Early pick-up in a luxury 4x4 vehicle. This morning we drive into the Angkor Archaeological park and turn right just after Prasat Kravan Temple onto the ancient Angkorian Road now known as route 66!
We drive through the serene countryside on this ancient road, we make several stops to enjoy the quiet countryside with Phnom Kulen Mountain - the birthplace of the Khmer Empire - looming in the background. We stop to photograph an ancient Angkorian Bridge, before continuing to our first major highlight of the day - Banteay Ampil, a delightful temple site typically devoid of any visitors.
We take some time to explore this forgotten temple in the forest of which there is very little documented history, before continuing route 66, and then briefly on the main road to Beng Mealea.
We set aside at least one hour to explore this majestic temple; your Travel Expert will have some unique insights as to where to meander away from any crowds. We take a break to enjoy a local refreshing and replenishing coconut, and then continue to WCC (We Care Cambodia), a great partnership organisation of Asia Concierge providing free schooling to the local community of the surrounding Svay Leu area. Here we enjoy a local (simple) lunch (option to bring gourmet picnic or boxed lunch) provided by WCC and then, we take a short tour of the site to learn more about WCC's work in the community.
After lunch we continue by 4x4 and turn off the main road at Svay Leu town and head directly towards the bottom of Phnom Kulen. We are really off the beaten track now on a meandering difficult, and sometimes steep, dirt track which even our 4x4 may struggle with occasionally, but the effort will be worth it.
Arrive at Peung Kom Nuo and explore the stunning pristine rock carvings said to date back to the 11th century - a site completely unknown to tourists and not even well known to local archaeological experts. After exploring and photographing the magnificent rock carvings and views of the surrounding countryside, we head back to the main road and drive towards the Tonle Sap lake.
Depending on water levels, potential crowds, and our guide's recommendation at the time, we visit either Kompong Kleang or Kompong Phluk - the most authentic and pristine villages of the great waterway. Weather/water level permitting, we take a boat trip through the pretty mangroves of Kampong Phluk to explore this ancient way of life living off the lake to see the remarkable high stilted and floating houses. We stop for snacks and seasonal organic fruit at the community centre before returning to Siem Reap.
Alternatively (depending on available suppliers), we may take a boat from Kompong Phluk and cruise across the vast tonle sap lake to the well-known floating village of Chong Kneas. Whilst in the daytime it is somewhat of a tourist trap, we arrive in time for sunset after the crowds have gone. After a short boat tour of the now-back-to-normal un-touristy floating village, we then take some time to enjoy the peaceful stunning sunset on the lake with a glass of champagne, before taking the final 35-minute drive back to Siem Reap.
PROGRAM CONCLUDES
