Ancient Kingdoms, Timeless Journeys Cambodia 2027

Arrival in Siem Reap

Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel

Check-in & rest

Phare Circus Show

An electrifying Cambodian circus performance by Phare, the Cambodian Circus, blending acrobatics, dance, music, and storytelling. The show showcases the incredible talent of young Cambodian artists trained at a social enterprise arts school.

Overnight stay in Siem Reap

Departure from hotel by 4 AM

Guided Tour of Angkor Wat

Explore the world's largest religious monument with an expert local guide who brings to life the history, symbolism, and intricate bas-reliefs of this 12th-century Khmer masterpiece. The tour covers the main galleries, towers, and surrounding moat.

Sunrise Viewing at Angkor Wat

Witness one of Southeast Asia's most iconic sunrises as the first light of dawn illuminates the towering spires of Angkor Wat reflected in the temple's reflecting pools. Arrive early to secure a prime viewing spot before the crowds arrive.

Visit Preah Dak Village

Step into a quiet village east of the Angkor circuit, where traditional Khmer life carries on. See local crafts like palm sugar making, weaving, and rice noodle preparation, and meet the families who keep these traditions alive.

Rural Lifestyle Experience in Siem Reap Countryside

Venture beyond the temples and immerse yourself in authentic Cambodian rural life, visiting local farms, rice paddies, and traditional homesteads. Interact with friendly villagers and gain insight into the daily rhythms of Khmer countryside living.

Khmer Palm Cake

Sample nom ansom chek or other traditional Khmer palm sugar cakes, a beloved Cambodian sweet treat made from palm sugar, sticky rice, and coconut. Learn about the role of the sugar palm tree in Cambodian culture and cuisine.

Guided Tour of Ta Prohm Temple

Explore the hauntingly beautiful Ta Prohm temple, famously left partially unrestored with massive strangler fig and silk-cotton tree roots dramatically engulfing the ancient stonework. A guide provides context on its history as a Buddhist monastery and its later abandonment.

Visit Victory Gate

Pass through one of the five monumental gates of Angkor Thom, adorned with four giant stone faces and flanked by rows of gods and demons carrying a serpent. The Victory Gate was historically used by returning armies celebrating triumph in battle.

Visit Bayon Temple

Marvel at the enigmatic Bayon temple at the heart of Angkor Thom, renowned for its 216 serene and massive stone faces gazing out in all directions. Explore two levels of intricate bas-reliefs depicting historical battles and everyday Khmer life.

Visit Baphuon Temple

Climb the steep steps of Baphuon, a towering pyramid temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, offering sweeping views over Angkor Thom from its upper terraces. The temple features an impressive reclining Buddha figure constructed on its western side.

Visit Phimeanakas

Discover Phimeanakas, the 'Celestial Palace,' a compact Hindu pyramid temple that once served as the private chapel of the Khmer royal family within the Royal Palace enclosure of Angkor Thom. Its three-tiered laterite tower offers a glimpse into ancient royal religious practices.

Visit Terrace of the Elephants

Walk alongside the 350-metre-long Terrace of the Elephants, a grand ceremonial platform used by Khmer kings to review their victorious armies and host public ceremonies. The terrace walls are beautifully carved with life-sized elephant processions, garudas, and naga balustrades.

Visit Terrace of the Leper King

Explore the mysterious Terrace of the Leper King, named after a statue found atop it, featuring dramatic double-walled galleries adorned with densely carved rows of celestial dancers (apsaras), nagas, demons, and deities. The inner hidden gallery is particularly striking and well-preserved.

Return to hotel

Breakfast at the hotel

Pre Rup Temple Visit

Visit Pre Rup, a striking 10th-century Hindu state temple built as a pyramid of laterite and brick towers dedicated to Shiva, renowned for its impressive multi-tiered silhouette. Its elevated position makes it a popular spot for panoramic views over the surrounding jungle landscape.

Banteay Srei Temple (Citadel of Women) Visit

Admire Banteay Srei, often called the 'Jewel of Khmer Art,' a 10th-century temple celebrated for its extraordinarily intricate and well-preserved pink sandstone carvings of Hindu mythology. Smaller in scale than other Angkor temples, it is considered one of the finest examples of Khmer decorative art.

East Mebon Temple Visit

Explore East Mebon, a 10th-century Hindu temple that once stood on an island in the middle of the now-dry East Baray reservoir, dedicated to Shiva and built by King Rajendravarman II. The temple is notable for its large stone elephant statues standing guard at the corners of each tier.

Ta Som Temple Visit

Discover Ta Som, a small but charming late 12th-century Buddhist temple built during the reign of Jayavarman VII, featuring face towers and jungle tree roots dramatically enveloping its eastern gopura. Its intimate scale and relatively few visitors make for a peaceful and atmospheric experience.

Preah Khan Temple Visit

Wander the vast, labyrinthine corridors of Preah Khan, a large 12th-century Buddhist temple complex built by Jayavarman VII as a monastery and university, featuring towering trees growing through its walls and a unique two-storey circular colonnaded structure. The temple's many interconnected galleries and hidden courtyards reward exploration.

