Glory Of Angkor, 4 days

On arrival at Siem Reap  Airport, you are greeted by our guide and taken to your hotel by private transfer.  You may have free time to relax and catch your first glimpse of Siem Reap Town which is a gateway to the ruins of Angkor Temple Complex , which is regarded as the largest religious structure in the world. 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 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, luminous bars, and bustling old market, offering an interesting exploration. Today you can take an optional visit to the Angkor National Museum, a showpiece on the Khmer civilization 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 majestic monuments draw a line for our exploration of Angkor Complex.  We start this day tour with Angkor Thom, an epic collection of striking structures encompassed in quadrangle area. The best preserved South Gate comes into 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 leads us to  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 memorable 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 Banteay Srey , 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 to visit 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 where Ta Prohm Temple is standing.  This famous structure 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. You may have free time before the Airport transfer to do your last minute shopping opportunities and own exploration of  the town or simply look back upon your trip images. The holiday comes to an end with a transfer to Siem Reap Airport for your departure.