Temples & Jungle Escape

Day 1: A single, magical day at the temples following our well researched  itinerary, including Ta Prohm of ‘Tomb Raider’ fame, the forest to lightly visit of Ta Nei, Mountain temple of Ta Keo known as the ” Bronze Peaks” admire its five-tired pyramid structure, Angkor Thom: Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King, Preah Palilay, Phimeanakas, Baphuon, and the Bayon with its captivating stone faces. After your Angkor tours enjoy a wonderful local lunch break.

Evening: You’re magical and trek up to Sunset View with a leisurely from Phnom Bakheng [Mountain] and view hidden elements of the ancient Khmer water systems, relaxing in hand and accompanied by the sound of birds, songs and villagers.

Day 2: Head out of Siem Reap to Koh Ker, one of the ancient capitals of the Angkor civilization. Dominated by Prasat Thom, which strikingly resembles a Mayan temple, the area is littered with ruins gripped in the embrace of twisting tree roots: you will likely have some of the sites to yourself. Return to town via jungle-clad Beng Mealea temple which, in a much collapsed state, retains a very atmospheric feel.

Day 3: Journey to Phnom Kulen, the sacred ‘Mountain of Lychee’ venerated by Cambodians as the birthplace of the Angkor Empire, stopping on the way at Banteay Srei, a small but beautifully carved temple. At Kulen visit the Linga River and large reclining Buddha and cool off in the refreshing waterfall.

Day 4: Beyond the temple lies a rural landscape which is often little changed since the days of Jayavaman VII. To depart Siem Reap having seen only the temples ruins is to miss contemporary Khmer culture, and a living history of rice and fishing subsistence culture. As infrastructure and technology encroaches upon the countryside this opportunity will soon be lost forever. This morning I will take a journey of discovery by boat, Buffalo -cart and on foot to visit villages little changed since the days of Jayavarman VII. Few get to see this side of the real Cambodia. After you will visit a colorful contemporary pagoda to understand more of the importance of Buddhism in these rural communities and seek a Water Blessing ceremony by monk said to bring good fortune for the journey ahead. Local lunch 

Then further drive to the great Tonle Sap Lake is the richest fresh water fishing ground in the world, a national treasure producing an ever-changing landscape. The communities that live around the margins of the lake cope with huge seasonal variations in water levels by building their homes on floating bamboo rafts or 30ft stilts,* Village/Floating/Markets/School – for an understanding of contemporary lake life.

Day 5: For those who are inspired to try and recreate their favorite Cambodian dishes at home, we can arrange, tweak your itinerary to take in some of the best produce that Cambodia has to offer – from the eclectic to the mainstream. Learn how rice paper rolls or the fragrant prahok fishpaste is made, visit the famous Kampot pepper farms in the south (and the not-so-famous Durian farms nearby), go fishing yourself or see how a variety of snakes, fish and shellfish are captured for the plate. More important is to sample some of the local produce: while the fried tarantulas of Skuon are not to everybody’s taste, seafood lovers will adore the crab of Kep (perhaps cooked with fresh Kampot peppercorns), and numerous roadside snacks and treats are available to try. Siem Reap and Battambang all have good classes which often include visits to local markets to learn about the fresh Cambodian produce. These classes will generally be privately arranged for you, and are typically half a day in duration – spend the morning creating your own lunch or the afternoon creating dinner.

Day 6: Angkor Wat sunrise and Exploration: Rising at the crack of dawn, we journey out to the Mother of all temples, Angkor Wat. Believed to be the world’s largest religious building, this temple is the perfect fusion of symbolism and symmetry and a source of pride and strength to all Khmer’s. Built in the 12^th century by King Suryavrman II; this is the most famous temple at Angkor. As the crowds return to their hotels, we venture into Angkor Wat to enjoy its magnificence in peace and quiet. We begin by unravelling the mysteries of bas – reliefs that tell tales from Hindu mythology and of the glories of the Khmer empire.