Day 1: Arrive – Phnom Penh, Sour Sdey “Hello” Cambodia (-/-/-)
Upon arrival at Phnom Penh Int’s Airport, process immigration procedure (visa on arrival is available or obtain in advance via www.evisa.gov.kh), then get your luggage and walk straight to the Exit Gate where our guide is waiting. After self-introduced, you’ll transfer to city.
Visit to the Royal Palace compound build in 1866 by the Predecessors of King Norodom, is the most conspicuous feature and one of impressive colorful Khmer-style Palaces. Nearside the Royal Palace is Silver Pagoda (The Emerald Buddha temple), display plenty of Buddha Statues that were decorated and made by diamond, emerald, gold and silver. Continue to National Museum, the distinctive red building with a beautiful Khmer architecture was built since 1917 and contains more than 5000 art objects made of sandstone, bronze, silver, copper, wood, and others. Travelers will proceed to visit Independence Monument, which was constructed in 1954 after Cambodian took their country back from French colony.
Next, we head to visit Wat Phnom “Mountain Pagoda” is a Buddhist temple that symbolizes the name of Phnom Penh, located on the hill. According to legend, the first pagoda on this site was erected in 1372 to house four statues of Buddha deposited here by the waters of the Mekong River and discovered by Lady Penh. Wat Phnom is the most popular place for local people come to play healthy spot or praying for their good luck as well as admire the sundown. Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Day 2: Phnom Penh – Siem Reap (B/-/D)
After breakfast, transfers (no guide) to Phnom Penh airport for flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival at Siem Reap airport, meet our guide and transfer to hotel for check in.
After meeting, we depart to Tonle Sap Lake. We will visit the floating village of Kampong Phluk, which means “Port of Tusks”, located 20 km east of Siem Reap. It is a village built on stilts on the Tonlé Sap. The community largely depends on fishing for a living, spending Cambodia’s rainy season (June-October) fishing. During the dry season (November-April), when the waters of the lake go down, many of them work in agriculture to supplement their income. The excursion will take you to explore the floating village and allow you to see how people live and trade. We go to local pagoda, where you should change to clothes, we can get wet in as here we will experience the ceremony “Srouch Teok”, which roughly translates into “Water blessing”. A monk will chant in ancient Pali as he splashes water over us, washing away our sins and bad luck so we can start fresh and by being a good person can increase our good luck.
Return in town, we will go to visit Satcha Artisans and wood carving, lacquer ware, polychrome products, silver plating and silk paintings. In there, we can take a tour through the workshops and watch students as they learn how to create silk fabrics and garments, stone.
Dinner with Apsara Dance show at local restaurant.
For those travelers thirsting for cultural highlights of Cambodia, no visit to Cambodia is complete without attending at least one traditional Khmer dance performance, often referred to as ‘Apsara Dance’ after one of the most popular Classical dance pieces. Traditional Khmer dance better described as ‘dance-drama’ in that the dances are not merely dance but also meant to convey a story or message.Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 3: Angkor Highlight (B/L/-)
We start very early in the morning so we can capture the iconic picture of the pre-dawn facing Angkor Wat temple. Sunrise at Angkor Wat can be a busy venue especially during the months of December, January, February, and March.
After sunrise, we will explore the vast and rich of Angkor Wat temple, taking pictures at different angles, playing with light and shadows, and capturing the most beautiful devatas carved in sandstone.
Next destination will be the Ta Prohm “Tomb Raider” fame. Ta Prohm has been abandoned to the elements, a reminder that while empires rise and fall, the riotous power of nature marches on, oblivious to the dramas of human history. Left as it was ‘discovered’ by French explorer Henri Mouhout in 1860, the tentacle-like tree roots here are slowly strangling the surviving stones, man first conquering nature to create, nature later conquering man to destroy.
Next, will be the impressive Bayon temple with its 54 towers and 216 faces overlooking the defunct city of Angkor Thom. The final stop will be at one of gate of Angkor Thom to capture sunset over the moat. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 4: Siem Reap – Departure (B/L)
Drive to the rural outskirt 35km from Angkor area to visit the smallest, but magnificent, Banteay Srei built in the 10th Century and dedicated to Shiva. The temple was the birthplace of Khmer classical style architecture, and the bas-relief work is the best example of Khmer classical art remaining.
The pink sandstone structure bears a series of striking and beautiful sculptures, lintels, pediments, and friezes. Khmers say the temple must have been carved by women for the details are too fine for the hands of a man. On the way back stop at Pradark Village, where you will see the villagers making palm sugar, handicraft for selling to tourist. It’s a nice chance for you to see the local people living at the countryside with their struggling for daily life.
Not to be missed is Banteay Samre: Its rose-colored sandstone walls are decorated with carvings and bas-reliefs, which are among the most accomplished Angkor has to offer.
Transfer to Siem Reap airport for departure to next destination. It’s time to say goodbye, we thank you for traveling with us and warmly welcome you to come again.
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