Itinerary

1. Banteay Srey, Beng Mealea & Tonle Sap lake

   • Meet your driver and tour guide at the lobby of your hotel at 8 am.
   • You will travel to a small temple of Banteay Srei well known for its beautiful delicate carvings  in warm pink sandstone. This late 10th century temple is fairly compact and very different from other Angkorian temples.

   • Travel through picturesque countryside and rural villages approximately 60km in the northeast direction to the jungle-clad temple of Beng Mealea. This mid-12th-century temple features mixture of Buddhism and Hinduism attributes and is particularly mesmerising in the monsoon season.

   • Arrive in Kompong Phluk, an authentic stilted village on the edge of the great Tonle Sap Lake. Here, the Khmer, Vietnamese and Cham people live in harmony with the rising and falling water lake. 

2. Sunrise at Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom & Ta Prohm

   • You will be picked up at 4:45 AM at the lobby of hotel

   • Travel to the largest religious monument ever built slowly emerges in front of you as darkness gives way to the first rays of dawn.... This is a truly spectacular sight and well worth the early start today! You may wish to assume the classic viewing position by the lotus pond and see Angkor Wat and its reflection or find yourself a different vantage point to appreciate and photograph this mesmerising temple. When the colours of sunrise begin to fade you will explore the inner parts of Angkor Wat, learn about its history and the fascinating stories behind the intricate carvings adorning the walls of the temple galleries.

   • Explore the ancient walled city of Angkor Thom with the addition of some other iconic temples. Depart from the hotel early to ensure a cool start to the day. 

   • Enter the ancient city through its South Gate. In the very centre lies the temple of Bayon – silent witnesses of time, the 216 enigmatic faces gaze over the horizon, and one can only wonder what they have seen throughout the ages. Click photographs here and admire the many intricate carvings on the walls of the galleries. 

   • Continue to Baphuon with its long causeway and an impressive giant Reclining Buddha, a jigsaw puzzle only put back together in 2011 following a 37 year-long disruption caused by the war. Phimeanakas is hiding in the shaded jungle and offers a decent over-the-treetops view to those who conquer the steep steps to the top. 

   • Admire the Esplanade of the Royal Palace, more commonly known as the Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King. Having gained its 21st-century fame from the Tomb Raider movie, the charming and iconic Ta Prohm features most visitors' itineraries and rightfully so. Here nature takes over ancient human-made structures, and golden Spung tree (Tetrameles Nudiflora) roots wrap themselves around mossy stones in a tight embrace. Back to hotel.