Kampong Phluk’ a collection of three small fishing villages in an atmospheric flooded forest setting. Cruise through the village and see unique houses on stilts, and Cambodians at work in the floating forest. Our boat will meander slowly through forest canals, allowing you to catch glimpses of flora and fauna, and see a truly beautiful eco-system.
Take the back roads back to town on this half-day tour in Siem Reap and witness seasonal agricultural activities like cricket catching, rice planting, and harvesting, smoking fish, fish paste (prohoc making), and duck farming. Stop at a local village to pick up Khmer snacks and explore. Visit a Buddhist monastery before heading home.
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On the first day, begin your journey with a visit to the renowned Grand Circuit temples, where history and architecture come alive. On Day 2, witness the breathtaking sunrise over Angkor Wat, followed by an in-depth exploration of the ancient city of Angkor Thom. Marvel at the intricate tree roots enveloping Ta Prohm, a truly iconic sight. On Day 3, spend your final half-day delving into the authentic Cambodian countryside. Discover the daily lives of local people and enjoy a scenic boat cruise to visit the fishing villages and flooded forests. Learn about Tonle Sap Lake, the world’s second-largest freshwater lake. This comprehensive 2.5-day tour is available in both small group and private options, ensuring a personalized and memorable experience.
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