Phnom Penh & the Temples of Angkor
5 Days / 4 Nights
Overview
This immersive itinerary is well suited to first time visitors with a little extra time to delve deeper into Cambodia’s history and heritage. Embark on a journey taking you through the countries recent turbulent past, visiting the deeply moving Khmer Rouge sites in Phnom Penh combined with the magnificent Royal Palace and colourful Ounalom Pagoda. Learn about Cambodia’s rich performing arts at a local training academy before venturing north to Siem Reap to discover its rich ancient past at one of the world’s great archaeological sites. Angkor is a site visitors never forget and this itinerary covers all the highlights, combining that with an energetic performance at the fantastic Phare Circus and a visit to the authentic stilted Khmer Tonle Sap community Kompong Khleang.
Tour at a Glance
Day 1: Phnom Penh
Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda, National Museum of Cambodia
Day 2: Phnom Penh
Champey Academy, Ounalom Pagoda & Wat Phnom by cyclo,Toul Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) and the Killing Fields
Day 3: Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
Morning flight to Siem Reap
Angkor Thom: Bayon, Baphuon, Elephant Terrace, Terrace of the Leper King
Day 4: Siem Reap
Angkor Wat Temple, Banteay Srei, the “Citadel of Women”, Ta Prohm Temple
Optional: Sunset gondola boat ride around Angkor Thom moat
Day 5 : Siem Reap Departure
Morning boat trip to the stilted village of Kompong Khleang on Tonle Sap Lake
Transfer to Siem Reap Airport for departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Phnom Penh
Arrive at Phnom Penh Airport by flight .The capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia, special welcome all warmly to everybody, a moment of courtesy meeting then self-introduce with our local tour guide in the meeting -point's Phnom Penh. Welcome by local English speaking guide and transfer to your hotel.
Visit of the Royal Palace, which was built in 1866 by King Norodom. The Palace is actually a number of structures within a pagoda-style compound. Silver Pagoda (Wat Preah Keo Morokat) located within the Royal Palace compound, the Silver Pagoda is so names because of its floor, which is made up of 5,000 silver tiles. The treasures are a solid gold Buddha encrusted with 9, 584 diamonds and weighing 90 kilos and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha.
Note: During the visit of the Royal Place and Silver Pagoda, visitors are required to wear proper attire, covering shoulders and knees as this temple is still considered as a sacred site (no short, mini-skirt or short trousers).
Visit of National Museum, which houses Khmer art especially, sculptures, from different periods of Cambodian history, 19th century dance costumes, royal barges, and palanquins. Over 5000 objects are on display including Angkorian era statues, lingas and other artifacts, most notably the legendary status of the ‘leper King.’ Though the emphasis is on Angkorian artifacts, there is also a good collection of pieces from later periods, including a special exhibition of post-Angkorian Buddha figures.
Meals included: None
Accommodation: Selected Hotel in Phnom Penh
Day 2: Phnom Penh
Visit to Champey Academy of Arts (CAA), it is one of local professional and non-profit schools in Phnom Penh working on Cambodian traditional performing arts training program. Established in January 2013 with the idea of keeping up our traditional performing arts work, we exist with our sharp vision to see such knowledge passed through to next generations. Through our Fast-Free-Professional (FFP) training program on traditional dance, music, and drawing/painting classes, we strongly believe our students spend approximately 50% of their time shorter than usual training period but with very good results.
Visit of Ounalom Pagoda where located on the riverfront (about 200m north of the Royal Palace) is reputedly the oldest Buddhist foundation in the city, probably predating the abandonment of the capital at Angkor in the 15th century. The founding date is variously cited as 1422 and 1443. This Wat is the home to the Buddhist patriarch.
Hope on a Cyclo, an original Phnom Penh means of transportation and a fun way to explore this lively city to Wat Phnom passing by colonial quarter, Central Market and Post Office.
After that, visit of Wat Phnom, the founding place of the city on a small hilltop head to the riverside area of Phnom Penh, a pleasant French style promenade that is great for people viewing.
Visit the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21), a former high school. In the Pol Pot time, they took this school as a prison for detentions and torture of prisoners. After interrogation the prisoners were transferred to Cheung Ek, to be killed.
Then continue to visit of Killing Flied (Cheung Ek), a profoundly moving but depressing experience. During the Khmer Rouge years, thousands of Cambodians were tortured and imprisoned in Toul Sleng. They were then moved to the extermination camps at Choeng Ek where they were bludgeoned to death. They were buried in mass graves and today over 8,000 skulls are displayed behind the glass of a memorial stupa, erected in 1988 to honor those who died. Note: Audio guide is not included
If time permits, visit the Russian Market (Phsa Toul Tom Pong), a lively outdoor market where you will find antiquities, silver and gold jewellery, gems, silk, kramars, stone and wood carvings, and other souvenirs
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Selected Hotel in Phnom Penh
Day 3: Phnom Penh-Siem Reap
Transfer with guide to Phnom Penh airport for domestic flight to Siem Reap
Domestic flight ticket Phnom Penh-Siem Reap (see separate price)
PNH-REP by K6 105 at 10h25-11h10
Note: Confirmation is subject to seat availability and schedule is to change according to airline policy
Upon arrival in Siem Reap, welcome by our guide and transfer to check-in at your hotel.
