Mystic Angkor and tropical sea

Arrival in Siem Reap airport and meeting with the guide. Transfer to the city center and check-in in hotel.

The day will be free at leisure to relax or discover the city.

Dinner and Apsara dance show at a local restaurant.

For those who love to discover the cultural sites, it is important to note that no visit in Cambodia is perfect without enjoying a traditional Khmer dance show, often called “Apsara Dance”. Khmer traditional dance is better described as “theatre-dance” because the dance’s aim is to communicate a message.

In the early morining wake up, breakfast and visit to Ta Prohm, a wonderful temple, famous for the "Tomb Raider" movie.

Ta Prohm has been abandoned to the elements and then 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.

Afterward, visit to the small but beautiful temple of Banteay Srey, reachable through the rural landscape.The particular charm of the temple is its compact dimension, its conservation and its decorative structures. Banteay Samre boasts pink sandstone walls decorated with extraordinary sculptures and bas-reliefs. This is the perfect moment to take amazing pictures of breath-taking landscapes.

During the route to come back we will stop to visit the Mine Museum belonging to Mr Aki Ra, who is dedicated to mine clearance from the Cambodian countrysides, its project is entirely financed by tourists' donations.

In the afternoon we will go back to Angkor Park to visit Tasom. Tasom offers some beautiful glimpses for amazing pictures, of particular beauty is the posterior gateway, where the trees' roots decorate the entrance.

After breakfast, we will visit the interesting World Heritage areas, through rural streets.

It’s a very special and exciting day as you will explore some of Angkor’s most beautiful temples. You will visit the West Gate of Angkor Thom. Afterwards, we wil visit the ancient capital of Angkor Thom, dating back to the 12th century, the South Gate, Bayon Temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, Baphuon temple lying just to the north of Bayon a pyramidal representation of mythical Mont Meru, the Royal Enclosure and finally the Elephant terrace and the Leper King Terrace.

We will visit Kilt, that is the only project in Siem Reap that seeks to afford disabled Khmers who are in most instances landmine victims opportunities to become independent by their own efforts by making jewellery, growing organic vegetables, hand milling rice, playing music, and other activities.

We continue to the famous temple: Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat is a World Heritage Site since 1992, famous for its beauty and splendor. Angkor Wat features the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which runs along the outer gallery walls and narrates stories from Hindu mythology.

We will travel to the West in order to reach Beng Melea.

Peuong Komnu is located at the foot of the cliff, south to Phnom Kulen, and 40 km to the east of Angkor, on the road for the amazing Preah Khan. It is the starting point of the channel that brings to the big lake, “Tonle Sap Lake”. It was probably used in the past in order to transport sandstones’ blocks from the caves to the valleys used to build Angkor’s monuments.

Our trekking starts from the bamboo forest, in Peuong Komnu village, to the south it is possible to admire several Angkor’s reliefs precious for their quality and conservation state. During this visit, it is possible to discover the touristic sites in Angkor.

We will go back to Siem Reap in the afternoon, enroute stop to Beng Mealea, a unique temple dating back to the11^th century, which might rival the Angkor Wat in size. The main temple is located over 108 hectares and is surrounded by a trench 45 meters wide. Even if it was built in the same year as Angkor’s temples, its decorations have a very different style. The jungle gives it a sense of mystery.

Take a drink at sunset on board of a boat on the water of Angkor Thom's moat, in order to discover the hidden details of the ancient hydric system of Khmer. The singing of birds will accompany us.

After breakfast, transfer to Phnom Penh.

The tour continues to Kompong Khleang, a large floating village near Siem Reap. It's still unknown to massive tourism. Chong Kneas is the biggest floating village in Cambodia and it does not receive many tourists.

During the dry season, from January to July, it is possible to stroll over the houses’ piles, 10 m high. During the rainy season, when the lake is full, the water floods the houses for one or two meters. A local family will bring you around by boat in order to discover the beauty of these houses. Stroll in the little village to explore the school and the pagoda that will offer beautiful glimpses for pictures.

Photographic break in Kompong Kdei, to the Spean Pratos, an ancient Angkor bridge.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Visit to the Royal Palace, a compound built in 1866 by the Predecessors of King Norodom: it's the most conspicuous feature and also one of impressive colourful Khmer-style Palaces. Near the Royal Palace is Silver Pagoda (The Emerald Buddha temple), displaying plenty of Buddha Statues that were decorated and made of diamond, emerald, gold and silver. Continuing visit to National Museum, the distinctive red building with a beautiful Khmer architecture,  built in 1917 and containing more than 5,000 art objects made of sandstone, bronze, silver, copper and wood. Afterwards, the tour will proceed to visit Independence Monument, which was constructed in 1954 after the Cambodians took their country back from the French.

The afternoon will be dedicated to the visit of Tuol Sleng prison (Genocide Museum) that was the most secret organ of the Khmer Rouge regime. Finally, shopping at the Toul Tom Pong Market, the Russian Market in Cambodia.

Lunch at "Le Lotus Blanc" restaurant.

Cycle tour in the evening in order to visit the city. This relaxing tour will let us to discover a different prospective of this city, streets and monuments. Starting from Wat Phnom, the symbol of Phnom Penh, we will go until the National Library and Le Royal Hotel, passing through the French railway station before reaching Psar Thmei and the charming riverfront.

During the cruise at the sunset on the Mekong and Tonle Sap River (1 hour) it will be possible to take amazing and picturesque pictures. The city of Phnom Penh provides a perfect location to discover the majestic Mekong on board of a well-restored wooden boat during an entire day, in order to enjoy the uncontaminated landscapes along the river and the view of the traditional villages with their ancient pagodas on the islands.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.

After breakfast, transfer to Sihanouk Ville, without guide, where it is possible to enjoy a beach holiday.

Arrival in Sihanouk Ville in order to take a fast boat to Koh Rong Saloem. Once arrived in the port of Koh Rong Saleom, we will walk to reach the hotel (200m).

Overnight in Koh Rong Saleom.

Free time at leisure.

Leave the island and come back to Sihanouk Ville, then transfer to Phnom Penh (transfer without guide).

Afterwards, we will reach the airport.

The room is available till 12:00. See you next time in Cambodia!!