Culture & Nature 10 days

Day 1 : Phnom Penh
Arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport in the morning and warm welcome by our guide and transfer to the city . Phnom Penh sightseeing tour : the city full of charm , historical capital with wide avenues and beautiful gardens through the Monument of Independence of Angkorian style adorned by beautiful gardens tower to symbolize the day Cambodia achieved independence from French in November 1953 and Wat Phnom built on a small artificial hill topped by a magnificent pagoda monastery for housing sacred relics and a huge stupa of the former king Ponhea Yat founder of the Phnom Penh capital. You will visit the colonial district that has preserved its many houses of French style , passing the national library , the Municipality of Phnom Penh , Calmette Hospital , the Embassy of France and Chhruoy Changva bridge over the Tonle Sap and the great post . Visit the Royal Palace built in 1866 by King Norodom consisting of different structures grouped in an enclosure with a remarkable architecture of Khmer art , the Silver Pagoda which tile is made of silver (or pagoda emerald ) located inside the Royal Palace brings together masterpieces by such a large gold Buddha weighing 90 kg solid gold and encrusted with diamonds 9584 , an emerald Buddha and baccarat crystal, visit the National Museum stunning example of Khmer architecture which was officially inaugurated in 1920 in which are exhibited artworks and sculptures relating to different periods of the history of art Khmer.
Overnight.

Day 2 : Phnom Penh
Visit the market Tuol Toumpoung known Russian market , ideal center for antiques and souvenirs , then visit S- 21 or Tuol Sleng ( Genocide Museum ), which was the most secret organ system Khmer Rouge. S-21 represents the ” Security Office 21″, was the establishment of security minister Angkar specifically designed for querying and anti Angkar elements of extermination.
In the afternoon , you will have the opportunity to visit the school dance, you might see the basis training the gestures of dance .
Rickshaw ride along the quay Tonle Sap (tricycle).
Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 3 : Phnom Penh – Battambang
Day trip to Battambang province. Visit on the way : handicraft village along Tonle Sap river next to Oudong the antique capital, Kompong Chnang, one of the biggest fishing port on tonal Sap river and the floating houses. Fish farming is also widely practiced in the area. The area is famous for its pottery ware, unchanged in style for centuries, which is produced in sufficient quantities to supply the entire country. The products of the Thnot tree (sugar palm – a real national symbol) abounds in the area: a mellow tasting, caramel-colored sugar sold in large cakes and palm wine.
Continue trip to Battamabang through Pursat city and arrive in the afternoon. Drive through the village to Banon temple of the 11st century .
Return to Bamboo train station and enjoy a pleasant short trip along the rails through the country side. Bamboo Train is a small platform sitting on small railway wheels, propelled by a small gasoline engine. This is a great experience not to be missed .
Overnight in Battambang.

Day 4 : Battambang – Siem Reap ( cruise from July – January)
Transfer to the port and boarding in a traditional wooden boat , down the Sangke river to the great lake of Tonle Sap , human activities gradually evolving world of agriculture to the fisheries sector , a way of life on earth and lake .
You will be delighted by the diversity and density of the lifestyles of fishing techniques and human habitat , but also by the picturesque scenes of daily life on land and on water. You arrive at the floating village of Bak Prea , a village consisting of a mixture of floating houses and houses on stilts. You could see various family fishing gear . The navigation continues until Wat Chheu Khmao ( Pagoda black wood) located on high ground in a mysterious architecture that your guide will introduce its history. Boxed lunch will be served on board .
Suddenly the river Sangke opens and you are in a vast inland sea . You will stop at Prek Toal village , there you find floating houses, pagoda and floating schools. You will visit the handicraft water hyacinth created by one French NGO . Then, after crossing the Great Lake Tonle Sap, you will reach the village of Chong Khneas in Siem Reap and have a good time on the floating objects souvenir shop , breeding crocodiles, fish, snakes. Transfer to your hotel . Overnight .

Day 5 : Siem Reap – Angkor Temples
In the morning , starting to discover the Rolous Group temples , it is a collection of monuments representing the remains of Hariharalya, the first major capital of the Angkorian era Khmer Empire : Lolei, Preah Ko & Bakong temple.
Continuation to visit the Grand Circuit: Preah Khan temple built by king Jayavarman VII, dedicated to his father, Neak Pean, which means ‘coiled serpents’, from the encoiled nagas that encircled the temple, Ta Som, is the most distant temple on the grand circuit. Even it is small but classic Jayavarman VII temple, East Mebon, it is architecturally and artistically superior temple-mountain and beautifully carved false doors on upper level as well as an excellent view of the surrounding countryside and sunset at Pre Rup, traditionally believed to be a funerary temple, but in fact the state temple of Rajendravarman II.
Overnight.

