8 Days Phnom Penh – Battambang – Siem Reap Tour

DAY 1: PHNOM PENH – ARRIVAL (D)
Upon arrival at airport, meet and greet from our local guide and transfer to check in at your Hotel.
Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Phnom Penh

DAY 2: PHNOM PENH (B/L/D)
AM: Depart for Toul Sleng Genocide. Toul Sleng was a high school prior to 1975, an interrogation prison known as S-21 during the Khmer Rouge era and today it as a genocide museum. It tells the sad story of the thousands of innocent Cambodian people who were tortured on its grounds. We continue to one of the city’s lively open markets, Psar Toul Tom Pong, all called the “Russian Market”, where anything and everything is for sales
PM: Visit Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda sit side by side on the riverside, and while they are two separate complexes they are visited as one, starting with the Royal Palace and then continuing onto the Silver Pagoda. Approaching the complex you will notice the walls painted vivid yellow to represent Buddhism, and white for Hinduism, the two main faiths of Cambodia until they were combined into one by Jayavarman VII in the 12th century, Independence Monument and Victory Monument were built in 1958 to celebrate Cambodia’s independence from French colonial rule, Statue of Preah Phirum Master OU (called Ngoy) can be considered as the Father of Khmer Poetry. Then continue to the Central Market (Psah Thmey), a lively outdoor market where you will find antiquities, silver and gold jewellery, gems, silk, kramas, stone and wood carvings, as well as T-Shirts, CDs and other souvenirs. Then transfer you to Hard Rock Café for free soft drink and relax. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Phnom Penh

DAY 3: PHNOM PENH – BATTAMBANG 290KM, 4HRS (B/L/D)
Today we have nearly five hour drive to Battambang. Leave the hustle and bustle of Phnom Penh behind as you head north to Kampong Luong which is a silversmith village. Observe silversmiths creating ornate and fashionable silver objects. Learn how the community makes pottery in the traditional way and observe how sugar is collected from the sugar palm trees. Let your guide assist you with translating if you are interested to learn more about village life.
Transfer onwards to Battambang and check into your hotel upon arrival late afternoon. Lunch is at the hotel
Visit to the well preserved 11th century Angkorian temple of Prasat Phnom Banan, located atop a hill bearing the same name. After climbing the 350+ steps you are treated to a peaceful setting with superb views across the surrounding countryside.
Taken to experience the best element of Battamang, enjoy bamboo train ride viewing the real countryside landscape and observe the daily activities of the indigenous people. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Battambang

DAY 4: BATTAMBANG (B/L/D)
Spend your day exploring the countryside around Battambang opt on a bicycle visiting Cambodian families who produce traditional products (such as fermented fish paste, rice paper, dried bananas, bamboo sticky rice, and rice wine), made in the same way they have been for generations. You will learn first-hand about everyday life in rural communities which make up over 70% of Cambodia’s population. Lunch at local restaurant in town.
End of the day with a visit to Phnom Sampeau, which is a massive limestone outcrop that is dissected by a number of caves some of which are more accessible than others. Some caves contain unexpected reminders of Cambodia’s turbulent history. Every evening at nightfall, thousands of bats make their way out of caves in the hillside to feed before returning at dawn. This natural phenomenon really is a “must see” for the visitor. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Battambang

DAY 5: BATTAMBANG – SIEM REAP 170KM, 3HRS (B/L/D)
Spend your day exploring the countryside around Battambang opt on a bicycle visiting Cambodian families who produce traditional products (such as fermented fish paste, rice paper, dried bananas, bamboo sticky rice, and rice wine), made in the same way they have been for generations. You will learn first-hand about everyday life in rural communities which make up over 70% of Cambodia’s population. Lunch is in town (own arrangement).
Continue after lunch with a transfer to Siem Reap, located about 2.5 hour drive away. Check in hotel and relax. Overnight in Siem Reap.

DAY 6: SIEM REAP – ANGKOR WAT (B/L/D)
AM: Visit the antique capital of Angkor Thom (12 century) : the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Bayon Temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, the Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Continue to visit 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. Banteay Kdei was built in sandstone, which has deteriorated quite badly. However, there remain some very beautiful lintels and pediments.
PM: Visit to 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. Enjoy wonderful sunset from the top of Phnom Bakheng Hills. Enjoy buffet dinner with APSARA performance. Overnight in Siem Reap.

DAY 7: SIEM REAP – BANTEAY SREI (B/L/D)
AM: drive to the rural outskirt 35km from Angkor area to visit the smallest, but magnificent, Banteay Srei built in the 10th Century and dedicated to Shiva. The temple was the birthplace of Khmer classical style architecture and the bas-relief work is the best example of Khmer classical art remaining. The pink sandstone structure bears a series of striking and beautiful sculptures, lintels, pediments and friezes. Khmers say the temple must have been carved by women for the details are too fine for the hands of a man. Banteay Samré is a temple, located 400 metres to the east of the East Baray. Built during the reign of Suryavarman and Yasovarman II in the early 12th century, it is a Hindu temple in the Angkor Wat style.
PM: Continue to the ancient Khmer civilization site of Hariharalaya which flourished in the late 9th and earlier 10th centuries. These are the earliest temples in the Angkor area and are referred to the Rolous group we visit the main one called Bakhong temple. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Siem Reap.

DAY 8: SIEM REAP – DEPARTURE (B/L)
AM: Visit to floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. Visit the village and take an excursion in a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle Sap Lake, the “Great Lake” of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia where offering an incredible natural phenomenon of making their lives from the lake in a respectful and meaningful way. This is a great chance to witness one of Cambodia and the world’s most amazing natural wonders. Then, transfer to the airport for your flight departure.