6 DAYS PHNOM PENH - SIEM REAP
Tour code: DINA-CP5 |
Daily departure from Phnom Penh with English or French speaking guide
ITINERARY:
DAY 1: Phnom Penh – Arrival (D)
Transfer from Phnom Penh International Airport to the hotel.
Phnom Penh city tour: Visit the Victory Monument, and the National
Museum, also called Musee des Beaux-Arts. A French archaeologist and
painter, Georges Groslier, designed it in Khmer style in 1917. The
museum contains a collection of Khmer art - notably sculptures -
throughout the ages. Visit the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in
1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda. Located within
the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor,
which is made up of 5000 silver tiles. The treasures found inside
include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90kilograms and a
small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. End your
afternoon with the visit of the Wat Phnom Temple, Phnom Penh’s namesake,
from where you can enjoy views over the tree-lined avenues of Phnom Penh
during sunset. Dinner at local restaurant and accommodation at hotel.
DAY 2: Phnom Penh - Siem Reap (B,L,D)
Breakfast at hotel.
Transfer to Phnom Penh International Airport and departure by Siem Reap
Airways International or similar to Siem Reap. Arrive at Siem Reap
International Airport and transfer to the hotel (rooms may not be ready
until the afternoon).
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.
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 until sunset. Dinner at
local restaurant and accommodation at hotel.
DAY 3: Siem Reap (B,L,D)
Breakfast at hotel.
In the morning, 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 enclosed wall represents the mountains at the
edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond.
Visit the South Gate (with its huge statues depicting the churning of
the ocean of milk), the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century),
Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling
faces of Avolokitesvara), the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the
Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Sunset at Angkor
Wat. Dinner at local restaurant and accommodation at hotel.
DAY 4: Siem Reap (B,L,D)
Breakfast at hotel,
Choose between the visits of Kulen Mountain or Beang Mealea.
Option A / Kulen Mountain: Morning, drive through the typical Khmer
countryside to the holy Kulen Mountain range which provided some of the
stones used to build the Angkor temples. With beautiful sceneries to
admire on the way up, our vehicle will bring us on a steep dirt road to
the top of the mountain
There we first will see the site of the Lingas carved in the riverbed by
successive kings of the Angkor period and a walk further will bring us
to the site of a huge natural rock with on top a big reclining Buddha
carved in the rock. Our walk will also bring us to a waterfall, don’t
forget your swimsuits and join the locals! More carvings in the riverbed
can be discovered above the waterfall. This is also a very popular place
for Khmer people to come and enjoy their weekend with a picnic.
Option B / Beng Mealea: Morning, drive to the remote Beng Mealea temple
through the typical Khmer countryside (60Kms from Siem Reap). There is a
lot to see in the approximately 2½ hours drive as it takes you through
many lively villages and along kilometers of rice paddies. Explore the
long abandoned temple (11th C), strangled by the jungle. Lunch box will
be provided at the site
Proceed to the Banteay Srei temple (10th century) regarded as the jewel
in the crown of classical Khmer art. Then visit Banteay Samre, one of
the most complete complexes at Angkor due to restoration using the
method of “anastylosis”. The name Samre refers to an ethnic group of
mountain people, who inhabited the region at the base of Phnom Kulen and
were probably related to the Khmers. No inscriptions have been found for
this temple, but the style of most of the architecture is of the classic
art of the middle period similar to Angkor Wat. The proportions of
Banteay Samre are splendid. A unique feature is an interior moat with
laterite paving, which when filled with water must have given an
ethereal atmosphere to the temple. Drive back to Siem Reap. Dinner at
local restaurant and accommodation at hotel.
DAY 5 : Siem Reap (B,L,D)
Visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south
of Siem Reap. Take a boat trip in a traditional wooden boat on the
Tonle Sap Lake, the “Great Lake” of Cambodia, one of the largest in
Asia.
Afternoon, visit Preah Khan. Built by King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan
is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder-hugging
corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, though, it’s well preserved and ongoing
restoration efforts should improve this situation. Visit as well Neak
Pean a fountain built in the middle of a pool and the temple of Ta Som.
Dinner at local restaurant and accommodation at hotel.
DAY 6: Siem Reap – Departure (B,L)
Breakfast at hotel.
In the morning, continue the temple tour to Takeo, Thommanon, Chau Say
Tevoda and Ta Prohm, one of the area’s most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm
has been left 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 was abandoned and swallowed by the jungle,
looking very much the ways most of the Angkor temples appeared when
European explorers first stumbled upon them.
After lunch, visit to “Les Artisans d’Angkor - Chantiers Ecoles” of Siem
Reap and spend time at leisure at a local market (if time permits).
Transfer to Siem Reap International Airport for departure flight to the
next destination.
Note: From Feb-July, the visit to the Tonle Sap lake is not recommended
because of the low water level. The below visits will be provided
instead in the morning:
Visit to the Dance school of Aspeca where you can watch young children
learn the ancient traditional Khmer dances. Visit Wat Inkosei built on
the site of an ancient temple, which still remains. Continue to Wat Bo
pagoda to view its well-preserved paintings. You will also observe monks
making the various moldings, which adorn the pagodas. Visit a workshop
where traditional shadow play puppets are made.
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Trip includes
Transfers and tours
with local English or French speaking guides.1 FOC in single room
based on minimum 15 paying pax. Domestic air-ticket Phnom Penh - Siem
Reap, domestic airport tax, accommodation in shared twin rooms at
indicated hotels or similar, meals as specified in the program
(B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner), entrance fees, service charges, room
tax and baggage handling.
Trip excludes:
International airfare; airport taxes, Visa, meals not indicated,
personal expenses Christmas and New Year's Eve Dinners.
HOTEL
DETAILS
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Juliana Hotel
(Superior Class) |
16 Juliana, 152 Road, (Near Baktook
School)
P.O Box 2154, Phnom Penh
Tel./Fax (855-23) 880 530-31 / 885 750-51 / 882 373 |
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Day Inn Angkor & Resort
(Superior Class) |
Oun Khun Street, Mondul 1, Svay
Dangkom Slem Province
Siem Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia
Tel: (855
63) 760 502 Fax: (855 63) 760 503 |
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Sunway Hotel
(First Class) |
No. 1, St. 92, Sangkat Wat Phnom
P.O. Box 633
Phnom Penh 12202
Tel. (855-23) 430 33 Fax. (855-23) 430 339 |
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Angkor Century Resort & Spa (First
Class) |
Komay Road - Khum Svay Dangkom, Siem
Reap,
Kingdom of Cambodia
Tel. (855-63) 963 777 Fax. (855-63) 963 123 |
Raffles Hotel Le Royal
(Deluxe Class) |
92, Rukhak Vithei Daun Penh, Sangkat
Wat Phnom, Phnom Penh
Tel. (855-23) 981 888 Fax. (855-23) 981 168 |
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Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor (Deluxe
Class) |
Vithei Charles de Gaulle, Khum Svay
Daun Kum,
Siem Reap
Tel. (855-63) 963 888 Fax. (855-63) 963 168 |
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