Asia concierge

Signature Angkor

CAMBODIA

TRAVEL DOSSIER

A 4 day / 3 night comprehensive temple program incorporating various sites at Angkor together with a rich array of both natural and cultural attractions to provide a well balanced travel experience.

/ Summary

Asia Concierge

Signature Angkor 4 day / 3 night travel program PRIVATE TOURING

The temples of Angkor remain one of Asia’s grandest sites and continues to be a drawcard for thousands of visitors. Due to its vastness and historical riches we have been able to create a truly stunning diverse tour taking in all the main highlights of Angkor with a range of special elements for the discerning guest. We enjoy gourmet cuisine, exploration along hidden paths, elephant conservation, sunset cruising, and intimate cultural performances as well as wander the grandest temples of earth in an insightful way.

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The Bayon

Fast-track visa service provided on arrival. You are met outside the terminal by your Travel Expert and escorted to your hotel by luxury vehicle. Time/flight permitting/ and if you are not too tired after your flight, we take a short orientation tour of Siem Reap town. Visit a working Buddhist Pagoda en-route and then stop at your very first Angkorian ruin situated in a little-known location near the riverside of Siem Reap town.

After lunch and perhaps a wander along the shopping streets of the old town, check in to your hotel.

In the early afternoon, we avoid the main temple sites for now as we drive out through rice fields and bucolic villages along the way, to visit Bakong, part of the Roluos group of temples. Bakong was built at the behest of Indravarman I and consecrated in 881. The temple is historically remarkable as it became a kind of prototype of the typical Khmer temple pyramid, also called temple-mountain or step-pyramid, which is so apparent upon entry to the site. Here you will find many of Angkor Wat's structural elements, such as extensive use of sandstone, sculptural decoration, elevated temple levels, enclosure walls and surrounding moats, embankments with Naga-balustrads, were introduced at the Bakong.

After exploring the temple, we continue along the backroads of the nearby countryside. The quiet road follows the Roluos creek towards Wat Banteay Kbal Chen, a working Buddhist pagoda that is also home to the remains of an ancient Angkorean temple.

From here we journey towards Banteay Samre temple, where we enter via a hidden local trail off the main roads - walking will be entailed (after rains this final section may not be passable), or we continue by vehicle.

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..

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Angkor Wat from the main causeway

Angkor Wat at dawn

We highly recommend an early (5am) departure in our own luxury customised ‘tuk tuk’ for a pre-dawn drive through the forests towards Angkor Wat’s East Gate. A stunning introduction to the Temples of Angkor, lead by torchlight, we walk in the dark through the secluded East Gate to Angkor Wat itself. As the sun rises with first light on the temple we sit and ponder its magnificence whilst enjoying fresh coffee, juice, and perhaps a light snack with our own table setting, hidden away in privacy.

Feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the temple itself we are guided through the complex. One very personal way to experience the spirituality of Angkor in even more depth is to participate in a Buddhist blessing ceremony. A monk blessing is a tradition that dates back hundreds of years in Cambodia, and is performed for special occasions and auspicious dates. We arrange this solemn experience in a private location within Angkor Wat on a request basis.

After exploring Angkor Wat we continue on road by our ‘tuk tuk’ to Sra Srang (the baray, or reservoir of Angkor), to an exquisite traditional Khmer Wooden House for a full breakfast (if so required). Afterwards, we continue our journey by vespa (riding pillion with a credited driver) and loop around Sra Srang and on to some secret jungle trails, stopping at a hidden temple along the way on an ancient Angkorian road.

Continue on jungle paths behind Banteay Kdei, stopping en-route to explain about the local flora and fauna, and some lesser-known history. Continue to the deserted North Gate of Ta Phrom where we disembark our vespa’s to walk through the pristine forest. Walking through the temple in this way allows us to better experience Ta Phrom largely away from any crowds. Return to the hotel thereafter for lunch and some time at leisure.

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 and then return to our hotel for an evening at leisure.

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Siem Reap countryside

The Kulen Mountains

This morning we depart Siem Reap for our drive of around 45 minutes to the Kulen Elephant conservation area. In the foothills of Kulen Mountain lie 1100 acres of protected forest inhabited by the 14 Elephants of Angkor. For 22 years, these Elephants have given rides to visitors in the temples of the world heritage site. Today, they roam free in their natural habitat and are living testimony of a changing world. Here in the forest, they are at peace and unburdened, they rediscover relationships, natural food, and receive the best of care.

An exclusive private tour, (or join-in with other guests) spend your time observing the Elephants as they enjoy their natural surroundings without any commercial element of the tourism industry. The mission of Kulen Elephant Forest is to provide these resident elephants with a natural and comfortable retirement, but also to offer an educational approach to elephant conservation contributing to preserving the remaining elephants of Cambodia as well as their surrounding habitat.

After a local lunch (a gourmet picnic lunch can also be provided), we return to the hotel to freshen up. Alternatively, we can visit the trendy boutique/cafe/restaurant "Kandal Village" area for some personal browsing shopping and relaxation.

Towards our return to town we stop at Apopo Hero rats for a private demonstration and then on to Theams House to view its Art gallery with boutique shopping if so inclined.

Late afternoon we take a drive out to the lifeblood of Cambodia, the vast Tonle Sap Lake. We board our small private luxury boat for a twilight cruise taking in the sights of the lake including one of the floating villages, enjoying canapes and drinks along the way.

In the evening embark on a Taste of Siem Reap dine around tour by tuk tuk (3 courses at 3 different restaurants.) which affords a wide overview of the finer elements of modern day Khmer cuisine. Alternatively enjoy a special private cultural performance by Bambu Stage. Please discuss options with your Travel Expert directly.

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The Gate of Death

There is the morning opportunity to make a visit to Preah Khan temple, as we enter alone from it's rarely accessed south gate, where a wooden bridge connects the temple from its moat.

Preah Khan is incredibly vast and complex. It seems to be an endless labyrinth of rectangle courtyards and dark aisles. Outside of Cambodia, there are no comparably large forested areas as closely packed with ruins as Preah Khan. This 12th century sanctuary is Angkor's largest flat temple (meaning: all structures are on ground level, there is no elevated step pyramid).

Preah Khan’s original Sanskirt name was Nagara Jayashri, meaning “city of glorious victory", a reminder that at this place Jayavarman VII had defeated the Cham ruler of Angkor and thereby repulsed the foreign invaders. Preah Khan plays an important role in Cambodia’s history, as it is considered to have served as the first residence of Jayavarman VII within the area of Angkor and, due to this function, to have kept the royal insignia of this famous king, maybe for about a decade.

Most probably, Preah Khan was the temporary capital of Jayavarman, while he was preparing his later capital, the nearby Angkor Thom. A visit here provides a fitting farewell to these grand temple sites as you return to your hotel in time for a mid morning check out. You will be escorted to the airport 2 hours prior to your appointed flight departure time. Your Travel Expert will escort you from the hotel to your airline’s check in counter before proceeding through immigration and customs.

PROGRAM CONCLUDES

Asia Concierge

Preah Khanh temple

Asia Concierge

Signature Angkor

CAMBODIA

TRAVEL DOSSIER

Travel Designer Insights

An Angkor focused touring program with the finer touches to make it distinct, comfortable, discerning and highly educational. For the first time visitor it is integral to visit the main sites but conducted in a way that avoids the crowds and intermingles this with experiences that are far from the norm. Look for the carefully planned inclusions in the program content that highlight the riches of this destination beyond the temples themselves.

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and attractions of this Program