5 Day(s)
Phnom Penh - Angkor Complex - Tonle Sap Lake - Floating Village - Siem Reap
A trip to Cambodia in 5 days brings you through prominent historical, cultural sites: the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and Toul Sleng in Phnom Penh before relaxing at the tranquil Tonle Sap lake. You will be definitely amazed at Angkor Complex and enjoy night life in Siem Reap at leisure time.
Welcome to Phnom Penh - the city retains its traditional Khmer and colonial styles with French villas and large tree-line sidewalk. After the short rest you will visit the impressive colorful Khmer-style royal palace complex build in 1866 by the Predecessors of King Norodom. Nearby is Silver pagoda (the emerald Buddha temple), where contain plenty of Buddha Statues decorated and made by gold, diamond, gemstone and silver. We will stop at Independence monument and explore the National museum, a beautiful Khmer architecture building contains more than 5000 art antiques made by bronze, wood, gold, silver, copper, sandstone and others. We pass through the river-front park where 4 rivers met at a junction include mystical Mekong. Walk up to sacred hill Phnom Daun Penh - also the name of a pagoda and name of the capital nowadays. Enjoy the night time and overnight in Phnom Penh
In the morning we visit Tuol Sleng prison now is Genocide Museum, the most secret part of the Khmer Rouge regime. It’s also called S-21 (abbreviated for Security Office 21), a Khmer Rouge's premier security camp, specifically designed for the interrogation and extermination of anti Angkor elements. We continue to Choeung Ek museum, where between 1975 and 1978 about 17,000 men, women, children and infants detained and tortured at S-21 were transported for the extermination. Leave the relics of the bad history of Cambodia we will go shopping around Russian market, enjoy the bustling daily activities of the locals. We will take a cruise to see the sunset on the Mekong and Tonle Sap river in the “Four Arms” section where the Mekong meets the Tonle Sap river before splitting into two branches. Dinner and overnight in Phnompenh.
We take the morning flight to Siem Reap. Transfer to your hotel and enjoy the first day in Siemreap with Angkor, the UNESCO World Heritage. We visit sacred Ta Prohm famous by choosing for major activities of Tomb Raider acted by Celebrity Angelina Jolie. We continue to Prasat Kravan with its unique brick sculptures, Srah Srang - “The Royal Baths" was once used for ritual bathing and Banteay Srei, a temple with remarkable preservation of excellent carving art. We will discover at Banteay Samre, a rose-colored sandstone walls are decorated by carvings and bas-reliefs. We stop at one of oldest pagoda - Wat Bo and local mark before having dinner with Apsara, the traditional Khmer dance - drama performance, which are not merely dance but also telling a story.
We continue exploring the Angkor by an easy biking on the roads-less-traveled. Ride along the jungle on well-paved trails, passing through local villages, you will reach Angkor Wat, highlighted by the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, carved on the walls and tell the stories of Hindu legends. We will explore some of Angkor’s most beautiful temples including: The ancient capital of Angkor Thom, the South Gate, Bayon Temple - unique with its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces, Baphuon temple, north of Bayon represented of holy Mount Meru the residence of the gods in Hindu tradition. We will go around The Royal land, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. We will return to Siemreap downtown for dinner, enjoy 1-hour foot massage and have funny time at bars and pubs at Angkor night market. Overnight in Siemreap.
Today we get up early to enjoy sunrise over ancient land of Angkor area. Return to hotel for breakfast before taking boat trip to explore Tonle Sap, the biggest fresh-water lake in South East Asia. Enjoy the bustling life of local people in floating villages with floating schools, floating restaurants, and even floating hospitals. We will visit Puok, the real and original place of the Artisans d’Angkor silk, where you will see the full process of silk producing, from the silk worms munch on the Mulberry leaves to spin their cocoons which used to make silk warp. You of course will see the weaving work and purchase the high quality silk products as a beautiful Cambodia souvenir. You will be transferred to Siemreap airport for your departure. End of services.