Angkor – Sambor Prei Kuk – Phnom Penh

Day 1: Siem Reap Arrival (morning flight) – Bakheng Sunset

Upon arrival at Siem Reap International Airport, meets and transfer by the local guide to the hotel in Siem Reap for check-in if the room is available before 2 pm or we will drop off the luggage and set the tour for Siem Reap Orientation. Visiting Wat Damnak, which is one of the most beautiful pagodas in town with French colonial architecture reflecting its history and a large garden filled with statues. Then we continue to visit the Angkor National Museum, which opened its doors in 2007, offering a comprehensive collection of Cambodian artifacts showcasing the origins of Khmer art, culture, and architecture. With eight galleries in total, it covers in depth the history of Cambodia and the Khmer Empire as well as a fascinating collection of Buddhist artifacts. Enhance your knowledge of Khmer history and culture by attending a lecture by a Khmer archaeologist who has over 11 years of experience in this field. He has been working for the World Monuments Fund on projects including the Angkor Wat temple. He is also a lecturer at the Faculty of Archaeology at the Royal University. Get one of the local restaurants for lunch and drive to visit Wat Thmei, which was one of the killing fields of Pol Pot in 1975-79 to learn more about the Khmer Rouge Regime, and the civil war of Cambodia from 1979 to 1999.
At about 4.00 pm we drive to visit Phnom Bakheng temple and view the sunset from the top of this mountain temple. Phnom Bakheng temple was built on a natural hill in the 9th century. Commonly referred to as le-mountain because it is an earthly facsimile of Mount Meru, it is located on the left side of the road from Angkor Wat to Angkor Thom and attracts scores of tourists who come to watch the sunset. Return to the hotel in Siem Reap, dinner on your own

Included for the day:
Transport: Private vehicle and driver
Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Lunch
Accommodation: Stueng Siem Reap Hotel (superior room) or a similar standard hotel

Day 2: Angkor Temple Highlights

Breakfast at the hotel at 6 AM
At 7.30 AM, our guide and driver pick you up from the hotel for the full day to visit the main temples (Angkor Wat – Bayon – Banteay Srei – Ta Prohm temples) in Angkor Archeological Park.
We start the visit with Angkor Wat temple another way opposite to others by entering from the East Gate and exiting at the west gate. We walk further to visit Angkor Wat Temple at level 1, level 2, and level 3, an architectural marvel, one of the world’s most impressive ruins to understand in depth Khmer Culture and Civilization. The temple has fine carvings of Apsaras in stone made during the Angkor period. Continue to explore the mysterious Royal city of Angkor Thom. Its 50-tower temple is an awesome sight. At first glance, it seems a shapeless mass of stone, but further scrutiny reveals a face, and then another and another until suddenly you are engulfed by the silent, heavy, enigmatic, silent gaze through half-closed eyes, staring out from a primitive and remote time. Start from South Gate and further visit Bayon, Baphuon, Royal Enclosure, and Terrace of Elephant.
Enjoy the home-make lunch at the local house (Mr. Peout and his wife, Mrs. Gin living in a small house with a peaceful atmosphere and green garden will serve you a great lunch and share their lives story during the Khmer Rouge to present).
After lunch, we continue to visit, the jewel of Khmer art, Banteay Srei temple, located one hour from Siem Reap. This red sandstone temple is one of Angkor’s most significant structures as its walls are decorated with elaborate carvings in an amazing state of preservation. On the way back to Siem Reap we visit, the photogenic Ta Prohm temple of “Tomb Raider” fame, the temple that had nearly disappeared into the jungle and remains overgrown, an oddly haunting and exotic scene. The magnificent roots of a tree, pushing between the huge stone blocks of the temple in a sort of embrace, evoke feelings that you may remember forever. Undisturbed by crowds of tourists you can better appreciate the interplay of man and nature at this magical site. Drive back to the hotel for relaxation, and dinner on your own.

