DISCOVERY TOUR: SIEM REAP – BANTEAY CHHMA (CAMBODIA)

• Breakfast at hotel

• Visit Angkor Thom, the South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon Temple, built from the late 12th century to the early 13th century by King Jayavarman VII and consists of 54 towers, the Royal Enclosure, the Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King, then visit Ta Prohm, surrounded by jungle.

• Visit Angkor Wat, the largest temples in world and covers an area of 200 hectares and surrounded by moat and an exterior wall measuring 1300 meters x 1500 meters.

• Dinner at local restaurant and accommodation at hotel

• Breakfast at hotel

• Visit Banteay Srei, constructed at the late 10th century by a Brahmin counselor under a powerking Rajendarvarman. It was loosely translated to citadel of the woman, but it is a modern appellation that probably refers to the delicate beauty of the carvings.

• Afterwards, we move on to jungle-enveloped Ta Prohm, one of the most atmospheric of all temples in Angkor. Once home to 2,740 monks, Ta Prohm today looks much as it did in the early 1850s, when French explorer Henri Mahout ‘rediscovered’ this crumbling site.

• Visit Preah Khan temple, built by King Jayavarman VII dedicated to his father. It is a huge, highly exportable monastic complex, and served as a Buddhist monastery and school, engaging over 1000 monks. Continue to Neak Pean, a small island temple located in the middle of the last Baray, constructed by a Khmer king in the Angkor area.

• Dinner at local restaurant and accommodation at hotel

• Breakfast at hotel

• Visit Banteay Chhmar, one of the capitals of Jayavarman II (A.D 802-850). The city, enclosed by a 9 km-long wall. The sandstone structure, built in the 11th century and dedicated to the deity Avalokiteshvara, suffered significant damage during repeated Thai invasions, although many of its hug bas-reliefs, which are said to be comparable of those the Bayon and Angkor Wat, still remained.

• Picnic lunch provided at the site

• Return to Siem Reap, dinner at local restaurant and accommodation at hotel.

• Breakfast at hotel

• Option I: Depart from your hotel to Phnom Kulen, regarded as the birthplace of the Khmer empire and approximately 50 kilometres from Siem Reap. At the summit of Phnom Kulen mountain is a 16th century Buddhist monastery (Phra Ang Thom), and it was here that King Jayavaraman II declared independence from Java in 802AD. Next to the ‘River of 1000 Lingas’. We take time to walk into the water and view hundreds of lingas carved into the sandstone river-bed. It is said that King Jayavaraman II bathed in these waters and believed that the waters were holy.

• Option II: We begin with a drive through scenic rural Cambodia to Boeng Mealea temple. Mid-morning we arrive at King Suryavarman II’s eleventh century Boeng Mealea temple stands almost forgotten in jungle and getting to the site is quite an adventure in itself. It is the largest and the most interesting temple outside the main Angkor complex and in places it is remarkably intact, but in other places utterly destroyed; tree roots envelop many of the temple walls and doorways.

• Dinner at local restaurant and accommodation at hotel

• Breakfast at hotel

• Drive to Chong Kneas to visit the fishing village by a private boat. Cruise through the fishing villages of the Tonle Sap Lake to discover the natural splendor and old lifestyle of the country.

• Lunch at local restaurant

• Visit Artisan d’Angkor, where it is famous for its traditional craft skills products are available such stone caving, wood caving, lacquering, gilding and silk processing.

• Transfer to Siem Reap International airport for flight to the next destination.

PRICE: Rates vary frequently. Please CONTACT US to get the best possible price based upon your travel period and specific touring needs