Siem Reap’s Treasures to Phnom Penh’s Secrets

Arrive Siem Reap, Siem Reap – Treasures of the Kingdom of Cambodia, special welcome all warmly to everybody, a moment of courtesy meeting then self-introduces with our Cambodian tour guide in the meeting point's Siem Reap. Overnight in Siem Reap.

After breakfast, we'll go to Preah Khan Temple, a historic site near Angkor Thom. Then we'll visit Neak Poan, a small temple on an island. Later, we'll explore Tasom, a picturesque spot with tree roots decorating the entrance. We'll also learn about Cambodia's history at the Akira Landmine Museum. Afterward, we'll travel to Banteay Srei, a beautiful temple made of pink sandstone and known for its intricate carvings. On the way back, we'll stop at Pradark Village, where locals make palm sugar and crafts. Don't miss Banteay Samre, with its detailed carvings. We'll stay overnight in Siem Reap.

We wake up really early to see the sunrise at Angkor Wat, a famous temple. It can be busy, especially from December to March. After the sunrise, we explore Angkor Wat, taking lots of pictures from different angles. Then we visit Ta Prohm, a temple famous from the "Tomb Raider" movie. Nature is slowly taking over this ancient place, with tree roots covering the stones. Later, during the Golden Hour, we see the impressive Bayon temple with its many towers and faces. Our day ends at one of Angkor Thom's gates, capturing the sunset over the water. We stay overnight in Siem Reap.

We go on a boat ride on the Tonlé Sap Lake, the biggest lake in Southeast Asia. There's a floating village on the lake, with houses, schools, and even a police station floating on the water. We'll visit a local pagoda where you'll experience a ceremony called "SrouchTeok," where a monk will sprinkle water over you, cleansing you from bad luck. Then, we'll visit ancient temples like Lolei, Preah Ko, and Bakong. These temples are part of the Rolous group and are some of the oldest sites from the Angkor Period, dating back to the 9th century. We stay overnight in Siem Reap.

We leave Siem Reap and go north to a mountainous area near Anlong Veng, the last Khmer Rouge outpost. Here, we visit the home of former military leader Ta Mok. Anlong Veng was the last stronghold of the Khmer Rouge, which surrendered to the government forces in the late 1990s. We drive up the hill in a 4x4 vehicle to see a stunning Khmer temple called Preah Vihear. This temple, listed as a World Heritage Site, sits on a peak overlooking Cambodia and was a site of recent conflicts between Cambodia and Thailand. We climb to the top of Preah Vihear along a winding road, exploring the temple on foot. The temple is perched on a cliff in the Dangrek Mountains, high above the Cambodian lowlands. We spend the night at Preah Vihear.

We leave the historical and temple areas and head to the scenic Mekong regions. We take a boat trip to explore the beautiful Mekong, especially the part from the Laos border to Stung Treng. This area, accessible only by boat, is a haven for rare animals and birds. It features a unique flooded forest, perfect for photographers. We stay overnight in Stung Treng

We travel from Stung Treng to Phnom Penh. Along the way, we stop at Kampi, a spot where rare river dolphins gather. We take a local boat on the Mekong to see these gentle creatures. Continuing our journey, we reach Kampong Cham, a lively city. Here, we visit a bamboo bridge connecting the mainland to Koh Pen Island. During the dry season (Jan-May), we can walk on this bridge. On our way, we can stop at Skuon to try deep-fried tarantula, a local delicacy. We stay overnight in Phnom Penh.

After breakfast, we meet our guide and hop on Cyclo, a unique local transport in Phnom Penh. We first visit Wat Phnom, a tall Buddhist temple in the city center. Next, we explore the Royal Palace, a colorful Khmer-style building constructed in 1866. Nearby is the Silver Pagoda, filled with precious Buddha statues made of diamond, emerald, gold, and silver. We also visit the National Museum, a red building housing over 5000 art objects made of various materials. Our tour includes Independence Monument and a stop at Central Market, a vibrant place built in 1937. Later, we enjoy a 1-hour cruise on the Mekong and Tonle Sap Rivers to view the sunset. We stay overnight in Phnom Penh.

Transfer to Phnom Penh airport (no guide) 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.