Angkor Wat

Start with a sunrise at Angkor Wat and spend a full day temple hopping with a local guide. See some of the most impressive monuments built by mankind. Explore the interior of the great temple at Angkor, from its corridors and central chambers to the upper terraces. Your expert guide will tell you stories behind the bas-relief carvings, and provide insight into life during the height of the Khmer Empire. Continue to Angkor Thom City and the Bayon Temple. At the end of the afternoon, visit the jungle-enveloped Ta Prohm, one of the most atmospheric of all the temples in Angkor.

Begin with an early pickup from your hotel at 4.30 AM in an air-conditioned vehicle, and travel to the main entrance of the Angkor Wat to admire the stunning sunrise over this ancient and mysterious complex. Next, visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom to marvel at the Bayon and Baphoun temples with their 54 towers and 216 faces of Buddhisatva Avalokesvara. Listen as your guide explains historical facts about the Temples and the Khmer empire. After lunch, see the Terrace of the Elephant and the Terrace of the Leper King known as the royal viewing platform and the stage of the king’s great audience hall. Enter Ta Prohm Temple and view the lush trees surrounding the temple’s stones. Finally, go to Banteay Kdei temple which was built by the King Jayavarman VII in the late of 12th century before returning to your hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 1: Angkor Thom, Bayon, Neak Pean, Bantreay Srei, Banteay Samre, and Pre Rup Temple Visit the Southern Gate of Angkor Thom, flanked by a row of 54 stone figures on each side - gods to the left and demons to the right – and the fortified city of Angkor Thom. At ‘The Bayon’, you will see its beautifully crafted central towers, covered in more than 200 enormous faces, then explore the famous Terrace of the Leper King and the Terrace of Elephants. Move to Neak Pean, an artificial island with a Buddhist temple. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before visiting the intricately carved and well-preserved Banteay Srei. The detailed reliefs on this smaller sandstone structure are regarded as the finest, most skillfully crafted in Cambodia.  One the way back, enjoy a brief stop at the well-preserved Banteay Samre, a laterite structure that once featured internal moats. End your discoveries with an ascent for sunset at Pre Rub temple. Day 2: Angkor Wat at sunrise, Preah Khan, Ta Nei, and Ta Prohm Temple  Begin with a pre-dawn departure for sunrise outside of Angkor Wat. Enter the great temple in darkness (please bring a torch) from the little-visited eastern side, and creep along hoary cloistered corridors past the longest stretch of bas-relief carvings in the world.  End your touring at Angkor with breakfast outside the temple. Continue by moving on to Preah Khan temple, a ruined but highly atmospheric mélange of tree roots and crumbling stone structures. At the end of the morning, return to your hotel for lunch, and in the afternoon drive to Ta Nei, a late 12th Century stone temple located in Angkor. Move on to the jungle-enveloped Ta Prohm – one of the most atmospheric temples in Angkor, once home to 2,740 monks.

Your tour will begin with your being picked up from your accommodation by an English-speaking driver in a vintage American war Jeep. This jeep (official name M151 "MUTT") was developed with guidance from the US Army's Ordnance Truck Automotive Command. Design started in 1951, with testing and prototyping lasting through most of the fifties. Although the M151 was developed and initially produced by Ford, production contracts for the M151A2 were later also awarded to Kaiser Jeep and AM General Corp. First put into service in Vietnam, the MUTT played an active part in American military operations well into the 1980s, when it was phased out in favor of the Humvee. The jeep was a historical witnesses of the Vietnam War, and will bring you to the world heritage temple Angkor Wat, Bayon (Angkor Thom) and one of the most popular temples, Ta Prom, which has trees growing out of its ruins. On this day you will visit the famous ancient Angkor Wat temple complex in style, and you will experience the charm of this temple in an authentic jungle manner, by jeep. You can even discus together with your driver which temples from the Angkor Small circuit you would like to visit. On this small circuit you will find plenty of temples, with the most famous being Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm and Bayon Temple. You can also visit other temples such as Baphuon, Ta Keo, the Terrace of Elephants, Ta Nei and Prei Rup which are also located on this small circuit. Travel back in time and enjoy this day complete with history, adventure and mystery.

