Summary:
This four-day appetizer to Cambodia is designed as a tour extension or stand-alone short break. The itinerary is tailored to suit your specific interests and the number of days may be increased if you wish. AOJ makes no charge for this service. Our aim as always is to have happy customers
Details:
Day 1: Siem Reap arrival
You’ll be met on arrival at Siem Reap International Airport for transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure in delightful Siem Reap. Take a tuk-tuk to explore this small and less busy city than the bustle of Bangkok, Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh.
Day 2: Siem Reap Angkor Complex
Your day will be devoted to the Temple complex and Angkor Wat in particular. You begin with a visit to Angkor Thom, starting with the Bayon, a bizarre structure of several architectural changes reflecting a switch from Hinduism (foundations) to Buddhism (superstructure). You’ll then visit the Elephant and Leper King Terraces and Baphoun Temple, nearing the end of an eight-year multi-million dollar restoration programme.
After lunch you’ll explore Angkor Wat itself, the largest, and for the majority, the most impressive temple. As dusk draws near a walk to the summit of Phnom Bakheng Hill will afford a wonderful panorama of the entire complex lit by rays of the setting sun, weather permitting of course. Your overnight accommodation will be in Siem Reap.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3: Siem Reap - another day to temples
Today focuses on outer sites of the complex including Preah Khan, a huge and highly explorable monastic complex, Neak Pean, a Himalayan-style lake and sanctuary, and East Mebon, a temple-mountain. After lunch, you will see Ta Prohm, strangled by massive tree roots and typical of the condition of this huge area when discovered in 1860 by French naturalist Henri Mouhot. Then you will be shown the Prasat Kravan (also known as the Cardomom Sanctuary) and Srah Srang Lake and landing terrace. Srah Srang is less touristy and may be a sunrise alternative to Angkor Wat. Your overnight accommodation will be in Siem Reap.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4: Siem Reap/Tonle Sap Lake
After breakfast you’ll be driven to Siem Reap River and Wat Athovea. Here you take a boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake, a natural reservoir that partly controls flood levels in the Mekong Delta and visit a floating fishing village en-route. You return to downtown Siem Reap for lunch and have free time until your driver arrives at your hotel to take you to Siem Reap airport.
If you wish to see more of community life, an ox-cart ride can be arranged in the village of Aranh, 6km from Siem Reap and on the way to Tonle Sap Lake. Recently, ox-cart rides for tourists have been organised by the local tourism authority to contribute more income to villagers. In spite of great strides, rural poverty remains a problem. The ride by the Siem Reap River is for about 30 minutes. You pass by local houses where you can learn about daily life and enjoy tranquil rural scenery. Your guide will meet you after you cross a small bridge to the other side of the river.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch