Day 1:
Phnom Penh
City Tours
Pick up at
the airport
upon
arrival. On
your first
morning in
charming
Phnom Penh
you will be
treated to a
fun cyclo
tour, a
traditional
mode of
transport.
Your first
stop will be
the
terracotta
red National
Museum which
offers a
charming
setting for
a
comprehensive
collection
of Khmer
artifacts.
After this
you will
visit the
nearby Royal
Palace, on
the banks of
the mighty
Mekong
river.
Inside the
Palace walls
you will be
treated to
the Throne
Hall, the
Chan Chaya
Pavilion,
and the
King’s
residential
quarters.
You will
then move
onto the
neighboring
Silver
Pagoda, so
named as it
is claimed
its floor is
made up of
over 4,000
silver
tiles! Your
cyclo driver
will then
take you to
a local
restaurant
for lunch.
Afterwards
it is back
in the
cyclos as
you are
pedaled to
explore the
ochre-coloured,
impressive,
art-deco
Central
Market, an
iconic Phnom
Penh
landmark and
a
fascinating
place to
wander
around, be
careful not
to get lost!
When you are
all
‘haggled’
out your
cyclo driver
will take
you to the
nearby
French
Quarter and
Wat Phnom,
the
inconspicuous
hill after
which the
city is
named. Today
it is topped
by a small
pagoda and
provides a
shady area
to wander
around. Your
cyclo driver
will then
return you
to your
hotel where
you are free
for the rest
of the
evening.
Overnight at
hotel in
Phnom Penh
Day 2:
Dark Past
This morning
you will
learn about
the dark
side of
Cambodia -
its more
recent
turbulent
and
harrowing
history.
Initially
you visit
the Toul
Sleng
Genocide
Museum (also
known as
S21),
ironically a
former
school,
located in a
quiet Phnom
Penh suburb,
this was the
infamous
Khmer Rouge
prison /
torture
centre. Once
you have
gained an
initial
insight of
the
brutality of
the Khmer
Rouge regime
you will be
driven 15km
from Phnom
Penh to
visit the
'Killing
Fields'.
This is
where Toul
Sleng
prisoners
were
forcibly
marched and
then
executed; it
is now a
memorial
site located
in a
beautiful
tranquil
setting. You
will return
to Phnom
Penh for
lunch at a
local
restaurant,
after which
you will be
taken to the
Russian
Market, an
excellent
place for
picking up
souvenirs.
There are
stalls
selling some
very good
Khmer
antique
reproductions,
other stalls
piled
ceiling high
with
wonderful
colourful
silks,
incredibly
cheap
clothing
stalls, and
of course
those stalls
selling
pirated CDs,
DVDs, and
computer
software.
Afterwards
you will be
taken back
to the hotel
where you
will have
time to
freshen up
before being
treated to a
Phnom Penh
farewell
dinner.
Day 3:
Angkor Wat
Sunrise,
Floating
Village and
Local Crafts
This
morning
you fly
to Siem
Reap
where
initially
you will
explore
the
Small
Circuit.
This
tour
includes
the huge
pyramid
of Takeo,
and the
jungle-clad
Ta Prohm,
made
famous
by the
Hollywood
blockbuster
‘Tomb
Raider’.
You
continue
to visit
Sras
Srang,
known as
the
King's
bathing
pond,
and
Banteay
Kdei,
before
exploring
Prasat
Kravan,
an
elegant
brick
temple.
After
lunch
you
explore
the
impressive
Royal
City of
Angkor
Thom,
where
you will
find the
Bayon, a
temple
famed
for its
many
gigantic
carved
faces
smiling
beguilingly
down at
you. You
will
also
visit
other
important
sites in
this
immense
walled
city,
including
the
pyramid
of
Baphuon,
Phimeanakas,
and the
royal
viewing
stands
known as
the
Terrace
of the
Elephants
and the
Terrace
of the
Leper
King. If
you have
the time
your
guide
will
take you
to an
excellent
spot for
watching
a
mesmerising
Angkor
Wat
sunset.
The
evening
is free
at your
leisure.
Day 4:
Banteay Srei
& the Grand
Circuit
Breakfast at
hotel and
then we will
head 30km
north to
visit the
captivating
and
beautiful
temple of
Banteay Srei
or ‘Fortress
of the
Women’. The
journey
allows you
to
experience
the
beautiful
Cambodian
countryside
as you pass
through
small
typical
villages,
on-route you
will
visiting
Banteay
Samre.
Banteay Srei
is an
elaborately
decorated
temple,
embellished
with floral
motifs and
scenes from
the
Ramayana,
all carved
from pink
sandstone.
It is said
the carvings
must have
been done by
women as the
detail is
too fine for
the hands of
a man. You
will return
to town for
lunch. After
lunch you
continue
your Angkor
encounter
with a visit
to the
spectacular
temples of
the Grand
Circuit,
beginning
with
Preah Khan
or ‘Sacred
Sword’, one
of the
largest
temples at
Angkor. You
continue to
Neak Pean
surrounded
by fountains
and ponds.
Next is
Ta Som
and its
famous
strangler
fig tree.
Finally, you
arrive at
Pre Rup,
a pleasant
spot to
experience
another
Angkor
sunset if
you wish.
This evening
you will
enjoy dinner
and a
fascinating
Apsara dance
show at a
local
restaurant.
Overnight at
hotel in
Siem Reap.
Day 5:
Angkor Wat
Sunrise,
Floating
Village and
Local Crafts
You may
choose to
rise early
today to
catch the
sun rising
from behind
Angkor Wat’s
five carved
towers -
after being
awed you
return to
your hotel
for
breakfast.
After
breakfast it
is time to
further
discover the
magnificent
Angkor Wat,
the world’s
largest
religious
building.
You will
return to
town for
lunch, after
which you
will head
south to the
Tonle Sap
lake. On the
way you will
call in at
Artisans
d’Angkor,
an
interesting
boutique
workshop
where you
can observe
young
Cambodians
learning
traditional
Khmer
handicraft
techniques,
such as
stone & wood
carving, and
lacquering &
gilding - a
great
opportunity
for last
minute
quality
souvenirs.
After
leaving you
will see
Phnom Krom
the large
hill looming
closer, and
enjoy a
relaxing
cruise on
the on the
Tonle Sap
lake, the
largest lake
in South
East Asia.
You will see
the
traditional
floating
village of
Chong Khneas
and witness
the
residents
going about
their daily
life - it is
quite a
sight seeing
a whole
bamboo
village
complete
with homes,
gas
stations,
schools,
hair
dressers,
and even
karaoke bars
floating on
a lake. As
you are on
the lake you
will have
the
opportunity
to watch a
beautiful
sunset -
perfect.
Transfer you
to the
airport for
your own
departure
flight. End
of service.
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