Compact Cambodia - 8 nts

Compact Cambodia - 8 nts Overview

A great nine day introduction to Cambodia visting the bustling capital Phnom Penh, the awe-inspiring Angkor Temples and the less visited Battambang.

Day 1 – Siem Reap

Arrive Siem Reap Airport – after the visa formality you’ll meet the local guide and transfer to your hotel. Siem Reap is the provincial town and is where you stay during your visit and mainly a home World Heritage Archaeological Park that consists of dozens of temples ruins including the Bayon, Banteay Srei, Ta Prohm and the marvellous Angkor Wat Temple. Siem Reap has colonial and Chinese-style architecture in the Old French Quarter, and around the Old Market.

The remainder of the day is free at leisure.
Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 2 – Siem Reap

In the morning begin your temples tour of Angkor with visits to the Angkor Thom (Big Angkor), initially visit the South Gate, the first point of entry to the city for most visitors, with its huge statues illustrating the churning of the Ocean of Milk. Move on to the fabulous Bayon¸ the State Temple of King Jayavarman VII, built with 54 towers and decorated with over 200 smiling faces, on its walls were carved with bas-relief narrated the daily life and Khmer history. Visit the Hindu Temple of Baphuan, constructed mid 11th Century E.C. Visit the impressive Terrace of Elephants, two and a half meter tall, 300 meter long wall adorned with carved with elephants and garudas spans in the heart of Angkor Thom and visit the Terrace of the Leper King, a double terrace wall at the north end of the Terrace of Elephants with deeply carved nagas, demons and other mythological beings.

In the afternoon, take an excursion to Banteay Srei Temple “citadel of the woman”, a small pink sandstone temple but displays some of finest examples of classical Khmer Art, the walls are densely covered with some of the most beautiful, deep and intricate carvings of any Angkorian Temples. On the way back to Siem Reap, visit the Banteay Samre, large, comparatively flat temple displaying distinctively Angkor Wat-style architecture and artistry and visit the Pre Rup Temple until sunset or view sunset at Phnom Bakheng, the first major temple constructed in the Angkor area. The hilltop location makes it the most popular sunset location in the area, offering a view of the Tonle Sap Lake and a distant Angkor Wat in the Jungle.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 – Siem Reap

After breakfast at hotel, in the morning continue your tours to visit the “Small Circuit Temples” comprises: the Thomanon, built in the late 11th and early 12 centuries dedicated to Brahmanism by the King Suryavarman II, the Chau Say Teveda is just south of the Thomamon and built by the same king and in the period. Due to the similarities in plan and form, they were often referred as the brother-sister temple. The Ta Prohm Temple built in AD 1186 by King Jayavarman VII, dedicating to his mother. Shrouded in jungle, Ta Prohm Temple is ethereal in aspect and conjures up a romantic aura. Trunks of trees twist among stone pillars. Fig, bayan and kapok trees spread their gigantic roots over, under and between the stones, probing walls and terraces apart, as their branches and leaves intertwine to form a roof above the structures. The Srah Srang, a large lake built in late 12th century by also King Jaryavarman VII, sized 700 by 300 meters with an elegant lading terrace f superb proportion and scale. The platform is of cruciform shape with naga balustrades flanked by two lions. The Banteay Kdei, opposite the Srah Srang and southeast of the Ta Prohm and built by the same King. the temple is similar in art and architecture but it is smaller and less complex.

In the afternoon, take an extensive visit to the magnificent 12th century Angkor Wat Temple until sunset. it is the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor. The temple of Angkor Wat was visually, architecturally and artistically breathtaking. It is the massive three tiered pyramid crowned by five lotus-like towers rising 65 meters from ground level.  
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 – Siem Reap, Battambang

In the morning you’ll be transferred to Tonle Sap to catch a private boat to Battambang. It is a several hours relaxing journey. The Tonle Sap Great Lake is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia which swells up to an expansive 12, 000 km2  in wet season and it is largest lake of Cambodia. Due to the tide of the Mekong River, the water current of the lake is different in direction, flowing into the lake in wet season and flowing out in dry season. The Tonle Sap Lake offers numerous advantages, an important commercial resource, providing more than half of the fish consumed in Cambodia, a good mean of transport, a vital home of thousands wildlife species, providing water for Cambodia’s agriculture, a sustainable resource for eco-tourism and so on.

En route you will stop for visit at floating village, fish/crocodile farms, there are opportunities to view the birds nesting on the lake. Initially you will ride on the vast great lake of Tonle Sap as far as Prek Toal, which is a huge floating village and a base of few NGOs preserving the nature and the unique bird species in the area. You may visit the community’s handicraft workshop producing the baskets and equipments from hyacinths, stop at the remarkable Wat Cheu Kmao, an ancient pagoda built over 200 years ago. Arrive at Bak Prea, another floating village you will gently ride furtively along the small water lane through the flooded glade and onto the Steung Sangkè, which is an affluent river leading to the Battambang. In this section there will be plenty of opportunities to observe the local fishing activities and lives long the riverbanks.

