Cambodia tour of Culture, Nature & Wildlife

Welcome to Siam Reap, the gateway to the Angkor Wonder!
Met and greeted upon arrival and transfer to the hotel for check in (Check in time is 14.00). Remainder of the day is free at your leisure to relax or wander around exploring this lovely town at your own pace. Overnight at the hotel in Siem Reap.

Summary of inclusions

Private airport transfer

Hotel in siam reap

This morning we will spend time to explore the Angkor Thom, the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer Empire with visits to the South Gate of Angkor Thom, the Bayon Temple that consists of 54 towers featured with multitude of Buddha’s serene and mysterious smiling faces, the Royal Enclosure, the Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.
Following is the jungle covered temple of Ta Prohm, the famous sights known in the movie ‘Tomb Raider’ by Angelina Jolie, with enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers embracing over stone foundations of the temple’s structure giving the impression of man's creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces and make it one of the most picturesque and memorable of the Angkor temples

In the afternoon we will enjoy our discovery of Angkor Wat, the largest religious monuments in the World, symbol of the Great Khmer Empire, with its five impressive towers representing the 5 holy peaks of the Mount Meru, the home of the Hindu gods. It is well known for the more than 2,000 Apsara dancers decorating the temple. Construction is thought to have taken around thirty years of intensive labor. Today, Angkor Wat is figured on Cambodia's national flag as the temple symbolizes the soul of the Khmer people.
During sunset time, Angkor Wat is less visited, and it is a magical time to see the Apsaras shine in the most beautiful light.  
Evening is at your leisure. 

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

Sightseeing angkor

Breakfast

Hotel in siam reap

Breakfast is at the hotel and this morning we will explore the Preah Khan temple complex, built by King Jayavarman VII to honor his father, right on the site of his victory over the invaders. The name of the temple means ‘Holy Sword’ derived from the meaning of the original ‘the Holy City of Victory’. This huge temple complex was served as a Buddhist monastery and school, engaging over 1000 monks.
Continue to Neak Pean, a small island temple located in the middle of the last Baray, representing Anavatapta, a mythical lake in the Himalayas whose waters are thought to cure all illness.

In the afternoon we will visit the Roluos Group once the seat of Hariharalaya, first capital of Khmer Empire dating back from mid of 9th century. Temples here were built with different material from bricks, laterite to sandstone. Spend time to explore some prominent temples within the group such as Bakong – the stepped pyramid temple mountain with wonderful carvings on the false doors and lintels, Lolei – once an island temple with exquisite carvings and inscriptions representing the Mount Meru surrounded by the world ocean in Hindu mythology, Preah Ko – the Sacred Bull temple that built to honor the King’s ancestor.

Back to the hotel and remainder of the day is at your leisure.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

Sightseeing angkor

Breakfast

Hotel in siam reap

Leave the hotel early and take a half an hour transfer to the port at Mechrey where we embark on traditional wooden boat for a cruise to the Biosphere Reserve of Prek Toal across the flooded forest and the great lake. On the way, your guide will explain you about the unique hydrological system, ecosystem of the lake and its flora and fauna.
Picnic breakfast will be served for you on the boat.
Discover the natural splendor of the country as well as the centuries-old lifestyle of the inhabitants of the Lake. Enjoy bird watching at the Bird Sanctuary, the largest ornithological reserve of South East Asia under the guidance of a local ranger. The Prek Toal biosphere covers 31,282 hectares and is the living area of an incredible variety of water birds, including endangered species such as such as Greater and Lesser Adjuncts, Black-headed Ibis, Painted Stork, Milky Stork, Spot-billed Pelican, Grey-Headed Fish Eagle and many more.
Your guide’s knowledge of the birds and the flooded forest will give you the best opportunity to see and understand this complex natural ecosystem. 
Later, climb on a tree top platform to view bird colonies with telescope and binoculars.
(Please note that in the low water season from February to end of March, a visit to the tree top platform is not accessible, you will spend more time to enjoy the bird feeding along the main stream inside the Bird sanctuary)

Back to the village for a local lunch.
Following, visit the environmental education class and the water hyacinth handicraft workshop. Then, take a little boat rowing around to discover how the local community has adapted to their floating and ever changing environment: visit a family who live on a floating house to observe the local customs and talk with the host about the differences they face living on the water and visit some typical farms, floating school, floating gardens - a good opportunity to see the unique way of life.
Return to Siem Reap in the late afternoon and remainder of the day is at your leisure.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

