6 DAYS, THAILAND & CAMBODIA OVERLAND

Itinerary

ITINERARY IN DETAILS:

OPTION 1- NOV - JAN & AUG - OCT

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.

 OPTION 2  - 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.