CONIFER TRAVEL - Cambodia discovery programme

Round trip: Cambodia discovery programme
Duration: 12 Days - 11 Nights
Itinerary:

Day 1: SIEM REAP ARRIVAL ( D,G )
Upon arrival at Siem Reap International airport in the city of World Heritage, Angkor Wat! Our guide and driver will meet and pick you up at the airport then transfer to hotel for check-in.
Dinner at local restaurant and overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 2: SIEM REAP-ANGKOR ( B,L,D,G )
Breakfast at hotel we journey the earliest capitals in the Angkor area, Hariharilaya, now known as Roluos. We begin to visit temple of Lolei, originally set on an island in the centre of the Indratataka baray (reservoir). We continue to Preah Ko (sacred cow), named in honour of Shiva’s mount, Nandin. This temple owes more to the pre-Angkorian brick sanctuaries of Cambodia’s earlier Chenla empire. Finally, we visit Bakong, the earliest of the temple mountains, It is a giant pyramid, its cardinal points marked by giant elephants. We climb to the summit for views over the surrounding countryside.
In afternoon, we continue to the large stone temple of Eastern Mebon, originally located on an island in the centre of the now dry Eastern Baray (reservoir). We visit the royal bathing pond of Sra Srang. And we walk to the first great Buddhist monastery in Cambodia, Banteay Kdei, built in 1186 by Jayavarman VII who was a Mahayana Buddhist. And we return to Siem Reap via the temple of Kravanh. Built entirely from brick and dating from 921, inside the small towers are some of the best brick carving found anywhere in the Khmer empire. We journey to the mountain temple of Phnom Bakheng to see the sunset cast its soft light over Angkor Wat.
Dinner at local restaurant and overnight in Siem Reap.

DAY 3: SIEM REAP-ANGKOR(B, L, D)
After breakfast at the hotel visit the famous old palace, Angkor Thom (this last capital was indeed a 'Great City' as its name implies and it served as the religious and administrative center of the vast and powerful Khmer Empire. It was grander than any city in Europe at that time and have supported a considerable population as high as one million) within Angkor Thom are Bayon (the giant stone faces of Bayon have become one of the most recognizable images connected to classic Khmer art and architecture. There are 37 standing towers, most but not all sporting four carved faces oriented toward the cardinal points), Baphoun, once of the most beautiful temples at Angkor, dating from the reign of Uditayavarman 1 in the 11th century, viist Phemean Akas andTerrace of Elephant, originally used as a viewing gallery for the king to preside over parades, performances and traditional sports, then visit Terrace of Leper King, This intricately carved platform was the royal crematorium and the statue that was originally thought to be the leper king is now believed to be Yama, the god of death. Visited Ta Prohm built by Jayavarman VII and was one of the first major Buddhist temples.
Lunch at local restaurant.
Afternoon, we visit Angor Wat (Angkor Wat is visually, architecturally and artistically breathtaking. It is a massive three-tiered pyramid crowned by five lotus like towers rising 65 meters from the ground level. Angkor Wat is the center piece of any visitor to the temples of Angkor).
Dinner at local restaurant with buffet and traditional Apsara Show and Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 4: SIEM REAP- BANTEAY SREI AND KBAL SPEAN ( B,L,D,G )
After breakfast, we travel through the traditional village of Preah Dak to the 12th century temple of Banteay Samre. Built by King Suryavarman II, the genius behind Angkor Wat. And continue further north to Banteay Srei, this petite pink temple is the jewel in the crown of Angkor-era sculpture.
After lunch we visit Kbal Spean, The original ‘River of a Thousand Lingas’, Kbal Spean is an intricately carved riverbed deep in the foothills of the Cambodian jungle. A trip to Kbal Spean is one of the easiest ways to experience a short jungle trek in the Angkor area, as it is a steady but scenic climb to reach the river carvings. The path winds its way through knotted vines and big boulder formations and occasionally offers big views over the surrounding jungle. And there is a small waterfall below the carved riverbed, perfect for cooling off after the hot climb.
Dinner at local restaurant and overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 5: SIEM REAP-TONLE SAP-PHNOM  PNH ( B,L,D,G )
After breakfast at hotel we visit the Great Lake (Tonle Sap Lake) in Indochina with a 100km, in 1-2 hours cruise you will experience visiting the Fishing Village where fisherman are living on the water, you will see how different their lives with other Fishing Village around the world. And back to Siem Reap Town, visit Chantier Ecole-Artisan d’angkor, the place is in the Ministry of Education that was constructed in 1992, this place renowned woodworking, stone carving and polychrome training center and workshops. Free tour of different classes and workshops offer a glimpse into the unique skills training program, teaching young artists about the techniques and styles of classic Cambodian Artistry.
After lunch we visit Old Market for shopping and then transfer to the airport for flight to Phnom Penh and upon arrival, our and driver transfer to hotel for check in. dinner at local restaurant.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 6: PHNOM PENH ( B,L,D,G )
Breakfast at hotel, we visit Royal Palace, The establishment of the Royal Palace at Phnom Penh in 1866 is a comparatively recent event in the history of the Khmer and Cambodia. Silver Pagoda, is a compound located on the North side of the palace complex. It features a royal temple officially called Preah Vihear Preah Keo Morakot but is commonly referred to as Wat Preah Keo. Its main building houses many national treasures such as gold and jeweled Buddha statues. Most notable is a small 17th century baccarat crystal Buddha (the "Emerald Buddha" of Cambodia) and a near-life-size, Maitreya Buddha encrusted with 9,584 diamonds dressed in royal regalia commissioned by King Sisowath and continued to The National Museum was built in 1917 and it is the country's leading historical and archaeological museum. It houses one of the world's largest collections of Khmer art, including sculpture, ceramics, bronzes, and ethnographic objects. The Museum’s collection includes over 14,000 items, from prehistoric times to periods before, during, and after the Khmer Empire.
After lunch at local restaurant, we see the genocide museum of Tuol Sleng, the site is a former high school which was used as the notorious Security Prison 21 (S-21) by the Khmer Rouge regime from its rise to power in 1975 to its fall in 1979. And continued to outskirt to visit the Killing Fields were a number of sites in Cambodia where large numbers of people were killed and buried by the Khmer Rouge regime, during its rule of the country. And then back to town to see Russian and Central Market and forwards to Wat Phnom symbol of the capital.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 7: PHNOM PENH-TATEO-KOMPOT ( B,L,D,G )
Breakfast at hotel, we leave Phnom Penh and travel south on National Highway 2. And on the way we visit Tonle Bati to visit the beautiful 12th century temple of Ta Prohm. Built by King Jayavarman VII.
And continue to Takeo where we enjoy a local lunch overlooking the water. We travel by speedboat along an ancient canal to Phnom Da, a beautiful 8th century temple atop a small mount. An island in the wet season, when this area is inundated with water, it is surrounded by a sea of green ricefields in the dry season. After we follow a forest path to Asram Moha Russei, a curious hermit's shelter carved from sandstone.  Later we return by speedboat to Takeo and journey to the graceful riverside town of Kampot.
Overnight In Kompot.