Boat cruise

prek toal nature reserve explore

floating village visit

Breakfast & lunch

Hotel in siam reap

Breakfast at the hotel then say goodbye Siam Reap and embark on our drive along fascinating country landscapes toward the Elephant Sanctuary in Anlong Veng district of Oddar Meanchay province.
The Elephant Sanctuary also called Sang Rukhavoan Wildlife Sanctuary covers 30,254 hectares of land, was established to protect wildlife, ecosystems, biodiversity and natural resources in the area. The place rescued, protect and provide living habitat for animals including some elephants, endangered monkeys, birds and so on.
Spend our time to wander around, visit and interact with animals and learn about the job of people here.
Continue to Anlong Veng that located near the border with Thailand. This place used to be the last lair of the Khmer Rouge in the 1990s before it was totally broken off and dismissed. Here we will learn some information about the grim past and this genocidal organization, visiting ruined houses as well as the remnants of the structure where Pol Pot was convicted of crimes against the Cambodian people. The visit might otherwise be distressing but it helps us to understand more about a dark page in Cambodia’s history as well as the value of peace.
Drive further to Sra’aem you will find redeemed by the stunning mountain landscapes and for sure we will have ample opportunity to take pictures of the exceptional scenery.
Check in hotel and remainder of the day is to relax or wander around sightseeing the town.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

wildlife sanctuary visit

anlong veng sightseeing

Breakfast

Hotel in sra'aem

Get up early and a drive on spectacularly steep mountain road will take you to the Preah Vihear Temple at sunrise.

Located at the most stunning location of any Khmer site, the temple is perched on the top of Poy Tadi, a steep cliff in the Dangrek Mountain range which is the natural border between Cambodia and Thailand, dividing the Khorat Plateau from the lowland Cambodian plain below. It is about 550 meters from the ground level of Cambodia side. From here you will be rewarded with fabulous views over Cambodia’s and Thailand’s fertile plains. The Temple was mainly dedicated to the supreme god “Shiva” and took over 300 years to complete the construction by a few famous Khmer kings from Yasovarman of the 10th century to Suryavarman II of the 12th century so it bears elements of several architectural styles. The spectacular location paired with a unique temple design is the reason UNESCO enlisted Preah Vihear as a World Heritage Site.
Enjoy an unforgettable sunrise and spend time to explore this imposing temple then descend and return to the hotel.

Check out and heading south to the Tmatboey Bird Sanctuary, an eco-tourism project of the Wildlife Conservation Society of Cambodia where home to one of only two known nesting areas of the giant ibis. Situated in the isolated village of Tmatboey inside the Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary, the nature reserve is also the habitat of other rare bird species, including the white-shouldered ibis and the sarus crane. After fascinating wildlife observations, check in our accommodation and remainder of the day is at your leisure.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

phrea vihear sunrise

tmatboey bird sanctuary

Breakfast

Hotel in tmatboey

At the break of dawn, we set out on another excursion to the bird sanctuary for one more chance of a close encounter with rare bird species.
After breakfast, set off for Koh Ker, the Capital of the Khmer Empire for a very brief period from the year 928 to 944 AD and left to the jungle for nearly a millennium and mostly un-restored. Sitting on roughly 35 square kilometers of land, Koh Kehr is made up of a large number of buildings of different sizes. The Koh Ker site is dominated by Prasat Thom, a 30 meter tall temple mountain raising high above the plain and the surrounding forest. Great views await you at the end of an adventurous climb.

Continue our way to Beng Mealea, the temple built by Jayarvaman VII in the style of Angkor Wat. Its scale is huge, being well over one square kilometer and surrounded by moat.  Approached by a four causeways, Beng Mealea appears to be a huge pile of rubble partially hidden in the trees. Built mostly of sandstone, Beng Mealea has the beauty of the dilapidation and ranks among the Khmer empire's largest temples.
Drive for more than an hour to get back to Siam Reap. Check in hotel and the evening is at your leisure.

Summary of inclusions

bird watching

ancient relics explore

private vehicle

Breakfast

Hotel in siam reap

Breakfast at the hotel.
Enjoy your time at leisure to relax or discover Siam Reap on your own until getting private transfer to the airport for your flight home or onward destination.
Safe travel and see you again!

Summary of inclusions

Private airport transfer

Breakfast