Day 1 - Arrive Siem Reap (D)
Upon arrival in Siem Reap, your local English speaking guide will welcome you and accompany you to the hotel for check in. Relax after your flight and enjoy some time at leisure.
Upon arrival in Siem Reap, your local English speaking guide will welcome you and accompany you to the hotel for check in. Relax after your flight and enjoy some time at leisure.
This afternoon, set out on your first cycling adventure to explore the rural charms of the Cambodian countryside. A rich tapestry woven with lush scenery, colorful bustling villages, stilted houses, hidden temples and dusty back roads hedged with sugar palms await you.
You will pass through the Village of Chreav on route to the Tonle Sap Lake. The Tonle Sap is South East Asia's largest freshwater lake with its size varying greatly depending on the season, as it swells to about four times it size during the wet season.
Down meandering trails with flashes of effervescent green and rich red earth abound from the fields; the fragrant smell of lotus blossom from Buddhist shrines excites your senses. Stop for a well earned rest in the shade of the ancient Wat Athvea and take some time to explore this temple. Weave your way through the dusty back roads to a small stilted hammock bar overlooking the rice fields, where you will stop for light refreshment before proceeding to the seldom visited Phnom Krom hill.
The temple at Phnom Krom sits on top of one of the best vantage points overlooking the vast expanse of the Tonle Sap Lake. Take in this view as the sun sets.
Transfer back to your hotel. This evening, you will have your first encounter with Khmer Cuisine at The Sugar Palm, served in a traditional Khmer house with a charming warm interior.
17km bike
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 2 - Angkor Trekking (B/L/D)
Breakfast at your hotel.
A short transfer will bring you to the beginning of your temple exploration experience. You set out like the first explorers did on foot, trekking through the dense jungle of the magnificent temples of Angkor. Your first destination is Angkor Wat. Built during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, Angkor Wat is constructed following the model of the temple mountain symbolizing Mount Meru, the home of the gods. Inside the temple, the walls are covered with stone carvings and bas-reliefs depicting Hindu mythology and the wars Suryavarman II fought during his reign. Angkor Wat 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.
Walking from temple to temple is a unique way to see these magnificent ruins: glimpses of small temples can be spotted amongst dense jungle, towers appear looming overhead, and the sheer number of ruins along the way is staggering. Stop on the way for lunch at a simple local restaurant. From here, find your way through the forest towards the ancient city of Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. This city is surrounded by an 8 m high wall, drawing a perfect square.
Take some time in the shade of a sugar palm tree as you take in the expanse of the moat of Angkor Thom before you enter the city through the ancient South Gate, an impressive stone gate carved with Elephants and four giant faces. On each side of the entrance path a row of 54 gods or demons is holding the sacred Naga snake.
From here, continue to Bayon Temple through meandering sandy trails that lead you through the dense jungle canopy. This 12th century masterpiece is a study in grandeur and is well-known for its 54 towers with enigmatic faces representing the 54 provinces of the Great Khmer Empire. The Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King are also must-visits as they are both known for their intricate bas-reliefs. Return to your hotel for some time at leisure.
Tonight, enjoy a delicious barbecue in the popular Mr. Grill restaurant.
10km trek
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 3 - Siem Reap - Phnom Kulen - Beng Mealea - Siem Reap (B/L/D)
After breakfast at your hotel, transfer through seemingly endless rice fields and friendly local villages to Phnom Kulen, an impressive sandstone plateau in this otherwise flat area. The mountain is considered the birthplace of the Khmer empire and a sacred place for the Khmer. At the top of Phnom Kulen, you will discover stone carvings in a riverbed, a large reclining Buddha from the 16th century and visit several hidden pagodas. One of the main attractions is a waterfall where you can take a refreshing bath. From here, trek east to Svay Leu Pagoda. On the way you will discover Cambodia's pristine jungle and some wildlife as well as the lychee trees Kulen is famous for. There is often a lively local market near the pagoda which you have time to explore - a real insight into the way of life in this remote area. Now you are ready to start the second part of today's adventure: Cycle south on less used roads to Beng Mealea. We will have lunch here. Feel like an explorer when you discover the completely overgrown temple. Undiscovered for centuries, Beng Mealea has only recently been made accessible and remains unrestored. It is one of the very few temples that actually give the opportunity to climb through it. Explore the place on a trek through the jungle ruins and beyond.
Transfer back to Siem Reap. A filling and delicious dinner will be served in a contemporary setting at Nest Angkor Restaurant.
35km trek
15km bike
15km bike
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 4 - Siem Reap - Banteay Srei - Wat Roun (B/L/D)
This morning, get in the saddle again for a gentle cycling tour to Banteay Srei via backroads and villages. On the way, you will have the possibility to stop at local communities along the way and your guide will help you to interact with the local community to learn about the way of life here. Seize the opportunity to see how rice paper is produced and to taste Palm Wine and Palm Sugar, which are a popular local produce (seasonal).