Day 8: KOMPOT ( B,L,D,G )
After Breakfast at  Kompot we take the snaking road that winds its way up through the dense jungle of Bokor National Park. And we emerge on a plateau and see the remains of the Black Palace, one of King Sihanouk's former residences up here. The views are incredible, as the jungle tumbles away to the coastline below and we continue to the abandoned hill station of Bokor, a cool retreat from the heat of the Cambodian plains for the French colonials. And explore some of the decaying buildings here, including the old Catholic church which sits eerily on the hillside and the shell of the Bokor Palace Hotel, once the most salubrious address in town. There are also the remains of an old casino here and a Le Corbusier designed house. After exploring the historic remnants of Bokor, we drive to the Popokvil Falls, a lovely waterfall set amid the jungle. We enjoy a picnic lunch at this scenic spot. Later we travel back down the mountain to Kampot.

Day 9:  KOMPOT-SIHANOUKVILLE ( B,G )
After Breakfast at hotel, Car and our guide will transfer you from Kampot and head west towards the popular resort of Sihanoukville, home to Cambodia's finest beaches. This pretty road passes under the shadow of Bokor Mountain and. we pass through some pretty fishing villages before we arrive in the small town of Veal Renh on National Highway 4. We head south to Sihanoukville, check into our hotel and leave the rest of the day free to enjoy the beautiful beaches and warm waters.
Overnight in Sihanoukville.    

Day 10: SIHANOUKVILLE ( B )
Free day at leisure on the beach. Over night in Sihanoukville.

Day 11: SIHANOUKVILLE ( B )
Free day at leisure on the beach. Over night in Sihanoukville.

Day 12: SIHANOUKVILLE-PHNOM PENH-DEPARTURE ( B )
Breakfast at hotel, we transfer back from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh and then transfer to airport for your flight home or next destination.
End of service.

CONIFER TRAVEL