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SIEM REAP & OUTER ANKOR

CAMBODIA

TRAVEL DOSSIER

A 5 day / 4 night comprehensive temple program incorporating various sites at Angkor together with the outer temples of Koh Ker and Beng Melea.

/ Summary

Asia Concierge

Siem Reap and Outer Angkor 5 day / 4 night travel program PRIVATE TOUR

Visitors to Siem Reap and the temples of Angkor can spend days on end exploring its many ruins and treasures. The scope of the area and the sheer scale of the sites often leave visitors surprised and enthralled. This 5 day program is enough to satisfy the most devout temple and history buff, with the inclusion of the main sites plus the ‘secondary’ but no less impactful, temples that offer a more intimate exploration. This is coupled with a full day out to the forested temple of Beng Melea and the more remote Koh Ker, both of which have only been open to tourism for less than fifteen years and hence are a main feature of this program.

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The faces of the Bayon

As the roosters begin to crow, we journey out to the Mother of all temples, Angkor Wat, the most important religious monument in Cambodia. If you are early enough watch the sun rise over the triple towers of Angkor Wat before taking a short breakfast at a local restaurant or picnic breakfast from hotel, then continue to visit the temple in the morning light.

Angkor Wat, the largest temple in the world, with a volume of stone equaling that of the Cheops pyramid in Egypt. It is unlike all the other Khmer temples in that it faces west, and is inspired by 12th Century Hinduism. Its symmetrical towers are stylized on the modern Cambodian flag. Conceived by Suryavarman II, Angkor Wat took an estimated 30 years to build. It is generally believed to have been a funeral temple for the king. It has been occupied continuously by Buddhist monks and is well preserved. Intricate bas-reliefs surround Angkor Wat on four sides. Each tells a story. The most celebrated of these is the Churning of the Ocean of Milk, which is located on the east wing. In it the Naga serpent, is twisted by demons and gods to spurt out the elixir of life.

Return to hotel for rest and lunch on own account.

In the mid-afternoon, you are collected by your Travel Expert and luxury vehicle to visit the main sights of Angkor Thom.

Our visit starts at the remote Eastern Gate, known ominously as the Gate of Death. From here we commence a short climb up the walls of Angkor Thom’s giant moat. 12kms in length, the wall is an attraction on its own. We walk along a short 500m stretch of the rampart to arguably the finest and best preserved gate of Angkor Thom – the Victory Gate.

From here we descend to end our temple visit at the mighty Bayon. This 12th century masterpiece lies at the very centre of Angkor Thom and is an archaeological wonder of symmetry and grandeur. We stay until night falls, when the crowds have dissipated and then return to our hotel for an evening at leisure.

Return to Siem Reap for evening at leisure. .

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Beautifully preserved Banteay Samre

After breakfast, you will drive to visit Kbal Spean, a spectacularly carved riverbed, set deep in the jungle to the northeast of Angkor. More commonly referred to in English as the ‘River of a Thousands Lingas’, the name actually means ‘bridge head’, a reference to the natural rock bridges at the site. It is about a half-hour walk to where the carving begins along a pleasant path that winds its way up into the jungle, passing by some interesting boulder formations along the way.

Carry plenty of water up the hill, as there is none available beyond the parking area. The path eventually splits to the waterfall or the river carvings. It is best to start with the river carvings and work your way back down to the waterfall.

Enjoy a picnic lunch. On the way back to Siem Reap town you will visit to Banteay Srei; the citadel of women - a tiny, enchanting temple, which is one of the jewels in this remarkable city.

Built of red sandstone in the tenth century and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, the carved male and female figures in the niches are exquisitely executed in both style and proportion.

This is the most Indian of all the temples in Angkor and in the words of H.W. Ponder, is a fairy palace in the heart of an immense and mysterious forest.

Continue to visit Banteay Samre a temple at Angkor, Cambodia located east of the East Baray.

Banteay Samre was cleared by a French archaeological team of Maurice Glaize in 1930. After extensive restoration work between 1936 and 1944 according to the method called Anastylosis, this temple is one of the finest and most complete Khmer monuments in existence.

Undoubtedly, Banteay Samre in its present condition is Angkor’s most significant flat temple from the Hindu period and the second most important example of the classical style of Angkor Wat, though smaller in size and therefore more intimate in its atmosphere. It is also a delightful place to spend the late afternoon as the light changes colour before we return to the hotel for an evening of rest and relaxation.

