Classic Cambodia Itinerary - Akorn Destination Management

Classic Cambodia
Duration: 6 days
Highlights: Siem Reap, Angkor Wat, Phnom Penh.
A fascinating introduction to Cambodia - a land of intriguing ancient cultures and warm, welcoming locals.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrive Siem Reap
Your travel experience starts the minute you disembark when our representative will be there to breeze you through immigration and customs through a special channel.
After clearing immigration and customs, our guide will accompany you to the legendary Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor.
After a traditional Khmer lunch, get an insight into Angkor through Darryl Collins, a leading expert in Khmer history. His passion for Asian arts brought him to Cambodia in
1994 with a team of experts from the National Gallery of Australia to work with an Australian government-funded project assisting the National Museum of Cambodia in
Phnom Penh. Drawing on the knowledge that he gained in Cambodia and his passion for Asian arts, he lectures at the Department of Archaeology at the Royal University of
Fine Arts in Phnom Penh. Besides lecturing he spends the rest of his time writing about art, architecture and culture.
Late afternoon, visit Angkor Wat, the largest of the Khmer monuments. Built around the first half of the 12th century by King Suryavarman II, the temple's balance,
composition and beauty make it one of the finest monuments in the world.
This evening before dinner join the children from a local orphanage for a traditional folk dance.
Overnight: Raffles Grand Hotel d' Angkor
Meal Plan: L
Day 2 - Siem Reap
Early morning witness the beautiful sunrise at Angkor Wat which is regarded by many as the quintessential Angkor experience.
After breakfast, continue to another great sight. Known to many as the pink temple, Banteay Srei is a 10th century temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Banteay Srei is
built largely of red sandstone, a medium that lends itself to the elaborate decorative wall carvings which are still observable today.
On the way to Banteay Srei, visit one of the local villages where we have helped provide a series of water wells that supply fresh water to the local village. Free flowing fresh
water is a basic humanitarian necessity that the Cambodian government is currently unable to provide to all of the villages in the countryside. Through the kind and generous
donations of our guests, we have been able to provide over 30 villages with fresh water under guidance of our local expert guides. We are very proud to be affiliated to this
wonderful humanitarian Cambodia Clean Water Project.
Continue your journey to the Landmine Museum and meet Aki Ra, founder of the Cambodia Landmine Museum and National Project Manager for the CLMMRF (NGO). He
began his life as a child living in the countryside prior to the Khmer Rouge Revolution. His mother and father were killed during the Pol Pot regime and he soon found himself
living in a Khmer Rouge camp for children.
Return to the hotel at midday for some time to relax. After lunch, visit Angkor Thom, the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire. Standing tall within Angkor
Thom is the Bayon temple which was the last state temple to be built at Angkor and it’s here that the Terrace of the Leper King and the Terrace of Elephants can be seen.
Overnight: Raffles Grand Hotel d' Angkor
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Day 3 - Siem Reap
After breakfast, begin by visiting Little Circuit, the route comprising Victory Gate, Thommanon, Chau Say Tevoda, Spean Thma, Takeo, Ta Prohm, Banteay Kdei and Prasat
Kravan.
Move on to the Grand Circuit, a royal city forming a rectangle of 700 by 800 metres, surrounded by a moat similar to Ta Prohm but only with four enclosures.
After lunch at local restaurant, you will embark on a boat to visit the floating village of Tonle Sap. The residents of the floating village reside on houses which stay afloat on
the river and the lake. An unusual characteristic of this river is that its water flow changes, depending on the season. As the rainy season sets in and as the water level rises,
the residents move their houses by boat closer to shore. During the dry season, they again move their houses towards the lake.
The river links the Mekong River to the southern end of the Great Lake. The lake was the lifeline of the Khmers as it served as a source of fish and rice to the agrarian society.
After that transfer to Artisans D’Angkor which was created to help young people find work in their home villages, allowing them to practice their crafts and providing them with
a vocation and a role in society. Artisans D’ Angkor has renewed Khmer cultural identity and showcases traditional Cambodiam workmanship.
Overnight: Raffles Grand Hotel d' Angkor
Meal Plan: B,L
Day 4 - Siem Reap - Phnom Penh
After breakfast your guide will accompany you to Siem Reap airport for your flight to Phnom Penh. After clearing immigration and customs upon arrival in the Cambodian
capital, you will be will be transferred to Raffles Hotel Phnom Penh.
In the afternoon, you will visit the The Royal Palace. The structure you will be seeing today was constructed earlier this century on the site of the Banteay Kev, a citadel built
in 1813. The structure is strongly influenced by the Royal Palace and the Royal Temple in Bangkok. Visitors are only allowed to go inside the Palace’s Silver Pagoda and its
surrounding compound.
The Silver Pagoda, also known as Wat Preah Keo, was given its name because of over 5,000 silver tiles weighing 1 kilogram each that cover the floor.
Continue to the the National Museum of Khmer Art and Archaeology, otherwise known as “Musee des Beaux-Arts” or “Musee Albert Sarraut”. This museum is considered to
be one of the finest museums of classical Cambodian art.
The Russian Market is popular among tourists, local expatriates and Cambodians alike. Located in southern Phnom Penh it is so called because of its popularity among
Russian expatriates during the 1980s.
Overnight: Raffles Hotel L' Royal
Meal Plan: B,L
Day 5 - Depart Phnom Penh
This morning transfer to the airport for your flight home, via Bangkok. Upon arrival in Bangkok a representative will be there to assist you with any transit procedures.
Meal Plan: B