A Great Cambodia Circuit

DAY 1 – PHNOM PENH / ARRIVAL

Arrival in Phnom Penh. We welcome and transfer you to hotel. Rest of the day is your leisure time to explore the city on your own. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

DAY 2 – PHNOM PENH (B,L)

Morning, visit the notorious Choeung Ek Killing Fields, 15km southwest of Phnom Penh. This one is the site of brutal executions of more than 17,000 individuals, most of whom first suffered through interrogations, torture and deprivation in Toul Sleng Prison during Pol Pot regime (From 1975–1979). Continue your visit to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21 prison). This prison was a high school, and used as a prison by Pol Pot’s security forces and became the largest center for detention and torture during the rule of the Khmer Rouge. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, take some minutes at Independent Monument for photo taking. We then visit the opulent Royal Place, home to Cambodia’s Royal family. The Royal Palace is built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town. Continue at the Silver Pagoda, located within the grounds of the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles. Leaving the Royal Palce, you will visit at The National Museum with its superb collection of Khmer art. The last place to visit today is Wat Phnome, the most famous buddhist temple in Phnom Penh. Wat Phnom was built in 1373, and stands 27 metres above the ground. It is the tallest religious structure in the city. The pagoda was given the name of Wat Preah Chedey Borapaut. Overnight at hotel in Phnom Penh.

DAY 3 – PHNOM PENH → KAMPONG CHAM → KRATIE (B)

Head to Kampong Cham, a former French trading post town and soak in the scenery of rural Cambodia as you drive past cashew nut plantations, rice fields, and traditional villages. Tour the town center before continuing to Wat Nokor, an evocative 11th century sandstone Buddhist shrine. Leaving Wat Nokor and continue the journey to Kratie. Arrive in Kratie. Enoy lunch at a local restaurant. Spend the afternoon at your lesiure in the sleepy riverside town of Kratie. Enjoy a spectacular Mekong sunset with perhaps a cold drink this evening. The Kratie stretch of the river is particularly famed for its striking sunsets. Overnight at hotel in Kratie.

DAY 4 – KRATIE (B,L)

Morning, stroll through this laid-back northern town, visiting the local market where vendors sell everything from fresh fruits and meats to motorbike tires and helmets. Set out for a countryside tour and then board a boat in the afternoon to try and catch a glimpse of the endangered, freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins. Continue towards the village Sambo for a visit of Wat Sorsor Mouy Roy Pagoda with a scenic lunch served amongst the grounds. Afternoon, cross the river to the island of Koh Trong and experience typical Cambodian village life. Upon arrival, you can decide whether you would like to take a local horse cart or pedal yourself around the island on a bicycle. Visit the island's Wat where you will take part in a tree planting project initiated by a local farmer, in order to recultivate the once densely forested island. Continue with a visit to the Vietnamese floating village on the southern tip of the island. Return to Kratie by boat this afternoon. Overnight at hotel in Udom Sambath, Kratie.

DAY 5 – KRATIE → KAMPONG THOM (B,L)

Depart for Kampong Thom passing through lush grasslands- home to a plethora of waterbirds- and watch out for ox-carts along the road, the main form of local transportation in this region. Although there are almost 1000 steps, climbing up Phnom Santuk Mountain offers spectacular vistas of the surrounding countryside and houses a small pagoda at the top. After soaking in the view, descend the steps and continue by road to Kampong Thom. This afternoon, spend your time at leisure in Kampong Thom. Overnight at hotel in Kampong Thom.

DAY 6 – KAMPONG THOM → SIEM REAP (B,L)

Leaving Kampong Thom for Sambor Prei Kuk. Sambor Prei Kuk, 30 kms north of town, is a jungle-enclosed temple complex that receives very few tourists due to its remote location. However, a visit to these Pre-Angkorian ruins should not be missed. As you travel through the ruins on bike and foot, you will be awe-struck at the melding of architecture and nature, as the brick structures here blend seemlessly with the nature surrounding them. You will have the chance to visit and contribute to the sustainability of the people’s livelihood as the local community will prepare a simple but tasty lunch for you near the temples. After lunch, continue our journey towards Siem Reap. On arrival in Siem Reap, check in to the hotel and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure. Overnight in Siem Reap.