Visit the Landmine Museum which promotes mine awareness. Mr. Aki Ra, the museum founder, was trained as a child soldier during the Khmer Rouge regime and is working today as a de-miner. The museum serves also as a rescue center for a number of landmine amputee children that Aki Ra has brought off Phnom Penh's streets or from impoverished rural communities.
Arrive at the ''gem'' of the Angkor area, the pretty temple of Banteay Srey. The so-called ''Citadel of the Women'' remains the best preserved temple in Cambodia. It displays some of the finest examples of classical Khmer art as this small temple is noted for its truly remarkable fine bas-reliefs. Banteay Srey is unique in that it is constructed of pink sandstone, which is seen nowhere else in Angkor.
Before you explore the temple, enjoy a picnic lunch in a relaxed setting at Banteay Srei Pagoda.
From Banteay Srei, it is only a short 18 km ride to Wat Roun, a traditional village that is among the most scenic in Cambodia, set amidst a sea of rice fields. Here, in a clean and safe place on the premises of a picturesque wat, you will find your home for tonight: An adventure style tented camp in the grounds of the pagoda. Imagine waking up to the sounds of nature is an experience no hotel room can provide.
Set out to explore the pagoda, village and surroundings with your guide, who will facilitate your encounters with the local population. This evening, a Khmer BBQ dinner will served at the camp, which you can enjoy in comfortable and stylish sitting areas.
55km bike
Overnight in a tented camp at Wat Roun.
Day 5 - Wat Roun - Phnom Bok - Tonle Sap - Siem Reap (B/L/D)
Get up early as you will be invited to witness the monks at Wat Roun perform their morning rituals, and you will have many chances to meet the monks personally. Breakfast at the camp.
Later on, a short cycle through the village will bring you to Phnom Bok hill, where a short trek will lead you to the top, from where you can enjoy a magnificent view of the plains below. Walk down towards the pretty temple of Banteay Samre, where you will enjoy a relaxing lunch break.
From here, a military style jeep will take you on a journey towards Tonle Sap Lake (35km), South East Asia's largest freshwater lake with its size varying greatly depending on the season, as it is swelling to about four times it size during the wet season. Board a local boat and visit Kampong Phluck, a village where you will see houses on stilts that are submerged when Tonlé Sap Lake extends. On the way, you will pass floating houses and impressive flooded forests, portraying life on the water.
(NOTE: Due to low water levels during the dry season, the boat trip is only possible from June to March, but we can arrange an overland visit to Kampong Pluck that is an equally interesting experience, as you can walk among the stilted houses). Return to Siem Reap.
Tonight, enjoy a Khmer dinner at Viroth's, a stylish and comfortable restaurant set in a quiet garden.
5km bike
10km trek
10km trek
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 6 - Siem Reap - Departure (B)
Enjoy the day at leisure. If you are up for some more action, join one of our optional tours:
Quad Bike Tour
A 4 hour tour that takes you to Wat Athvea pagoda and the Chres Village Orphanage or take a tour to one of the less visited temples such as Prasat Pre Monti. Enjoy the countryside and villages where life, almost untouched by a fast changing Asia, goes on much as it has for centuries.
A 4 hour tour that takes you to Wat Athvea pagoda and the Chres Village Orphanage or take a tour to one of the less visited temples such as Prasat Pre Monti. Enjoy the countryside and villages where life, almost untouched by a fast changing Asia, goes on much as it has for centuries.
Horse Back Riding
Head to the Happy Ranch outside of Siem Reap, the only western style horse ranch in Cambodia. There you will get acquainted with your horse of pure Cambodian breed, a descendant of the Mongolian wild horses. Enjoy the countryside on horseback! During the 2-hour trail ride you will get to places far outside the tourist area, through the rice fields and local villages to the rarely visited temple of Wat Atvea. Explore the peaceful temple ruins of the Angkorian era, a truly authentic experience. Return to the Happy Ranch on horseback through small, quiet paths.
Head to the Happy Ranch outside of Siem Reap, the only western style horse ranch in Cambodia. There you will get acquainted with your horse of pure Cambodian breed, a descendant of the Mongolian wild horses. Enjoy the countryside on horseback! During the 2-hour trail ride you will get to places far outside the tourist area, through the rice fields and local villages to the rarely visited temple of Wat Atvea. Explore the peaceful temple ruins of the Angkorian era, a truly authentic experience. Return to the Happy Ranch on horseback through small, quiet paths.
Microlight Flight over Angkor
Take a 15 minute flight in a microlight aircraft and see the Angkor Temples from above. A unique experience!
Take a 15 minute flight in a microlight aircraft and see the Angkor Temples from above. A unique experience!
Massage Treatment
After a holiday of cycling and climbing around temples ruins, a relaxing massage at Bodia Spa can do wonders. Massage for health and relaxation is a time-honored tradition throughout Southeast Asia and you will feel completely rejuvenated after.
Transfer to the airport for your individual departure flight.
After a holiday of cycling and climbing around temples ruins, a relaxing massage at Bodia Spa can do wonders. Massage for health and relaxation is a time-honored tradition throughout Southeast Asia and you will feel completely rejuvenated after.
Transfer to the airport for your individual departure flight.
