Travel Detail

This morning, visit Ta Prohm, built in the 12th century 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 and giant claws. 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. After lunch at a local restaurant, drive to Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and the heart of the Cambodian fishing industry. The Lake is the lifeblood for millions of Khmers living on and around it. Every year during the monsoon season the flow of water from the Mekong River changes direction forcing water back into the Tonle Sap Lake bringing nutrients that fertilize the rice fields and support the breeding of the 200+ fish species and other life. You will board a comfortable boat to see the true way of life in one of the floating villages of the Tonle Sap, here you can see how Khmers and Vietnamese live and work side by side.

This afternoon, you will visit Angkor Wat, which is widely regarded as the world's largest religious structure. Its massive stone volume is said to be equivalent to that of Egypt's Cheops pyramid. What sets it apart from other Khmer temples is its Western orientation and its inspiration from 12th-century Hinduism. The symmetrical towers of Angkor Wat have become a stylized feature of the modern Cambodian flag. The temple, which was envisioned by Suryavarman II, took an estimated 30 years to complete and is believed to have been built as a funeral temple for the king. Despite its age, the temple has been continuously occupied by Buddhist monks and has remained remarkably well-preserved. One of the temple's most notable features is the intricate bas-reliefs that adorn its four sides, each of which tells a unique story. Among these, the Churning of the Sea of Milk, located on the eastern wing, is the most celebrated, and your guide will provide a mystical explanation of its significance. Enjoy the sunset at the end of the tour.

Rosewood Phnom Penh

2 Night Stay

Depart early this morning to visit the Royal Palace, built in 1866 by King Norodom. The Palace is made up of a number of structures within a pagoda-style compound, one of which is the Silver Pagoda. The Silver Pagoda takes its name from over 5000 silver tiles and the building itself holds a number of national treasures. The most notable treasures are perhaps the life-sized gold Maitreya Buddha, decorated with 9584 diamonds and weighing 90 kg and also the small 17th century Emerald Buddha, made from baccarat crystal. Continue on to the National Museum, a Khmer temple-inspired building that houses the world's largest collection of Khmer art sculptures, ceramics and bronzes from different periods of Cambodia's history. Over 5000 objects are on display including Angkorian era statues, lingas and other artifacts, most notably the legendary statue of the "Leper King". Though the emphasis is on Angkorian artifacts, there is also a good collection of pieces from later periods, including a special exhibition of post-Angkorian Buddha figures. Finish the morning with a local shopping experience at Toul Tom Pong Market (also known as the Russian Market) where you can find silk, silver and countless souvenirs. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant (included) and in the afternoon visit the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum and Cheung Ek. During the Pol Pot regime, Toul Sleng, formerly a high school, was converted to a detention centre known as S21. After interrogation and often torture, prisoners were transferred to the "Killing Fields" where they were often tortured again and brutally killed. Visit Cheung Ek, it was a Chinese Cemetery before it became the Khmer Rouge's best known Killing Field. The remains of almost 9,000 bodies have been excavated from mass graves in this area. Today Cheung Ek is a Memorial site for Cambodians and visitors from all over the world to pay their respects for the lives that were lost. A memorial stupa has been erected and displays over 5,000 human skulls, bones and clothes of the victims. During the Khmer Rouge years, thousands of Cambodians were tortured and imprisoned in detention centres around the country; the visit is a profoundly moving but also depressing experience.

Phnom Penh - Riverside to Kep

Knai Bang Chatt

3 Night Stay

Kep to Phnom Penh - Riverside