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Cambodia is home to Indochina’s most magnificent site, the temples of Angkor.

Ornamented by the finest artisans of its time, once redolent with incense and prayer,
Angkor was once lost beneath the sands of time only to be re-discovered at the opening of
the last century. Whether one be king, queen, courtier or commoner, he or she would have
had a mind-transforming experience of the order and harmony of the universe, the
presence of powers far greater than mortal man. We know this because it is the same as we
enter Angkor today.
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Days 1 | Phnom Penh
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Upon arrival in Cambodia’s capital city you will be met and transferred to the hotel.
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Your afternoon sightseeing tour begins with a visit to the city’s namesake, Wat Phnom.
Founded in 1373, the pagoda was built to house Buddhist relics washed ashore by the
nearby Mekong River. The next stop will be one of Phnom Penh’s landmarks, the Royal
Palace, which was built in 1866 by King Norodom. The final visit for the day is the
impressive Silver Pagoda. The floor of this structure is comprised of more than 5,000
silver tiles and a gold Buddha encrusted with 9,584 diamonds is housed inside the
pagoda. You will then have time to stroll through the busy Russian Market before you
return to the hotel. This is a lively and busy outdoor market where one can find
everything ranging from silver and gold jewelry to wood carvings and t-shirts.
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Accommodations: Raffles Hotel

“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful,

we must carry it with us or we find it or we find it not.”!
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- Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Day 2 | Phnom Penh
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Today’s excursion offers an insight into Cambodia’s history during the reign of the
Khmer Rouge as you drive to the Killing Fields at Choeung Ek. A memorial stupa was
erected at this site in 1988, which contains over 8000 skulls belonging to the victims of
the Khmer Rouge regime. A total of 17,000 men, women, and children died at the
Killing Fields.
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After returning to Phnom Penh stop at Tuol Sleng Museum. In 1975 Tuol Svay Prey
High School was taken over by Pol Pot’s security forces and turned into a prison known
as Security Prison 21 (S-21). It soon became the largest center of detention and torture
in the country. The museum displays photographs of many of the victims’ faces.
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Following lunch, your tour continues with a visit to the National Museum which
houses a wonderful and extensive collection of both pre- and post-Angkorian pieces.
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We recommend a stop at the FCC (the Foreign Correspondent Club) for a drink as your
day winds down. The FCC is located just across from the river and has a large outdoor
terrace. This is the place where, during the war, the foreign correspondents from all
over the world would gather for cocktails and dinner!
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Accommodations: Raffles Hotel
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Day 3 | Kampong Thom
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Journey a bit off the tourist path and drive to the village of Kampong Thom. The
overland route between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap does not only offer a chance to get
a feel for rural Cambodia and village life outside the cities, but you will also come
across a few of the more remote temples in the area, some of them unrestored and
quite beautiful. Wat Kohear Nokor for example is a magnificent 11th-century Hindu
temple and Phum Prasat is a temple complex that occupies 4 ancient structures
considered to be among the oldest Khmer ruins in the area.
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Accommodations: Sambor Village Hotel

“The world is a book and those who do

not travel read only one page.”!
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- St. Augustine

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Day 4 | Siem Reap
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Continue on your way to Siem Reap crossing the historic Naga Bridge before reaching
the floating village of Kompong Kleang. Fewer tourists visit this area so that it still feels
genuinely untouched and peaceful. If you find yourself in Cambodia during the dry
season, you will be awestruck by the forest of stilt houses rising up to 10 meters into
the air. During the wet season the waters come up to within one or two meters of the
building floors. Kompong Kleang is a permanent community living within the food
plains of the great Tonle Sap Lake. Fishing is the main economy of this community,
which is the largest of its kind on the lake.
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Arrive in Siem Reap this afternoon and transfer to the hotel.
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Accommodations: Victoria Angkor

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Day 5 | Siem Reap
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The great site of Angkor was built between the 9th and 13th centuries when Khmer
civilization was at the height of its extraordinary creativity. From Angkor, the kings of
the mighty Khmer empire ruled over a vast territory that extended from the tip of what
is now Southern Vietnam northward to Yunnan in China and from Vietnam westward
to the Bay of Bengal. Angkor’s hundred or so temples constitute the sacred skeleton of a
spectacular administrative and religious center whose houses, public buildings, and
palaces were constructed of wood – now long decayed – because the right to dwell in
structures of brick or stone was reserved for the gods.
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The morning starts with a visit to the Angkor National Museum where the royal
historical path of this Golden Era of the Khmer Kingdom is being revealed through
state-of-the-art multimedia technology.
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From here the tour continues on to Angkor Thom, the Bayon Temple, famous for its 54
towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of the Buddha, then the Terrace of
Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King.
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You might want to have lunch at Haven Restaurant, an oasis away from the hustle and
bustle of Siem Reap. This socially and environmentally responsible eatery is committed
to supporting the local social enterprises and NGOs in Cambodia ranging from training
programs, English classes, and computer lessons for underprivileged young
Cambodians. From the locally and organically grown rice, to locally sourced coffees and
teas, to the bread purchased from the nearby bakery school, it is a priority of Haven to
assist in the healthy and safe development of Cambodia.
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In the afternoon return to Angkor to see Ta Prohm and Preah Khan, two very important
temples before heading into town to meander through the streets of Siem Reap with its
French bakeries and its buzzing markets.
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Accommodations: Victoria Angkor
Day 6 | Siem Reap
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After breakfast depart for Beng Mealea, an amazing and atmospheric off-the-beaten-
path 900-year old temple. Built in the 12th century during the reign of King
Suryavarman II, it features the same style as Angkor Wat but is mostly unrestored, with
huge blocks of stone lying in piles in its center. A truly magical site!
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Lunch awaits in a small inn known as the “Secrets of Elephants” before driving back
towards Siem Reap stopping en route at Banteay Srei, considered by many to be the
jewel in the crown of Angkorian art. It is made entirely of pink sandstone, featuring
some of the finest examples of stone carving in the world.
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The day concludes at Pre Rup temple in time for sunset!
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Accommodations: Victoria Angkor
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Day 7 | Siem Reap
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This morning, visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor
Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial
Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and
the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of
classical Khmer art and architecture.
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Enjoy an afternoon at leisure.
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Accommodations: Victoria Angkor
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Day 8 | Departure
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Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
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End of services.
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The above is a sample itinerary which covers the highlights and also takes you off the beaten path. We would be
happy to discuss your individual travel preferences and amend the itinerary accordingly.
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Pricing is dependent on your choice of accommodations, time of the year that you will be traveling, the final
itinerary, and the number of people in your group.
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Should you wish to discuss your individual travel plans to Cambodia please do feel free to reach to us via e-mail
at [email protected] or by phone at 1. 888.586.9958.