Shining Cambodia 8 days

Day 1 : Phnom Penh
Arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport in the morning and warm welcome by tour guide. Phnom Penh historical sightseeing tour with visiting : the Independence Monument commemorates the end of Cambodia’s ruled by France in 1953, which was constructed in 1954 after Cambodian took their country back from French colony, the National Museum, the distinctive red building with a beautiful Khmer architecture was build since 1917 and contains more than 5000 art objects made of sandstone, bronze, silver, Copper, wood and others. They are really the cultural treasure of Cambodian, the Royal Palace compound, was built by King Norodom in 1866, inside its gleaming yellow walls is most conspicuous feature and impressive colourful Khmer-style Halls for the Royal family, and visit Silver Pagoda, located in the compound of the Royal Palace. Inside its floor is constructed of 5000 silver tiles. In the centre of the pagoda there is a magnificent 17th-century emerald Buddha statue made of baccarat crystal and its walls enclosing are covered with frescoes depicting episodes from the Khmer version of the Ramayana, Wat Phnom , a pagoda was built by lady Daun Penh in 1372 on the top of a small hill . The legend of the founding of Wat Phnom is tied to the beginnings of Phnom Penh and the Central Market, constructed since 1937, an art deco landmark and one of the largest and busiest markets in the city, if not all of Cambodia. You can find clothes, souvenirs, jewellery, and food here. You will also visit the Russian Market, the best place in the city for wooden and stone carvings, old coins, jewellery, and Cambodian and Chinese silk clothes.
Overnight in Phnom Penh .

Day 2 : Phnom Penh – Battambang
Full day trip to Battambang province. Visit on the way : handicraft village along Tonle Sap river next to Oudong the antique capital, Kompong Chhnang, 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 Battambang through Pursat city with visiting the workshop of sculpture on marble . Arrive in the late afternoon.
Ocvernight.

Day 3 : Battambang
Battambang was a big city after Phnom Penh, you can impress the houses keeping their colonial style along the Sangke river and also a big market, Governor House. Then, road along the river to the North edged by beautiful villages until Wat Ek Phnom temple of the 11st century. On the way , you can visit the fabric of the rice crepe in village along the road. Then visit an ancient traditional Khmer house over a century at Wat Kor village.
Drive through the village to Banon temple of the 11st century .
Return to Bamboo train or nori 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 July-Jan)
Enjoy cruise to Siem Reap by a private traditional wooden boat . First, you will down the Sangke river that you can see the splendid landscapes of the villages on the stilts, the pagodas, bamboo trees and the family fishing. You will stop at fishing Bak Prea village ,mixed stilt and floating houses make room for a habitat dominated by floating houses and houseboats. You will reach at Wat Chheu Khmao, meaning “black wood pagoda”. Then arrive at Prek Toal villages. The majority of the population in floating villages is Khmer. However, ethnic minority groups such as Vietnamese, Chams and Chinese are present and intimately involved in the fisheries. There are also mixed floating and stilt houses. You will visit also pagoda, school and water hyacinth handicraft . You will have a picnic lunch in the boat. The navigation continuous on the great lake of Tonle Sap until Chong Khneas village at Siem Reap. Short time relax on the floating restaurant , there you can see the fishpond, crocodile farm and souvenir shop before taking the car to Siem Reap city. Check-in to hotel.
Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 5 : Siem Reap
Transfer to Roluos village 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: Pre Rup, traditionally believed to be a funerary temple, but in fact the state temple of Rajendravarman II. 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. Ta Som, is the most distant temple on the grand circuit. Even it is small but classic Jayavarman VII temple, Neak Pean, which means ‘coiled serpents’, from the encoiled nagas that encircled the temple and Preah Khan temple dedicated to JayavarmanVII’s father .

Day 6 : Siem Reap – Angkor Temples
Enjoy Tuk-Tuk ride to Angkor Thom temples (the Great City) including the Southern Gate, famous Bayon temple (12^th century in the center of city remains one the most enigmatic temples of the Angkor group composed of 54 gothic towers decorated with 216 smiling faces of Avalokitesvara; Baphuon temple lying just to the north of Bayon a pyramidal representation of mythical Mont Meru; Terrasse of Elephants used as a giant reviewing stand for public ceremonies and served as a base for the king’s grand audience hall ; Terrace of the Leper King a plateform 7m high, on the top stands a nude though sexless statue; Phimean Akas temple means “Celestial Palace”, dedicated to Hinduism.
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 12^th . 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 9^th 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.
Overnight in Siem Reap .

Day 7 : Siem Reap
Morning trip to the Kbal Spean “Thousand Lingas River”. It is the river Steung Russei whose bed is sculpted of several bas-reliefs with a multitude of lingas. The access makes on foot about 45mn through the forest after having browsed the Cambodian country between villages and rice fields. You reach the site where the bottom of the river is covered with big plates of sandstone sculpted on which streams the limpid and cool water of a small cascade.
On the way back, visit Banteay Srei . The special charm of this temple lies in its compact size, remarkable state of preservation, and the excellence of it decorative carvings. Enjoy in Pradak village and contact people to learn their daily life , especially the production of sugar palm. Visit Ta Prohm which never had been repair in order to preserve the sight of the first Angkor’s explorers.
Overnight in Siem Reap .

Day 8 : Siem Reap
Before departure , you will visit Silk Farm Center at Puork district to discover the entire silk creation process including growing the food for the silk worms, breeding the worms, silk extraction and rafinement, traditional ikat dying patterm creation and looming, retail silk and souvenir shop.
Transfer to airport.

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

Warning :
*Our prices are in American Dollars (USD)
*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.