Cambodia in Essence

ជំរាបសួរ chôm rab suôr！Welcome to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Upon arrival, you will be greeted at the airport and transferred to your hotel for check-in. Rest of the day at your leisure.

This morning you will be picked up at your accommodation in Siem Reap to begin your unforgettable Angkor Wat Tour. You will be transferred by private car to the West Gate of Angkor Thom – undiscovered by mass tourists. Your tour will include visiting the South Gate of Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Angkor Period (AD 802-1432). Visit the breathtaking Bayon Temple, one of the most popular sites in the Angkor complex with over 200 giant faces carved into its 54 towers. The temple was designed to represent the 54 provinces of the Khmer Empire and it still carries a completely majestic atmosphere. You will also visit Baphuon Temple, Phimeanakas Temple, the Terrace of the Elephant, the Terrace of the Leper King, and the Royal Palace Temple. 

In the afternoon, you will visit Angkor Wat Temple, one of the seven wonders of the world. Angkor Wat is a World Heritage Site since 1992, famous for its beauty and splendor. View the sunset at Phnom Bakheng before heading back to your accommodation.

If you want, you can take the early morning trip witness sunrise over Angkor Wat temple and listening singing birds over the ancient land of Angkor area, you also have the chance for a friendly talk with the monks and nuns at a nearby pagoda. After the sunrise tour, breakfast either at the hotel or takeaway is available. 

Start the day by visiting Banteay Srei Temples, nearly everyone's favorite site. The special charm of this temple lies in its compact size, remarkable state of preservation, and the excellence of it decorative carving. Continue to visit Banteay Samre, Its rose-colored sandstone walls are decorated with carvings and bas-reliefs, which are among the most accomplished Angkor has to offer. Have lunch at a local restaurant for exotic cuisine. Ta Prohm temple and Banteay Kdei are your next stops before some leisure time in the late afternoon. 

Morning visits a Khmer village and enjoy the view of the rice field and lots of palm trees with great fresh air. Then board on boat in Tonle Sap Lake, the biggest fresh-water lake in Southeast Asia. In the afternoon we drive to Battambang (about 3-4 hrs). Upon arrival, check in to the hotel and have some leisure time.

Today you will discover the city of Battambang, a charming big city where you can watch the elegant houses in the French colonial style along the river. You then visit the Provincial Museum and the pagoda before heading to the 11th-century temple of Wat Ek Phnom. 

You will pass through traditional villages along the route where you can attend the manufacture of family rice cakes and contact people about their daily lives. Afternoon, we drive an hour's ride to the hill of Phnom Bannon (337 steps) and its temple, Prasat Bannon, 7th century, which stands atop a mountain that reaches by a long staircase. From there, you can also admire the beautiful scenic landscape of villages, plains, and pagodas. We drive to the Bamboo Railway Station. The Bamboo Train has been set up by the villagers to facilitate the transportation of goods and people. The train in itself is very basic – one platform on 4 wheels activated by a small motor. Sitting on the platform we travel the 8km to the next station through beautiful landscape and rice paddies. On arrival, you will visit a village and discover the daily life of the Cambodian countryside. You will also visit a workshop which is specialized in wooden sculpture.

Morning departure Phnom Penh the Capital city of Cambodia, having had time to explore, continue to Kompong Chhnang, taking the time to stop at a pottery village before continuing further north to Pursat Province, famous for its marble stone carvings. Then stop at Kompong Loung to visit the village of goldsmiths along the Tonle Sap, the manufacturing souvenir center stopping, and stop at Phnom Oudong, the ancient Cambodian capital during the latter stages of the Khmer Empire and crowning site of many past kings. Consisting of a series of stupas atop a large hill, there are outstanding views across the surrounding plains below. Phnom Oudong was bombed and desecrated by the Americans and then the Khmer Rouge, but still possesses a beauty that no war has been able to steal from it. Upon Arrival in Phnom Penh, check into the hotel, and free time for you.

Today a full-day city tour introduces you to the sights of Phnom Penh, a city that lies near the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. It remains a living relic of the country’s past struggles and successes. You will be transferred to Royal Palace, and visit the Silver Pagoda, National Museum, and Wat Phnom. Have lunch at a local restaurant before a visit to Tuol Sleng Prison Museum， a former school that served as a Khmer Rouge torture center, and it’s estimated that more than 20,000 people were held and tortured there. 

The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek tells the story of the tragic legacy of the Khmer Rouge. The Choeung Ek Memorial, is home to a stupa made up of some 8,000 human skulls, marking the site of the infamous Killing Fields. This was the execution ground for the torture victims of Tuol Sleng, and standing in this peaceful setting it's almost unthinkable to imagine that to date nearly 9,000 corpses have been exhumed from the area.

Enjoy your free time until your guide come and escort you to airport for your onward flight.