Day 6 : Siem Reap
Visit Angkor National Museum, the artworks are displayed in eight galleries in chronological order. Visitors will learn about depth culture and history, religion and beliefs of the ancient Khmer empire.
Afternoon , visit Angkor Wat, one of the seven greatest architectural wonders of the world, as a temple and mausoleum for King Suryavarman II at the peak of the Khmer empire in the first half of 12th . Angkor Wat is probably the best-preserved of the Angkorean temples, with a central tower surrounded by four smaller towers.
Finally, in the late afternoon, coming to the Phnom Bakheng temple, the first temple in Angkor region build by the Yacovarman I King in the first of 9th century, located on a slope gently hill where thousands tourist are grouping on the hill top to catch a memorable time of life when viewing the marvelous sunset.
Return by car to hotel .Overnight.

Day 7 : Siem Reap – Angkor Temples
This morning, you will experience the wind-swept transfers particularly by Tuk Tuk (motor-cycles) , 2 people per Tuk-Tuk, enjoy an exciting morning in the ancient Angkor environment and the most popular transfer locally of Cambodia . Visit Angkor Thom temples , starting from the South Gate , the famous Bayon Temple – built by Jayavarman VII at the end of the 12th, in the exact center of the city of Angkor Thom, Baphuon , Phimean Akas, Elephants and Leper King Terraces.
Continuation the visit the small circuit : Thommanon, attractive temple built at the same time as Angkor Wat, Chaosay Tevoda, it seems to stand in partnership with Thommanon but actually was built much later in Suryavarman II’s rule than Thommanon, Ta Keo , Banteay Kdei, Srash Srang, Ta Phrom Temple, was a monastery built by Jayavarman VII as a residence for his mother. Ta Prohm has been controversially left to the destructive power of the jungle by French archeologists to show how nature can destroy man’s work. It has been largely overgrown by the jungle and as you climb through the dilapidated stone structures you see many giant trees growing out of the top of the temple itself. Ta Prohm looks as many of the monuments did when European explorers first laid eyes on them and Prast Krovan.

Day 8 : Siem Reap – Angkor Temples
Excursion to Kbal Spean or Thousand lingas river located around 40 km . After traveling by car, you walk 30 mn more trough the forest to get the river that contribute to the irrigation of Angkor The bed of the river is lavishly sculpted. Numerous lingas lay there, caressed by the crystal clear water . Bas-reliefs depict scenes from the Brahman pantheon such as Vishnu lying or Brahman born out of a lotus. After climbing down, on way stop at Banteay Srey temple built under Jayavarman V, as the jewel in the crown of classical Khmer arts. Its rose-colored sandstone walls are decorated with carvings and bas-reliefs, which are among the most accomplished Angkor has to offer . Enjoy your time in Pradak village to learn the daily life of people and contact them , especially the production of sugar palm from palm tree jus.
Return to hotel. Ovenight.

Day 9 : Siem Reap – Sambo Prey Kuk – Phnom Penh
Road to Phnom Penh via Kompong Thom city. On the way , visit the antique Naga brige at Kompong Kdei, then by laterit road of 35 km to reach Sambo Prey Kuk , a group of pre- Angkorian temples scattered in the forest , the capital before Angkor for several centuries. It was founded during the reign of King Içanavarman who reunited the mainland Khmer ( Chenla Kuok ) and the coastal territory Khmer ( Chenla Toek ), stop at Skun the only one market that you can see the vendor of spider and cricket .
Arrive ai Phnom Penh. Overnight.

Day 10 : Phnom Penh
Free time for your own activities.
Transfer to airport for flight departure,

Please note :
This tour is an example of our numerous packages around Cambodia. If you need more information on other programs and destination, please contact us. We’ll do our best to suit your needs.

Warning :
*Our prices are in American Dollars (US$)*
*Our prices depend on the number of customers*

We thank you for your interest for Mekong Heritage Travel. It’s a pleasure for us to help you compose your trip at a reasonable price.