Impressive Cambodia , 4 days

On arrival at Phnom Penh Airport, you are greeted by our guide and taken to your hotel by private transfer.   The bustling  city  of Phnom Penh has long remained little more than a large village. However, it became the permanent capital of Cambodia since 1866 and had developed into a sizeable, largely French designed city. The crossroads of cultures, peoples and worlds have made Phnom Penh on the edge of everything. We can find the Cambodian elements together with the Chinese and French influences in the gleaming temples, sidewalk coffee, vibrant markets, and colonial structures and tree lined boulevards amidst the monumental Angkorian architecture. The cityscape undergoes rapid changes from the ashes to take its place among the hip capitals of the region, with an alluring cafe culture, bustling bars, world-class food scene and international chains of hotel. We start our tour of Phnom Penh with the stunning Royal Palace, which 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.

The contemporary and ancient history makes for a highlight of Phnom Penh. We find it while seeing the Cambodia National Museum, 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. Upon leaving this site, we drive back to the town center  and  visit Central Market, a showcase of the local product richness. This flagship trade center was built in shape of a dome with four arms branching out into vast hallways crammed with countless stalls of goods. We leave Phnom Penh for Siem Reap on an afternoon flight, a gateway to the ruins of Angkor Temple Complex. This 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. This temple complex will be seen in coming day as we now start strolling  around Siem Reap Town. The vibrant downtown is tightly packed with small eating spots, shop houses, and luminous bars, offering an interesting exploration.

The sunlight reflects a golden glow over the entire Angkor Complex. We start this day with  Angkor Thom,  an epic collection of striking structures 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 back into the Angkor Complex to witness the ongoing grandeur of the ancient architecture and culture.  We visit  Prasat Kravan famous for the unique interior brick sculptures. This temple layout consists of five brick towers built in line and set  over a low platform.  The walkway will lead us to Srah Srang, a large pond that was once used for the royal baths and the ritual bathing. The pond terrace is a good place to stretch our legs and catch a view of the nearby  Banteay Kdei Temple. This monastic complex contains  enclosure walls,  concentric galleries and towers. We follow it with the famous Ta Prohm Temple, which was once hidden by the jungle overgrowth for many centuries. The temple was constructed with flat rectangular walls surrounding the central sanctuary. There are enormous fig trees and creepers which embrace themselves from the stone foundation to the corridors of this tower temple, 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 holiday comes to an end with a transfer to Siem Reap Airport  for your departure.