Cambodia In Depth Tour

Cambodia In-Depth Tour

Siem Reap/Kampong Thom/ Phnom Penh/KEP/Sihanoukville
12 Days / 11 Nights

In this 12 day In-depth Tour we will explore famous temples of Angkor Wat, Siem Reap and a capital city of Kingdom of Wonders, Phnom Penh. 8 days full of exciting sightseeing and introduction into Cambodian culture and history in combine with boat trip on Mekong River and time for activities on your own preferences. After continue in Sihanoukville, lay on the whites and beach and relax in spending a days in leisure.

Day 1: Arrival at Siem Reap (-/L/D)

Welcome to Cambodia! Upon arrival Siem Reap airport complete Cambodia via custom on arrival and meet your private guide and driver transfer to check in hotel. After lunch at local restaurant, we visit the earliest temples of the Angkor period at Roluos Group about 10km from Siem Reap. One of the first Khmer capitals built by Indravarman I and originally called Hariharalaya, Roluos Group includes Preah Ko, Bakong and Lolei. Visiting here first gives us a useful chronological perspective on Angkor’s development.

Return to town and stroll around the old market before we transfer to local restaurant for dinner.

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Day 2: Siem Reap and Angkor (B/L/D)

Breakfast at hotel; Today we visit some of the most beautiful temples on the small circuit, including the huge pyramid of Takeo, built in the 10th century. We continue to jungle-clad Ta Prohm.

This temple was a monastery built by Jayavarman VII as a residence for his mother. Ta Prohm has been controversially left to the destructive power of the jungle by French archaeologists to demonstrate the awesome power of nature. It has been largely consumed by the jungle and as you climb through the dilapidated stone structures you see many giant trees growing out of the top of the temple itself.

We return to town for a local lunch. Afternoon free at your leisure either at the pool side or take a bicycle to ride around the town.

This evening your driver will transfer (driver only) to local restaurant for dinner with Apsara show.

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Day 3: Siem Reap and Angkor (B/L/D)

We rise early today to catch the sunrise over the mother of all temples, the world’s largest religious building, Angkor Wat. We return to the hotel for breakfast and later in the morning explore Angkor Wat in more detail to view its architecture and bas reliefs.

This temple is the largest religious buildings ever constructed and is truly one of the wonders of the world. Believed to have been undertaken as a temple and mausoleum for King Suryavarman II at the peak of the Khmer empire in the first half of the 12th century, Angkor Wat is the best-preserved of the Angkorean temples. Lunch will be at a local restaurant.

We visit the sites of Angkor Thom. This Royal city was first built under the reign of Udayadityavarman II in the 11th Century. It was destroyed when the Chams from Vietnam rose up against the Khmers and invaded, sacking the city, and was subsequently renovated by King Jayavarman VII at the end of the 12th Century. Its vast walls, some 6m wide, 8m high and 13km in length contain many monuments.

We begin by visiting the South Gate, flanked by demons and gods engaged in a tug of war to obtain the elixir of immortality. We continue to the Bayon, a temple mountain built by Jayavarman VII. It is situated in the center of the city of Angkor Thom. It is a three-tiered pyramid with its entrance facing east. Return to town for your dinner at local restaurant.

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Day 4: Siem Reap and Angkor (B/L/-)

Breakfast at hotel; this morning, we head north to visit the elegant temple of Banteay Srei built by a Brahman in the 10th Century, this temple was dedicated to Shiva. The famous pink sandstone structure bears a series of beautiful sculptures, lintels, pediments and friezes. It is said they must have been carved by women as the detail is too fine for the hands of a man.

This gives us the origin of the Khmer name, Fortress of the Women. Lunch will be at local restaurant. Continue to Kbal Spean, commonly known as the River of a Thousand Lingers, this is an area of riverbed carvings and lush jungle. There are several carvings of Hindu deities in the sandstone here, as well as thousands of lingers in the riverbed itself.

This site was only ‘rediscovered’ in 1969 and is a tranquil place with an attractive waterfall. It is 50km north of Siem Reap. Then return to town for the night.

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Day 5: Siem Reap To Kampong Thom (B/L/D)

After an early breakfast at the hotel, we drive to Kompong Thom where we visit the 6th-century Chenla capital of Sambor Prei Kuk, the most important pre-Angkorean site in Cambodia and the first major temple city in South-East Asia.

