3 Days Private Guide Tour Jewels of Angkor

3 Days Private Guide Tour Jewels of Angkor

We highly recommended adding this Siem Reap and Angkor tour extension to one of our private tours elsewhere in Southeast Asia, such as Vietnam, Thailand, Laos or Hong Kong.

This tour is a comprehensive exploration of Angkor, the wondrous ruins of the ancient Khmer empire. With your private guide, tour the most interesting parts of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, including Angkor Wat, an enormous temple city built as a model of the Hindu universe in stone; Angkor Thom, an ancient capital filled with iconic sites such as the Bayon, Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King; Ta Prohm, a temple being devoured by the jungle; and serene Preah Khan, a former monastery and school. Also visit Banteay Srei, a petite temple with elaborate carvings in pink sandstone, and other lesser-known temples. Enjoy an excursion to Tonle Sap, Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake and an ecological wonder. Enjoy a boat cruise among the lake's floating villages, markets and gardens.

Itinerary

Day 1: Day 1: Welcome to Siem Reap

Pass By: Angkor Wat, Sangkat Nokor Thum, Siem Reap Cambodia
Fly to Siem Reap, CAMBODIA

Meet & Greet: Welcome to Cambodia. Upon arrival at Siem Reap International Airport, obtain your Cambodia visa (please refer to your Special Program Note), and then clear Immigration and Customs. After collecting your baggage, exit the airport to meet outside a local Guide of Global Travel & Tours. He/she will be holding a sign with your names on it. Please note that local guides are not allowed inside the airport.

Private transfer: From the airport, you will be privately transferred to your lovely boutique hotel.
Siem Reap is the base for exploring the fabled temples of Angkor, the ancient capital of the Khmer empire. Settle in and enjoy the afternoon and evening at your leisure.

Lodging: Lotus Blanc Hotel (Deluxe Room) – Siem Reap

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Lodging: Lotus Blanc Hotel (Deluxe Room) – Siem Reap

Day 2: Day 2: Siem Reap

Stop At: Bayon Temple, Angkor Thom, Siem Reap Cambodia
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch

These temples were built from the 9th to 12th centuries by a Khmer empire that controlled not only Cambodia but large parts of what are now Laos, Thailand and Vietnam as well. With their grandeur of scale and extraordinary delicacy in detail, the temples rank among humankind's most supreme artistic expressions. Spend the early morning visit the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century). See the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, visit Bayon temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), Baphuon (recently re-opened after years of restoration), the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace, and the Terrace of the Leper King. Next, you’ll continue to Ta Phrom. Built in 1186, Ta Phrom was dedicated to the mother of Jayavarman VII. Its atmospheric dark gray sandstone towers and courtyards exude an aura of reverence and mystery. Unlike most of the other inner temples of Angkor, Ta Phrom has been left to the elements and looks very much as it must have when "discovered" by Henri Mouhot in the 1860s. Navigating through its narrow passages, immense kapok trees and jungle-covered ruins is an unparalleled experience and one of the highlights of Angkor.

Enjoy our lunch at a local restaurant.

In the late afternoon and sunset hours, explore Angkor Wat, the largest and most breathtaking monument at Angkor. Built as the funeral temple for King Suryavarman II, who ruled from 1112 to 1152, Angkor Wat never fails to reward the first time, or repeat, visitor with its grand scale, surreal bas reliefs and unbelievable attention to detail. There are several great spots from which to watch the sunset and your guide will discuss the options with you.

Lodging: Lotus Blanc Hotel (Deluxe Room) – Siem Reap
Duration: 9 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Lodging: Lotus Blanc Hotel (Deluxe Room) – Siem Reap

Day 3: Day 3: Depart Siem Reap

Stop At: Banteay Srei, Siem Reap Cambodia
Meals included: Breakfast

This morning, journey north to visit Banteay Srei. This petite pink temple is the jewel in the crown of Angkor-era sculpture. The elaborate carvings here are the finest found in Cambodia and the name translates as ‘Fortress of the Women', thanks to the intricate detail here, considered too fine for the hands of a man. Originally believed to date from the latter part of the Angkor period, inscriptions at the site suggest it was built by a Brahman in 967. However, some architectural historians have suggested that the inscriptions may date from an earlier structure on this site and the temple is in fact later, marking a high-water mark in Khmer sculpture. Stop at a local village to visit families who are producing palm sugar. Make a short stop at the Land Mine Museum, a rather humble look at the land mine problem, past and present, in Cambodia. Next, you’ll visit Preah Khan or 'Sacred Sword', built by King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. Sister temple to Ta Prohm, the cruciform corridors here are impressive and there are some wonderful carvings adorning the walls, including the spectacular hall of dancers. Look out for the curious two-storey structure that is almost Grecian in inspiration. This is one of the few temples originally dedicated to Buddhism and Hinduism. The original eastern entrance was for Mahayana Buddhists, while the other cardinal points represented the Hindu trinity of Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. Next, to Banteay Kdei This temple was the first great Buddhist monastery in Cambodia, constructed by Jayavarman VII during the 12th and 13th centuries. Its system of galleries and vestibules that were added after the construction of the main towers makes it look like a cloister. It was built in sandstone, which has deteriorated quite badly. However, there remain some very beautiful lintels and pediments. Although it is in a ruinous state.

Next, you’ll continue for a tour of the surrounding countryside and take an ox-cart ride through the villages and the rice fields. At the end of your ride, have a fresh coconut drink with the family and do not hesitate to talk with the local people to get to know more about their lives. Then drive to the fishing village of Kompong Pluk near Siem Reap and board a private boat. Visit Kompong Pluk village with its houses standing on stilts and board a pirogue to discover the seasonally flooded forest.

You will have free time in the afternoon until transfer to the airport in time for your flight to the next destination. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.