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Classic Cambodia |
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Classic Cambodia Itinerary Day 1: Arrive Siem Reap On arrival you will be met
by our professional guide at Siem Reap airport and transferred to
your hotel. This morning, you will visit the monumental magnificence of Angkor Thom - last capital of the Khmers, with its Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and the stunning Bayon temple. This 12th century masterpiece lies at the very centre of Angkor Thom and is an archaeological wonder of symmetry and grandeur. The exterior gallery walls have extensive bas-reliefs but the highlight is the “faces”, more than 200 of them, silent but with the famous half-smile playing on their lips. PJ de Beerski wrote of them; “godliness in the majesty and the size, mystery in the expression.” This afternoon, you will
visit the Angkor Temples at Ta Prohm, the temple that has been left
largely in it’s natural state since its “re-discovery” by French
explorers. Surrounded by jungle, its labyrinth of stone hallways is
overgrown with the roots and limbs of massive banyan trees, which
envelop the stone like tentacles. It is one of the largest temples
at Angkor, dedicated in 1186. Historians have noted its mystical
charm. You will continue to Preah Khan "The Sacred Sword", an
extensive monastic complex covering over 56 hectares built by the
Khmer King Jayavarman VII as a monastery and teaching complex. It is
one of a group of temple complexes situated on a small 'Baray'.
Preah Khan is the site of the World Monuments Fund ‘prime’ Asian
project a painstaking renovation whilst maintaining it’s mysterious
allures and superb original structure. Monuments Fund ‘prime’ Asian
project a painstaking renovation whilst maintaining it’s mysterious
allure and superb original structure. This morning, you drive to Banteay Srei; the citadel of women - a tiny, enchanting temple, which is one of the jewels in this remarkable city. Built of red sandstone in the tenth century and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, the carved male and female figures in the niches are exquisitely executed in both style and proportion. This is the most Indian of all the temples in Angkor and in the words of H.W. Ponder, is a fairy palace in the heart of an immense and mysterious forest. Continue to Banteay Samre, is a temple at Angkor, Cambodia located east of the East Baray. Built under Suryavarman II and Yasovarman II in the early 12th century, it is a Hindu temple in the Angkor Wat style. Named after the Samré, an ancient people of Indochina, the temple uses the same materials as the Banteay Srei. This afternoon, you drive to
Ton Le Sap Lake, the largest fresh water lake in South East Asia,the
lifeblood of the Cambodian fishing industry. The Mekong River, from
as a far away as Phnom Penh, reverses the direction of the Ton Le
Sap river to bring an overflow of water and silt to support both
rice growing and the breeding fish of many sizes and varieties.
Hopping on board a small shaded vessel and moving between the
floating homes and small fish farms you will experience close up,
daily lake life. On the way back to Siem Reap town between the palms
and other large vegetation you may take an optional visit to a
development project teaching young adults, stone carving, wood
carving, lacquer application, Les Artisans d' Angkor is a heart
warming reminder that progress in Cambodia can go hand in hand with
traditional crafts. This afternoon, visit the
Royal Palace, which was built in 1866 by King Norodom. The Palace is
actually a number of structures within a pagoda-style compound.
Silver Pagoda located within the Royal Palace compound, the Silver
Pagoda is so names because of its floor, which is made up of 5,000
silver tiles. The treasures are a solid gold Buddha encrusted with
9, 584 diamonds and weighing 90kilos and a small 17th century
emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. Continue to visit the National
Museum, which houses Khmer art especially sculptures, from different
periods of Cambodian history, 19th century dance costumes, royal
barges and palanquins. Over 5000 objects are on display including
Angkorian era statues, lingas and other artifacts, most notably the
legendary status of the ‘leper King.’ Though the emphasis is on
Angkorian artifacts, there is also a good collection of pieces from
later periods, including a special exhibition of post-Angkorian
Buddha figures. This afternoon, you will
spend time to shopping at Russian Market where you can find silk and
silver amongst many other souvenirs. You will get the chance to
experience to eating Sticky Rice with Banana outside the market.
After that, we will drive to Independent Monument, and take a short
walk across the park and take a photo. Late afternoon, you will take
a sunset boat along Mekong River Pick up from you hotel in
Phnom Penh and transfer to Kamport by overland. On the way to Kampot,
you will visit a cave at Kampong Trach, there is along cave that we
can go through to the La Ang Viel Sre 100 and La Ang Thmar Dos. At
these natural wells, there is evidence which prove that the wells
were the main filming place before the 70th decade. At the front of
the valley, there is a Chinese and Vietnamese pagoda. In front of
the cave, there is a Cambodian pagoda, which has been now maintained
by the pagoda committee permanently. Continue to Kampot and direct
to hotel for check in. Hotels used for this tour: Standard Tour Hotels: Golden
Banana, Siem Reap - Frangipani Villa, Phnom Penh - Champei Inn,
Kampot - Coolabah Resort, Sihanoukville |
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