Unveiled Angkor Tour, 3 days

On arrival at Siem Reap  Airport, you are greeted by our guide and taken to your hotel by private transfer. You may have little time to stroll around the town center or embark on an afternoon tour, depending on your arrival time. The tranquil town of Siem Reap 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. We take a short drive to the archeological zone to explore 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.

Today, we venture again into the archeological site, seeing   Angkor Thom, an epic collection of striking structures encompassed in quadrangle area.The best preserved South Gate comes in view with a causeway where are 54 demons and 54 gods pulling a giant snake. We walk through two ranges of status on a cosmic scale to the gate tower with colossal human faces carved in stone. The walkway bring us an interesting look 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. We also have time to see 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  We have a look at the small temple of  Neak Pean on our way to  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. Today , you may have free time 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.