7 DAYS PHNOM PENH - SIEM REAP
Tour code: DINA-CP7 |
Private Tour, 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 – from
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.
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, you will continue your temple visit, including Prasat
Kravan with unique brick sculptures, Srah Srang, (“The Pool of
Ablutions”) undoubtedly used in the past for ritual bathing, Banteay
Kdei, surrounded by four 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 Pre Rup, the mountain-temple
until sunset. Dinner at local restaurant and accommodation at hotel.
DAY 3: Siem Reap (B,L,D)
Breakfast at hotel.
In the morning, drive to the typical Khmer countryside and visit Banteay
Srei temple (10th c), regarded as the jewel in the crown of Classical
Khmer Art. Continue to 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.
In the afternoon, you will continue your temple visits to 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. Continue to Neak Pean, a fountain built in the
middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan
mountain-lake), and Ta Som. Dinner at local restaurant and accommodation
at hotel.
DAY 4: Siem Reap (B,L,D)
Breakfast at hotel.
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 enclosing 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 5: Siem Reap(B,L,D)
Breakfast at hotel.
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.
A further 1 hr drive brings you to Koh Ker, situated in the northeast of
Siem Reap. Discover the long abandoned temples in the forests of
northern Cambodia. Also known as Chok Gargyar, it served as the capital
of Jayavarman IV (reigned 928-42). His son and successor Harshavarman I
moved the capital back to Angkor in 944. There are a remarkable number
of religious buildings in the Koh Ker region, considering the short
space of time that it was the capital of the empire. There are more
than 30 major structures and experts believe there may have been as many
as 100 minor sacred buildings in the region. It was also a prolific
period for gigantic sculpture and several of the most impressive pieces
in the National Museum in Phnom Penh come from Koh Ker, including a huge
garuda (half-man, half-bird creature). Return to Siem Reap. Dinner at
local restaurant and accommodation at hotel.
DAY 6: Siem Reap (B,L,D)
Breakfast at hotel.
Morning, visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10
kilometers south of Siem Reap. Visit the village and take an excursion
in a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle Sap Lake, the “Great Lake” of
Cambodia, one of the wonders of Asia.
Afternoon, continue the temples tour: Takeo, Thommanon, Chau Say Tevoda
and 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 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. Dinner at local restaurant
and accommodation at hotel.
DAY 7: Siem Reap – Departure (B,L)
Breakfast at hotel.
In the morning, drive from Siem Reap to the district of Puok. Visit the
Silk Farm of Puok. Learn the different stages of the complex process of
producing handmade silk. Before returning to Siem Reap, visit the nearby
Western Baray and the temple of Western Mebon.
Afternoon at leisure before transfer to Siem Reap International Airport
for departure to the next destination.
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Trip includes
Transfers and tours
with local English or French speaking guides (guides in other languages
are on request and may be subject to supplements). 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
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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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