DAY 7 – SIEM REAP / Explore Angkor Wat & Angkor Thom (B,L)

The first part of the day will be spent exploring some of the most iconic temple complexes in Angkor, Cambodia. The morning begins with a visit to Angkor Thom, the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire. Here, you can explore some of the most significant structures, including the Bayon Temple, the Baphuon, the Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.

Afterward, you will continue your visit to Ta Prohm, a temple complex that is famous for its unique architecture and the way that trees and vegetation have grown around and through its structures. This temple complex provides a stunning visual experience and is one of the most popular destinations for visitors to Angkor.

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant, where you can enjoy some of the local cuisine.

In the afternoon, you will visit Angkor Wat, the most famous of all the temples in Angkor. This massive temple complex is one of the largest religious monuments in the world and is famous for its intricate architecture and stunning beauty. Here, you can explore the central temple, the outer walls, and the surrounding moat.

In the evening, you will enjoy a buffet dinner and watch a Khmer Traditional Dance Show at a local restaurant. This is an excellent opportunity to experience some of the local culture and enjoy some traditional entertainment while dining on local cuisine.

Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

DAY 8 – SIEM REAP / Famous temples and Tonle Sap lake (B,L)

Morning, visit some famous temples in Siem Reap including: East Mebon, Ta Som, Neak Panan, Preah Khan, Pre Rup.

• The East Mebon is a 10th Century temple at Angkor, Cambodia. Built during the reign of King Rajendravarman, it stands on what was an artificial island at the center of the now dry East Baray reservoir.
• Ta Som is a small temple at Angkor, Cambodia, built at the end of the 12th century for King Jayavarman VII. It is located north east of Angkor Thom and just east of Neak Pean.
• Neak Pean at Angkor, Cambodia is an artificial island with a Buddhist temple on a circular island in Preah Khan Baray built during the reign of King Jayavarman VII. It is the “Mebon” of the Preah Khan baray.
• Preah Khan is a temple at Angkor, built by the King Jayavarman VII. Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder hugging corridors. However, the temple of Preah Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation.
• Pre Rup is a temple at Angkor, Cambodia, built as the state temple of Khmer king Rajendravarman and dedicated in 961 or early 962. It is a temple mountain of combined brick, laterite and sandstone construction.

Afternoon, enjoy breakfast at hotel. Visit Angkor National Museum at 7.30am.

Angkor National Museum is an archaeological museum dedicated to the collection, preservation and presentation of Angkorian artifacts, also to provides information and education about art and culture of Khmer civilization, with collections mainly dated from Khmer Empire’s Angkor period circa 9th to 14th-century. Most of the artifacts are discovered in and around the Angkor archaeological sites nearby. The museum is located in Vithei Charles de Gaulle No. 968, Siem Reap, Cambodia, on the way between downtown Siem Reap to northern road leading to Angkor ancient city.

After that, take a boat trip for sight-seeing on Tonle Sap Lake, the Great Lake of Cambodia. It is one of the largest lakes in Asia. Here, enjoy a brief cruise past floating villages complete with schools, restaurants, and hospitals. Leave the lake and head to downtown to visit Artisan’s D’angkor, the caving art school. Continue your visit to Wat Thmei. Wat Thmei near Charles de Gaulle Boulevard in Siem Reap, Cambodia where you will find a small memorial stupa which contains the skulls and bones of victims killed during the regime of the Khmer Rouge during 1975 – 1979. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

DAY 9 – SIEM REAP / Explore Beng Mealea (B,L)

At 8.00am, we drive out of the city to go to Koh Ker. Abandoned to the forests of the north, Koh Ker, capital of the Angkorian empire from AD 928 to AD 944, is 127km northeast of Siem Reap. It takes about 1.5 hour to reach Koh Ker.

Koh Ker is a 10th-century temple complex in the north Cambodian jungle. A former capital of the Khmer Empire, the site is now remote and heavily forested. The main structure, Koh Ker Temple, is a stepped 7-tiered pyramid. The large rectangular tank, Rahal Baray, supplied water to the complex. The Prasat Krahom, meaning "red temple," is known for its sandstone carvings, while Prasat Pram is covered in strangler figs.

9.30am, We start at Prasat Krahom where impressive stone carvings grace lintels, doorposts and slender window columns. The principal monument is Mayan-looking Prasat Thom, a 55m-wide, 40m-high sandstone-faced pyramid whose seven tiers offer spectacular views across the forest.

