Cambodia Highlights

Start your morning temple exploration at Ta Prohm, the most illustrious of the Small Circuit Temples. Ta Prohm is best at 7:30 am, just as the temple opens. Built in the mid-12th to early 13th centuries, Ta Prohm is unique in that it is overgrown by jungle. With many parts crumbling to the ground, it is one of the most picturesque Angkor temples. Alternatively, depending on the season and the crowds, you may wish to visit the Preah Khan temple. Built by the same king in a similar style, this larger temple complex has largely been buried in ruins and is known to very few visitors, making it a more intimate experience even in the high season.

Next, visit the ancient city of Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. This city is surrounded by an 8-meter-high wall, drawing a perfect square. Enter the city through an ancient gate carved with three-headed elephants and capped with four giant faces of the Buddha. On each side of the causeway over the moat leading to the entrance, a row of 54 gods and demons stand holding a sacred Naga snake. From here, continue to Bayon Temple, the heart of the Angkor Thom Complex. It is a massive temple, built in the 12th century, and played an important role in the Khmer's spiritual life. One of the most curious things at Bayon Temple is the almost 200 smiling faces carved into the walls. Some of the carving details on the temple have been damaged by time and climate. However, the soul of this ancient Khmer architecture remains.

The afternoon tour gives you time to explore Angkor Wat, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The temple architecture is modeled after the great Meru Mountain of India. The highest central tower is 65m, representing the legendary Mount Meru, and its five towers correspond to the peaks of Meru. The entire structure is built from sandstone and honeycomb. The magic is that the giant stone blocks are stacked on top of each other without any binders or reinforced concrete. Arrive just before sunset, when Angkor Wat is less visited, and the Apsaras will shine in the most beautiful light. After touring, you get dropped off at your hotel. Stay overnight in Siem Reap.

Enjoying a delicious breakfast with a cup of coffee is the best way to start a new day. This morning, you will have the opportunity to leave the center of Siem Reap and go to the countryside to discover the beauty of a less-known floating village on Tonle Lake. Kampong Khleang floating village is 55km from Siem Reap. With 10,000 people, this is currently the largest floating village in the area. After the main highway, you turn onto the winding dirt road. Stop for the hot sticky rice, and observe the local farmers working on their rice paddies. Upon arrival, you use a motor boat to explore Kampong Khleang, along with two other floating villages and the great lake. Life on the lake is not pleasant and is always affected by harsh weather conditions. In the rainy season, the lake surface area usually expands six times while the depth increases nine times. That is why most houses have high floors and float on the lake in the rainy season. In the dry season, towering stilts are revealed, like wooden skyscrapers. During the boat ride, you will make stops to see where Bridge of Life works, visit a stilted home and see a Cambodian pagoda to learn more about local life. Your tour guide is happy to show you a small floating village known as the natural flood barrier in the area. You ride back to the harbor, see your driver, and return downtown for lunch. In the afternoon, take a one-hour flight to Phnom Penh Capital. Stay overnight in Phnom Penh.

This morning, gain insight into Cambodia’s recent dark history on a visit to the remarkable Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, housed in the former school that was taken over by the Khmer Rouge and used as its main detention and torture center, named "S-21." Also, visit the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. A moving but important visit that will allow you to dig below the surface and understand Cambodia better. After learning about some of Cambodia’s tragic past, it is time to put a smile back on your face and experience modern Khmer life. Return to central Phnom Penh for lunch at Le Lotus Blanc, a training restaurant for the humanitarian organization Pour un Sourire d’Enfant (for the smile of a child) that provides education and job training to street children that used to be scavenging the municipal dump, and gives them skills and hope for a brighter future. Your visit helps support the training of these kids by being their guests. (Note: Lotus Blanc closes on Sunday.)

In the afternoon, head to Wat Phnom temple, the founding place of the city on a small hilltop. Then continue along the riverfront to the Royal Palace. This palace dates back to 1866 and houses the Silver Pagoda, named for the over 5000 heavy silver tiles that cover its floors. Its original name is Wat Prakeo, meaning the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. In this temple, you will see a collection of Buddhas in gold, silver, crystal, and bronze. Your next stop is the National Museum, built in the traditional Khmer style. It houses the world's foremost collection of ancient Khmer artistic, archaeological, and religious artifacts from the 4th to the 13th centuries. Over 5,000 pieces are on display, constituting the repository of the Kingdom's cultural wealth. In addition, the roof space is home to a large bat colony!

In the late afternoon, enjoy an atmospheric sunset river cruise and watch how Phnom Penh’s popular riverfront comes to life in the early evening, with a coconut juice degustation on board. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Today is at your leisure. Breakfast is still included, and check-out is at mid-day. Depending on your departure time a private driver will pick you up from the hotel (3 hours before your flight departure time) and transfer you back to the airport for your departure flight.