Cambodia Treasure , 8 days

On arrival at Siem Reap  Airport, you are greeted by our guide and taken to your hotel by private transfer. This tranquil town is a gateway to the ruins of Angkor Temple Complex, which is regarded as the largest religious structure in the world.  The archeological site stretches over an forested area of some 400 square kilometers and contains the magnificent remains from the different capitals of the Khmer Empire between  802 AD and 1350 AD. They range from stunning architectural marvels to ordinary edifices full of rubble and will make for an exciting exploration in forthcoming days. No activity planned for this afternoon, you have some time free to  explore Siem Reap Town at your leisure. This urban center has grown up from a relatively small backwater town into the fastest growing settlement in Cambodia. The vibrant downtown is tightly packed with small eating spots, shop houses, and luminous bars, offering an interesting exploration. You can also take  an optional visit to the Angkor National Museum, a showpiece on the Khmer civilisation and the majesty of Angkor. The rich collection of Angkorian artifacts remains a very useful experience for first-time visitors, putting the story of Angkor and the Khmer empire in context before exploring the temples. This optional activity is not included; however, your guide is in hand to provide you with some suggestion. 

The sunlight reflects a golden glow over the entire Angkor Complex. We start this day with Angkor Thom, an epic collection of striking structures, which is encompassed in quadrangle area. The best preserved South Gate comes in view with a causeway fringed with 54 demons and 54 gods pulling a giant snake. This scene is focusing on a famous Hindu story in bygone time. We walk through two ranges of status on a cosmic scale to the gate tower with colossal human faces carved in stone. The walkway will bring us an interesting  look close up at the Royal Enclosure where remains some  mysterious ruins, including the Royal Palace, Phimeanakas Temple, and  Royal Terraces. These structures built from perishable materials have long vanished. The climax of our visit is Bayon Temple  built in the centre of Angkor Thom. This enigmatic complex contains  54 towers, each topped off with the four faces of  Compassion Buddha. Upon leaving Angkor Thom Area , we take a short drive to  the architectural masterpiece of Angkor Wat. The iconic monument  of the entire complex was built in the 12th century and reflects a perfect fusion of symbolism and symmetry, bringing the pride and strength to all Khmers. The distinctive five towers of this temple are now emblazoned on the Cambodian flag. We stroll around this massive monument, unraveling the mysteries of the bas-reliefs from Hindu mythology to the glories of the Khmer empire. The footsteps lead through the upper levels of the inner sanctuary to the sacred heart of Angkor Wat, a blend of spirituality and symmetry. We round out day tour with a walk up the Pre Rup Temple to enjoy the spectacular sunset over these sandstone monuments.

Heading out of the town, we drive beyond the towering Angkor Complex  to Banteay Srey Temple. This intricately carved temple despite the lack in size is still a jewel in the crown of Angkor-era sculpture. The architecture style features a mixture of the archaic concept and the innovative materials since Banteay Srey Temple  was largely built from sandstone in pinkish hue, with brick and laterite used for the enclosure walls and some structural elements. We stroll around this beautiful landmark and admire the marvelous sculpture at every step. Upon leaving this site,  we keep driving to see  Banteay Samre, which is adorned with striking relief depicting the scenes of Vishunu and  Krishna. Today we also have time seeing Prasat Kravan with a line of five brick towers and Srah Srang which was once used for the royal baths and the ritual bathing. The following stop is Banteay Kdei Temple, a monastic complex of  enclosure walls, concentric galleries and towers. We venture into the jungle to explore Ta Prohm Temple, which is relatively untouched for centuries by its secluded location. There are enormous fig trees and creepers which embrace themselves in temple stone foundation, giving it a distinctive feature. The sightseeing also includes Neak Pean, which is originally designed for the medical purposes with four connected pools representing water, earth, fire and  wind. We continue onto  Preah Khan , a good counterpoint to Ta Prohm Temple.  The large ruin of Preah Khan was all but partly destroyed by the climate impact. However, it is till interesting to walk around, exploring the legends, towered enclosures and  shoulder hugging corridors.

