Summary:
This five-day Appetizer tour of Cambodia includes the most important locations in the capital of Phnom Penh and Angkor Complex in Siem Reap. This itinerary is based on a start in Phnom Penh but you may instead wish to start the trip in Siem Reap, especially if added to a tour of Vietnam, Thailand or Laos
Details:
You can adapt the itinerary to suit and add extra days to ensure full flexibility. AOJ makes no charge for this service. Our aim is to tailor the tour to your personal requirements.
Day 1: Phnom Penh Arrival
Arriving at Pochentong airport in Phnom Penh, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel with time to relax before a sunset cruise on the Chatomouk River. In the evening enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. You’ll spend the night in Phnom Penh.
Meals: breakfast
Day 2: Phnom Penh
This morning you’ll visit the National Museum which exhibits 5,000 objects, including Angkorian era statues, lingas and artefacts. Most notable are the legendary statue of the 'Leper King"and an impressive display of pieces from later periods. You then visit the Royal Palace and nearby Silver Pagoda. After lunch, your guide will show you Wat Phnom, followed by a tour of the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum. The macabre episode inflicted by the Khmer Rouge is an important chapter in Cambodia’s recent heritage. You will begin to understand how Cambodia continues the process of social and economic recovery from Year Zero, genocide and extreme poverty. You stay overnight in Phnom Penh.
Meals: breakfast, lunch
Day 3: Phnom Penh/Siem Reap
After breakfast and a morning flight to Siem reap the day is spent exploring Cambodia’s rich and historic past. You start with a visit to Angkor Thom and the Bayon, a bizarre structure reflecting several architectural changes from Hinduism (foundations) to Buddhism (superstructure). Next are the Elephant and Leper King Terraces followed by the Baphoun Temple, nearing the end of an eight-year multi-million dollar restoration programme. After lunch you’ll explore the World Heritage Angkor Wat itself, the largest and most impressive temple in the complex. Later you can watch the sunset from the top of Phnom Bakheng Hill. Your overnight stay is in Siem reap.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4: Siem Reap
Today is spent exploring outer sites including Preah Khan, a huge and highly explorable monastic complex, Neak Pean, a Himalayan-style lake and sanctuary, and East Mebon, a temple-mountain. After lunch, you’ll see Ta Prohm, strangled by massive tree roots and typical of the condition of the entire complex when discovered in 1860 by French naturalist Henri Mouhot. You will see the Prasat Kravan (also known as the Cardomom Sanctuary) and Srah Srang Lake and landing terrace. The Srah Srang is less touristy and a possible sunrise alternative to Angkor Wat.
Meals: breakfast, lunch
Day 5: Siem Reap Departure
After breakfast you will visit a selection of the Roluos Group, a collection of Hindu monuments representing the remains of the first major capital of the Angkorian era. Situated in the centre of the first Khmer capital, the Bakong temple shows very early use of stone. You will then see Preah Ko (Sacred Bull) that derives its name from the statues of the bulls at the front of the central towers. This is followed by the Lolei temple comprising four brick towers on a double laterite platform. The rest of your time is free until pick-up from the hotel for your departure flight.
Meals: breakfast