Included for the day:
Transport: Private vehicle and driver (and boat ride)
Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (home-made at the local house)
Accommodation: Stueng Siem Reap Hotel (superior room) or a similar standard hotel

Day 3: Phnom Krom Sunrise – Boat Ride – Sambor Prei Kuk – Kampong Thom

Early wake up in the morning for a transfer to Phnom Krom (13km south of Siem Reap), we climb up the hill to view the sunrise over the rice paddies and the floating village of Tonle Sap Lake and enjoy the picnic breakfast on the hip of Phnom Krom. After breakfast, take the boat ride visiting the Chong Kneas Floating Village on Tonle Sap Lake and take a boat trip to see the daily life in the village. The natural wonder of Tonle Sap offers an insight into the old tradition of riparian life and the natural splendor of the countryside. Return to the hotel for check-out and drive to Kampong Thom. Lunch at the local restaurant on the way
The first visit, Naga Bride in Kampong Kdei, is known as Preah Toes Bridge, or Spean Kâmpong Kdei, it is a grand ancient laterite bridge measuring 86 m long and 14 m wide with 21 arches and topped by a sandstone balustrade with stunning ornamental naga. It was built in the 12th century during the reign of King Jayavarman VII, the highlight of the Ancient Khmer Bridges and of the sites along the RN6 & Ancient Royal Road from Angkor to Prasat Andet. We then, continue to drive to visit Sambor Prei Kuk Temples. Sambor Prei Kuk is Cambodia’s oldest temple site dating back to the 6th century. The site remains remarkably well preserved. Continue to walk along quiet, shady trails from one temple group to another. Continue to villagers making No Banh Chok (Khmer Wet Noddle), weaving, and vegetable gardens before we head out to Kampong Thom city for overnight. Dinner at the local restaurant

Included for the day:
Transport: Private vehicle and driver
Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Glorious Hotel & Spa (superior room) or a similar standard hotel

Day 4: Kampong Thom – Spider Market – Phnom Penh – Food Tours

Breakfast at the hotel.
We drive to Phnom Penh, get to the first stop for the bathroom, and also visit the Spider Market located on the roadside which is some 50km to reach Phnom Penh. At the spider market, you will see the ladies selling live tarantulas, and some are deep fried as much as credit, water bugs, grasshoppers, scorpions, and local seasonal fruits. Continue to drive to have lunch at the local restaurant in Phnom Penh, and check in at the hotel.
At 4.00 PM, our guide and tuk-tuk driver pick you up for the Phnom Penh Orientation by visiting Wat Phnom, which is the center of Phnom Penh that gives the city its name. At 27 meters above sea level, it is the highest point in the area, and as a town gradually grew up around it, the settlement became known as Phnom Penh, the hill of Penh. It is the zero point of the city. Then continue to visit Wat Unalom (Buddhist Monastery), this pagoda serves as the headquarters for one of Cambodia’s most revered Buddhist patriarchs. In addition to the pagoda, there is a post-Angkorean stupa at this monastery. Continue to ride to enjoy the tuk-tuk ride for the food tours through the city via the riverfront, and get the first stop at one of the lovely bars on the riverside where you get a briefing and tour presentation by the tour guide along with one class of cocktails or one drink. Then, we take a thorough a lively local night market before sitting down with the locals at a popular local street food spot. Savor the flavors of Cambodian-style fresh seafood, a special recipe Saba (mackerel) fish dish, and squid with world-renowned Kampot pepper. We then ride through the bright city lights to a trendy nightspot with live music to enjoy some exciting local delicacies. Afterward, ride to the much-celebrated Independence Monument for a quick insight into the city’s history and a fantastic photo opportunity. We finish the evening at one of the city’s most stylish bar areas where trendy locals and foreigners on the top roof with a panoramic view of the heart of Phnom Penh City, get one soft drink or one local beer each before we return to the hotel.

Included for the day:
Transport: Scooter and driver in the morning, tuk-tuk and driver in the afternoon
Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner (food tours)
Accommodation: Anik Hotel (urban room) or a similar standard hotel

Day 5: Phnom Penh – City Tour – Departure (evening flight)

Breakfast at the hotel.
visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, which was a high school prior to 1975, an interrogation prison known as S-21 during the Khmer Rouge era, and today as a genocide museum. Return to the hotel free at leisure. And continue to visit Central Market, a landmark building in the capital, the art deco Psar Thmei (literally ‘New Market’) is often called the Central Market, a reference to its location and size. The huge domed hall resembles a Babylonian ziggurat and some claim it ranks as one of the 10 largest domes in the world, and return to the hotel for check-out. Lunch at the local restaurant
After lunch, visit the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, two of the most striking buildings in the capital which are considered some of the finest examples of Khmer architecture. They were initially constructed in 1866 by the French. The Royal Palace is home to the current King Sihamoni. The neighboring Silver Pagoda stands out in its own distinctive way. The floor consists of 5,329 solid silver tiles to which the building owes its name. And then, transfer to the Phnom Penh International Airport for departure.

Included for the day:
Transport: Private vehicle and driver
Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Breakfast, lunch (picnic)