Day 1 - Arrive Siem Reap - Angkor Complex (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.
This afternoon, set out to explore the mysterious temples of Angkor for the first time, as you cycle over quiet backroads to Angkor Thom. This was 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. 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 in the exact center of the city. 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.
Finish the day at the famous 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.
You will be there during sunset time, when Angkor Wat is less visited and the Apsaras will shine in the most beautiful light. Cheer on the start of your holiday in Cambodia with a champagne cocktail beside the moat for sunset.
Transfer back to the hotel. Get acquainted with Khmer cuisine as dinner will be served at Kanelle Restaurant in a beautiful wooden Khmer house.
30km bike
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 2 - Cycle Rolous - Kampong Phluck - Wat Roun (B/L/D)
Breakfast at your hotel.
Start your day with a 15 km cycle ride to the early temples of the Roluos Group. Roluos is the site of an ancient center of Khmer civilization known as Hariharalaya. It was the first town built by the Angkorian kings in the 8th and 9th century and consists of three main temples: Bakong, Lolei and Preah Ko. The surrounding countryside with its rice paddy fields and sugar palm trees are very typically Cambodian. Your destination is Roluos Pagoda, where Buddhist monks will celebrate a private blessing ceremony for you, wishing you health and a safe journey - a memorable experience!
From there, take a characteristic Cambodian vehicle to the shores of Tonle Sap Lake, where you will have the opportunity to learn about life on the lake. Tonlé Sap is 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. A delicious picnic lunch will be served in a floating house. (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).
Transfer back to Roluos Pagoda. Continue to cycle 12 km on the only remaining trace of the old Angkorian road between Beng Mealea and Angkor Thom, until you reach the temple of Chau Srei Vibol that is hidden in the jungle. Enjoy a break with some drinks and snacks.
From here, it is only a short 7 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: A tented adventure camp. Imagine waking up to the sounds of nature is an experience no hotel room can provide.
Set out to explore the village and surroundings with your guide, who will facilitate your encounters with the local population. This evening, a Khmer BBQ dinner will be prepared at the camp, which you can enjoy in comfortable and stylish sitting areas.
34km bike
Overnight in a tented adventure camp at Wat Roun.
Day 3 - Wat Roun - Banteay Srei - 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 trek will lead you up the close by Phnom Bok hill, from where you can enjoy a magnificent view of the plains below.
Now you are ready for today's cycle ride. First, head from Phnom Bok to the pretty temple of Banteay Samre for 5km, where you will enjoy your first break. On the way, you will have the option to stop at local communities and your guide will help you to interact with the locals 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). Continue for another 5 km to Banteay Srei, where you will discover the ''gem'' of the Angkor area. 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.
A picnic lunch avaits you at Banteay Srei Pagoda, before you cycle the 11 km back to the main Angkor area. Your target is one of the most illustrious of all temples, Ta Prohm. Ta Prohm is unique in that it has been left largely as it was found: overgrown by jungle trees and vines, with many parts of the temple crumbling to the ground. This makes the'Tomb Raider Temple' one of the most picturesque and memorable of the Angkor temples.
Transfer to the hotel. Tonight, an authentic Khmer meal will be served at The Sugar Palm on an atmospheric terrace.
21km bike
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 4 - 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.
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.