Return to your hotel thereafter and relax for the evening. Dinner recommendations are provided

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Ta Phrom

Pre Rup from the air

This morning (we always recommend as earlier a start as possible), visit Ta Prohm - the temple that has been left largely in its natural state since its “re-discovery” by French explorers. Surrounded by jungle, its labyrinth of stone hallways is overgrown with the roots and limbs of massive banyan trees, which envelop the stone like tentacles. It is one of the largest temples at Angkor, dedicated in 1186.

Continue to Preah Khan "The Sacred Sword", an extensive monastic complex covering over 56 hectares built by the Khmer King Jayavarman VII as a monastery and teaching complex. It is one of a group of temple complexes situated on a small 'Baray'. Preah Khan is the site of the World Monuments Fund ‘prime’ Asian project a painstaking renovation whilst maintaining its mysterious allures and superb original structure.

We enter alone from it's rarely accessed south gate, where a wooden bridge connects the temple from its moat, allowing for a more intimate exploration of this temple. As the site is vast we take our time to ensure our visit here is comprehensive.

Return to your hotel for lunch at some time at leisure.

In the afternoon we continue our exploration to Neak Pean, unique because it is a sanctuary located in the center of artificial ponds and surrounded by 4 points exactly as the Cardinals lake.

A small but not so heavily visited, temple nearby is Ta Som, a classic Bayon-style monastic complex consisting of a relatively flat enclosure, face tower gopuras and cruciform interior sanctuaries much like a miniature version of Ta Prohm.

A huge tree grows from the top of the eastern gopura. It is destroying the gate, but it is a photo classic, best seen in the late afternoon.

As the sun fades for the day we make our final stop at Pre Rup. Pre Rup is the largest Khmer temple from the first millennium and remains architecturally and artistically of superior interest. The build of this temple presents the transition of the pre-classic to the classic period of Angkor art. The foundations of Pre Rup are sandstone. But the warm reddish tone of laterite dominates this monument, as enclosure walls and pyramidal tiers are built from this porous volcanic stone.

Return to the hotel for an evening of leisure.

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Koh Ker Temple

Early morning overland drive to Beng Mealea, “Lotus Pond” temple, an early 11th Century Hindu temple built by Suryavarman II. If there is one temple to explore resplendent with jungle engulfing it, it is Beng Mealea. Clambering over large sandstone blocks to reach the inner sanctuary and eerie worship corridor is an exploration to remember. Garudas, hold up an outer platform, finer in detail than those to be found out in the elements of the Elephant Terrace at Angkor Thom. This is truly a stunning temple that has been left largely unrestored. We then continue to Kor Ker. Koh Ker temple, is the one of the main temple complexes lost to the jungle for many years and only recently opened up to a few hardy adventurers is the former tenth century capital of Koh Ker (also known as Chok Gargyar - 'Island of Glory’). Located in barren hill country some 85 kilometres (53 miles) northeast of Angkor, in the province of Preah Vihear the location was home to Jayavarman IV, the maternal uncle of the two previous kings and a great feudal landholder whom ascended the throne in 928. In only a few years, he had built many colossal sanctuaries dedicated to Shiva, ruling over large numbers of people in considerable splendour for twenty years until succeeded by his son Harshavarman I. The capital reverted back to Angkor in 944. The monuments of Koh Ker are arranged into three main groups. The first group is headed by the chief monument and state temple of Prasat Thom and includes the artificial baray, Beng Rahal and the ruins of the walled capital. The second group is a row of towers to the east of the Rahal, and a third group are several towers along a road running from the southern end of the baray. The whole region occupies an area of about 5 x 7 kilometre. Return to Siem Reap in late afternoon.

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Ta Phrom circa 1995

After days spent exploring the glorious temples of Angkor take this morning to have a leisurely visit through the charming township of Siem Reap. Explore the market and side streets and visit some of the boutique stores that cater to a wide range of tastes. Your Travel Expert will be on hand to steer you in the right direction based on your interests.

Lunch on your own account.

Transfer with guide to Siem Reap International Airport for departure flight to your onward destination.

PROGRAM CONCLUDES

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Exploring Beng Melea temple

Asia Concierge

SIEM REAP & OUTER ANKOR

CAMBODIA

TRAVEL DOSSIER

Travel Designer Insights

This program is really for temple and history aficionados. Many visitors underestimate the sheer scale and enormity of the former Angkor kingdom and don’t devote enough time to do it justice. This is why this program was created, to ensure the visitor leaves with a greater appreciation and understanding of the magnificence and importance of Angkor on the civilisation of Asia.

Click to hear your Travel Designer discuss the merits
and attractions of this Program