Cambodia Phnom Penh Siem Reap

Breakfast at hotel.

Phnom Penh city tour: Visit the Independence 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 grounds of the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5,000 silver tiles. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90 kilograms and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. Lunch at local restaurant.

In the afternoon, visit to the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek (16 km south of Phnom Penh). Between 1975 and 1978 about 17,000 men, women, children and infants (including nine westerners) detained and tortured at S-21 prison were transported to the extermination camp of Choeung Ek. They were often bludgeoned to death to avoid wasting precious bullets. Fragments of human bone and bits of cloth are scattered around the disinterred pits. Over 8,000 skulls, arranged by sex and age, are visible behind the clear glass panels of the Memorial Stupa, which was erected in 1988.

Return to Phnom Penh. Visit the notorious Tuol Sleng Museum. In 1975 Tuol Svay Prey High School was taken over by Pol Pot's security forces and turned into a prison known as Security Prison 21 (S-21). It soon became the largest such center of detention and torture in the country. More than 17,000 people held at S-21 were taken to the extermination camp at Choeung Ek to be executed; detainees who died during torture were buried in mass graves in the prison ground. Room after room the museum displays photographs of men, women and children covering the walls from floor to ceiling; virtually all the people pictured were later killed. Visit the Russian Market (Psah Tuol Thom Pong), a lively outdoor market where you will find antiquities, silver and gold jewelry, gems, silk, kramas, stone and wood carvings, as well as T-Shirts, CDs and other souvenirs. Accommodation at Hotel.

Breakfast at hotel.

Depart from Phnom Penh at 07:00am to Siem Reap passing along typical Cambodian villages, 314km, about 6 to 6 ½ hours drive. Make a stop in Skuon to taste Cambodia’s more exotic culinary delights, the deep-fried spider. Continue to Siem Reap. Arrive in Siem Reap and transfer to local restaurant for lunch (late lunch). After lunch, drive to the country side and take an excursion in a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle Sap Lake, the “Great Lake” of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia and visit a floating village. The village moves with the water level and during wet season houses are anchored around an island pagoda. Visit “Les Artisans d’Angkor-Chantiers Ecoles”, this centre is working with young artisans; the team creates, produce and market a unique collection of ornamental sculpture, lacquer ware, silk weaving and silk painting. The company promotes fair, sustainable development in order to provide benefits to the rural communities. End of the tour and transfer to the hotel for check-in.

Breakfast at hotel.

In the morning, 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), Baphuon (recently re-opened after years of restoration), the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, 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. Then 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 enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond. Sunset at Angkor Wat. Accommodation at Hotel.

Breakfast at hotel.

Morning, drive to the Kulen Mountain range. Walk 45 minutes through the forest to the top of the hill to reach Kbal Spean, the Thousand Linga River: discover the 10th-12th century sculptures chiseled from the rocky riverbed, the Royal Bath and the waterfall. (We recommend wearing good shoes for this excursion. The walk up to Kbal Spean takes about 45 min each way and there are a few steep and narrow passages on the way. For your comfort, we suggest you to carry all your personal belongings (camera, water etc.) in a small backpack in order to have both hands free to walk comfortably)

Breakfast at hotel.

Transfer to Siem Reap International Airport to catch your departure flight.