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COMBINED TOUR TO MEKONG SUB REGIONCambodia Tour Itinerary
Beyond Angkor Tours
6 Days/ 5 Nights
Phnom Penh/ Siem Reap
Day 1: Arrival Siem Reap
Arrival at Siem Reap and transfer to your hotel. Rest of
the day at leisure. Accommodation at your hotel.
Day 2: Siem Reap and Angkor
 Breakfast
at hotel. We begin our visit with some of the most beautiful temples on the
small circuit, including the huge pyramid of Takeo, built in the 10th
century. We continue to jungle-clad Ta Prohm. This temple was a monastery
built by Jayavarman VII as a residence for his mother. We continue to visit
Sras Srang, the royal pool situated opposite the East Gate of Banteay Kdei.
It is known as the King's bathing pond. Finally we take in Prasat Kravan,
an elegant brick temple from the 10th century with some fine brick carvings
in the interior.
In the afternoon, we continue our Angkor encounter with a visit to the
spectacular temples of the grand circuit. We first explore Preah Khan or Sacred
Sword, one of the largest temples at Angkor with huge corridors extending in
every direction. Built by Jayavarman VII in the 12th century, this is a
highlight of Angkor. We continue to Neak Poan, a delicate temple set in a square
pool and surrounded on all sides by fountains and ponds. Next is Ta Som and its
famous strangler fig tree smothering the eastern gate. We wind up at Pre Rup,
built in the 10th Century by Rajendravarman. Pre Rup means turning the body and
the Khmer people believe this temple was used for cremations. This is the
perfect place for sunset over the beautiful Cambodian rice fields.
DAY 3: Siem Reap and Angkor
We rise early today to catch the sunrise over the mother of all temples,
the world’s largest religious building, Angkor Wat. We return to the hotel
for breakfast and later in the morning explore Angkor Wat in more detail to
view its architecture and bas reliefs. This temple is the largest religious
buildings ever constructed and is truly one of the wonders of the world.
Believed to have been undertaken as a temple and mausoleum for King
Suryavarman II at the peak of the Khmer empire in the first half of the 12th
century, Angkor Wat is the best-preserved of the Angkorian temples.
We visit the sites of Angkor Thom. This Royal city was first built under the
reign of Udayadityavarman II in the 11th Century. We continue to visit the
South Gate, flanked by demons and gods engaged in a tug of war to obtain the
elixir of immortality and the Bayon, a temple mountain built by Jayavarman
VII. It is situated in the center of the city of Angkor Thom. It is a
three-tiered pyramid with its entrance facing east. We also visit other
important sites in this immense walled city, including the pyramid of
Baphuon, Phimean Akas, and the royal viewing stands known as the Terrace of
the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. Accommodation at your
hotel.
DAY 4: Siem Reap and Angkor
Breakfast at hotel. This morning, we head north to visit the elegant
temple of Banteay Srei built by a Brahman in the 10th Century, this temple
was dedicated to Shiva. The famous pink sandstone structure bears a series
of beautiful sculptures, lintels, pediments and friezes. It is said they
must have been carved by women as the detail is too fine for the hands of a
man. This gives us the origin of the Khmer name, Fortress of the Women.
Continue to Kbal Spean, commonly known as the River of a Thousand Lingers,
this is an area of riverbed carvings and lush jungle. There are several
carvings of Hindu deities in the sandstone here, as well as thousands of
lingers in the riverbed itself. This site was only ‘rediscovered’ in 1969
and is a tranquil place with an attractive waterfall. It is 50km north of
Siem Reap. In the afternoon we head to Phnom Krom to visit typical floating
villages and view Tonle Sap Lake. Then return to town for the night.
Accommodation in Siem Reap.
DAY 5: Siem Reap to Phnom Penh
Breakfast at hotel. We take a ferry down to Phnom Penh. Arrival at Phnom
Penh and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, we visit to the harrowing
genocide museum at Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields of Choeng Ek, both
enduring memorials to the gruesome and brutal rule of the Khmer Rouge.
Accommodation at Hotel.
DAY 6: Phnom Penh Departure
In the morning, we visit the Royal Palace, located on the shores of the
Mekong. Inside its walls are the Throne Hall, the Chan Chaya Pavilion, used
for performances of classical dance, the Napoleon III Pavilion, and the King
and Queen's residential quarters. Next stop will be the Silver Pagoda, home
to a glittering array of Buddhist statuary. We also visit the National
Museum, home to the world’s leading collection of Khmer sculpture. Situated
near the Royal Palace, Cambodia's National Museum offers a charming setting
for the stunning collection of Khmer art.After lunch in town, we visit the Central and Russian
Markets. The Central Market (Psar Thmey) is distinctive for its central
domed building built by the French in 1937 with 4 wings leading off it. The
Russian Market (Psar Toul Tom Pong) is an excellent place to pick up a few
bargains, especially antiques, souvenirs and cheap brand-name clothes. Tour
ends at the airport for your flight to…
Extend tour to
Myanmar, Laos,
Vietnam, Thailand,
Kunming. |
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