Battambang means ‘disappearing stick’ and is named after a powerful stick used by a legendary Khmer King to achieve and maintain power in the Battambang area. It is a second largest town and ‘‘rice bowl’ of Cambodia, it still has a very local, untouristed, provincial atmosphere. Much of the architecture is French colonial and traditional Cambodia. Battambang offers tourist attractions such as the nearby ancient village, hilltop Angkor era ruins, caves and even Khmer Rouge period killing fields.

Arrive Battambang in the afternoon, transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free at leisure with guide and driver at your disposal to explore the colonial town and visit the Wat Kor Village that is known as an ancient village with wooden houses built a hundred years ago.

The trip Siem Reap – Battambang will alternatively take place by road in dry season March – July.
Overnight in Battambang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5 – Battambang

In the morning, take an excursion to Phnom Sameou, a natural site with a pagoda on atop 100 meter-high and a group of caves and a few used to be ‘killing caves’ by the Khmer Rouge. You will drive gently uphill on the concrete way to the top to admire the hill’s possessions and the beautiful landscape surrounding. Continue via the village road (back road) to Phnom Banann, a mountaintop, 11th century Angkorian ruin comprising five towers, tranquil location with a nice view of surroundings. Cross the Sankè River to the north side on the stone bride as far as the railway where you will take the ‘Bamboo Train’, a unique and creative form of ad-hoc local transportation, it consist of a platform with metal wheels powered and rolled by a small engine on the railway. It’s commonly used by the locals to carry passengers, products, motorcycle animals long the way. When it meets on-coming train or bamboo train, it could be dissembled and taken off the rails in a minute.

In the afternoon, visit another 11th century Temple of Wat Ek Phnom, a few kilometers north of the town, pass by the fish past market. En route there is opportunity to stop in a village to see how people produce the rice paper, the village itself is beautiful with stilted houses and tropical crops. Return to Battambang in mid-afternoon, visit Provincial Museum and the famous “White Elephant” pagoda in town.

Overnight in Battambang    

Meals: Breakfast

Day 6 – Battambang, Phnom Penh

Today you will drive south towards Phnom Penh, you will pass by a few provinces that each one has its own unique attractions that you can always stop for visit, such as Pursat, a province famous for the marble stones and its carvings, Kampong Chhnang, a province well known for its pottery village at Sre Thmey where the majority of the people make their livings by manually producing the pottery products from the clays. The village itself is nice with palm trees and beautiful sceneries at the back.

You will have your last stop at Phnom Oudong, Cambodia’s ancient capital city located 35km before arriving Phnom Penh. At the mountain base are picnic huts selling everything from sweet palm fruit to roasted chicken clustered around the hill. Oudong was home to several kings when it served as the Cambodian capital between AD 1618 and 1866 when the capital was officially moved to Phnom Penh. Several temples, stupas and structures crown the three hills. Having climbed up to the top you were awarded with breathtaking views of the countryside.   

Arrive Phnom Penh in late afternoon, check in your hotel where the remainder of the day is free at leisure. Phnom Penh is the Capital City of Cambodia, situated at the confluence of three great rivers – known as the ‘Chaktomuk’ (four faces) of the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac River. Phnom Penh presently lives over 2 millions people and roles as the country’s commercial, economic and political hub. The city offers impressive colonial charm and amazing attractions including Royal Palace, National Museum, Wat Phnom Hill, the Genocide Museum, Cheung Ek Memorial and the lively markets.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 7 – Phnom Penh

In the morning start city tour with visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, the former Tuol Sleng High School. In 1975, during Khmer Rouge Regime, the school was used a prison and torture centre, known and the time as S21. Thousands of Cambodians and a number of foreigners were housed and tortured there until they were executed. Visit the Killing Fields at Cheung Ek, the memorial to the Khmer Rouge atrocities – some 16, 000 prisoners from Tuol Sleng where executed here. On the way back, visit the colourful Russian Market, selling a wide range of items including CD, fabrics, jewellery, carved handicrafts and ceramics.

In the afternoon, visit the National Museum, the best and biggest museum of Cambodia. It houses the world’s foremost collection of ancient Khmer archaeological, religious and artistic artefacts. More than 5,000 objects dating from the 4th to 13th centuries are on display. Visit the Silver Pagoda located within the same walled grounds of the Royal Palace, so named for the five thousands silver tiled floor and visit Wat Phnom, a small hill crowned by an active pagoda marks the legendary founding place of Phnom Penh.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 8 – Phnom Penh

Your day is at leisure.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 9 –  Phnom Penh

Your day is at leisure until you transfer to Phnom Penh airport.
Meals: Breakfast

Compact Cambodia - 8 nts Reviews