Day 1: Phnom Penh- Arrival (D)
Arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport in the morning and warm welcome by tour guide. Phnom Penh sightseeing tour: Orientation of the city of Phnom Penh , full of charm , historical capital with wide avenues and beautiful gardens through the Monument of Independence of Angkorian style adorned by beautiful gardens tower to symbolize the day Cambodia achieved independence from French in November 1953 and Wat Phnom built on a small artificial hill topped by a magnificent pagoda monastery for housing sacred relics and a huge stupa of the former king Ponhea Yat founder of the Phnom Penh capital.
You will visit the colonial district that has preserved its many houses of French style , passing the national library, the Municipality of Phnom Penh, Calmette Hospital, the Embassy of France and Chhruoy Changva bridge over the Tonle Sap and the great post.
Visit the Royal Palace built in 1866 by King Norodom consisting of different structures grouped in an enclosure with a remarkable architecture of Khmer art, the Silver Pagoda which tile is made of silver (or pagoda emerald ) located inside the Royal Palace brings together masterpieces by such a large gold Buddha weighing 90kg solid gold and encrusted with diamonds 9584, an emerald Buddha and baccarat crystal.
The afternoon , visit the National Museum stunning example of Khmer architecture which was officially inaugurated in 1920 in which are exhibited artworks and sculptures relating to different periods of the history of art Khmer. Overnight.
Day 2 : Phnom Penh – Battambang (B/L/D)
Full day excursion of 291 km to Battambang province located in the north -west, known for its natural resources and its soil. Several visits are planned along the way: first at workshops of artisans village bordering the Tonle Sap whose inhabitants specialize in silver work and copper which are the ornaments shaped objects used during traditional ceremonies at the pagoda or for marriages, then the Kompong Chhnang city, one of the largest fishing ports on the Tonle Sap. It also raising fish. The area is particularly famous for its archaic pottery supply the entire country and palm sugar that abound this area producing sugar and palm wine Visit the floating villages and the famous villages with particulary archaic pottery at the foot of the mountain, visit the hereditary work by hand from clay.
Continue to Pursat, enjoy the opportunity to see at how to do khmer fresh noodle from rice paste and visit marble carving workshop well known in the country.
Arrival in Battambang. Installation at the hotel.
Day 3 : Visit Battambang (B/L/D)
Tour of Battambang: Orientation of the city rejoicing to the house of the governor of the province, the courthouse and the market keeping the French architecture. Then passing through the Vietnamese and Cham villages to Wat Samrong Khnong and the fabric of glutinous rice cake cooked in bamboo tubes , crossing the bridge, visit market ”Phsar prahoc” ( prahoc is a traditional Khmer food, “then the market Daun Teav with old jute bag factory, now converted into a rice factory.
Continuation by bus across the road straight through beautiful villages to Ek Phnom temple of 11th century. On your return, visit the manufacture of rice pancakes. In the afternoon, visit a very old traditional house over a century in the village of Wat Kor, then follow the road to Banon temple 11th century perched on a hill that you will join a long staircase over 300 steps . On the way back, you will see at Wat Bay Damram the big big bat – hanging from the branches of trees. Then drive to the train station bamboo, a means of creative transport villagers. You will have the opportunity to make a unique experience on a short drive 6km to contemplate the landscape of rice fields and countryside at sunset to the brick factory at the terminus.
Overnight in Battambang.
Day.4: Battambang–Siem Reap(cruise July-January) (B/L/D)
Transfer to the port and boarding in a traditional wooden boat, down the Sangke river to the great lake of Tonle Sap, human activities gradually evolving world of agriculture to the fisheries sector, a way of life on earth and lake. You will be delighted by the diversity and density of the lifestyles of fishing techniques and human habitat, but also by the picturesque scenes of daily life on land and on water. You arrive at the floating village of Bak Prea, a village consisting of a mixture of floating houses and houses on stilts. You could see various family fishing gear. The navigation continues until Wat Chheu Khmao ( Pagoda black wood) located on high ground in a mysterious architecture that your guide will introduce its history. Boxed lunch will be served on board. Suddenly the river Sangke opens and you are in a vast inland sea. You will stop at Prek Toal village, there you find floating houses, pagoda and floating schools. You will visit the handicraft water hyacinth created by one French NGO. Then, after crossing the Great Lake Tonle Sap, you will reach the village of Chong Khneas in Siem Reap and have a good time on the floating objects souvenir shop, breeding crocodiles, fish, snakes.
