Siem Reap Off The Beaten Path

DAY 01: SIEM REAP ARRIVAL (-/-/D)

We will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to the hotel to check in.

Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel in Siem Reap

DAY 02: SIEM REAP – HOLY KULEN MOUNTAIN (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:00 Drive to Kulen mountain – located 40km north of Angkor Wat, the Phnom Kulen mountain range provides Siem Reap with water and dominates the skyline of the flat plains surrounding it. Although the highest peak of the mountain range lies at only 487m, Phnom Kulen has much to offer visitors. The Cambodian people regard the site as the birthplace of the ancient Khmer Empire. King Jayavarman II claimed independence from Java there in 802 A.D. Travel in the morning by car through the countryside to Phnom Kulen and start the rather steep climb up by car. On top of the mountain you will visit a modern style pagoda that offers stunning views over the Angkor area. Visit the eight meter tall statue of a reclining Buddha and wash your hands at the Linga statue to purify your mind and body.

Continue to visit the river of One Thousand Lingas and the magnificent waterfall close to it. Take a refreshing swim in the stream and pool of the waterfall and enjoy a picnic lunch served in a natural setting. If time allows, take a stroll around the area with your guide and venture off the beaten track to take in the impressive forest and scenery. Tonight you enjoy dinner with local family and overnight in the village on the top of Kulen Mountain.

DAY 03: KULEN MOUNTAIN – SIEM REAP (B/L/-)

Breakfast at the home stay.

08:00 You will proceed straight to Srah Damrey, Damreay Krab and Ang Prochiev temple. As soon as you complete our visits to these temples of Mahendraparvata, on a nice trail of Kulen mountain.

Returned to Siem Reap, you stop on the way to visit to the intricately carved and well preserved temple of Banteay Srei. Along the way we make stopover at the Preah Dark village and we follow these with a visit the Banteay Samre temple adorned with impressive relief’s depicting scenes of Vishunu as well as Krishna legends. Dinner on your own. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap .

DAY 04: TONLE SAP LAKE – MECHREY FLOATING VILLAGE (B/-/D)

Breakfast at hotel.

In the morning Free on your own. Lunch on your own.

14:00 Be picked up from your hotel in Siem Reap and transfer to Tonle Sap lake (Mechrey village), it will take you 30 minutes driving. On arrival, board a local boat to cruise to the floating village,and do some Monk Blessing in the local pagoda and visit the open lake with kayaking through the floating villages and further to a mangrove forest with a sunset view over the village. Dinner and overnight with a local family in floating wooden house at Mechrey.

DAY 5: PREK TAOL VILLAGE BIRD WATCHING (B/L/D)

07:00 Breakfast in the early morning with the local family.

08:00 You will be heading out to Prek Taol village which is about 45 minutes by wooden boat. Then you continue by kayaking to the Bird Sanctuary through the Mangrove forest to visit all kind of water birds (more than 100 pieces). Lunch box will be provided on the side. Return to Prek Toal Village by a wooden boat . Enjoy kayaking through the floating village and visiting local daily life and fishing activities. Dinner and overnight in local floating house with local family at Prek Taol.

DAY 06: PREK TAOL VILLAGE – SIEM REAP (B/L/-)

07:00 Breakfast with the local family.

07:30 You will be transferred by a local wooden boat (about 1h) directly to the pier and then our guide with your driver will transfer you to your hotel in Siem Reap. Visit the Jungle temple of Ta Prohm. Continue forward to discover the world’s wonder site – Angkor Wat, the magnificent temple built in 12th century and it is the largest and first Hindu and Buddhist temple complex and the largest religious monument in the world. Lunch at local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we visit Angkor Thom. Dinner on your own. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

DAY 07: SIEM REAP – DEPARTURE (B/-/-)

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:00 Visit the market or “Les Artisans d’Angkor – Chantiers Ecoles” of Siem Reap. Transfer to Siem Reap International Airport for the departure flight to the next destination.