Note: Official check-in time at 14:00 pm. An early check-in is subject room availability
Visit of the monumental magnificence of Angkor Thom - last capital of the Khmers, with it’s the South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon temple, Baphoun temple, Elephant Terrace, and the Terrace of the Leper King. This 12th century masterpiece lies at the very center of Angkor Thom and is an archaeological wonder of symmetry and grandeur. The exterior gallery walls have extensive bas-reliefs, but the highlight is the “faces”, more than 200 of them, silent but with the famous half-smile playing on their lips. PJ de Beerski wrote of them; “godliness in the majesty and the size, mystery in the expression.”
Note: During the visit of the Baphoun temple, visitors are required to wear a proper attire, covering shoulders and knees as this temple is still considered as a sacred site (no short, mini-skirt or short trousers).
Optional service: Phare, the Cambodian Circus (see separate price for ticket)
Uniquely Cambodian, Daringly Modern
Siem Reap's most unique, authentic, top rated evening entertainment. More than just a circus, Phare performers use theatre, music, dance, and modern circus arts to tell uniquely Cambodian stories; historical, folk, and modern. The young circus artists will astonish you with their energy, emotion, enthusiasm, and talent.
Daily show: starts at 20h00 to 21h00
Note: The return transfer is NOT included
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Selected Hotel in Siem Reap
Day 4: Siem Reap
Visit of Angkor Wat temple, the largest temple in the world, with a volume of stone equaling that of the Cheops pyramid in Egypt. It is unlike all the other Khmer temples in that it faces west and is inspired by 12th Century Hinduism. Its symmetrical towers are stylized on the modern Cambodian flag. Conceived by Suryavarman II, Angkor Wat took an estimated 30 years to build. It is generally believed to have been a funeral temple for the king. It has been occupied continuously by Buddhist monks and is well preserved. Intricate bas-reliefs surround Angkor Wat on four sides. Each tells a story. The most celebrated of these is the Churning of the Ocean of Milk, which is located on the east wing. In it the Naga serpent, is twisted by demons and gods to spurt out the elixir of life.
Note: During the visit of the Bakan tower of Angkor Wat temple, visitors are required to wear a proper attire, covering shoulders and knees as this temple is still considered as a sacred site (no short, miniskirt or short trousers). Children under twelve years old are not allowed to climb up this tower. It will be closed on the Buddhist Sabbath Days, the Buddhist religious days, four days a month in accordance with the Lunar Calendar.
This afternoon, visit Banteay Srei; ‘the Womans Citadel’ - a tiny, enchanting temple, which is one of the jewels in this remarkable city. Built of red sandstone in the tenth century and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, the carved male and female figures in the niches are exquisitely executed in both style and proportion. This is the most Indian of all the temples in Angkor and in the words of H.W. Ponder, is “a fairy palace in the heart of an immense and mysterious forest.”
Continue to visit Ta Prohm, the temple that has been left largely in its natural state since its “re-discovery” by French explorers. Surrounded by jungle, its labyrinth of stone hallways is overgrown with the roots and limbs of massive banyan trees, which envelop the stone like tentacles. It is one of the largest temples at Angkor, dedicated in 1186. Historians have noted its mystical charm.
Optional service: Gondola Boat (see separate price)
Enjoy a unique tour by Khmer Traditional Boat in Siem Reap – Angkor and enjoy and view the past and photograph along the great all of Angkor Thom, Royal Secret Path, and City Guard Post. We can also see the beautiful sunset at Great wall.
Travel along the water way where history, nature and culture come alive. We depart by Gondola Boat from west -gate to south gate and enjoy sunset at Prasat Chrung of Angkor Thom.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Selected Hotel in Siem Reap
Day 5: Siem Reap -Departure
This morning, take boat trip to visit floating village at Kampong Khleang. It is located on the northern lake-edge about 35 km east of Siem Reap town, more remote and less touristic than Kampong Phluk. Visitors to Kampong Khleang during the dry season are universally awestruck by the forest of stilted houses rising to 10 meters in the air. In the wet season the waters rise to within one or two meters of the buildings. Like Kampong Phluk, Kampong Khleang is a permanent community within the floodplain of the Lake, with an economy based in fishing and surrounded by flooded forest. But Kampong Khleang is significantly larger with near 10 times the population of Kampong Phluk, making it the largest community on the Lake.
Note: The check-out time will be at 12h. The late check-out is subject to room availability.
Transfer with guide to Siem Reap International Airport for departure flight to another destination.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch is not included
Price: Pricing is dependent on your travel dates and group size. This itinerary can be fully customized to suit your preferences. For a detailed quotation, please contact us.
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