Arrival Siem Reap – Siem Reap                                                                                   [-]

Guests will be warmly welcomed upon their arrival at Siem Reap’s International Airport our own Asian Trails’ representative before guided to their air-conditioned vehicle. It is of the greatest importance that our guests will complete the required paperwork, alongside one pass photo, before arrival for smooth visa-on-arrival services by the local authorities. Immigration requirements specify that at least two empty pages in one’s passport are needed for accurate visa administrative matters. Assisted by our English-speaking guide, the transfer from the airport to your downtown accommodation will not take more than 30 minutes.

No lunch is included on this day.

Our journey starts at the monumental magnificence of Angkor Thom – the last capital of the great Khmer Empire – via the South Gate. The Great City of Angkor Thom is one of the central points within the whole Angkor Complex, which was probably more opulent than most European cities in the late 12th century. Built at the end of this period, Angkor Thom was the Khmer Empire’s capital city. Situated north of Angkor Wat and enclosing this 10 sq-km site with eight-metre-high walls, Angkor Thom translates to “Large City”. It became the new capital after the destruction of the former capital of Yasodharapura by the Chams, resulting in Jayavarman VII, a forceful King who expanded the Khmer Empire of Angkor, reinforcing the walls around Angkor Thom and building a moat. Angkor Thom contains a large collection of sites such as Bayon, Baphuon, Phimeanakas, the Terrace of Elephants and Jayavarman VII’s palace although this no longer remains. We end the day by heading to your overnight address.

Dinner is on own arrangement.

Overnight at your booked Siem Reap hotel

Siem Reap                                                                                                                          [B, L]

Your guide and driver wait for you in the early morning at your booked hotel in Siem Reap and head to the main gate of the Angkor temples and make your early morning stop to see the sunrise. Arguably the largest religious building in the world, with a volume of stone equalling that of the Cheops pyramid in Egypt; it is unlike all the other Khmer temples in that it faces west.
Return to your hotel for breakfast, and we move back into the Angkor temples to admire some of the other amazing temple ruins that define Angkor and make it a proud member on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

The pride of the country featuring on its flag, Angkor Wat is Cambodia’s ancient temple city which is one of the wonders of the oriental world. This masterpiece of decorative details and architectural style is awe-inspiring with its five famous towers that rise into the sky. It has a geometrical arrangement of numerous galleries adorned with stone images of celestial Apsara dancers, chambers and courtyards reflecting the skill of Khmer architecture and the devotion to its gods. Angkor Wat is surrounded by a moat and the most preserved of all the Angkor monuments.

Lunch is included at a local restaurant

After lunch, go beyond the Angkor complex (approximately 45 minutes) brings you to another favourite temple amongst visitors – the enchanting Banteay Srei and Banteay Samre. Rediscovered in the 1900s, Banteay Srei is remarkably preserved and considered to be a tribute to women due to its pink sandstone. Its small size and delicate carvings of Apsara, male and female divinities represent the skilled craftsmanship of sandstone carvings. Situated about 25 km north of Angkor, it is one of the region’s oldest temples and the finest making it a firm favourite. Next,

Banteay Samre is a moderately low rise temple built in the typical Angkor Wat style which was dedicated to Hindu God Vishnu and famed for its intricate carvings of Buddhist depictions and Hindu mythological stories. About 19 km from Siem Reap, Banteay Samre consists of a central temple with four wings preceded by a hall and accompanied by two libraries which have undergone extensive restoration. On the way back to Siem Reap, stop at a village to observe how to do the rice field and how to collect sugar palm (season depending) with a coconut drink.

Dinner is on own arrangement.

Overnight at your booked Siem Reap hotel

Siem Reap – Departure Siem Reap                                                                          [B, L]

Breakfast at the hotel

We commence on our final day of exploring Siem Reap, we head away from Angkor and move towards the “Great Lake”. Local life depends heavily on Siem Reap’s vast freshwater lake. The world’s second-largest lake covering an area of about 2,500 sq-km at its lowest, the Tonle Sap is a reservoir, place to call home, transport route and food source for locals. It helps feed local crops, has a rich ecosystem and is home to many endangered birds. Visitors join a boat cruise to sample river life exploring floating villages and admiring its spectacular scenery.

From mid-May to early October, the level of the Mekong River rises. This will back up the Tonle Sap River and causing it to flow north-westwards into the “Great Lake”. With some photo stops along the way from Siem Reap to the lake, it is also home of the floating fishing village, where the explorers take local fishing boats to see many common things floating around: from your floating restaurants, schools, police station, to even floating grocery cultivation.

Lunch is included at a local restaurant.

After lunch, we visit a favourite amongst visitors because it has become part of the jungle, Ta Prohm was built in the late 12th century by Jayavarman VII as a shrine to his mother and is another must for anyone coming to Siem Reap. Considered one of the area’s most intriguing temples and certainly the most famous thanks to its appearance in the film Tomb Raider, Ta Prohm is a jungle temple that has been almost leaving untouched since it was discovered retaining much of its mystery. It is the perfect lost in the jungle temple as strangler figs and kapok trees entwine themselves around its ruins, and their roots burst apart even the thickest of walls.

We return at the end of the afternoon to your hotel or transfer straight to the airport for catching a flight to your next destination.