Before we arrive Sambor Prei Kuk, we stop in the town of Kompong Kdei to see a beautiful Angkor-era bridge with 22 arches and naga balustrades. Afternoon, stroll around the town and enjoy dinner at local restaurant.

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Day 6: Kampong Thom – Kampong Cham – Phnom Penh (B/L/-)

Breakfast at hotel. In the morning we drive to Kampong Cham where you will visit local market and Wat Norkor Temple before heading to Phnom Penh. Arrival at Phnom Penh and rest of the day is free as your leisure time.

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Day 7: Phnom Penh City tour & Sunset cocktail Dinner cruise (B/L/D)

Breakf ast at hotel; in the morning, we visit the Royal Palace, located on the shores of the Mekong. Inside its walls are the Throne Hall, the Chan Chaya Pavilion, used for performances of classical dance, the Napoleon III Pavilion, and the King and Queen's residential quarters. Next stop will be the Silver Pagoda, home to a glittering array of Buddhist statuary.

Lunch will be at local restaurant. In the afternoon, Optional Visit to: the harrowing genocide museum at Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields of Choeng Ek, both enduring memorials to the gruesome and brutal rule of the Khmer Rouge.

Sunset cocktail dinner cruise – 2-1/2 hours tour.

Cruise with a unique wonderful overview of Phnom Penh, from Wat Phnom to Royal Palace and Mekong crossing. During almost 2.5 hours, you will discover Phnom Penh riverside from Tonle Sap river to Mekong river from an exclusive, quiet and cosy place, while you enjoy unlimited soft drinks and one alcoholic cocktail, beer or spirit throughout the cruise, our on board BBQ dinner accompanied by French wines carefully selected (one bottle for 4 people), overlooking the busy Phnom Penh’s riverside by night.

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Day 8: Phnom Penh to Kep (B/L/D)

We start early on the drive to Kampot, a charming riverside town, rich in colonial architecture. On the way south, we stop to visit the old temples of Ta Prohm at Tonle Bati and Prasat Neang Khmau, also known as temple of the black virgin. Lunch will be at a local restaurant. Later in the afternoon, we enjoy a boat trip on Kamchay River to visit a Cham minority village. Then return to the main road and continue trip to Kep.

Enjoy dinner at local restaurant.

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Day 9: Kep to Sihanoukville via Bokor Mountain (B/L/-)

After breakfast, we drive to Sihanoukville, also known as Kompong Som, Cambodia’s leading beach resort. We first take a visit Bokor Hill Station; 32 kilometers and 1,101 meters up from road 3 near Kampot, is the Bokor Mountain Hill Station, in Bokor National Park.

Originally a small resort town, it is now an abandoned ghost town and National Park. Except for the many tourist and Park personnel, and a few hundred construction workers that is. Most famous for the abandoned Casino at the top of the mountain, there is also a church, buildings for the former king, and either a view of fog or a view of Southern Cambodia's Islands and Vietnam's island Phu Quoc.

Lunch will be at local restaurant; Continue trip to Sihanoukville, driving time take about 2 hours. Arrive Sihanoukville in early evening and free relax as your leisure time.

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Day 10: Sihanoukville – Ream Park – Boat trip (B/L/D)

After breakfast at the hotel, we make a half day visit to the maritime national park of Ream, exploring the mangroves by boat and viewing wildlife on the shore. Ream National Park, near Sihanoukville, is a coastal park occupying 21,000 hectares. Sights include lowland and dwarf evergreen forest, long stretches of white-sand beach, submerged coral and sea grass.

Mangrove forest within the park supports a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Return to Sihanoukville. The afternoon is free to relax on the beach or swim in the sea.

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Day 11: Sihanoukville – Leisure (B/-/-)

Today is free relax as your leisure time,

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Day 12: Sihanoukville – Phnom Penh – Departure (B/L/-)

After breakfast we drive to Phnom Penh Airport, driving time takes about 4 hours. You will take a rest stop at Yay Mao (Grandma Mao) is an ancient mythical heroine and a divinity in the local popular form of Buddhism and Brahmanism in Cambodia. Most of traveler takes a rest stop here to make a wish for safe traveling.

Arrive Phnom Penh Airport in early afternoon and check in your own flight (tbc).

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