Koh Ker and Beng Mealea Full-Day

Koh Ker and Beng Mealea Full-Day

A full day (upto 11 hours) tour of the remote, mystical and rarely visited temples of Koh Ker and Beng Mealea by shared minibus. Up to 8 individuals and couples etc may ride in the mini-bus.

The tour includes an English speaking driver, who has been experience so many years to be tour driver .

The transport is a 8-seater mini-bus, with 8 seats reserved for ice-box and guest hand baggage etc. Complimentary cold towels and iced bottled water are available on the bus.

Guests can bring a packed lunch, or eat at the cafes nearby the temple, but guests are warned that the cafes are significantly more basic than in town.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Koh Ker Temple, 100 Km North of Siem Reap Cambodia

We will pick up from hotel one hours before our tour start and then we will drive to visit the Koh Ker temple first.
Koh Ker Group located more than150 km northeast of Siem Reap town in the province of Preah Vihear, it was briefly the capital of the Khmer empire between 928 and 944 under king Jayavarman IV and his son Hasavaraman II. After the Khmer empire had been established in the Angkor area (Roluos), Jayavarman IV moved the capital in 928 almost 100km northeast to Koh Ker. Here a vast number of temples were built under his reign, until his successor returned to the Angkor area about twenty years later.
The Koh Ker site is dominated by Prasat Thom, a 30 meter tall temple mountain raising high above the plain and the surrounding forest. Great views await the visitor at the end of an adventurous climb. Garuda, carved into the stone blocks, still guard the very top, although they are partially covered now.
Across the site of Koh Ker there are many prasat or tower sanctuaries. A couple still feature an enormous linga on a yoni that provides space for several people. The outlet for the water that was sanctified by running it over the Linga can be seen in the outside wall of one of them. In other cases, three prasat stand next to each other, dedicated to Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. Most of them are surrounded by libraries and enclosures, many also had moats. At that time, the roofs were still made of wood. Today, only the holes for the beams remain in the stone structures.
Visiting Koh Ker Group can be included in visiting Beng Mealea.

Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Beng Mealea, 40 km east of Angkor Wat Cambodia

Beng Mealea Temple (its name means "lotus pond") is nearly 80km from Siem Reap town at the foot of Kulen Mountain. It was built as Hinduist temple, but there are some carvings depicting Buddhist motifs. Its primary material is sandstone and it is largely unrestored, with trees and thick brush thriving amidst its towers and courtyards and many of its stones lying in great heaps. For years it was difficult to reach, but a road recently built to the temple complex of Koh Ker passes Beng Mealea and more visitors are coming to the site.
Built in the 12th Century, many scholars believe it was the model for Angkor Wat. It is just as wonderful of a temple but it is still largely lost in the jungle.
The accommodations made for tourists at Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom have not been made here, and visitors enjoy a much quieter and adventurous experience.
This is our last stop and then we return back to the hotel.

Duration: 2 hours