Day 1 – Full Day Temples of Angkor with Sunrise   Spend your day temple-hopping with your local guide to make the most of your visit to the world-famous Angkor complex, a site full of temples built between the 19th and 13th century. Begin with pre-dawn departure (between 4:20 and 5:00 AM) from your hotel to catch the sunrise outside of Angkor Wat. Then, explore the interior of the great temple, spending a thorough 2 hours discovering its corridors, central chambers and upper terraces. Your expert guide will decipher the myriad of stories behind the bas-relief carvings and give you insight into life during the height of the Khmer Empire. End your visit to Angkor with breakfast just outside the temple.   Continue the morning with a visit to the Southern Gate of Angkor Thom, flanked by a row of 54 stone figures on each side – gods to the left and demons to the right – and the fortified city of Angkor Thom. See its beautifully crafted central towers, covered in more than 200 enormous faces, before exploring the famous central terrace of the Leper King and the Terrace of Elephants. Finish your day with a visit to the temple Ta Prohm, once home to almost 3,000 monks. Return to your hotel at approximately 1:00 PM after lunch at a local restaurant.   Day 2 – Full Day Banteay Srei Temples   After pick-up from your hotel around 8:00 AM, you’ll head off to visit the most interesting temples outside Angkor Thom city. Your first stop is Pre Rup Hindu Temple, built in 961 or 962, that combines laterite and sandstone construction. Then, drive to the intricately carved and well-preserved Banteay Srei – the detailed reliefs on this smaller sandstone structure are regarded as the finest and most skilfully crafted in Cambodia.   On the return journey, visit Neak Pean, a Buddhist temple on a circular artificial island with in Jayatataka Baray, then continue to Preah Khan temple, a ruined but highly atmospheric mélange of tree roots and crumbling stone structures. Construction was commissioned by the prolific temple builder Jayavarman VII in honor of his father and a visit to this smaller site makes for an interesting contrast with the more imposing Angkor Wat. Preah Khan is currently being restored by the World Monument Fund and in places is in remarkably good condition.   In the late afternoon you’ll return to Siem Reap after a memorable day of exploration.

Explore Angkor Wat under a breathtaking sunrise on this morning bike tour with a local guide. See historical monuments and cap it off with a traditional Cambodian meal. After being picked up from your accommodation, your guide will take you to the best spots in Angkor Wat to witness the colorful sunrise. Then, you will go through the Angkor central complex and hear about the history and symbolism of the temple. Once you have discovered Angkor Wat and had breakfast, proceed with the bike tour down the trails behind Angkor Wat. Follow tracks that take you through small villages in the Angkor Wat complex, and see how the locals go about their daily lives. From there, visit other sites such as the Angkor Thom City, Bayon Temple, Preah Khan temple, and the Tomb Raider temple. End your day by having a traditional Cambodian meal with a large spread of local dishes, followed by a quick siesta.

Discover ancient Cambodian history on this early morning 1-day trip. See a stunning sunrise, visit Angkor Wat, Bayon, and Ta Prohm. The tour begins with a pickup from your hotel before sunrise. Head to Angkor Wat archaeological site. Soak up the atmosphere of Angkor from the edge of one of the ancient library pools and enjoy a colorful sunrise. Learn about the history of this famous temple from your guide as you explore the interior of the great temple. Discover the corridors, central chambers, and upper terraces. After visiting Angkor Wat, enjoy a picnic breakfast nearby the temple. Continue to Bayon temple, a world-famous landmark built by King Jayavarman VII. Learn about Bayon's many uses, including a place for worship, education, and administration. Explore Baphuon Temple and the Terrace of Elephants before relaxing with lunch. Next, head to the ancient Ta Prohm Temple and marvel at the structure covered in trees and massive roots. Fans of Angelina Jolie's Tomb Raider will recognize this iconic temple.

