Angkor And Mekong Delta Expeditions

Upon arrival, meet and transfer by the local guide to the hotel for check-in (the early check-in is not included and is subject to the hotel’s availabilities) or drop off the luggage and start the tour for Siem Reap Orientation. Visiting Wat Damnak, which is one of the most beautiful pagodas in town with French colonial architecture reflecting its history and a large garden filled with statues. Then we continue to visit the Angkor National Museum, which opened its doors in 2007, offering a comprehensive collection of Cambodian artifacts showcasing the origins of Khmer art, culture, and architecture. With eight galleries in total, it covers in depth the history of Cambodia and the Khmer Empire as well as a fascinating collection of Buddhist artifacts. Enhance your knowledge of Khmer history and culture by attending a lecture by a Khmer archaeologist who has over 11 years of experience in this field. He has been working for the World Monuments Fund on projects including the Angkor Wat temple. He is also a lecturer at the Faculty of Archaeology at the Royal University. Get one of the local restaurants for lunch and drive to visit Wat Thmei, which was one of the killing fields of Pol Pot in 1975-79 to learn more about the Khmer Rouge Regime, and the civil war of Cambodia from 1979 to 1999.

At about 4.00 pm we drive to visit Phnom Bakheng temple and view the sunset from the top of this mountain temple. Phnom Bakheng temple was built on a natural hill in the 9th century. Often called "Le-Mountain" due to its resemblance to Mount Meru, this site is situated on the left side of the road from Angkor Wat to Angkor Thom. It is a popular destination for tourists seeking to witness the breathtaking sunset. Afterward, return to your hotel in Siem Reap for dinner at your leisure.

Breakfast at the hotel at 6 AM

At 7.30 AM, our guide and driver pick you up from the hotel for the full day to visit the main temples (Angkor Wat – Bayon – Banteay Srei – Ta Prohm temples) in Angkor Archeological Park.

We begin our visit at the Angkor Wat temple, taking a different approach than most by entering from the East Gate and exiting from the West Gate. We walk further to visit Angkor Wat Temple at level 1, level 2, and level 3, an architectural marvel, one of the world’s most impressive ruins to understand in depth Khmer Culture and Civilization. During the Angkor period, the temple features exquisite stone carvings of Apsaras. Continue to explore the mysterious Royal city of Angkor Thom. Its 50-tower temple is an awesome sight. At initial sight, it appears to be an amorphous block of stone. However, upon closer examination, one discovers a face, and then another, and another, until suddenly you find yourself surrounded by the silent, weighty, mysterious gaze through partially closed eyes, peering out from an ancient and distant era. Start from South Gate and further visit Bayon, Baphuon, Royal Enclosure, and Terrace of Elephant.

Enjoy the home-made lunch at the local house (Mr. Peout and his wife, Mrs. Gin living in a small house with a peaceful atmosphere and green garden will serve you a great lunch and share their life story during the Khmer Rouge to present).

After lunch, we will proceed with our visit to the Banteay Srei temple, a stunning example of Khmer art, situated an hour away from Siem Reap. This red sandstone temple is one of Angkor’s most significant structures as its walls are decorated with elaborate carvings in an amazing state of preservation. During our return journey to Siem Reap, we will make a stop at the picturesque Ta Prohm temple, famously featured in "Tomb Raider." This temple, almost swallowed by the jungle, presents a uniquely haunting and exotic sight. The awe-inspiring roots of trees intertwining with the massive stone blocks of the temple create a mesmerizing scene that will leave a lasting impression on you. Undisturbed by crowds of tourists you can better appreciate the interplay of man and nature at this magical site. Drive back to the hotel for relaxation, and dinner on your own.

Early wake up in the morning for a transfer to Phnom Krom (13 km south of Siem Reap), we climb up the hill to view the sunrise over the rice paddies and the floating village of Tonle Sap Lake and enjoy the picnic breakfast on the hip of Phnom Krom. After breakfast, take the boat ride visiting the Chong Kneas Floating Village on Tonle Sap Lake and take a boat trip to see the daily life in the village. The natural wonder of Tonle Sap offers an insight into the old tradition of riparian life and the natural splendor of the countryside and is followed by an Artisan D’Angkor workshop. Return to the hotel for relaxation, and lunch on your own.

