Classic Cambodia Tour

Classic Cambodia Tour

Phnom Penh/Kompong Thom/Siem Reap
6 days / 5 nights

This Classic Cambodia Tour opens for every traveler the most interesting and memorable part of the Kingdom of Wonders. Covering the sightseeing, leisure, and shopping in the capital city, Phnom Penh, visiting rural villages in Kompong Thom along with the ancient Pre-Angkorian temples (Sambor Prei Kuk) and Siem Reap, the world wonders of Angkor civilization and home of famous Angkor Wat.

Day 1: Phnom Penh (L/D)

Welcome to Cambodia! Upon arrival, Phnom Penh airport completes Cambodian custom visa processing then meet our guide and driver transfer to 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.

The next stop will be the Silver Pagoda, home to a glittering array of Buddhist statuary. The Silver Pagoda is also called the Pagoda of the Emerald Buddha; it is located on the walls of the Royal Palace. Inside, its floor is made up of 5,000 silver blocks. In the center of the pagoda, there is a magnificent 17th-century emerald Buddha statue made of baccarat crystal. The walls enclosing the pagoda are covered with frescoes depicting episodes from the Khmer version of the Ramayana.

We also visit the National Museum, home to the world’s leading collection of Khmer sculptures.

Situated near the Royal Palace, Cambodia's National Museum offers a charming setting for the stunning collection of Khmer art. Predominantly worked in stone, the sculptures date from both the Angkorean and pre-Angkorean eras, complimented by more recent examples of Cambodian art. The museum is housed in a terracotta-roofed structure of traditional Cambodian design, which was built between 1917 and 1920. Lunch will be at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we visit 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. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Choose option accommodation in Phnom Penh

Day 2: Phnom Penh (B/L/D)

Breakfast at hotel; Full day boat trip to Koh Dach where named an island in the middle of the Mekong River that is famous for Khmer silk weaving. You will find most families have at least one loom underneath their wooden stilt houses. A packed Lunch is included. This is a great place to wander around and meet local people in their natural habitat with no traffic noise or pollution. Return to Phnom Penh to have local lunch. Then start to visit the Central and Russian Markets.

The Central Market (Psar Thmey) is distinctive for its central domed building built by the French in 1937 with 4 wings leading off it. The Russian Market (Psar Toul Tom Pong) is an excellent place to pick up a few bargains, especially antiques, souvenirs, and cheap brand-name clothes. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Choose option accommodation in Phnom Penh

Day 3: Phnom Penh to Siem Reap via Sambor Prei Kuk (B/L/D)

After an early breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to Siem Reap. You will take a rest stop at Skun which is known as Spid City. We then head north to 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 Southeast Asia. We then continue on to Siem Reap, stopping in the town of Kompong Kdei to see a beautiful Angkor-era bridge with 22 arches and naga balustrades.

Continue trip to Siem Reap passes through Cambodia countryside. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Choose option accommodation in Siem Reap

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

We begin our visit with 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 continue to visit Sras Srang, the royal pool situated opposite the East Gate of Banteay Kdei. It is known as the King's bathing pond.

Finally we take in Prasat Kravan, an elegant brick temple from the 10th century with some fine brick carvings in the interior. We return to town for a local lunch.

We continue our Angkor encounter with a visit to the spectacular temples of the Grand Circuit. We first explore Preah Khan or Sacred Sword, one of the largest temples at Angkor with huge corridors extending in every direction. Built by Jayavarman VII in the 12th century, this is a highlight of Angkor. We continue to Neak Poan, a delicate temple set in a square pool and surrounded on all sides by fountains and ponds. Next are Ta Som and its famous strangler fig tree smothering the eastern gate.

We wind up at Pre Rup, built in the 10th Century by Rajendravarman. Pre Rup means turning the body and the Khmer people believe this temple was used for cremations. This is the perfect place for sunset over the beautiful Cambodian rice fields.

Choose option accommodation in Siem Reap

Day 5: 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 basreliefs.

This temple is the largest religious building 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 Angkorian temples. Lunch will be at a local restaurant.

We visited 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. The central shrine is surrounded by 54 towers all crowned by gigantic faces, representing Avalokiteshvara but with the features of Jayavarman VII. We also visit other important sites in this immense walled city, including the pyramid of Baphuon, Phimean Akas, and the royal viewing stands known as the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. Return to town for your dinner.

Choose option accommodation in Siem Reap

Day 6: Siem Reap and Angkor (B/L/D)

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. Continue to Kbal Spean, commonly known as the River of a Thousand Lingers, which 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. Return to town for your onward flight time.

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