Transfer to your hotel . Dinner and overnight .
Day.5: Visit Siam Reap (B/L/D)
Discover the Rolous Group temples, it is a collection of monuments representing the remains of Hariharalya, the first major capital of the Angkorian era Khmer Empire: Lolei, Preah Ko & Bakong temple.
Continuation to visit the Grand Circuit: Preah Khan temple dedicated to JayavarmanVII’s father, Neak Pean, which means ‘coiled serpents’, from the encoiled nagas that encircled the temple, Ta Som, is the most distant temple on the grand circuit. Even it is small but classic Jayavarman VII temple, East Mebon, it is architecturally and artistically superior temple-mountain and beautifully carved false doors on upper level as well as an excellent view of the surrounding countryside and Pre Rup, traditionally believed to be a funerary temple, but in fact the state temple of Rajendravarman II at sunset. Overnight.
Day.6 : Visit Siem Reap (B/L/D)
This morning, you will experience the wind-swept transfers particularly by Tuk Tuk (motor-cycles), 2 people per Tuk-Tuk, enjoy an exciting morning in the ancient Angkor environment and the most popular transfer locally of Cambodia. Visit Angkor Thom temples, starting from the South Gate, the famous Bayon Temple – built by Jayavarman VI at the end of the 12th, in the exact center of the city of Angkor Thom, Baphuon, Phimean Akas, Elephants and Leper King Terraces.
In the afternoon, visit Angkor Wat, one of the seven greatest architectural wonders of the world, as a temple and mausoleum for King Suryavarman II at the peak of the Khmer empire in the first half of 12th. Angkor Wat is probably the best-preserved of the Angkorean temples, with a central tower surrounded by four smaller towers.
Finally, in the late afternoon, coming to the Phnom Bakheng temple, the first temple in Angkor region build by the Yacovarman I King in the first of 9th century, located on a slope gently hill where thousands tourist are grouping on the hill top to catch a memorable time of life when viewing the marvelous sunset.
Return by car to hotel .Overnight.
Day.7 : Visit Siem Reap (B/L/D)
Excursion to Kbal Spean or Thousand lingas river located around 40 km. After traveling by car, you walk 30mn more trough the forest to get the river that contribute to the irrigation of Angkor The bed of the river is lavishly sculpted. Numerous lingas lay there, caressed by the crystal clear water. Bas-reliefs depict scenes from the Brahman pantheon such as Vishnu lying or Brahman born out of a lotus. After climbing down, on way stop at Banteay Srey temple built under Jayavarman V, as the jewel in the crown of classical Khmer arts. Its rose-colored sandstone walls are decorated with carvings and bas-reliefs, which are among the most accomplished Angkor has to offer and Banteay Samre, then visit Sras Srang and visit the famous Ta Phrom Temple – a monastery built by Jayavarman VII as a residence for his mother. Ta Prohm has been controversially left to the destructive power of the jungle by French archeologists to show how nature can destroy man’s work. It has been largely overgrown by the jungle and as you climb through the dilapidated stone structures you see many giant trees growing out of the top of the temple itself. Overnight at your hotel.
Day. 8 : Siem Reap ( B ) : One free day in Siem Reap.
Day. 9 : Siem Reap – Return ( B )
Transfert to Siem Reap airport for your flight .
This tour is an example of our numerous packages around Cambodia. If you need more information on other programs and destinations, please contact us. We’ll do our best to suit your needs.
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