Return to hotel

Breakfast at the hotel

Kulen Waterfall Visit

Cool off at the refreshing multi-tiered waterfalls on Phnom Kulen, a sacred mountain plateau considered the birthplace of the Khmer Empire, where locals and visitors swim in the natural pools beneath the cascades. The lush forested setting makes this a scenic nature retreat away from the main temple circuit.

Wat Preah Ang Thom – Reclining Buddha

Visit Wat Preah Ang Thom on Phnom Kulen mountain, home to an impressive 9th-century reclining Buddha carved directly into a large sandstone boulder, regarded as one of the holiest sites in Cambodia. The temple is an active place of worship and pilgrimage for Cambodian Buddhists.

River of a Thousand Lingas (1000 Lingas)

Wade through or observe the shallow riverbed of the Kbal Spean stream on Phnom Kulen, where hundreds of Hindu lingas and mythological figures have been intricately carved into the sandstone riverbed over a thousand years ago. The sacred carvings are believed to purify and bless the water flowing downstream to the rice fields.

Poeng Ta Kho (Amazing Cliff) – Panoramic Viewpoints

Hike to the dramatic cliff edges of Poeng Ta Kho on Phnom Kulen mountain for sweeping panoramic views over the vast Cambodian plains and jungle canopy stretching to the horizon. This off-the-beaten-path viewpoint rewards visitors with some of the most spectacular vistas in the Siem Reap region.

Lunch / Picnic at Kulen Waterfall

Enjoy a relaxed lunch or picnic meal in the beautiful natural setting beside the Kulen Waterfall, taking a refreshing break amid the lush jungle surroundings on Phnom Kulen mountain. Local food stalls and vendors typically offer a variety of Khmer dishes near the waterfall area.

Beng Mealea Temple Guided Tour

Explore the magnificent jungle temple of Beng Mealea, a largely unrestored 12th-century sandstone complex of similar scale to Angkor Wat, dramatically overtaken by vegetation with collapsed galleries, tree roots, and atmospheric ruins to discover. A knowledgeable guide navigates the maze of passageways and shares the temple's history and legends.

Kampong Phluk Floating Village – Stilt Houses Visit

Take a boat through the extraordinary flooded forest and visit Kampong Phluk, a cluster of three villages built on towering stilts at the edge of the Tonle Sap lake, where the entire community — homes, schools, and pagodas — rises dramatically above the water. Observe daily life on the water and learn how these resilient communities adapt to the lake's dramatic seasonal floods.

Return to hotel

Breakfast at hotel

Hotel pickup from Siem Reap

Visit a Traditional Cambodian Village

Step into a rural Cambodian village and experience the authentic warmth of local hospitality, observing traditional wooden stilt houses, community life, and age-old customs that have shaped Khmer culture for generations. This immersive visit offers a meaningful connection with everyday Cambodian life beyond the tourist trail.

Observe Villagers Weaving Baskets, Making Rice Wine, and Digging Wells

Watch skilled local craftspeople and villagers demonstrate traditional Cambodian rural crafts including intricate bamboo basket weaving, the fermentation and distillation of traditional rice wine, and traditional well-digging techniques. These hands-on observations offer a fascinating window into centuries-old skills still practiced in Khmer communities today.

Meet Children at a Local Village School

Visit a rural Cambodian village school and share a heartwarming interaction with local children and their teachers, gaining insight into the state of rural education and the hopes and aspirations of the next generation of Cambodians. This meaningful encounter fosters cross-cultural connection and a deeper understanding of community life.

Visit a Buddhist Temple and Learn About Local Beliefs and Traditions

Enter an active Cambodian Buddhist temple (wat) and speak with resident monks to learn about Theravada Buddhist philosophy, daily rituals, and the central role that Buddhism plays in Khmer spiritual and social life. Gain a deeper appreciation for the beliefs and traditions that continue to guide Cambodian culture.

Walk Through a Traditional Local Market

Wander the vibrant stalls of a traditional Cambodian market, filled with the sights, sounds, and aromas of fresh produce, exotic spices, street food, handmade crafts, and everyday goods. This lively sensory experience offers an authentic glimpse into local commerce and Cambodian daily life.

Khmer Cooking Class with a Local Expert

Learn to prepare traditional Cambodian dishes from scratch under the expert guidance of a local Khmer chef, mastering techniques for iconic dishes like amok, lok lak, and fresh spring rolls using authentic ingredients and spices. The class typically includes a market visit to select fresh ingredients, hands-on cooking, and a satisfying meal of your own creations.

Return to hotel

Hotel pickup by Tuk-Tuk transfer to restaurant in Siem Reap

Traditional Apsara Dance Performance

Be enchanted by a classical Khmer Apsara dance performance, one of Cambodia's most revered art forms, featuring elaborately costumed dancers whose slow, precise hand and finger gestures tell ancient Hindu and Buddhist stories. Listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, this performance is a profound expression of Cambodian artistic tradition and identity.

Khmer Buffet Dinner

Feast on an abundant spread of traditional Cambodian cuisine at a Khmer buffet dinner, sampling a wide array of authentic dishes including fish amok, beef lok lak, green mango salad, and an assortment of curries and soups. Often paired with live traditional music or cultural performances, this dinner offers a delicious and festive conclusion to a day of exploration.

Return to hotel by Tuk-Tuk

Breakfast and check out

Drop at airport as per your flight