Day 1: Siem Reap
After being transferred fro the airport to your hotel there will be a tour to the Angkor Wat complex. Angkor Wat was built between 1112 and 1152 by King Suryavarman II and dedicated to Vishnu, the Hindu god of preservation, although some people believe it is actually dedicated to the king himself as the temple faces west, representing death. It is the best preserved of all the temples. Its layout and its scale are simply breathtaking: the wall surrounding the enclosure measures 1,000 by 800 meters in length and the moat, said to represent the oceans of the world is 200 meters wide. The five towers that dominate the scene are said to represent the five peaks of Mount Meru, the mythical home of the omnipotent Hindu deity Shiva. Beautiful bas beliefs and carvings adorn the inner sanctuaries depicting various Hindu mythological epics, including the longest continuous bas relief in the world, which runs along the outer gallery walls. From here we proceed to the hilltop temple of Phnom Bakheng, and as the end of the day approaches, we climb the imposing remains for a truly memorable sunset.
Day 2: Angkor Wat
Today you will visit more of the amazing Angkor complex, including Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm temple. Angkor Thom was built by King Jayavarman II at the end of the 12th century, shortly after the completion of Angkor Wat. It is surrounded by a massive perimeter wall and a moat with five monumental gates and covers an area of more than ten square kilometers, indeed Angkor Thom means 'Great City'. The most important monuments are located in the centre of the city, namely the Bayon, Baphoun and the Terrace of Elephants. The Bayon in particular is a fascinating piece of architecture and one of the most photographed. It is a bizarre structure, with a total of 54 towers elaborately decorated with over 200 enigmatic smiling faces. Ta Prohm temple’s principal attraction is that it has not been rescued from the thick jungle, as the rest of Angkor Complex has. It looks much the same as it would have done when the French explorers came here 140 years ago, shrouded in undergrowth and the huge roots of old Banyan trees. One French writer eloquently described Ta Prohm this way: “With its millions of knotted limbs, the forest embraces the ruins with a violent love”. Also included in today’s itinerary are Takeo, Thammanon, Chau Say Tevoda, and Banteay Kdei.
Day 3: Angkor Wat
Early in the morning on day three, there will be a sunrise visit to Prasat Bakong, Preah Ko, and Lo Lei. These three temples form what is commonly known as the Roulos Group. The Roulos Group are the oldest temples in the complex, dating from 879-893. The most impressive of the three remaining temples is Prasat Bakong, a five-stepped pyramid temple dedicated to King Indravarman. The corners of the pyramid have statues of elephants and crouching lions guard the steps. In the afternoon there will be visits to Neak Prean, Preah Khan, Ta Som, Pre Rup, and Mebon. Neak Prean, as well as being a temple, is also a fountain, built in the middle of a pool representing the mountain-lake Anaavatapta in Hindu mythology.
Day 4: Tonle Sap
On morning four there will be the option of taking a boat trip down to Tonle Sap, Asia's largest inland lake, which swells to ten times its normal size during the wet season, or perhaps some last minute shopping before transferring to the airport for your departure flight.
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