We begin today with an early start as we depart the hotel at dawn. Our drive takes us out of Siem Reap heading south along the way to the immense Tonle Sap Lake – the lifeblood of Siem Reap and Cambodia. Arriving at the base of Phnom Krom, we drive up the distinctive hill and meet the resident monks for an instruction on meditation. 

The temple Prasat Phnom Krom was built about 900 AD by Yashovarman I. This very first king residing in Angkor used all three natural hills in the plains of Angkor for temple buildings on top of them. Phnom Krom's sister temple on the remote Phnom Bok east of Angkor is a very similar structure, consisting of three Prasats in a north-south row, open to the east and west, and with additional edifices to the east, whereas the temple on top of Phnom Bakheng, right in the centre of Yashovarman's newly founded Khmer capital, was crowned with a much huger pyramidal structure, decorated with 109 Prasats. Remarkably, it was predominately sandstone which was used for the Prasats of this early period, whereas the later tenth century Prasats are brick-stone constructions. 

The length of the meditation session depends on the individual, the longer you can manage, the more you can be at peace with yourself. Generally the meditation session normally lasts for around 30 minutes. We then relax after meditation and watch the sunrise as daily life begins in the villages down below. 

There are no tourist crowds at Phnom Krom, we are in total harmony with the serene environment as we watch the sun rise over the attractive surrounding countryside and wetlands. 

A breakfast hamper is provided in our private setting overlooking the beauty of the great Tonle Sap Lake before we continue on with an enjoyable boat ride around the Chong Kneas floating village. Again, we take in this experience before the tour groups arrive later in the morning. (Boat trip takes approximately 1.5 hours (October-February). 

On the way we stop at an organic farm and see (and taste) the local produce and learn about the local community project. We then continue to a local home stay residence to enjoy an early local lunch with expansive views of the sacred Phnom Krom mountain where we practiced our meditation this morning . 

After taking a stroll through the farm and attractive village, we then return to the hotel to rest for the remainder of the day.

PROGRAM CONCLUDES