Cambodia Discovery

Day 1: Phnom Penh - Arrival  (-/L/D)

Transfer from Phnom Penh International Airport to the hotel.

After lunch, visit the Victory Monument, and the National Museum, also called Musee des Beaux-Arts. A French archaeologist and painter, Georges Groslier, designed it in Khmer style in 1917. The museum contains a collection of Khmer art - notably sculptures – from throughout the ages. Visit the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda. Located within the grounds of the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90kilograms and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. End your afternoon with the visit of the Wat Phnom Temple, Phnom Penh's namesake, from where you can enjoy views over the tree-lined avenues of the city during sunset.Dinner and O/N in hotel

Day2: Phnom Penh - Siem Reap  (B/L/D)

Breakfast at hotel, then transfer to Phnom Penh International Airport and departure by Siem Reap Airways International or similar to Siem Reap. Arrive at Siem Reap International Airport and transfer to the hotel (rooms may not ready until the afternoon).

In the morning, visit Prasat Kravan with its unique brick sculptures and Ta Prohm.  One of the area's most beautiful temples, Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Its appeal lies in the fact that, unlike the other monuments of Angkor, it was abandoned and swallowed by the jungle, looking very much the ways most of the Angkor temples appeared when European explorers first stumbled upon them. Visit as well Takeo, Chau Say Tevoda and Thommanon. After lunch ,visit Preah Khan temple. Built by the King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulders-hanging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, Preah Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation. Continue your visits to Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool and representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake and visit the temple of Ta Som as well as Srah Srang ("The Royal Baths"), undoubtedly used in the past for ritual bathing. Dinner and O/N in hotel

Day 3: Siem Reap  (B/L/D)

Breakfast at hotel. In the morning, visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat's five towers symbolize Meru's five peaks - the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond.

Lunch at local restaurant. Visit the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century). See the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), until sunset. Dinner and O/N in hotel

Day 4: Siem Reap- Departure  (B/L/-)

Breakfast at hotel then  transfer to Banteay Srei temple (10th c), regarded as the jewel in the crown of Classical Khmer Art.Visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap.  Take a traditional wooden boat for a ride on the Tonle Sap Lake, the "Great Lake" of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia.

Lunch at local restaurant. Visit "Les Artisans d'Angkor - Chantiers Ecoles" of Siem Reap and time at leisure at the local market (if time permits). Transfer to Siem Reap International Airport for departure flight to the next destination. Visit to the Dance school of Aspeca where you can watch young children learn the ancient traditional Khmer dances. Visit Wat Inkosei built on the site of an ancient temple, which still remains. Continue to Wat Bo pagoda to view its well-preserved paintings. You will also observe monks making the various moldings, which adorn the pagodas. Visit a workshop where traditional shadow play puppets are made.

Tour includes:

• Land transfer per program
• Domestic airfare Phnom Penh –Siem Reap
• Hotel accommodation 3* hotel
• Full board meals
• Cold water and towel during the tour
• Tours and activities as stated above
• Boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake
• English speaking guide
• Entrance fees

Tour excludes:

• Travel insurance
• International airfares and airport tax
• Extra food and beverages
• Telephone and laundry
• Tips and personal expenses
• Visa services

Tour Notes:

• Please take your passport to check in hotel.
• Beware of your luggage and money.
• Inform in advance if you are vegetarian.
• Take hat, raincoat, insect repellent, water, torch, sun scream and cash.
• All customers must obey the order of your tour guide for your safety.
• Passengers are advised not to take along big luggage for convenience.
• From February to July, boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake is not recommended due to the low water level. The itinerary will be replaced by the visit to the Dance school of Apsara, Wat Inkosei temple, Wat Bo pagoda and a workshop where produces traditional shadow puppets.