The Lost Temples

Day 1: Phnom Penh – Sambo Prei Kuk – Preah Khan Kampong Svay

Early morning at 7 am, our guide and driver pick you up from your hotel in Phnom Penh and drive heading out of Phnom Penh to Kampong Thom Province. First, stop at Skuon for the restroom and visit the spider market. Continue to drive to have lunch at Sambor Prei Kuk community, great authentic lunch made by villagers. After lunch, 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 drive to Preah Khan Kampong Svay where we will have dinner and overnight in the local house with villagers (you will have time to interact with the hosts to know deeper about the village lives and cultures, our guide will assist to translate). The host will happy to share their lives story during the Khmer Rouge (1975-79) and the civil war in Cambodia (1979-1999).

Included for the day:
Transport: Private vehicle and driver
Tour guide: English-speaking tour guide
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Homestay with a local family

Day 2: Preah Khan Kampong Svay – Koh Ker – Siem Reap

Early morning at 7 am – the guide will take you to visit the lost temple of Preah Khan Kampong Svay in the early morning and you will enjoy the peaceful temple with the different sounds of the jungle birds.
Preah Khan Kompong Svay bears the original name of “Bakan” which refers to a high tower or citadel. It is a large Khmer temple complex located in Sangkum Thmei commune, Kampong Thom province, approximately 105km to the east of Angkor. The temple is well known for three things; firstly it was a Mahayana-Buddhism temple related to the concept of pure land, secondly, it served as one of the way stations (the temples tape) at least since the 12th century on the east-bound ancient highway network (Royal Road) starting from Angkor Thom, passing through Beng Mealea to Preah Khan Kompong Svay, and thirdly, it is an industrial center relating to the region’s iron mining, smelting, and production activities.

Return to the homestay to have breakfast, and continue to drive to Koh Ker. Stop for lunch, and after lunch, we visit Koh Ker temples. Koh Ker was built in the 10th century and functioned briefly as the Khmer Empire’s capital between 928 and 944 A.D. The style of the Koh Ker temple is different from any other temple in Cambodia and has more of a resemblance to the ancient pyramids of Egypt. Partially overgrown by the forest and inhabited only by birds, this temple and its surroundings are an exceptional experience.

Continue to drive to Siem Reap, drop off in Siem Reap City – End of the services!

Included for the day:
Transport: Private vehicle and driver
Tour guide: English-speaking tour guide
Meals: Breakfast, lunch,
Accommodation: Not included