Daily departure from Bangkok to Siem Reap with English or French
speaking guide.
ITINERARY:
(November to January & August – October only)
Note : From February to July the boat trip from Battambang to Siem
Reap is not possible because of low water levels. Therefore, the
tour by boat for option 1 can be arranged only from November until
the end of January and again from August to October)
DAY 1: BANGKOK - AYUTHHAYA - PIMAI - KORAT (L,D)
Depart from Bangkok to Ayuthaya, which is beautifully located on an
island at the confluence of three rivers. Visit Wat Chaiwathanaram
occupying a magnificent position on the West bank of the Chao Phraya
River. Drive through the historical part of this former capital of
Siam and then continue to Pimai. En route short stop the local fruit
market at Klang Dong. Continue to the charming little town of Pimai
northeast of Korat, known for the magnificient Khmer sanctuary of
Prasat Hin. Visit the museum and Historical Park. Return to Korat
with a short stop at one of the biggest Banyan Trees in Thailand.
Dinner and overnight at SIMA THANI HOTEL.
DAY 2: KORAT - DAN KWIAN - PHANOM
RUNG - ARANYAPRATHET (B,L,D)
After breakfast, visit the pottery village of Dan Kwian. The region
of Korat is famous for its beautifully crafted pottery. Continue to
Phanom Rung, which is the finest Khmer Temple in Thailand and gives
more than only a good idea of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Similar in
layout to Phimai, both monuments are believed to have been the
prototype for the famous Angkor Wat. Close by there is Muang Tam,
another impressive Khmer temple predating Phanom Rung by about 120
years. After lunch, continue to the border town of Aranyaprathet
with stops at ancient Khmer ruins along the Thai-Cambodian border.
Dinner and overnight at ARAN MERMAID HOTEL.
DAY 3: ARANYAPRATHET - BATTAMBANG
(Cambodia) (B,L,D)
This morning we cross the border to Cambodia and travel via Sisophon
to Battambang, Cambodia’s second largest city with a distinct French
Colonial architechture. The 110 km drive will take over 3.5 hours -
be prepared that this will be a bumpy and rough ride. The afternoon
will be spent to discover the temples of Wat Ek Phnom on the
outskirts of the city and Phnom Banon, about 30kms south of
Battambang. Visit a market where the famous Cambodian fish paste is
made, then continue to Phnom Banon, a site with five sandstone
towers on top of a hill. Return to your hotel late afternoon and
stroll through the town center with its French Colonial style
buildings. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at TEO HOTEL
(2-star hotel, rooms with air-con, refrigerator, private bathroom
with hot/cold shower & toilet, Satellite-TV, restaurant and internet
corner).
DAY 4: BATTAMBANG - SIEM REAP BY
BOAT (B,L,D)
After breakfast, board a motorised wooden boat for the full-day trip
to Siem Reap. We will first travel on the tribuarities of the
Sangker River, which gives a wonderful glimpse at local villages
built along the river-banks, waving children taking a refreshing
bath, wooden houses on stilts and rural landscapes. A stop will be
made at Cheur Khmao Pagoda (Black Wood Pagoda) in Bak Prier floating
village. Then enter the Biosphere Reserve with the Bird Sanctuary
and the floating village of Prek Tuol. Picnic lunch on board during
the navigation. Continue by boat across the Tonle Sap lake to Chhong
Kneas fishing village. Arrive at Siem Reap port and transfer to Siem
Reap town. Dinner and overnight.
Superior category: LOTUS ANGKOR HOTEL
First category: ANGKOR CENTURY HOTEL
DAY 5: SIEM REAP (B,L,D)
Breakfast at hotel. Visit the antique capital of Angkor Thom (12th
century): the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the
churning of the ocean of milk, the Bayon Temple, unique for its 54
towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, the
Royal Enclosure, the Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the
Terrace of the Leper King. Lunch at your hotel. In the afternoon,
visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor:
Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable
in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five
towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century
masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example
of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat's five towers
symbolize Meru's five peaks - the enclosing wall represents the
mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the
ocean beyond. At sunset climb up Phnom Bakheng, one of the two hills
dominating the plain of Angkor, from where you will have a
spectacular view of the Western Baray and Angkor Wat. Dinner at
Bopha Angkor restaurant and overnight.
Superior category: LOTUS ANGKOR HOTEL
First category: ANGKOR CENTURY HOTEL
DAY 6: SIEM REAP - DEPARTURE (B,L)
Breakfast at hotel. In the morning, you will continue your temple
visits, including Prasat Kravan with unique brick sculptures, Pre
Rup, the mountain-temple and Ta Som. Neak Pean, a fountain built in
the middle of a pool and representing the paradisiacal Himalayan
mountain-lake, Eastern Mebon, guarded at its corner by stone figures
of harnessed elephants, some of which are still in a reasonable
state of preservation. Preah Khan, built by the King Jayavarman VII
and, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and
shoulder-hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, the temple of
Preah Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing
restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation.
Lunch at hotel. In the afternoon, transfer to the archaeological
site and continue the temples tour. Visit Ta Prohm, one of the most
beautiful temples in the area, as it has been relatively untouched
since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Its appeal
lies in the fact that, unlike the other monuments of Angkor, it has
been left to be swallowed by the jungle, and looks very much the way
most of the monuments of Angkor appeared when European explorer
first stumbled upon them. Then, visit Takeo, Thommanon and Chau Say
Tevoda temples. Transfer to Siem Reap airport for departure flight
to the next destination.
