TOMB RAIDERS TOUR

3 DAYS

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OVERVIEW

Siem Reap / Cambodia

Terrace of the Leper King
Bayon Information Center
Women Citadel-Banteay Srei- Siem Reap- Cambodia

ITINERARY

3 Days Siem Reap - Tomb Raiders

Day 1: (D): Siemreap arrival around noon or in the morning.
On arrival, pick up separate and transfer to hotel. In the afternoon, transfer to visit Prasat Kravan with its unique brick sculptures and Ta Prohm. One of the area’s most beautiful temples, Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Its appeal lies in the fact that, unlike the other monuments of Angkor, it was abandoned and swallowed by the jungle, looking very much the ways most of the Angkor temples appeared when European explorers first stumbled upon them. Visit as well Takeo, Chau Say Tevoda and Thommanon. In the afternoon, visit Preah Khan temple. Built by the King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulders-hanging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, Preah Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation. Then walk up to the mountain-temple of Pre Rup until sunset. This evening, enjoy dinner with Apsara dance show. Overnight in Siem reap.

 Day 2: (B): After breakfast, pick up at hotel and transfer to visit Wat Thmey which is located about 3 km from the centre of Siem Reap along the exit road from Angkor. Then depart to visit to the recently opened Bayon Information Centre which is a joint office of UNESCO and the Japanese NGO JASA (Japanese Government Team for Safeguarding Angkor). The main exhibition hall is in a pleasant two-story open-air building featuring panels and pictures and information about Angkor, the Bayon, and ceramics unearthed near the temples. Then continue to visit the South Gate (with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk), the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century) and visit Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara) You’ll meet here with a project archaeologist who will then escort you on a private tour of the Bayon’s south library which is currently undergoing restoration, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.
Afternoon, 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. Angkor Wat’s five towers symbolize Meru’s five peaks – the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond. Overnight at the same hotel.

Day 3: (B,L): Siem Reap – transfer to airport: Transfer to the archaeological site for the sunrise from the Phnom Bakheng, one of two hills dominating the plain of Angkor, from where you will have a spectacular view of theWestern Baray and Angkor Wat.
Return to the hotel for breakfast.
After breakfast, this morning at 7:00, you will have an exciting day excursion to Kbal Spean the River of a Thousand Linga, dating from the early 11th century, the relief carving that line the stream beds are said to purify the water before it fills the reservoirs of Angkor.
Picnic lunch at Kbal Spean or on van on the way to visit the Banteay Srei, the beautiful ‘Women’s Citadel’. Located 37 kms. From Siem Reap town, this was Cambodia’s last major Khmer temple to be re-discovered. This temple has the best engravings among all the ruins and was used in the film ‘Lara Croft Tomb Raider’. Then transfer to airport for your flight to next destination.