Around 3 pm, you will be picked up by our guide and a scooter driver. You can also choose a tuk-tuk instead of a scooter. They will take you to Krabei Riel Village, where you can see how the villagers live and work in their vegetable gardens, rice fields, and weaving workshops. You will have many opportunities to take photos and talk to the villagers. Then we get to Mr. Ron’s house and are greeted by his family. We will enjoy the cooking class that will lead by his wife, Mrs. Sina. Our guide will assist in the presentation of his family and also bring you around his vegetable garden before we begin to learn to cook 3 Cambodian dishes with his wife. Enjoy the dinner you prepared, and bid farewell to Mr. Ron and his family. Then, the scooter driver(s) will take you back to your hotel in Siem Reap.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Heading out of Siem Reap to drive to Preah Vihear Temple, 208 km from Siem Reap and it will take us 4 hours to drive. On the way, a quick stop to visit Ta Mok’s house, on a peaceful lakeside site, Ta Mok’s house is a spartan structure with a bunker in the basement, five simple wall murals downstairs (one of Angkor Wat, four of Prasat Preah Vihear) and three more murals upstairs, including an idyllic wildlife scene. The only furnishings that weren’t looted are the floor tiles. Ta Mok was the general commander of Pol Pot and he died in July 2006. Lunch at the local restaurant in Saem, then we visit Preah Vihear temple. You will reach the checkpoint and switch to a 4WD vehicle. It will take you to the hilltop of Phnom Dangrek, where you can see the Preah Vihear temple on the border with Thailand. This temple was built in the early 11th century. It dominates the plain from its prominent position in the Dangrek Mountains at an altitude of over 700m. The temple is located near the Thai border and was previously occupied by the Thais. It has recently been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status. Visit this ancient temple and admire the panoramic views from the top over the two countries of Thailand and Cambodia. Drive down the hill by 4WD again and continue by our vehicle again drive to Koh Ker for dinner and overnight in the campsite at the Koh Ker temple area. Late afternoon, we arrive at Koh Ker, get to one of the local houses where we will get refreshments, take a shower, and have dinner before going overnight at the campsite.

Early picnic breakfast at the campsite.

Driving to visit Koh Ker temples earlier than others, Koh Ker was built in the 10th century and functioned briefly as the Khmer Empire’s capital between 928 and 944 A.D. You will see the unique Koh Ker temple, which looks more like an Egyptian pyramid than a Cambodian temple. Surrounded by trees and birds, this temple is a hidden gem. Next, we will head to the Preah Romkel community on the banks of the Mekong River, near the Laos border. We will have lunch at Preah Vihear Town and then visit the Sopheakmit Waterfall, where the Mekong plunges 21 meters over limestone rocks. One of the biggest waterfalls in the world separates Laos and Cambodia on the Mekong, beautiful and the falls flow over the 26km rock of the river. Dinner and overnight in the local house at Preah Romkel community

Breakfast at the community.

Get ready for the next destination, say goodbye to the community, and embark on the long tail boat to ride across the river to visit the Laos village, learn about the Lao villagers, and taste a glass of Lao coffee before we continue to ride the boat downstream to Koh Han (boat trip to Koh Han that about 2 hours). The Somros Koh Han Community-based Ecotourism (CBET) is located in the Koh Snaeng commune, O Svay district, Stung Treng province. This area has a total of 2,749 residents, including 1,297 women. Somros Koh Han CBET lies on a unique biodiversity-rich landscape in the middle of the Mekong River’s Ramsar site. On arrival, we are welcomed by the local hosts and have lunch. After lunch, our guide will take you through the community and give you a presentation of the Koh Han community in detail, free at your leisure on the island (the guide is available to bring you around and take you swimming in the Mekong River).

After breakfast, we will drive to Stung Treng downtown and visit the Stung Treng Local Market. It is the begging market in northern Cambodia Mekong, all fresh fish are on sale in the open air, and you may not find other fish that are fresher from here. Continue to drive southward to visit the Irrawaddy Dolphins in Prek Kampi. Embark on the local boat, and enjoy the gentle boat ride to the dolphin’s pools where you can spot them easily and closely.

Drive to have lunch in the local restaurant in Kratie downtown before we proceed to Kampong Cham City, arrive at the hotel around 3 pm, check-in, and have refreshments.

At about 4.30 pm, visit the local village in Koh Pen (one of the islands in the Mekong River in Kampong Cham Province). The interesting of Koh Pen is the Bamboo Bridge, the longest bamboo bridge in Cambodia, it is built only in the dry season (lower water period from December to June). Our tour guide will walk you through this bamboo bridge to the island, visit the village, local farms, and Buddhist monastery, and drive back to Kampong Cham town for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel.

We drive to Phnom Penh and get one bathroom stop at the Spider Market after an hour of driving. At the spider market, you will see the ladies selling live tarantulas, and some are deep-fried as crickets, water bugs, grasshoppers, scorpions, and local seasonal fruits. Continue to drive to Phnom Penh, and visit Wat Phnom upon arrival. Wat Phnom, which is the center of Phnom Penh that gives the city its name. At 27 meters above sea level, it is the highest point in the area, and as a town gradually grew up around it, the settlement became known as Phnom Penh, the hill of Penh. It is the zero point of the city. Then continue to visit Wat Ounalom (Buddhist Monastery), this pagoda serves as the headquarters for one of Cambodia’s most revered Buddhist patriarchs. Besides the pagoda, this monastery also has a stupa from the post-Angkorean period.

And continue to visit Central Market, a landmark building in the capital, the art deco Psar Thmei (literally ‘New Market’) is often called the Central Market, a reference to its location and size. The huge domed hall resembles a Babylonian ziggurat and some claim it ranks as one of the 10 largest domes in the world, then our guide will take you through the food hall of this market to taste different types of snacks, drinks, fruits, juices, and food (as your lunch).

Next, we drive to visit the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, two of the most striking buildings in the capital which are considered some of the finest examples of Khmer architecture. The French built them in 1866. The current King Sihamoni lives in the Royal Palace. The Silver Pagoda next to it has a unique feature. Its floor has 5,329 silver tiles that give the building its name.

The farewell dinner at the local restaurant (Malis Restaurant – All drinks on your own)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free until transfer to Phnom Penh International Airport for departure.