Explore Angkor Wat and Siem Reap Deeply
Duration
5 days, 1 country
Destinations
Cambodia
Travel Type
Private | Customizable
Places You’ll Visit
Tour Overview
The 5-day trip to Cambodia focuses on the world-famous Angkor Wat in Siem Reap. Known as the national treasure of Cambodia, Angkor Wat was built between 1113-1150 and is the world’s largest temple style architecture, as well as the earliest Khmer style building in the world. This Siem Reap tour includes admiring the beautiful sunrise over Angkor Wat, exploring the unique temples, and marveling at the intricately carved lingas (phallic symbol of Hindu god Shiva).
You will also watch wonderful Apsara Dance Show, immerse yourself in local life at Kompong Khleang Floating Village, taste Khmer cuisine, and relax with a traditional massage.
Highlights of This Tour
- Catch the beautiful sunrise over Angkor Wat.
- Explore the smiling faces of Bayon Temple and exquisite carvings of Banteay Srei.
- Take a boat through on Tonle Sap Lake to see local stilted houses on the water.
- Watch the traditional Apsara Dance Show to glimpse Khmer culture.
- Hike to discover the sacred “River of a Thousand Lingas” .
- Visit Cambodia Landmine Museum and learn about the story of Aki Ra, a former child soldier who turned deminer.
Itinerary
Upon your arrival in Siem Reap, your guide and driver will be waiting to welcome you. They will then escort you to your carefully selected hotel. After check-in, your exploration starts with a guided tour to the magnificent Angkor Wat. Listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992, Angkor Wat is the best preserved temple in Angkor Wat archaeological site.
Your expert guide will first take you to visit Prasat Kravan Temple, a Hindu temple. The exquisite carvings on the walls of the temple are definitely worth seeing. Then, head to Ta Prohm, located to the east of Angkor Wat and made up of large stone piles. As time passed, python-like tree roots covered the temple and penetrated deep into the buildings, causing the stone towers and walls to collapse. This unique spectacle later became the filming location for the movie Tomb Raider.
The temples to be visited next include Srah Srang and Banteay Kdei temples. The last stop is Pre Rup Temple, which is a pyramid shaped building. This is the place where imperial families performed cremation rituals to “transform into gods”. The temple is very tall, and visitors can climb up to overlook the distant forest. It is also one of the best places to watch the sunset view of Angkor Wat.
Note: you need to arrive in Siem Reap before 11:00 am to ensure that you can complete today’s attractions.
Meal: Lunch
Accommodation: in Siem Reap
Get up early, capture the magnificent sunrise over Angkor Wat with your camera, and then return to the hotel for breakfast. Today’s tour of Angkor Wat will start from Angkor Thom, the capital of the Angkor dynasty. Under the guidance of your tour guide, enter from the South Gate to visit Bayon Temple, which is the center of Angkor Thom.
Built in the late 12th century, the entire Bayon Temple is divided into three floors, with the lower two floors being square shaped. The walls of the corridor are engraved with reliefs; The top floor is circular, with 37 Buddhist pagodas erected (originally there were 49). The top of the pagodas is engraved with huge four-faced Buddhas, which is the “Khmer Smile” that made Angkor Wat famous worldwide.
Afterwards, we will head to Baphuon Temple, a magnificent building that existed before the construction of Angkor Thom. Next are Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King.
Terrace of the Elephants was once a place where the King of Angkor selected mounts and held celebration ceremonies. It has three platforms, about 350 meters long and 2-3 meters high, with many lifelike elephant heads and long trunks carved.
Terrace of the Leper King, about 7 meters high, was the crematorium of the royal family at that time. It is named after the statue at the top of the platform. The statue we see now is a replica, and the original is preserved in the Phnom Penh National Museum. There are many exquisite reliefs on the platform, which is the essence here.
In the evening, you will watch the amazing Apsara Dance Show, a classical palace dance of the Angkor dynasty. This dance originated from Hindu dance and was later combined with Khmer culture in the sixth century to form the unique “Apsara dance”. After the show, we will return to your hotel to rest well.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
Accommodation: in Siem Reap
After breakfast, your tour guide will take you to Kbal Spean for a hike, also known as The River of a Thousand Lingas. This place features intricately carved lingas (phallic symbols) on the riverbed. The wet season from July to December every year is the best tourist season.
Continue your Angkor Wat tour to Banteay Srei, 35 kilometers away from Angkor Thom. Famous for the small and exquisite architectural style, the temple is dubbed the “pearl of Angkor Wat”. Your eyes will be attracted by the reliefs on the pink sandstone, which tell stories of Hindu mythology.
The last stop today is the Cambodia Landmine Museum, established in 1997 by Aki Ra, a local demining expert. He hoped more people understand the dangers of war and landmines. You can see many cannons and a pavilion filled with landmines in different styles. In addition, the museum exhibits mortars, firearms, and weapons from the Civil War period (1970-1998).
In the evening, you will sample authentic Khmer cuisine, which balances the five flavors of sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty perfectly. These delicacies not only have unique tastes, but often have rich historical and cultural backgrounds.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
Accommodation: in Siem Reap
In the morning, drive to the Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake, Tonle Sap Lake. Follow your private tour guide on a boat tour of the Kompong Khleang Floating Village, the largest floating village in Siem Reap. He/she will explain the daily lives of local residents – living in stilted houses on the water.
After exploring, relax yourself with a one-hour soothing Khmer massage. This afternoon, be guided to the the Tonle Sap Photography Exhibit Shows. Through the lens of photographers, glimpse the natural beauty and people’s lives in the region.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Siem Reap
Today is the last day of your trip to Cambodia. Pack your luggage and check out after breakfast. You still have time in the morning to visit the Angkor National Museum, where you can see the history, culture, and life of the Golden Age of the Khmer Empire. Next, we will visit the Siem Reap Old Market, where locals sell fresh agricultural products, handicrafts, and souvenirs.
Lunch will be enjoyed at Marum, a famous restaurant. After the meal, your driver will escort you to the airport to take a flight to your next destination or return home. This is the end of your private 5-day Siem Reap tour of Cambodia. Safe travels!
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: N/A
What’s Included
Dates & Availability
Tuesday
15 Sep,2024
Wednesday
24 Sep,2024
Total price
$1,049
Tuesday
15 Sep,2024
Wednesday
24 Sep,2024
Total price
$1,049
