Heritage and the lake
Siem Reap - Angkor - Kampong Thom - Phnom Penh
Duration: 7 days
Ref: CCR07J-REPPNH
DAY 1
Siem Reap - Welcome
You will be met at the airport by our private driver. Transfer and free time at your chosen hotel. Overnight in Siem Reap.
DAY 2
Siem Reap - Discover the famous Tonlé Sap Lake
Our temple-specialized guide will greet you at the hotel reception. This morning, you'll depart by private car to discover the magnificent Tonlé Sap Lake, located 20 km from the city center. You'll take a private boat tour to see the unique and fascinating fishing villages of Kampong Pluk. On the way back, enjoy a short rowboat excursion through the flooded forest of Kompong Phluk, home to a vast mangrove forest. On the way back, you'll discover the Rolous group, which includes Prasat Preah Ko, Prasat Lolei, Prasat Bakong, and Prasat Prei Monti. Lunch at your leisure. In the afternoon, you'll continue exploring the city of Siem Reap. A short city tour will take you to discover the Angkor artisans and the Satcha Craft Center, as well as the main market, Psar Chas, a lively area in the evening. Restaurants, massage parlors, and Khmer handicraft shops are all nearby. Free time and overnight stay in Siem Reap
DAY 3
Siem Reap - Angkor Temples (Dinner Show)
Meet your guide at your hotel. In the morning, depart by private car to visit the magnificent Khmer temples on the short circuit: Prasat Kravan, Prasat Banteay Kdei, Prasat Ta Prohm, and Prasat Takéo. If time permits, you can also visit Prasat Thommanon and Prasat Chao Say Tevada. Lunch at your leisure. In the afternoon, continue your visit to the famous Angkor Wat. Then, head to Phnom Bakheng to watch the sunset. In the evening, you will attend an "Apsara" dinner show with your guide at the Amazon Angkor restaurant. Return to the hotel by car! Overnight in Siem Reap
DAY 4
Siem Reap - Discover Angkor Thom
You will meet your guide at the hotel. The day's schedule is packed, but manageable (quick or leisurely!). You can skip the smaller temples if you wish. This can be decided upon with your guide! This morning, explore the temples of Angkor Thom, including: South Gate, Prasat Bayon, Prasat Baphuon, Terrace of the Elephants, the former Royal Palace, Terrace of the Leper King, Prasat Phimeanakas, and Prasat Preah Palilay. Depending on time and your pace, continue your visit to Prasat Preah Khan and Prasat Neak Poan. Lunch at leisure. In the afternoon, head to the Banteay Srei Temple, also known as the Citadel of Women, built in the 11th century. This unique temple, made of fragile pink sandstone, features magnificent carved motifs, representing precious Khmer art and attracting the attention of André Malraux in 1923. Optional visit, depending on time: On the return journey, you will visit Prasat Banteay Samre, which was built in the mid-12th century. It's well worth a visit to this slightly off-the-beaten-path monument, which displays magnificent carvings. Overnight in Siem Reap.
DAY 5
Siem Reap - Phnom Penh via Kampong Thom
Departure without a guide from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, 320 km. After breakfast at the hotel, you'll hit the road towards Phnom Penh. During the journey, you'll make several important stops: 1. Visit an ancient Naga Bridge, also known as Spean Kampong Kdei, one of the largest bridges built during the Angkorian period. It connected the capital of Angkor to other regions. 2. Discover a large pre-Angkorian site, Sambor Prei Kuk, which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017. You can choose not to visit this temple to arrive earlier in Phnom Penh. 3. A final stop in Skun, a village famous for its spiders and their culinary preparations. Feel free to taste and handle them. Arrival in Phnom Penh in the late afternoon. Overnight in Phnom Penh.
DAY 6
Phnom Penh (Lunch on the Mekong)
Meet our English-speaking guide at the hotel. This morning, discover the Royal Palace, originally located in Oudong and moved to Phnom Penh in 1863. Next, visit the Silver Pagoda, famous for its more than 5,000 silver tiles and its emerald Buddha statue encrusted with 2,000 diamonds, including one of 25 carats. This statue represents the future Buddha, Maitreya, in 90 kg of gold. Continue with a stroll through the Central Market, renovated thanks to a donation from France. This magnificent art deco building was built by the French in the 1950s. Around noon, we invite you to enjoy lunch at a restaurant on the banks of the Mekong River to refresh yourself before resuming your tours. Continue with the National Museum, formerly the Albert Sarraut Museum, where Khmer objects, statues, and works of art from all over Cambodia are exhibited. Nearby, visit the Ounalom Pagoda, built in 1443, the most important in Phnom Penh. Finish with a visit to Wat Phnom, a pagoda built on a 27-meter-high hill and renovated in 1926. At the foot of the hill, a bas-relief sculpted by Théodore Rivière honors the Franco-Siamese treaty. In the evening, enjoy a short cruise on a private boat along the quays, passing by the confluence of the Mekong River. Depending on the season, weather, and time of day, you can enjoy a beautiful sunset over the Royal Palace and the capital. Overnight in Phnom Penh
DAY 7
Phnom Penh - Koh Dach (Silk Island) - Genocide Museum
Accompanied by your English-speaking guide, embark on a local ferry crossing the Mekong River to Silk Island, known in Khmer as Koh Dach. Immerse yourself in the peaceful atmosphere of this traditional village where you can watch artisans weave magnificent silk fabrics, visit stilt houses, and learn about the daily lives of the locals. Lunch at your leisure. Back in Phnom Penh, explore the bustling Russian Market, a true paradise for lovers of souvenirs and local crafts. Then, delve into Cambodia's tragic history with a visit to the S-21 Genocide Museum, a former high school converted into a detention and torture center during the Khmer Rouge regime. Transfer to the airport according to your flight schedule. End of the trip.