Day 1: Angkor Thom – Preah Khan – Neak Pan – East Bon – Pre Rup – Foot Massage
Our guide and driver meet you in Siem Reap and drive you to visit Angkor Thom, the ancient royal city of the Khmer Empire with its centerpiece; the Bayon temple. As you approach, you will notice the enigmatic faces of former King Jayavarman VII looking in every direction. Your guide will take you to the Terrace of the Elephants, which served as a platform from where the King could welcome back his victorious army, and the Terrace of the Leper King, which holds detailed carvings winding along a narrow passageway that leads to the Baphuon complex. And continue to drive to visit Preah Khan temple, originally a Buddhist monastery and school, this temple was dedicated to Jayavarman VII’s father. After discovery, the temple was mainly left as it was found without renovation. 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 rest of the temples in the grand circle such as Neak Pan, Ta Som, East Mebon, and Pre Rup temples. Return to Siem Reap town, and stop at one of the Khmer Traditional Massage Places to enjoy 60 minutes foot massage before dropping you off at the hotel.
Dinner on your own
Included for the day:
Transport: Private vehicle and driver
Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Lunch (homemade)
Accommodation: Viroth’s Hotel (deluxe garden view) or a similar standard hotel
Day 2: Preak Tuol Birding
Early morning at 5 am, we leave the hotel for Tonle Sap Lake Boat Pier to embark on the local boat to ride to Prek Toal Floating Village. A breakfast box will be provided on board, and the boat rides through Mechreay Floating Village and the open lake of Tonle Sap, it will take us about 60 minutes to arrive at the Prek Toal Floating Village, the biggest floating village in Tonle Sap Lake. On arrival, we meet the bird guide and change to a smaller boat to proceed to the Bird Sanctuary. Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary is one of three biospheres on the Tonlé Sap lake, and this stunning bird sanctuary makes it the most worthwhile and straightforward of the three to visit. It’s an ornithologist’s fantasy, with a significant number of rare breeds gathered in one small area, including the huge lesser and greater adjutant storks, the milky stork, and the spot-billed pelican. Even the uninitiated will be impressed, as these birds have huge wingspans and build enormous nests. Return to the floating village, and visit the community activities doing water hyacinth weaving, they are making baskets, handbags, and other things. Enjoy the authentic lunch served by the community, then we ride the boat back to the mainland and transfer by vehicle to Siem Reap. Free at leisure in the late afternoon, dinner on your own.
Included for the day:
Transport: Private vehicle and driver (and boat ride)
Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (floating restaurant by the local community)
Accommodation: Viroth’s Hotel (deluxe garden view) or a similar standard hotel
Day 3: Angkor Wat Sunrise – High tea & Picnic breakfast – Sunset at Phnom Bakheng
Wake before sunrise this morning and make the 15-minute journey with your guide to Angkor Wat, a legendary UNESCO World Heritage Site. Said by some to symbolize the soul of the Khmer people, the magnificent temple was built during the reign of King Suryavaman II in the early 12th century. Historians believe that many of the fascinating basreliefs and stone carvings immortalize many of the mighty king’s wars. Images of Apsara dancers decorate the five famous towers which replicate the universe according to Hindu mythology.
Your guide will take you to a serene viewpoint where you can experience the dramatic sunrise as the first rays of the day kiss the magnificent temple’s good morning. It is certainly one of the most unique places in the world for sunrise but be forewarned, you won’t be alone! After sunrise, we walk to the backdoor 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. Then we walk through the small village at Srah Srang where we will stop at one of the Khmer Traditional Houses where our high tea and picnic breakfast is arranged, the host will serve us hot tea, coffee, snacks, and fresh seasonal fruits and picnic breakfast. And continue to visit the 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. Return to the hotel for a lunch break (lunch on your own)
Until 4.30 pm, your guide and the driver will pick you up again to drive to Phnom Bakheng, the mountain temple built on the top of a natural mountain in the 9th century. Enjoy the sunset from the top of the hill, one of two hills dominating the plain of Angkor, and have a spectacular view of the Western Baray and Angkor Wat. Return to your hotel in Siem Reap, dinner on your own
Included for the day:
Transport: Private vehicle and driver
Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Viroth’s Hotel (deluxe garden view) or a similar standard hotel
Day 4: Countryside by Scooter ride & Village cooking class
08 am, our guide and the scooter driver (a tuk-tuk is available to ride instead of a scooter if you prefer a tuk-tuk better) pick you up and ride you to Phnom Krom (13km south of Siem Reap), we ride up the hip of the mountain to view the floating village of Tonle Sap Lake and then we ride further to Krabei Riel Village to visit the daily activities of the villagers working in the vegetable gardens, rice fields, and weaving, a lot of stops for pictures and interaction with villagers. Then we get to Mr. Ron’s house, and greeted his family, we will enjoy the cooking class that will lead by his wife, Mrs. Sina. Our guide will assist to do the presentation of his family and also bring you around his vegetable garden before we begin to learn to cook 3 Cambodian dishes with his wife. Taste the food you cooked as lunch, then say goodbye to Mr. Ron’s family, and our scooter driver(s) ride you back to your hotel in Siem Reap for relaxation.
At 4.00, the driver and tuk-tuk driver pick you up and ride you to 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. Bring candles and incense sticks to the pagoda and participate in a private good luck blessing ceremony, performed by local monks that reside at the temple. Sit on the mat while the monks chant blessings and sprinkle holy water on you – a traditional way that is believed to pass on the good luck of the gods. Afterward, a sacred thread will be tied around your wrist. This will protect you from any evil spirits or accidents. Before you continue on your journey, you will receive a small keepsake from the monks to remind you of this special moment. Continue to ride around the outskirt of Siem Reap and taste some Cambodian snacks, fruits, and food that are available, and take a short walk through the night markets and pub street in the old market area. And stop at one of the restaurants for dinner before coming back 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 (village cooking class), dinner
Accommodation: Viroth’s Hotel (deluxe garden view) or a similar standard hotel
Day 5: Koh Ker – Beng Mealea temples
Depart for a full-day trip to Koh Ker and Beng Mealea both located in the beautiful rural hinterlands of Siem Reap. Travel off-the-beaten track for 2 hours before arriving at Koh Ker, the former capital of the Khmer Empire 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. Enjoy an authentic picnic lunch near the temple and continue to visit other ancient structures in the peaceful area. As you head back to Siem Reap, visit the spectacular ruins of Beng Mealea, which was constructed by King Suryavarman II (1113-1150). It preceded and may have served as a prototype of sorts for Angkor Wat. Contrary to Angkor, few carvings or bas-reliefs are evident. Today the temple is largely overrun by vegetation and the stone walls are crumbling which adds to its charm in a unique way. After your visit, drive 1.5 hours back to your hotel.
Included for the day:
Transport: Private vehicle and driver
Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Breakfast, lunch (picnic)
Group sizes : Min from 2 to Max 25 cyclists
Tour Prices: Contact us
