CAMBODIA PHNOM PENH & SIEM REAP

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1 CAMBODIA PHNOM PENH & SIEM REAP 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS Cambodia is a destination that needs to be discovered. Located right next to the hot spots of S.E. Asia, like Thailand & Vietnam, it makes for a nice side trip or addition to your trip. Just a short flight away and you ll be transported back in time! ITINERARY Day 1 Phnom Penh Arrive Arrive in Phnom Penh and transfer to your hotel. Day 2 Phnom Penh (B) Sightseeing in Phnom Penh Explore PHNOM PENH, a chaotic, energetic and always fascinating city. Graceful tree-lined boulevards and riverfront promenades are reminders of bygone eras; today they teem with life and activity, as motorcycles weave in and out of traffic, vendors hawk their wares, and pedestrians go about their business. Start your tour to see the splendor of Cambodia's royal heritage by visiting the ROYAL PALACE, still the official residence of King Norodom Sihamoni, the adjacent SILVER PAGODA, also known as the Pagoda of the Emerald Buddha, and the elegant NATIONAL MUSEUM, which contains a comprehensive collection of Khmer art. In the afternoon, learn about a chapter from Cambodia's more recent, tragic past at the TUOL SLENG MUSEUM (Museum of Genocide). Formerly the Tuol Svay Prey High School, in 1975, this became the interrogation and torture facility 1

2 for the Khmer Rouge regime - at that time known as Security Prison 21, or simply S-21. Kept largely unchanged, this prison now showcases photographs and exhibits about the thousands of victims that passed through these doors - only seven of whom came out alive. Explore the modern-day city, visiting one of Phnom Penh's two great markets, the CENTRAL MARKET, located in a distinctive domed Art Deco building OR the sprawling RUSSIAN MARKET, a labyrinth of stalls selling everything from CDs and DVDs to silks, crafts, jewelry and more. Excursion to the Killing Fields Just outside Phnom Penh, in a peaceful rural setting, the Killing Fields provide a stark reminder of the atrocities under the Pol Pot regime. Day 3 Phnom Penh / Siem Reap (B) Transfer to the airport and flight to Siem Reap. Sightseeing of Angkor Thom and Bayon. Visit the Elephants Terrace & the Terrace of the Leper King, supposedly named after the founder of Angkor Thom whom legend says died of leprosy. Day 4 Siem Reap (B) Visit the magnificent temple of Angkor Wat, which represents the spiritual and mystical grandeur of the Khmer civilization. The temple complex of Angkor covers 200 acres. It is probably the largest religious monument ever built on earth and is regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In the afternoon, visit the temples of Banteay Srei and Samre. Day 5 Siem Reap (B) Today s visits will include: Visit Ta Keo (30 minutes) Ta Keo was built by Jayavarman V who ruled from 968 to 1001, it was the first Angkorian monument built entirely of sandstone and was dedicated to Shiva. The summit of the central tower is 50 meters high and is surrounded by four lower towers. Visit Thommanon Thommanon is a temple which mirrors Chau Say Tevoda (just to the north), as it was built around the same time and has a similar plan. It is also dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu. Visit Chau Say Tevoda Chau Say Tevoda was built during the second quarter of the 12th century opposite Thommanon, it was dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu. Excursion by boat to Chong Kneas floating village and visit Phsar Chah (Old Market) (4 hours) Take a boat ride to Chong Kneas Village to view the scenery and day to day life of the communities living around the lake. Visit Psah Chah Market, originally destroyed by the Khmer Rouge in 1975 and reopened in It has many interesting food stalls and souvenir shops. Overnight in Siem Reap Day 6 Siem Reap Depart (B) Transfer to the airport. Order of visits may change. 2

3 INCLUSIONS The package includes: Flight from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, 5 nights accommodation in double occupancy, 5 breakfasts, sightseeing with English speaking local guides and private vehicles, airport transfers, entrance fees to sites included. Not included: international airfare and airport taxes, optional tours, meals not mentioned, beverages, visa fee for Cambodia. Visa required for Cambodia. Can be obtained and paid for on arrival. Land package Price per person, double occupancy, starting from: August 01, 2018 October 31, 2019 CAT.A CAT.B Frangipani Royal Palace Julian Phnom Penh 4* / Tara Angkor 4* Sun & Moon Urban Hotel 4.5* / Borei Angkor 4.5* Single supplement TBA 3

