Day 1: Welcome to Siem Reap

Angkor Wat - Arrive in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Welcome to Cambodia! Upon arrival in Siem Reap, secure your Cambodia visa, and proceed through Immigration and Customs. After collecting your luggage, exit the airport to meet a local guide who will be holding a sign with your names.

You will be privately transferred from the airport to your hotel by a professional driver and an English-speaking guide for a three-night stay at the Shinta Mani Shack, conveniently located near the renowned archaeological site of Angkor.

Settle in and enjoy your afternoon and evening at leisure.

Day 2: Siem Reap

Angkor Thom South Gate - Begin your day with an early morning visit to the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century). This vast walled complex was the center of the world’s largest city in 1200. Following the Chams’ occupation of Angkor from 1177 to 1181, King Jayavarman VII constructed an impregnable fortress at the heart of his empire. The scale is truly impressive, and visitors are immediately struck by Jayavarman’s audacity upon arrival at the city’s gates. The causeway is adorned with an intricate bridge depicting the Churning of the Ocean of Milk from Hindu mythology, where the devas (gods) and asuras (devils) engage in a tug of war with a naga (seven-headed serpent) to obtain the elixir of immortality. Its vast walls, approximately 6m wide, 8m high, and 13km long, contain numerous monuments.

Bayon Temple - Next, visit Bayon Temple, surrounded by faces on all sides. Visitors never forget the enigmatic and enchanting Bayon Temple. Located at the exact center of Angkor Thom, it is an eccentric expression of the creative genius and inflated ego of Cambodia’s most celebrated king. Its 54 towers are each topped with the four faces of Avalokiteshvara (Buddha of Compassion), which bear a striking resemblance to the king himself. These colossal heads gaze down from every side, exuding power and control with a hint of compassion, just the mix required to maintain control over such a vast empire.

Unlike his predecessors who worshipped the Hindu deities Shiva and Vishnu, Jayavarman VII adopted Mahayana Buddhism as the source of royal divinity. This sets the Bayon apart from many other Angkorian monuments. The bas-reliefs here depict intricate scenes of ancient battles against the Chams and offer a wonderful snapshot of daily life during the Angkor period.

Baphuon Temple - Continue your visit to Baphuon, located in Angkor Thom, northwest of the Bayon. Built in the mid-11th century, it is a three-tiered temple mountain constructed as the state temple of Udayadityavarman II, dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva.

Terrace of the Elephants - Stroll to the Terrace of the Elephants, part of the walled city of Angkor Thom. The terrace was used by Angkor’s King Jayavarman VII as a platform to view his victorious returning army. It was attached to the palace of Phimeanakas, of which only a few ruins remain.

Terrace of the Leper King - Visit the Terrace of the Leper King, located in the northwest corner of the Royal Square of Angkor Thom, Cambodia. It was built in the Bayon style under Jayavarman VII, though its modern name derives from a 15th-century sculpture discovered at the site. The statue depicts the Hindu god Yama, the god of death.

Phimeanakas - Next, visit Phimeanakas or Vimeanakas, a Hindu temple in the Khleang style, built at the end of the 10th century during the reign of Rajendravarman, and completed by Suryavarman I in the shape of a three-tier pyramid as a Hindu temple.

Ta Prohm - Continue to Ta Prohm, perhaps the most atmospheric of all Angkor’s treasures. The temple was a monastery built by Jayavarman VII as a residence for his mother. Ta Prohm has been left to the power of nature by archaeologists to demonstrate nature’s awesome power.

It has been largely consumed by the jungle, and as you climb through the dilapidated stone structures, you see many giant trees growing out of the top of the temple itself. At every turn, you might expect to see Indiana Jones or Lara Croft step out from behind a fallen pillar. It is one of the most frequently visited temples, with visitors often arriving during the middle of the day to take advantage of the protective forest canopy above the ruined temple. Ta Prohm appears as many of the monuments did when European explorers first laid eyes on them. This was one of the settings for Lara Croft’s adventures in “Tomb Raider.”

Afterwards, enjoy lunch at a delightful local restaurant.

Angkor Wat - Take a break for lunch at a local restaurant, and afterwards, be dazzled by the vast, 12th-century Angkor Wat temple. The bas-reliefs and many devatas (guardian spirits) that cover its walls inspire awe and admiration. This example of classical Khmer architecture has been a significant religious center for Hindus and then Buddhists through the ages.