10.30am, we drive back to Siem Reap. On the way back, we stop at two famous temples: Prasat Neang Khmaw & Prasat Pram. We proceed our way back and stop at a local restaurant near Beng Mealea temple. Enjoy your lunch.

1.30pm, we visit Beng Mealea temple. Enjoy a short walk through the dense jungle and discover the wonders of an overgrown temple, Beng Mealea, which lay undiscovered for centuries.

A spectacular sight to behold, Beng Mealea, located about 55km northeast of Siem Reap, is one of the most mysterious temples at Angkor, as nature has well and truly run riot. Exploring this titanic of temples, built to the same floor plan as Angkor Wat, is the ultimate Indiana Jones experience. Built in the 12th century under Suryavarman II, Beng Mealea is enclosed by a massive moat measuring 1.2km by 900m.

3.30pm, we leave Beng Mealea and drive to the last one that we visit today, Banteay Srey.

4.30pm, Arrival at the temple. You now have chance to see the “gem” of the Angkor area. The so-called “Citadel of the Women” displays some of the finest examples of classical Khmer art.

Considered by many to be the jewel in the crown of Angkorian art, Banteay Srei is cut from stone of a pinkish hue and includes some of the finest stone carving anywhere on Earth. Begun in AD 967, it is one of the smallest sites at Angkor, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in stature. The art gallery of Angkor, Banteay Srei, a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, is wonderfully well preserved and many of its carvings are three-dimensional.

Overnight in Siem Reap. (B,L)

DAY 10 – SIEM REAP → BATTAMBANG (B,L)

After breakfast, we transfer you from Siem Reap to Battambang. Drive through the countryside, see the peaceful scenery and the local life of Cambodian people.

Alternative: Embark on a beautiful boat as you will be taken from Siem Reap to Battambang by the boat privately (Note: from January to June alternative transfer by road). Cruising along the Tonlé Sap Lake you will encounter a rich and diverse eco-system and stilted houses, as you absorb the tranquil rhythms of life on the river.

This afternoon you will arrive in Battambang. Home to some of the best preserved French colonial buildings in the country, Cambodia's second largest city had long been banned from tourist routes. After checking in at your hotel, the rest of the day is spent at your leisure. Overnight at the hotel in Battambang.

DAY 11 – BATTAMBANG (B,L)

Today will be spent encountering friendly locals and exploring this unique city. After breakfast you will proceed to Phnom Sampeau, home to the killing caves and a small temple, representing both serenity and inhumanity in one place. Continue the tour with a ride on a bamboo train. (Note: the train tracks from Battambang to Phnom Penh are currently being rebuilt. The long term future of the bamboo train ride cannot be guaranteed. Should the service stop we will arrange alternative sightseeing). Disembark as your guide leads you through local villages and farms on the way to Wat Banan, an 11-century temple on a mountain top situated between lush paddy fields and beautiful lotus ponds. Climb to the top and enjoy the views over the beautiful countryside and wander around the ancient temple, which is also home to scented flowering trees. This afternoon, you will be taken to some of the many cultural villages around Battambang, where you will learn how the locals produce rice paper, prahoc (typical Cambodian fish paste), grolan (sticky rice stuffed in bamboo), and other Cambodian treats. An optional visit Phare Ponleu Selpak School of Music , Visual & Performing Arts can also be arranged. You will also visit a weaving and handicraft centre. Overnight in Battambang.

DAY 12 – BATTAMBANG → PHNOM PENH (B,L,D)

This morning you will depart from Battambang and travel to Kampong Chhnang, known for its traditional pottery. Continue to Oudong, the former royal capital of Cambodia and enjoy an ox-cart ride through the city. You will then climb the stairs to the top of Oudong Mountain and enjoy magnificent views over the plains below as your guide explains the history of the area and its buildings as well as the religious culture of the Cambodian people. This afternoon, you will drive to Phnom Penh stopping at Koh Chen, an island in the Tonlé Sap River known as the 'Silver Village' due to its production of 'silver' based crafts. From here it is not far to Phnom Penh where you will reach by mid afternoon. For your last evening in Cambodia you will enjoy an authentic Khmer farewell dinner. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

DAY 13 – PHNOM PENH / DEPARTURE (B)

Enjoy today at leisure until it is time for your transfer to Phnom Penh International Airport for your departure flight.