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 where you will stay during your visit. See the World Heritage Archaeological Park that consists of dozens of temples ruins including the Bayon, Banteay Srei, Ta Prohm and the marvellous Angkor Wat Temple. Experience Siem Reap’s stunning Chinese and colonial style architecture in the Old Market and Old French Quarter.

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

Day 2 – Siem Reap

Begin your temple tour of Angkor with visits to the Angkor Thom (Big Angkor), and the South Gate; the first point of entry to the city for most visitors with 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 there are carvings with bas-relief narrating the daily life and Khmer history.

Visit the Hindu Temple of Baphuan, constructed mid 11th Century E.C. The impressive Terrace of Elephants is a must-see; a stunning 300-metre long wall situated in the heart of Angkor Thom featuring intricate carvings of elephants and garudas. At the northern point of the Terrace of Elephants is the beautiful Terrace of the Leper King, which features intricate carvings of mythological creatures and nagas.

In the afternoon, take an excursion to Banteay Srei Temple also known as the “citadel of the woman”, a small pink sandstone temple that showcases some of the best remaining classical Khmer works of art. The walls of Banteay Srei display some of the most intricate, beautiful, and well-preserved examples of ancient Angkor’s temple carvings.

On the way back to Siem Reap, visit the Banteay Samre, a large temple featuring characteristically Angkor Wat-style artistry and architecture. As sundown approaches head to the Pre Rup Temple or view the beautiful sunset at Phnom Bakheng, the first major temple constructed in the Angkor area.

The hilltop location means it is an ideal place to watch the sunset as you look out onto the Tonle Sap Lake and view the jungle’s Angkor Wat in the distance.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 – Siem Reap

After breakfast at the hotel, continue your tour with a visit to the “Small Circuit Temples”. Start at the Thommanon, built in the late 11th and early 12 centuries dedicated to Brahmanism by the King Suryavarman II. Continue on to see the Chau Say Tevoda, just south of the Thommamon and built by the same king.

Due to the similarities in plan and form, they were often referred to as the brother-sister temple. King Jayavarman VII built the Ta Prohm Temple in AD 1186 as a dedication to his mother. Surrounded by jungle, Ta Prohm Temple evokes a romantically ethereal quality, tree trunks are twisted around stone pillars and banyan and fig trees probe the walls and terraces, forming a beautiful vine.

The Srah Srang is a large lake dating back to the 12th century built by King Jaryavarman VII. The man-made lake is an impressive 700 x 300 metres in size, with a beautiful terrace. The platform is of cruciform shape and features naga balustrades with two lions as guards. The Banteay Kdei is situated opposite the Srah Srang, to the southeast of the Ta Prohm, and was built by the same King. The temple features similar art and architecture but is smaller with a simpler layout.

Spend your afternoon touring the magnificent 12th century Angkor Wat Temple. The most famous temple on the plain of Angkor, Angkor Wat Temple is simply breathtaking, featuring a stunning three-tier pyramid and five 65 metre towers carved in the shape of a lotus.

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 relaxing journey taking several hours. Visit the Tonle Sap Great Lake, the largest in 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 trade source, it provides more than 50% of the fish consumed in Cambodia, a good means of transport, a vital home of thousands wildlife species, provides water for Cambodia’s agriculture and is a sustainable resource for eco-tourism.

En route you will stop for visit at a splendid floating village, home to fish and crocodile farms, with opportunities to view the birds nesting on the lake. Travel across the Tonle Sap Great Lake as far as Prek Toal, which is a huge floating village and a base for conservation NGOs protecting the unique plant and animal species in the area.

You can visit the community’s handicraft workshops selling beautiful baskets made from hyacinths or stop at the remarkable Wat Cheu Kmao ancient pagoda built over 200 years ago. Arrive at Bak Prea, another floating village, and you can gently sail along the small water lane through the flooded glade and onto the Steung Sangkè, which is an affluent river leading to the Battambang. There will be plenty of opportunities to observe the local fishing activities along the riverbanks.

Battambang translates roughly as ‘disappearing stick’ in Khymer and refers to a powerful staff belonging to a legendary Khmer King who used it to rule over the Battambang area. Known as the ‘‘rice bowl’ of Cambodia, Battambang is relatively untainted by tourism, with much of the architecture in the French colonial style. Battambang’s tourist attractions include the ancient Wat Kor village with wooden houses and caves, the hilltop ruins of the Angkor era, and the haunting killing fields of the Khmer Rouge. The remainder of the day is free for personal leisure, with a guide and driver at your disposal to explore the surrounding sights and attractions.

The journey from Siem Reap to Battambang will take place by road if you are travelling in the 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 featuring a pagoda and a group of eerie caves once used as ‘killing caves’ by the Khmer Rouge. You will drive gently uphill to the top to admire the beautiful scenery and awe-inspiring landscape.  

Continue via the village road (back road) to Phnom Banann, an 11th century Angkorian ruin on a hilltop, in a tranquil location with a beautiful view of the surrounding area. Cross the Sankè River to the north side on the stone bride as far as the railway where you will take the ‘Bamboo Train’- an ad-hoc form of local transportation consisting of a platform with metal wheels powered and rolled by a small engine on the railway.

The Bamboo Train is used by locals to transport passengers, products and animals. When it meets on-coming traffic, the train can be quickly dissembled and taken off the rails within a minute, an unusual experience!

Spend the afternoon visiting the 11th century Temple of Wat Ek Phnom, located a few kilometres north of the town, past by the local fish market. En route there is opportunity to stop in a village to see how people produce rice paper. The village itself is beautiful, with houses built on stilts and tropical crops and gardens. Return to Battambang in mid-afternoon and visit the Provincial Museum and the famous “White Elephant” pagoda.

Overnight in Battambang
Meals: Breakfast

Day 6 – Battambang, Phnom Penh

Drive south towards Phnom Penh, passing by a few provinces along the way, each with its own unique attractions that you can stop off to explore. Why not visit Pursat, a province famous for its marble stones and carvings or stop by at Kampong Chhnang’s beautiful palm-tree pottery village.

You will have your last stop at Phnom Oudong, Cambodia’s ancient capital city located 35km from Phnom Penh. At the mountain base there are quaint picnic huts selling everything from sweet palm fruit to roasted chicken. Phnom Oudong was the Cambodian capital city between 1618 and 1866 AD and home to the reigning Kings. Several temples, stupas and structures crown the three hills. Having climbed up to the top you are rewarded with breathtaking views of the countryside.   

Arrive at the present day capital of Phnom Penh in late afternoon, check in your hotel and spend the remainder of the day free at leisure. Phnom Penh is situated at the meeting point of three impressive rivers – known as the ‘Chaktomuk’. Phnom Penh has a population of over 2 million people and is the country’s commercial, political and economic 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

Start the day with a visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, the former Tuol Sleng High School. The school was used as a prison during the rule of the Khmer Rouge where thousands of Cambodians and international prisoners were tortured and executed. You can visit the Cheung Ek Killing Fields where there is a memorial to the Tuol Sleng victims.

On the way back, visit the vibrant Russian Market where you can purchase an eclectic range of items including handicrafts, ceramics and jewellery.

In the afternoon, visit the National Museum, the biggest in Cambodia. It houses the world’s primary collection of ancient Khmer religious, archaeological and artistic objects. More than 5,000 artefacts are shown here dating from the 4th to 13th centuries. Visit the Silver Pagoda located within the beautiful walled grounds of the Royal Palace, so named for the stunning silver tiled floor. End the day with a visit to Wat Phnom; a small hill featuring a working pagoda to commemorate the legendary foundations 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

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