Day 1:

Arrival at Siem Reap International Airport and transfer to the hotel (room may not be ready until the afternoon).

§        Visit the ancient capital of Angkor Thom. See the South gate, one of the five gates of the last capital of the Khmer Empire with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, Bayon temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avalokitesvara), the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, and the Terrace of Leper King.

Lunch not included

§        In the afternoon, visit the most famous of all the temples on the Angkor plain: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered to be the major example of Classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat’s five towers symbolize Meru’s five peaks, the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat symbolizes the ocean beyond. Enjoy sunset at Angkor Wat or from Phnom Bakheng Mountain, where you will see a spectacular view of the entire temple’s layout, Siem Reap town and surrounding landscape.

Dinner and accommodation are not included

Day 2:

§        In the morning, you will continue your temples visits, including Pre Rup (the mountain-temple), Eastern Mebon (guarded at its corner by stone figures of harnessed elephants, some of which are still in a reasonable state of preservation), Neak Poan (the fountain built in the middle of a pool and representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake), and Preah Khan, built by the king Jayavarman VII and Preah Khan is like Taprohm, a place of towered enclosure and shoulder-hugging corridors. Unlike Taprohm, however, the temple of Preah Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and improve this situation.

Lunch not included

§        In the afternoon, visit Srah Srang, “The Royal Baths” which was once used for ritual bathing. Continue your temple tour to Banteay Kdei, a Buddhist monastery from the late 12th century. Your visit will also include Ta Prohm built in the mid 12th to early 13th centuries, one of the most beautiful temples in the area. Ta Prohm has been left relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Then, end your tour at the twin temples of Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda.

Dinner and accommodation are not included

Day 3:

§        Visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 15 km of south of Siem Reap town. Take a traditional wooden boat for a ride on the Tonle Sap, the “Great Lake” of Cambodia and the largest in Asia.

Lunch not included

§        Visit “Les Artisans d’Angkor – Chantiers Ecoles” of Siem Reap and time leisure at the local market (if time permits).