The tour begins with pickup in the morning and heads to the first stop of the day, Ta Prohm. Overgrown by jungle trees and vines, with many parts of the temple crumbling to the ground, Ta Prohm has largely been left as it was found making it one of the most picturesque and memorable temples in the complex. Next, drive to the ancient city of Angkor Thom, entering through the ancient stone carved gate which features elephants and giant faces. From here continue onto Bayon Temple, which is located in the center of the city and known as the ‘Giant Face Temple’. Throughout the trip, listen to fascinating information and stories about the temples, their rich history, as well as their importance and symbolism to the local people.  Enjoy a short break to eat some refreshing Cambodian snacks and fruits, then travel deeper into the Angkor Kingdom as you explore more and more of this incredible temple complex. Once you’ve worked up a bit of an appetite from your adventure, stop by a local restaurant for a tasty lunch. After lunch, follow your guide off-the-beaten-track until you reach a community-based tourism center where you can experience first-hand the everyday life of Cambodians.

Explore Angkor Wat and visit the enchanting floating villages of Cambodia. See Ta Prohm jungle temple, embraced by the roots of enormous fig trees, and trek along tranquil forest roads that are inaccessible by car. View Cambodia's dense jungle from the top of Ta Keo Temple, built by the Khmers over 1,000 years ago. On this private 3-day tour visit the ancient Buddhist university of Preah Khan, built in the 12th century for King Jayavarman VII, and admire the famous island temple Neak Pean. Go boating on the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia, and see one of Cambodia's famous floating markets as well as a crocodile farm. Experience the exquisite ‘Women’s Citadel’, then trek up Kbal Spean Hill to see the hidden waterfall and an 11th century carving of Hindu deities on the river bed. Then visit Banteay Samre Temple. Day 1: Ta Prohm /Ta Nei /Takeo/Angkor Thom/ Bayon (L) Morning visit to Ta Prohm. Continue to Tanei, a temple inaccessible by car, and then Ta Keo Temple. Afternoon visit to the Victoria Gate of Angkor Thom, Elephant Terrace, and Leper King Terrace, the enclosure of the Royal Palace. Also visit Phimean Akas Temple, Baphuon Temple, and the impressive Bayon Temple. Evening dinner at a local restaurant with an Apsara traditional dance performance. Day 2: Angkor Wat/Preah Khan/Floating Village (L/D) Morning visit to Angkor Wat. Continue to Preah Khan and Neak Pean. Afternoon visit to the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia. Day 3: Banteay Srei/Kbal Spean/Banteay Samre (L) Morning visit to Banteay Srei. Continue to Kbal Spean, and enjoy a picnic lunch and visit to a sugar palm farm to meet the local farmers. Visit Banteay Samre Temple. Return to the city, where the tour ends at your hotel.

At 8:30 AM, depart from your hotel and travel to the Angkor Archaeological Park. First, travel to Angkor Thom, which was the last capital of the Angkorian Empire and built by Angkor's greatest king, Jayavarman VII. The major attraction of Angkor Thom is the Bayon Temple, where you can marvel at the wise smiling faces. After, visit the Terrace of the Elephants. It was 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 is another of Angkor’s mysteries, the walls of which are deeply carved with seated deities. You will continue to Ta Prohm, a jungle clad temple offering a strange beauty as the stone works intertwine with jungle vines. For many this temple will be well known as it was featured in Angelina Jolie’s Tomb Raider. At 12:30 PM, it is time for an hours break for lunch. During this time, relax, enjoy your food and feel free to ask your guide any questions you have about your experiences from the morning. At 1:30 PM, you will continue your tour of the World Heritage Site and visit the famous Angkor Wat. Take your time to truly immense yourself in this historical monument. Angkor Wat was built around the first half of 12th century by King Suryavarman II. The temple's balance, composition and beauty make it one of the finest monuments in the world. The shear size of the monument makes it very overwhelming as it towers over the landscape and is breathtaking, especially at dawn. Towards the end of the afternoon, watch the sunset at Pre Rup, a Hindu temple built as the state temple of Khmer king Rajendravarman. This temple is very popular among the tourists for its sunset views. At 6:00 PM, your tour comes to an end and your guide will transfer you back to your hotel.