Day 3: Siem Reap – Beng Mealea – Koh Ker - Siem Reap

Beng Mealea - Today, meet your personal guide and driver and travel to the lost temple of Beng Mealea, the titanic of temples, a slumbering giant lost for centuries in the forests of Cambodia. It is the most accessible of Angkor’s lost temples, a mirror image of Angkor Wat, but utterly consumed by nature’s voracious appetite. Constructed by Suryavarman II (1113-1150), the builder of Angkor Wat, the forest has run riot here, making it hard to discern the monument’s shape amid the daunting ruins. Here, you can enjoy an Indiana Jones experience clambering about the vast ruin. For those seeking a more gentle adventure, there is a sturdy wooden walkway running right into the heart of the temple. It is also possible to visit a nearby Angkor-era quarry from where stone was cut to build these massive monuments.

Koh Ker Temple - Head into the bush to the remote Angkor capital of Koh Ker, an Angkorian site in northern Cambodia, 70 miles northeast of Siem Reap. It was briefly the capital of the Khmer empire between 928 and 944 under King Jayavarman IV and his son Hasavarman II. After the Khmer empire was established in the Angkor area (Roluos), Jayavarman IV moved the capital in 928 to Koh Ker. Here, a vast number of temples were built under his reign until his successor returned to the Angkor area about twenty years later. The Koh Ker site is dominated by Prasat Thom, a 30-meter-tall temple-mountain rising high above the plain and the surrounding forest. Great views await visitors at the end of an adventurous climb. This makes Koh Ker very attractive for anyone who would like to experience what Angkor must have been like half a century ago. Enjoy a picnic lunch at Koh Ker.

After exploring Koh Ker through the afternoon, begin the drive back to Siem Reap, arriving this evening.

Day 4: Depart Siem Reap

Banteay Srei - This morning, journey north to visit Banteay Srei. This jewel of Angkor was built by a Brahman in the 10th Century and dedicated to Shiva. The famous pink sandstone structure bears a series of exquisite sculptures, lintels, and friezes. These, it is said, must have been carved by women as the detail is too fine for the hands of a man. This gives the origin of the Khmer name, Fortress of the Women. While it may be a small temple complex, the beauty of Banteay Srei is found not in the scale, but the detail. Many believe the intricate carving is the best example of Khmer classical art in existence. Stop at a local village to visit families who are producing palm sugar.

Kompong Phluk - Continue for a tour of the surrounding countryside and take an ox-cart ride through the villages and rice fields. At the end of your ride, enjoy a fresh coconut drink with the family and feel free to talk with the local people to learn more about their lives. Later, you may wish to join us for a drive to the fishing village of Kompong Pluk near Siem Reap and board a private boat. Visit Kompong Pluk village with its houses standing on stilts and board a pirogue to discover the seasonally flooded forest. Visit the floating village and discover the centuries-old lifestyle of the lake’s inhabitants.

You will have free time in the afternoon until your transfer to the airport in time for your flight to the next destination. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey.

• 3 nights stay at the Golden Temple Hotel (Deluxe Room) or similar
• Private transportation by modern air-conditioned vehicle
• VAT and all taxes and service charge
• Lunch
• 02 bottles of mineral water per person while sightseeing and transfers
• Breakfast
• Admission fee to visit the temples in Angkor Archaeological Park (three-day ticket $62.00)
• Sightseeing as specified in the itinerary including entrance fees
• Boat cruise as specified in the program
• Professional Licensed English Speaking guide

• Personal, travel and health insurance
• Drinks during meals
• Meals that are not specified

Embark on a thorough journey through Angkor, the majestic remnants of the old Khmer kingdom, guided by your own private expert. Traverse the most captivating areas of this UNESCO World Heritage site, which includes Angkor Wat, a vast city temple constructed as a replication of the Hindu cosmos in stone; Angkor Thom, an old capital housing renowned sites like the Bayon, Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King; as well as Ta Prohm, a temple gradually being overwhelmed by vegetation (as seen in the Lara Croft- Tomb Raiders movie). Also, experience the peaceful Preah Khan, once a monastery and school. Visit Banteay Srei too, a small temple featuring intricate engravings in pink sandstone, along with the other outer temples of Beng Mealea and Koh Ker.

All our trips are entirely private, ensuring you won’t be mingling with other patrons.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.