The temple exploration is not only activity in Siem Reap Town. We spend this morning on a boat trip out, to discover Tonle Sap Lake, one of the largest natural fresh water bodies in  Southeast Asia. The traditional boat navigates along a small river towards this large lake, giving us a chance to see friendly children on small boat, many vendors making a shift floating market, and fishermen pulling in day catch. Along the way we anchor to visit a floating village where are everything from schools, shop houses to police station. The village life goes on as it would anywhere else in Cambodia. This enjoyable stop gives a good insight into the lifestyle of local people who call this grand lake their home and mostly rely on the lake for their livelihood. They may move from a place to place following the water level and current of Tonle Sap Lake. The following destination of our journey is Sihanoukville via a short  flight from Siem Reap. On arrival at Sihanoukville Airport, you are met by our guide and driven to your hotel. This seaside resort jutting into the Gulf of Thailand contains several tropical white-sand beaches that run along the pristine and warn water. The main beaches offer their  own character, from the busy and popular Ochheuteal Beach to the secluded chill-out far end of Otres Beach. They are also lined with thatch roofed restaurants  and open air bars for people to enjoy foods and drinks. There are also dozens of  small islands just a short boat ride away. The moderate development has helped in some islands to attract a sizable portion of individual travellers.

The emerald water lapped against sandy seashores looks inviting; however, many inshore islands also make for a tropical getaway. These islands are just a short boat ride away from Sihanoukville Town and fringed with pristine and gorgeous beaches. The majestic jewel is Koh Rong Island, a dreamy tropical paradise with long white-sandy shores and abundant captivating activities, including  wind surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving,  kayaking, fishing, biking, and jungle trek. They are worth spending a day trip out or staying long. The nearby laidback place away from the honking horns and motorbikes in town is Bamboo Island where the tranquil atmosphere makes your rest like being on the desert island of Robinson Novel. The popular attraction in Sihanoukville

Is the Ream National Park ideal for adventure lovers. This protected area contains mangroves, fresh water marshes, forests, the Prek Toeuk Sap estuary, beaches, coral reefs and seagrass beds. Today you spend this free  day  to simply relax and laze among swaying palms and  white sand beach or participate in one of optional activities, including wind surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving kayaking, cruising out to a nearby islands, riding a bike to explore the Kbal Chhay Waterfalls or  eco trekking in  the  Ream National Park. These optional activities are not included; however, our guide is in hand to provide you with valuable advisory.

 The beachscape will be left behind this afternoon as we leave Sihanoukville and make our way back to Phnom Penh. The simple joy of travelling through this region is a pleasant view of roadside  villages and  rice fields dotted sugar palm trees. We arrive in Phnom Penh by late afternoon and check in our hotel.  There are several captivating areas for your last evening in Cambodia. The riverfront seems the best place crammed with bars and nightlife venues. You have free time this evening to browse from rooftop bars to sidewalk cafes and colonial style restaurants, feasting on a delicious dinner at one place and indulging in a cocktail at another. The bustling riverside area also houses the Phnom Penh night market that takes place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening. This open-air  market offers a large array of Cambodian treasures in festive atmosphere. You  can try your hand at bargaining in shopping area, sample many tasty local foods and enjoy the traditional Cambodian dance performances, a musical fusion of historical, well-worn dance steps and modern Cambodian sounds.

The sightseeing tour will acquaints  with some major sights of Phnom Penh. The stunning Royal Palace complex is now home to the royal family, therefore  it is very close to the public. We walk across the beautiful royal gardens to see the Throne Hall where the king coronation  and the royal receptions are often  held.  The magnificent Silver Pagoda set at the northern palace ground would not to be missed. This country most sacred pagoda  is named  after some 5000 silver tiles covering the floor,  each weighing 1kg. Nearby this complex is the National Museum of Cambodia, a graceful terracotta structure inspired by temple architecture. This exquisite masterpiece with an inviting courtyard garden concentrates various incredible sandstone sculptures and intricate bronze objects from the pre-Angkor, Angkor and post-Angkor periods. The following stop is  Wat Phnom which dominates the skyline of Phnom Penh and  has an interesting legend about this city name. We come face to face with the horrific crimes of the Khmer Rouge as we visit the Tuol Sleng Museum, a former high school turned into a centre for interrogation, torture, and death by the Khmer Rouge. Heading out of the town, we follow the same route of Tuol Sleng  prisoners  to the notorious ‘Killing Fields’ of Choeung Ek that is  an extermination camp for political prisoners. The painful bloody rule of the Khmer Rouge still can be seen at the memorial stupa.  We round off our day with a walk around  the Central Market, a showcase of the local product richness. This flagship trade center of Phnom Penh was built in shape of a dome with four arms branching out into vast hallways crammed with countless stalls of goods.

The holiday comes to an end with a transfer to Phnom Penh Airport for your departure. There are no activities planned for the final day. You may have free time to continue your exploration of Phnom Penh City, do your last shopping or simply look back upon your trip images before your airport transfer.