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Daily
departure from Siem Reap with English or French speaking guide
ITINERARY:
DAY 1 WED : Siem Reap – Arrival (L,D)
Arrive at Siem Reap International Airport and transfer to the hotel
(rooms may not ready until the afternoon)
Visit the Roluos Group. The monuments of Roluos, which served as the
capital of Indravarman I (reigned 877-89), are among the earliest
large, permanent temples built by the Khmers and mark the beginning
of Khmer classical art. Preah Ko erected by Indravarman I in the
late 9th century dedicated by the King to his ancestors in 880.
Bakong the largest and most interesting of the Roluos group temples,
with his active Buddhist monastery just to the north of the east
entrance. Lolei built on an islet in the center of a large reservoir
(now rice fields) by Yasovarman I, the founder to the first city at
Angkor. Lunch at hotel.
In the afternoon, continue your temple tour. See the unique
interior brick sculptures Prasat Kravan, the Srah Srang reservoir
(known as "The Royal Baths" was once used for ritual bathing),
Banteay Kdei (surrounded by 4 concentric walls), Eastern Mebon
(guarded at its corner by stone figures of harnessed elephants, some
of which are still in a reasonable state of preservation) and the
mountain-temple of Pre Rup until sunset. Dinner at local restaurant
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 2 THU Siem Reap (B,L,D)
Breakfast at hotel.
In the morning, 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.
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), the Royal Enclosure,
Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper
King. Sunset at Angkor Wat. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 3 FRI: Siem Reap (B,L,D)
Morning,
transfer to Banteay Srei temple (10th c), regarded as the jewel in
the crown of Classical Khmer Art. Continue to 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.
Lunch at hotel. In the afternoon, you continue your temple visits to
Preah Khan. Built by the King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta
Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder hugging corridors.
Unlike Ta Prohm, however, the temple of Prea Khan is in a reasonable
state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should
maintain and even improve this situation. Neak Pean, a fountain
built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal
Himalayan mountain-lake), Ta Som and Banteay Samre, built in the
third quarter of the 12th century. It consists of a central temple
with four wings preceded by a hall and accompanied by two libraries,
the southern example remarkably well preserved. Two concentric walls
enclose the ensemble. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 4 SAT: Siem Reap – Departure (B,L)
Breakfast at hotel.
Visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers
south of Siem Reap. Visit the village 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.
Lunch at hotel. Visit to “Les Artisans d’Angkor - Chantiers Ecoles”
of Siem Reap and time at leisure at a local market (if time
permits).
Transfer to Siem Reap International Airport for departure flight to
the next destination. Visit to the Dance school of Aspeca where you
can watch young children learn the ancient traditional Khmer dances.
OR
The Silk Farm of Puok. Learn the different stages of the complex
process of producing handmade silk. Then continue to Wat Inkosei
built on the site of an ancient temple, which still remains and to
Wat Bo pagoda to view its well-preserved paintings. You will also
observe monks making the various moldings, which adorn the pagodas.
SET
DEPARTURE DATES:
Trip includes
transfers and tours with local English or
French speaking guides.1 FOC based on 15 paying pax minimum.
Accommodation in shared twin rooms at indicated hotels or similar, meals
as specified in the program (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner), entrance
fees, service charges, room tax and baggage handling.
Trip excludes:
International airfare; airport taxes, Visa, meals not indicated,
personal expenses Christmas and New Year's Eve Dinners.
HOTEL
DETAILS
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Juliana Hotel
(Superior Class) |
16 Juliana, 152 Road, (Near Baktook
School)
P.O Box 2154, Phnom Penh
Tel./Fax (855-23) 880 530-31 / 885 750-51 / 882 373 |
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Day Inn Angkor & Resort
(Superior Class) |
Oun Khun Street, Mondul 1, Svay
Dangkom Slem Province
Siem Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia
Tel: (855
63) 760 502 Fax: (855 63) 760 503 |
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Sunway Hotel
(First Class) |
No. 1, St. 92, Sangkat Wat Phnom
P.O. Box 633
Phnom Penh 12202
Tel. (855-23) 430 33 Fax. (855-23) 430 339 |
|
Angkor Century Resort & Spa (First
Class) |
Komay Road - Khum Svay Dangkom, Siem
Reap,
Kingdom of Cambodia
Tel. (855-63) 963 777 Fax. (855-63) 963 123 |
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Raffles Hotel Le Royal
(Deluxe Class) |
92, Rukhak Vithei Daun Penh, Sangkat
Wat Phnom, Phnom Penh Tel. (855-23) 981 888 Fax. (855-23) 981
168 |
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Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor (Deluxe
Class) |
Vithei Charles de Gaulle, Khum Svay
Daun Kum,
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Tel. (855-63) 963 888 Fax. (855-63) 963 168 |
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