Angkor Unforgettable

Siem Reap is a sleepy backwater that serves as the gateway to Angkor, the ancient Khmer capital. It is hard to believe that at its peak in the 12th century this was one of the most advanced civilisations in the world, home to more than a million inhabitants. This three-day private tour of Cambodia covers Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, the Bayon and a boat ride on the Tonle Sap, and suits travellers wanting the great temples in a short trip.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Arrival And An Orientation Walk

The local guide meets you at Siem Reap International Airport and transfers you to your hotel; early check-in is not included and is subject to the hotel's availability. The orientation tour starts at Preah Ang Check Preah Ang Chom, the biggest local shrine in the city centre, where locals throng to pray for luck amid swirling incense smoke. You then walk along the Siem Reap riverside to Wat Preah Prom Rath, a functioning Buddhist monastery with a Khmer-style pagoda, a statue courtyard and hand-painted walls around a seated and a reclining Buddha. Late afternoon you walk through the street food hall where locals gather after work, tasting snacks and fruit before dinner at a local restaurant with a Khmer classic live band.

Angkor Wat And Ta Prohm

The second morning begins at Angkor Wat, one of the modern wonders of the world. Your guide explains how the Khmer Empire prospered between the 9th and 13th centuries, around the time the temple was built. You stroll through intricately carved hallways showing hundreds of fine carvings, past small shrines still in use today by local people. Next is the picturesque Ta Prohm, overgrown with fig trees whose roots have merged over the centuries with the temple's huge stone blocks, giving a haunting forgotten city feeling. You return to the hotel before lunch at a local restaurant.

Angkor Thom And Sunset Over The West Baray

After lunch comes Angkor Thom, the ancient royal city of the Khmer Empire, with the Bayon temple as its centrepiece. As you approach, the enigmatic faces of former King Jayavarman VII look out in every direction. Your guide takes you to the Terrace of the Elephants, the platform from which the King welcomed back his victorious army, and the Terrace of the Leper King, whose carvings wind along a narrow passageway to the Baphuon complex. You then drive to the West Baray for the nicest spot to watch sunset over this manmade lake, with snacks and local beers. It pairs well with our three-day Phnom Penh stopover.

Tonle Sap Lake And Departure

The final morning drives about twenty minutes into the countryside, stopping to visit a local village. At the quay you board a local boat for a 1.5-hour ride on the Tonle Sap, the Great Lake of Cambodia, at the Kong Kneas floating village. You find out how communities live and work on the lake, passing floating schools, markets and police stations. You drive back to Siem Reap for check-out, lunch and a visit to the old market and the artisans in Dángkor before the transfer to the airport. With more time, our six-day Cambodia Classic itinerary covers more ground.

GOOD TO KNOW

This is a private tour with an English-speaking guide, including all land tours and transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle, mineral water, entrance fees as per the itinerary, the boat ride and two nights' hotel accommodation on a twin-sharing basis. Meals are only those listed: dinner on day one, then breakfast and lunch on days two and three; meals not mentioned in the itinerary are by your own account, as are personal expenses and flights. A Cambodian visa is not included, so see our visa assistance page. Like our other holiday packages, it is quoted on request.