Angkor Explorer, 8 days

On arrival at Phnom Penh 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 Phnom Penh. This bustling capital city of Cambodia  favorably located at the confluence of the Mekong, Tonle Sap, and Tonle Bassac Rivers 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, once known as the Pearl of Asia. 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.

Today, we explore 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  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 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 in 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 northbound journey begins as we leave Phnom Penh and travel into the countryside of Cambodia. En route we make stop at Skuon, an important junction for  Kratie and Stung Treng in eastern direction and Kampong Thom  in northern turn. This small town is famous for  the tasty spiders that are sold around your stop. The spiders first used by locals against the rife starvation under the Khmer Rouge regime. You can have a look at food stands and sample an eight-legged snack. We head towards Kampong Thom where rice fields stretch out in the distance and surround sleepy villages. The roads begin to deteriorate as we leave the country path and drive towards  Sambor Prei Kuk. This mysterious ruin is dotted with hundred pre-angkor styled temples, which boast some of the oldest structures in Cambodia. These small temples are scattered throughout the forest in an area of 5sq km. On arrival at Sombor village we  stroll around to discover this rural community. The guide will introduce you to the local villagers and their homestay facilities. The conditions are  simple, but this is a fantastic opportunity to experience everyday life in rural Cambodia. The temple ruins of  Sambor Prei Kuk are just nearby and well worth a visit.  We have a look at the archeological site where many structures are just mere remnants of their original building. Tonight we will be hosted as the guests of a Khmer family and enjoy a traditional  dinner with your host family.

Upon leaving the village of our previous night, we set for Preah Vihear  Province  named after the temple of Prasat Preah Vihear.  We drive through the wild of Cambodia to  Preah Vihear City. This is simply a stop to stretch our legs before we head towards Sra Aem Town , a base for our exploration of  Preah Vihear  Temple in a short distance. On arrival in  Sra Aem Town we start our drive uphill, venturing into Dangrek Mountain range.  We embark on a walk uphill to Preah Vihear Temple and get a stunning view with a blend of rugged mountains and imposing temples. The prominent design features a series of sanctuaries linked by a system of pavements and staircases over an 800m long axis. They make for an outstanding masterpiece of Khmer architecture in terms of plan, decoration and relationship to the spectacular landscape environment. The initial construction dates back to 893  AD , but many structures can be traced to the later years. They are particularly well preserved and exceptional for the quality of architecture, which is adapted to the natural environment and the religious function of the temple.  We stroll around to explore the  carved stone ornamentations. They  are mainly dedicated to the supreme god “Shiva”.  Today we spend the night in Sra Aem Town, which is basically an overnight stop to break our long journey.

The following destination of our journey is Siem Reap Town. We drive through the undulating terrains and the rain forest.  The fascination is not just in the nature beauty but in the jungle secrets. Along the way  we make stop to visit Bang Mealea Temple, one of the largest Angkor ensembles. The temple complex was built on a similar scale and floor plan to Angkor Wat; however, many structures have been submerged in the evergreen jungle.  We walk over  debris and  trees to see the  temple decoration.  The ornamentation with Hindu and Buddhist motifs is simple and animated only in certain areas where we can find several bas-reliefs' showing scenes from the Khmer mythology. The trees sprout lush, dense, and tall, making a serene ambiance that accentuates the sense of legend.  Upon leaving Bang Mealea, we keep on our overland adventure to Siem Reap Town, 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 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.

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.

The walkway draws a line 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 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.