Thailand and Cambodia - (7 Nights / 8 Days)

Upon arriving Siem Reap airport, a charming city which serves as the gateway to the famed Temples of Angkor, which is over 40 km2 and home to more than 100 temples dating back from the 9th to the 13th century.Your guide will meet you and accompany you to your hotel and assist with the check in procedures.

In the afternoon, travel to the “gem” of the Angkor area, the pretty temple of Banteay Srey, which is best viewed in the warm morning light. The so-called “Citadel of the Women” was built between the 11th and 13th century and 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, depicting Hindu god Shiva. Banteay Srey is unique in that it is constructed of pink sandstone, which is seen nowhere else in Angkor.

On the way back, 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 as much as possible about the way of life. Seize the opportunity to see how rice paper is produced and to taste Palm Wine and Palm Sugar, which are a popular local produce. Peek into Banteay Samre, a fine temple in the style of Angkor Wat and Pre Rup, a temple in the form of pyramid amidst the rice fields before heading back to your hotel for some time at leisure.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

In the morning after enjoy breakfast at your hotel, start explore the biggest religious temple in the world with your experienced guide. Built during the reign of the great King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, Angkor Wat is constructed following the model of the temple mountain symbolizing the Mount Meru, home of the gods. The divine residence of Vishnu, the King himself was to reside here after his death. 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. Moreover, 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.

In the afternoon, visit the ancient city of Angkor Thom. Angkor Thom 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, with each side of the city being 4 km long, drawing a perfect square. You will enter the city from 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 centre of the city. This 12th century masterpiece is a study in grandeur. The exterior gallery walls have extensive, superb bas-reliefs, particularly the East and South Galleries. The latter depicts a battle procession featuring warriors, musicians, elephants and scenes of everyday life on the road, while the east gallery portrays the battle fought in 1177 between the Khmers and the Chams in southern Vietnam. 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.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

After taking breakfastexplore the temples of the Small Circuit. Start your tour with a visit to Ta Prohm temple, built in the mid 12th to early 13th centuries. 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 Ta Prohm one of the most picturesque and memorable of the Angkor temples. Your visit will also include Banteay Kdei, a Buddhist monastery from the late 12th Century, and Srah Srang, also known as the “pool of ablutions”.

PreahKhan Temple. This temple was built approximately during the same period as Ta Prohm, and originally served both as a religious university and a temple. Continue to Neak Pean, unique because it is not a temple but a sanctuary placed in the center of an artificial lake and connected to 4 surrounding ponds exactly at Cardinals points. Your final visit will be to the 10small temple of Ta Som, a Buddhist temple built under Jayavarman VII. Then visit Prasat Kravan; the unique brick towers contain large wall sculptures of Vishnu and Laksmi. Pre Rup is the architecturally and artistically superior temple-mountain and the most comfortable place to see sunset over the rice field.

In the morning, after breakfast at the hotel, head out to the mighty Tonlé SapLake the largest freshwater lake in Asia, Tonlé Sap Lake is an exceptional water system as it is swelling to almost five times its size during the raining season. The water of its main drainage, the Tonlé Sap River, is being pushed back from the Mekong carrying an incredible amount of water from the rains, causing the river to reverse its direction and thus causing the lake to overflow, flooding nearby fields and forests and supporting an extraordinarily rich and diverse eco-system. The Lake is also an important breeding ground for fish, providing more than half of the fish consumed in Cambodia. The particular water system requires that the people living of the lake adapt to the living conditions.

Then transfer to visit the colorful market to enjoy souvenir hunting before transfer to the airport for taking domestic flight from Siem Reap to Phom Penh on VN9854 at 15:25 – 16:15 PM.

Upon arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport, you will be greeted by your guide and transferred to your hotel in the heart of the city. Phnom Penhwas once considered as one of the most beautiful cities in the Orient, and despite its recent turbulent history, it still retains a colonial charm, as much of its original architecture remains. Cambodia’s capital is a bustling city, majestically located at the confluence of the mighty rivers of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap.

The rest of the day will be at leisure (NO SERVICE PROVIDED). Overnight in Phnom Penh.

In the morning after breakfast at the hotel, transfer to visit Royal Palace which was the last palace built during the French colonial period in 1866. The same complex houses the Silver Pagoda, named for the over 5000 heavy silver tiles that cover its floors. Its original name is Wat Prakeo, meaning Temple of the Emerald Buddha. In this temple you will view a collection of Buddhas in gold, silver, crystal, and bronze.

After that head to the National Museum which was designed by George Groslier and the Ecole des Arts Cambodgiens. The museum was built in traditional Khmer style in 1917 and was inaugurated in 1920 by King Sisowath. It houses the world's foremost collection of ancient Khmer archaeological, religious, and artistic artifacts from the 4th to the 13th centuries. Over 5,000 pieces are on display, constituting the repository of the Kingdom's cultural wealth. In addition, the roof space is home to a large bat colony!

Then continue to visit Wat Phnom, which is situated near the northern boundary of the city. The original temple was built in 1372 by a rich Khmer lady named Penh, who found a collection of statues of the Buddha washed up on the river bank and decided to house them on a nearby hill ("Phnom"). The site contains some good examples of Khmer architecture and statues.

In the afternoon, you will explore the recent dark history of Cambodia on a visit to the Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocide. The museum is housed in the former school that was taken over by the Khmer Rouge and used as its main detention and torture center. You will also visit the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, 15 kilometres outside of the city.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

After breakfast at the hotel, free at leisure (NO SERVICE PROVIDED) until the time transfer to the airport for taking departure flight to Bangkok. Upon arrival at Bangkok International Airport our local representative will welcome you and take you to your hotel. The day is free for leisure.

Overnight at hotel in Bangkok.

After breakfast at the hotel, be ready for the half day city tour of Bangkok. Evening is free for leisure.

Overnight at hotel.

After taking breakfast at hotel transfer to airport for the return flight.

Tour End