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Day 1: Siem Reap Arrival (-)
Welcome to Siem Reap, the
charming gateway to the famed
temples of Angkor. You will be
greeted by your local English
speaking guide, who will
accompany you to your hotel for
check in.
Take a rest from your flight at
the hotel or discover Siem Reap
on a stroll through its
beautiful pagodas and the
colorful market on your own.
This afternoon, will take you on
a journey to get the first
glimpse of the legendary Angkor
Wat. Built during the reign of
King Suryavarman II in the early
12th century, Angkor Wat is
constructed following the model
of the temple mountain
symbolizing Mount Meru, the home
of the gods. Inside the temple,
the walls are covered with stone
carvings and bas-reliefs
depicting Hindu mythology and
the wars Suryavarman II fought
during his reign. Angkor Wat is
well known for the more than
2,000 Apsara dancers decorating
the temple. Construction is
thought to have taken around
thirty years of intensive labor.
Today, Angkor Wat is figured on
Cambodia's national flag as the
temple symbolizes the soul of
the Khmer people.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 2: Siem Reap (B)
After breakfast, visit the
ancient city of Angkor Thom, the
last capital of the Great Khmer
Empire under the reign of
Jayavarman VII. This city is
surrounded by an 8 m high wall
drawing a perfect square. Enter
the city through the ancient
South Gate, an impressive stone
gate carved with Elephants and
four giant faces. On each side
of the entrance path a row of 54
gods or demons is holding the
sacred Naga snake.
From here, continue to Bayon
Temple in the exact center of
the city. This 12th century
masterpiece is a study in
grandeur and is well-known for
its 54 towers with enigmatic
faces representing the 54
provinces of the Great Khmer
Empire. The Terrace of the
Elephants and the Terrace of the
Leper King are also must-visits
as they are both known for their
intricate bas-reliefs.
Later today, travel to the “gem”
of the Angkor area, the pretty
temple of Banteay Srei, which is
best viewed in the warm
afternoon light. The so-called
“Citadel of the Women” remains
the best preserved temple in
Cambodia. It displays some of
the finest examples of classical
Khmer art as this small temple
is noted for its truly
remarkable fine bas-reliefs.
Banteay Srei is unique in that
it is constructed of pink
sandstone, which is seen nowhere
else in Angkor. On the way back,
peek into Banteay Samre temple.
You will have the possibility to
stop at local communities along
the way and your guide will help
you to interact with the local
community to learn about the way
of life here. Seize the
opportunity to taste Palm Wine
and Palm Sugar (seasonal) and
other popular local produce.
Stop at the Landmine Museum
which promotes mine awareness.
Mr. Aki Ra, the museum founder,
was trained as a child soldier
during the Khmer Rouge regime
and is working today as a
de-miner. The museum serves also
as a rescue center for a number
of landmine amputee children
that Aki Ra has brought off
Phnom Penh’s streets or from
impoverished rural communities.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 3: Siem Reap (B/L)
Breakfast at your hotel. This
morning, enjoy a visit to the
temples of the Grand Circuit,
starting at Preah Khan Temple.
This temple was built
approximately during the same
period as Ta Prohm, and
originally served both as a
religious university and a
temple. Continue to Neak Pean,
which is unique because it is
not a temple but a sanctuary
placed in the center of an
artificial lake and connected to
four surrounding ponds exactly
at cardinals’ points. Your final
visit will be to the small
temple of Ta Som, a Buddhist
temple built under Jayavarman
VII.Around noon, break up your
day with lunch at Sala Bai back
in Siem Reap, a school training
young Cambodians from poor
family backgrounds in the
principles of hospitality in
order to give them a future. You
will have plenty of
opportunities to talk to the
students as they will go on a
tour of the school after the
meal. (NOTE: Sala Bai is usually
closed during national holidays
and for the entire month of
April over the Khmer New Year
holiday.)
This afternoon, explore the
temples of the Small Circuit by
a local tuk tuk. The most
illustrious among these is Ta
Prohm temple, built in the mid
12th to early 13th centuries. Ta
Prohm is unique in that it has
been left largely as it was
found: overgrown by jungle trees
and vines, with many parts of
the temple crumbling to the
ground. This makes the ‘Tomb
Raider Temple’ one of the most
picturesque and memorable of the
Angkor temples. Your visit will
also include Banteay Kdei, a
Buddhist monastery from the late
12th Century, and Srah Srang,
also known as the “pool of
ablutions”.
Enjoy a view of the sunset over
the Angkor ruins at one of the
temples.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 4: Siem Reap -
Battambang (B/L/D)
After an early breakfast,
embark on a boat trip that will
take you on a fascinating
journey across Tonlé Sap Lake to
Battambang on a private boat.
You will pass floating villages
and flooded forests, portraying
life on this body of water that
forms Cambodia’s heart. Packed
lunch will be served on board.
(NOTE: This boat trip is only
possible in the high water
period from July to December as
water levels are too low during
the dry season and transfer
times can be extremely long.
From January to June alternative
transfer by road.)
Tonight, a special visit awaits
you at Phare Ponleu Selpak.
School of Music, Visual &
Performing Arts - Phare Ponleu
Selpak combines the Arts to
provide education, support and
entertainment to the poor
communities. This project is a
success story of how
humanitarian aid work can turn
into a display of zest for life,
genuine warmth and creativity,
against all odds. A visit to one
of their circus shows will leave
you with a lasting memory of the
wonderful Cambodian people and
should not be missed when in
Battambang! After the show, a
dinner will be waiting for you
at the center. (NOTE: The circus
performance is only performed
regularly on each Monday &
Thursday. On other days private
performances are available on
request and for a supplement).
Overnight in Battambang.
Day 5: Battambang
(B)
Today have a fun morning cycling
around local villages with Soksa
Bike, a social enterprise
initiated set up to provide
scenic and informative bike
rides through the local
countryside. During the 30km
cycle tour there are plenty of
stops 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. The local
countryside is beautiful and the
Battambang area is known for the
high quality rice and also
oranges grown in the area.
In the afternoon explore another
side of Battambang. Take a
relaxing cyclo ride around the
town with an audio set providing
an informative guide to the
history of the town. Over 2½
hours sit back as your cyclo
driver takes you around the
colonial streets, markets and
temples. The audio set narrates
short anecdotes of the many
highlights in English or French.
At many you get off the cyclo
and walk around the points of
interest before moving on the
next stop.
Overnight in Battambang
Day 6: Battambang - Siem
Reap (B/L)
Breakfast at your hotel. Now
you will head to the Bamboo
Train station. The Bamboo Train
has been set up by the villagers
in order to facilitate the
transportation of goods and
persons as there are no regular
trains running any more. The
“train” itself is very basic:
one bamboo platform on 4-wheels
is activated by a small motor.
Sitting on the platform (we will
provide some cushions for your
comfort), you will travel the 8
km to the next station through
beautiful landscape and rice
paddies (depending on season of
visit). A true rollercoaster
ride without loops. (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).
This afternoon, you will be
transferred back overland to
Siem Reap (Duration 3 hours).
Upon arrival, check in to your
hotel.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 7: Siem Reap -
Departure (B)
Breakfast at your hotel.
Enjoy the day at leisure for
some relaxation at, some more
sightseeing or for some personal
shopping on Siem Reap’s colorful
markets.
For example, visit Artisans
d’Angkor, established in 1992 in
order to support Cambodian arts
and crafts, and to help young
people find work in their local
villages by continuing the
practice of traditional arts.
Discover how wood and stone
carvings, lacquering, gilding,
and silk paintings are created.
Transfer to the airport for your
individual departure flight.
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