Siem Reap-Battambang

Ek Phnom, Stop: 30Minutes-Admission included

Situated about 10 km north of the Cobra Bridge are the ruins of Ek Phnom. It was built during the Bayon period and unfortunately is much worse for the wear than Phnom Banan. It’s an interesting place, however, because there is a freshly constructed working temple right in front of the ruins. This temple, along with the temple ruins, is the center of holiday festivities for the people of the nearby village. They dress up in their Sunday best and have a celebration between the old and the new temples and climb all around the ruins with their families. The ruins are on a very small hill so there is no workout involved in viewing them much of the temple is in shambles and was heavily looted. There are still some sitting Buddha images intact higher up on the walls. On the inside is a carving of a tug-of-war with participants tugging away on a serpent. The participants on the left have lost their heads to looters (they lost face), with the guys on the right still having their heads intact.

Battambang, Stop: 3 hours 

Battambang is a provincial capital of Battambang province which is the second biggest town of Cambodia. However it still has a very local, untouristed, provincial atmosphere. You will stroll around the city to visit: – Rice Paper Local Factory – Psa Nat, the local market – The old colonial buildings of the Governor’s residence – Experience the Bamboo Train Riding – Old colonial building along the Sangke Rive.

Battambang Bat Caves, Stop: 60Minutes-Admission included

At Phnom Sompov (Sompov Mountain), sit back and relax to watch millions of bats leave the cave during the beautiful sunset.