The wonders of the Kingdom of Cambodia

Meeting with the guide at Phnom Penh International airport and transfer to the hotel for check-in. Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon we'll visit Wat Phnom and enjoy 1 hour cyclo tour along Mekong River. Afterwards, we will embark on a boat to admire the sunset on the Mekong River.

After breakfast, our tour in Phnom Penh starts, visiting some of the main sights of the city, such as the National Museum, the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda. 

The National Museum of Arts was designed according to the Khmer-style in 1920 by a French architect. The most important artifacts are sculptures from the Angkor ages. Silver Pagoda, also called the Emerald Buddha, formerly a wooden building, was rebuilt in 1962 using most noble materials, such as concrete and marble. Its floor is covered with over 5000 silver tiles each weighing 1 kilo. It is well-known thanks to its 90 kg solid gold Buddha made in 1907 and an emerald Buddha, while the Royal Palace was built in 1866 by the French. Among various buildings within the complex the Throne Hall is recognized as the most important. This Khmer-style building was erected only in 1917. It is used only on special occasions. Attached to the Throne Hall is a tower, 59 meters high.

Note: During the visit of Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, visitors are required to wear proper clothes, covering shoulders and knees as this temple is still considered as a sacred site.

Lunch at local restaurant. Afterwards, we'll continue our city tour, visiting TuolSleng and the Russian Market.

TuolSleng Museum, known as the Museum of Genocide Crimes was used by the Khmer Rouge as a detention and torture centre in the late 1970s. Today the building shows paintings and photographs of several victims. Visitors can see the crude cells built in the classrooms and the torture devices used to extort confessions in Stalinesque purges of the regime. Russian Market (PsahToul Tom Poung) is probably the city's best source of artistic objects. Items for sale include wooden and stone carvings, many ritual gadgets, silverware, and old Indochinese notes and coins.

After breakfast, we'll move to Siem Reap via Kompong Thom. En route we'll stop to admire the Sambor Prei Kuk. It is a complex formed by at least 176 clay brick temples, among which 106 in a ray of 5 km. It was built at the time of King Jayavarman when he successfully united the Khmer mainland (Chenla Kork) und Khmer water territory (Chenla Toek). Its design and style are the foundations that inspired the Angkor civilization, this is why it is interesting to visit the complex before exploring Angkor Wat.

Lunch at local restaurant. Then, we'll reach the hotel in Siem Reap.

Breakfast and visit Angkor National Museum and National Khmer Ceramic Revival centre.

After lunch in alocal restaurant, we'll visit the famous Angkor Wat. It is Cambodia's ancient temple as well as one of the wonders of the oriental world. It is characterized by several polished decorative details that are considered a masterworks, as well as its architectural style. Its awe-inspiring ruins survive as proofs to the spectacular achievements of Southeast Asia's greatest civilization. It represents a copy of the universe according to the Hindu mythology, formed by the Mount Meru, surrounded by the continents and the oceans. Its extraordinary bas-reliefs describe some Khmer epics and myths. 

Note: during the visit of Angkor Wat temple, visitors are required to wear proper clothes, covering shoulders and knees as this temple is still considered as a sacred site. Children under twelve years old are not allowed to climb up this tower.

After breakfast, transfer to Banteay Srey temple. It is the legendary pink temple of women, so called because it is made of pink sandstone and deemed a tribute to the women's beauty. It is characterized by small size, gentle carvings and incredible state of preservation. Its Apsara and male and female divinities represent the most skilled craftsmanship of sand stone carvings. Banteay Srei was dedicate in 987, thus it is one of the oldest temples in the region, though it was not rediscovered until the 1900s.

Note: During the visit of Banteay Srey temple, visitors are required to wear proper clothes, covering shoulders and knees as this temple is still considered as a sacred site.

Before having lunch, we'll visit Banteay Samrè temples, which contain well-preserved bas-reliefs painting scenes of Vishnu and Krishna Legends. Lunch at local restaurant.

Afterwards, we'll visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom and continue to visit Bayon Temple, one of the most majestic and mysterious temples appearing from the jungle as an amazing forest of heads. It is considered an architectural masterpiece. The apparent chaos of its dark rooms and interconnected galleries are adorned with lotus flowers, symbol of enlightenment, and are dominated by 200 gigantic stone faces facing the cardinal points on 51 smaller towers. The facial features are striking and their full lips, curling upwards at the corners, are known as “the smile of Angkor”. The tour continues discovering Baphuon, Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.

After breakfast, we'll visit the temples of Ta Prohm, Preah Khan and Neak Pean.

The first one was built in the mid-12^th to early 13^th century. Ta Phrom is unique, it has been left almost as it was discovered: overgrown by jungle trees and vines and several parts falling to the ground. The suggestive atmosphere wrapped the temple, allows ‘Tomb Raider temple’ to be one of the most picturesque and memorable of the Angkor temples. Preah Khan is a big monastic complex. It originally served as a Buddhist monastery and school, engaging over 1000 monks. Preah Khan was built by Jayavarman VII, it was his temporary residence while Angkor Thom was being built. Like Ta Prohm is a place enclosed by towers and shoulder-hugging corridors. Neak Pean can be described as a square pool with four smaller square pools arranged on each axis. In the center of the large central pool is a circular ”island” encircled by the two naga whose intertwined tails give the temple its name.

Lunch at local restaurant. Then, we'll visit Artisans D’Angkor and local market. Les Artisans d' Angkor make us discover the traditional techniques used for wood sculpting, stone carving, lacquer work, polychrome and stone patina work.

Breakfast. In the late morning, departure to reach Battambang. En route we'll stop to admire the Silk Farm in Pouk and observe the process of working the silk to obtain one of the finest silk worldwide. Lunch at local restaurant. Upon arrival in Battambang, transfer to the hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free. You'll have time to explore the colonial buildings in town and visit local market.

After breakfast, transfer by car to the Bamboo Train station, which was built by the inhabitants to facilitate the transportation of products and persons. The train in itself is very basic, one platform on 4 wheels activated by a small motor. Sitting on the platform you will travel the 8 km to the next station through admiring wonderful landscapes and rice paddies. On arrival, visit the village and discover the daily life in the Cambodian countryside.

Lunch at local restaurant. Afterwards, we'll drive to Phnom Penh and transfer to the hotel for check-in.

Free time at leisure until departure time. Transfer to Phnom Penh international airport, end of services.