ITINERARY OPTION 2 (BKKKE6-PS2 / PF2) - YEAR ROUND
DAY 1: BANGKOK - AYUTHHAYA - PIMAI - KORAT (L,D)
Depart from Bangkok to Ayuthaya, which is beautifully located on an
island at the confluence of three rivers. Visit Wat Chaiwathanaram
occupying a magnificent position on the West bank of the Chao Phraya
River. Drive through the historical part of this former capital of
Siam and then continue to Pimai. En route short stop the local fruit
market at Klang Dong. Continue to the charming little town of Pimai
northeast of Korat, known for the magnificient Khmer sanctuary of
Prasat Hin. Visit the museum and Historical Park. Return to Korat
with a short stop at one of the biggest Banyan Trees in Thailand.
Dinner and overnight at SIMA THANI HOTEL.
DAY 2: KORAT - DAN KWIAN - PHANOM
RUNG - ARANYAPRATHET (B,L,D)
After breakfast, visit the pottery village of Dan Kwian. The region
of Korat is famous for its beautifully crafted pottery. Continue to
Phanom Rung, which is the finest Khmer Temple in Thailand and gives
more than only a good idea of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Similar in
layout to Phimai, both monuments are believed to have been the
prototype for the famous Angkor Wat. Close by there is Muang Tam,
another impressive Khmer temple predating Phanom Rung by about 120
years. After lunch, continue to the border town of Aranyaprathet
with stops at ancient Khmer ruins along the Thai-Cambodian border.
Dinner and overnight at ARAN MERMAID HOTEL.
DAY 3: ARANYAPRATHET – SIEM REAP (Cambodia)(B,L,D)
This morning we cross the border to Cambodia and travel via Sisophon
to Siem Reap with lunch at a local restaurant en route. Arrive in
Siem Reap late afternoon and check in at your hotel. If time
permits, visit "Les Artisans d'Angkor - Chantiers Ecoles" and watch
the sunset at Angkor Wat. Dinner at your hotel and overnight.
Superior category: LOTUS ANGKOR HOTEL
First category: ANGKOR CENTURY HOTEL
DAY 4: SIEM REAP (B,L,D)
Breakfast at hotel. Visit the Roluos Group. The monuments of Roluos,
which served as the capital of Indravarman I (reigned 877-89), are
among the earliest large, permanent temples built by the Khmers and
mark the beginning of Khmer classical art. Preah Ko erected by
Indravarman I in the late 9th century dedicated by the King to his
ancestors in 880. Bakong the largest and most interesting of the
Roluos group temples, with his active Buddhist monastery just to the
north of the east entrance. Lolei built on an islet in the center of
a large reservoir (now rice fields) by Yasovarman I, the founder to
the first city at Angkor. Return to your hotel for lunch. In the
afternoon, continue your temple tour to the unique interior brick
sculptures of Prasat Kravan, Srah Srang ("The Royal Baths" was once
used for ritual bathing), Banteay Kdei (surrounded by 4 concentric
walls), Eastern Mebon, (guarded at its corner by stone figures of
harnessed elephants, some of which are still in a reasonable state
of preservation) and the mountain-temple of Pre Rup. Dinner at
Viroth's Restaurant and overnight.
Superior category: LOTUS ANGKOR HOTEL
First category: ANGKOR CENTURY HOTEL
DAY 5: SIEM REAP (B,L,D)
Visit the antique capital of Angkor Thom (12th century): the South
Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of
milk, the Bayon Temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with over
200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, the Royal Enclosure, the
Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper
King. Lunch at your hotel. In the afternoon, visit the most famous
of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. The temple
complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial
Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the
Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art
historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and
architecture. Angkor Wat's five towers symbolize Meru's five peaks -
the enclosing wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world
and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond. At sunset climb up Phnom
Bakheng, one of the two hills dominating the plain of Angkor, from
where you will have a spectacular view of the Western Baray and
Angkor Wat. Dinner at Bopha Angkor restaurant and overnight.
Superior category: LOTUS ANGKOR HOTEL
First category: ANGKOR CENTURY HOTEL
DAY 6: SIEM REAP - DEPARTURE (B,L)
Breakfast at hotel. Morning, transfer to Banteay Srei temple (10th
century), regarded as the jewel in the crown of Classical Khmer Art.
Visit Banteay Srei then continuation to Banteay Samre, built in the
third quarter of the 12th century. It consists of a central temple
with four wings preceded by a hall and accompanied by two libraries,
the southern example remarkably well preserved. Return to your hotel
for lunch.
In the afternoon, you will continue your temple visits to Neak Pean,
a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the
paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake), Ta Som and Preah Khan. Built
by the King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of
towered enclosures and shoulder hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm,
however, the temple of Prea Khan is in a reasonable state of
preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and
even improve this situation
Then, visit Ta Prohm. One of the area's most beautiful temples, Ta
Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and
retains much of its mystery. Transfer to Siem Reap airport for
departure flight to the next destination.
HOTEL ADDRESSES:
|
Sima Thani Hotel |
2112/2 Mittraphap Road, Nakorn
Ratchasima 30000
Tel.
(66 44) 213100, Fax. (66 44) 213121 |
|
Aran Mermaid Hotel |
33 Tanavitee Road, Aranyaprathet,
Sakaew 27120
Tel.
(66 37) 223655, Fax. (66 37) 223666 |
|
Lotus Angkor Hotel |
Rd.6,Krous, Svay Dang Kom, Siem
Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia
Tel. (855 63) 965555, Fax. (855 63) 965556 |
|
Angkor Century Hotel |
Komay Road - Khum Svay Dangkom,
Siem Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia,
Tel. (855 63) 963777 Fax. (855 63) 963123 |