4 SIEM REAP / Angkor Wat 4 Days, 3 nights Day 1 Siem Reap - Arrive Arrive in Siem Reap and transfer to your hotel. Visit Angkor Wat. The crown jewel of Khmer architecture, ANGKOR WAT is the national symbol and the highlight of any visit to Cambodia. The largest, best preserved, and most religiously significant of the Angkor temples, Angkor impresses visitors both by its sheer scale and beautifully proportioned layout, as well as the delicate artistry of its carvings. Upon entering the main structure, ascend through a series of galleries and courtyard before reaching the central sanctuary, which offers beautiful views back over the causeway and across the surrounding countryside. On the way, stop to enjoy the intricate stone carvings that adorn nearly every surface of the temple. Along the outer gallery walls run the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which narrates stories from Hindu mythology, including the famous Churning of the Ocean of Milk. Angkor Wat is stunning at any time of the day, but sunrise and sunset are especially beautiful times to watch the play of light on the stones. Visit Angkor Thom The fortified city of ANGKOR THOM covers an area of 10 square km. Enclosed by a wall and wide moats; the city includes many of Angkor's most popular sights. Enter by the monumental SOUTH GATE over a causeway lined on either side by statues of demons and gods, each carrying a giant naga. Continue to the TERRACE OF THE ELEPHANTS and the TERRACE OF THE LEPER KINGS, former spaces for public ceremonies, both adorned with dramatic bas reliefs. Visit the ruined BAPHUON, ROYAL ENCLOSURE and PHIMEANAKAS before continuing to the mysterious BAYON TEMPLE. In this temple, one of the most popular and compelling in Angkor, explore the galleries of beautifully preserved bas reliefs and ascend narrow stairs to reach the central sanctuary, where giant stone faces smiling enigmatically down from every angle. Watch the sun set over the Cambodian countryside from the upper terraces of an ancient Angkorian temple. Return to your hotel. Day 2 Siem Reap 4

5 Visit Banteay Srei Temple Seemingly miniature in comparison to the other Angkor temples, BANTEAY SREI is considered to be the jewel of classical Khmer art. Built in pink sandstone, the walls are covered in exquisitely preserved carvings of unusual delicacy. Because of its small size, wondrous atmosphere and extraordinary examples of Khmer sculpture, this temple is often a favorite with visitors. Visit Banteay Samre: BANTEAY SAMRE is a mid-12th century temple dedicated to the god Vishnu. Excursion to the Kampong Kleang with boat trip: Kampong Kleang is located about 50 km from Siem Reap town. The place is situated on the northeast shore on the edge of the ecologically important Tonle Sap Lake. The road to the site is good but rather narrow. This boat trip will explore the floating fishing villages that live at the edges of the lake, passing submerged forests and fishing farms. (B) Day 3 Siem Reap Visit Roluos Group Temples ROLUOS GROUP: these monuments mark the beginning of Khmer classical art, and they represent some of the earliest great temples built by the Khmer. They served as the capital of Indravarman (who reigned from 877 to 889). LOLEI: built on an islet by Yasovarman I (who ruled from 889 to 910), the founder of the first city of Angkor. The sandstone carvings in the niches of the temples are notable as are the Sanskrit inscriptions on the doorposts. PREAH KO: erected by Indravarman I in the late 9th century in dedication to his defied ancestors in 880. There are inscriptions in Sanskrit on the doorsteps of each temple. BAKONG: built and dedicated to Shiva by Indravarman I, this is the largest and most interesting of the Roluos Group of temples and still has an active Buddhist monastery. Visit Sras Srang: SRAS SRANG: a basin opposite of Banteay Kdei measuring 800 by 400 meters with a tiny island in the middle where only the stone base remains of what was once a wooden temple. Visit Ta Prohm: TA PROHM: one of the most popular attractions of Angkor as much of the jungle has not been cleared and it looks very much as most of the Angkor monuments would have appeared when European explorers first stumbled across them. (B) Day 4 Siem Reap - Depart Transfer to the airport. (B) Order of visits may change. Visa required for Cambodia. Can be obtained and paid for on arrival. 5

6 INCLUSIONS The package includes: 3 nights accommodation in double occupancy, 3 breakfasts, Sightseeing with English speaking local guides, private basis, transfers, Entrance fees. Not included: international airfare and airport taxes, optional tours, meals not mentioned and beverages, visa for Cambodia. Land package Price per person starting from, double occupancy Aug.01, 2018 Oct.31, 2019 CAT.A Tara Angkor 3+* 539 CAT.B Sokha Borei Angkor 4* 779 CAT.C Victoria Angkor Resort 5* 949 Single supplement tba 6