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Taste of Cambodia Tours 10 Days ( Option A )

- East of Angkor > Ta Nei, Ta Keo and Temples on grand circu > Angkor wat & Temple in the Jungle > The Remote Temples & Countryside > Koh Ker > Prek Toal, Bird Sanctuary > Khmer Cooking Class & Local Crafts > Travel to PP through Sambo Prey Kuk > Phnom Penh, National Museum, Royal Palace > Ta Keo, Phnom Da Tour.
- Include water & fresh cool towel.
- Include pick up & English speaking guide.

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Day 1 : East of Angkor Bakong Temple

AM: Lolei - Preah Ko - Bakong. 13 kilometers east of Siem Reap, on the road to Phnom Penh, is the Rolous group of temples. This our destination for the afternoon's outing and we plan to leave hotel by car at around 3:00pm. The group comprises of three main temples, Lolei which is inhabited by monks, Preah Ko and Bakong. Jayavarman II chose Hariharalay (preset day Rolous) as one of the first capital of the Angkor period in the 9th centry. Susequently, it is a great starting point for Angkorian exploration. The setting is somewhat quieter than the more popular and frequented temples within the park and is ideal for contemplative time. We return home via a country track which provides the opportunity to see traditional rural life, this is a highlight in itself, in addition to this on the road home this one more small temple complex for the true enthusiasts, Preah Monti whith its most unusually royal bathtub, it is said that filled with hot water and scented herbs nobles would soak themslves to alleviate all number of ailments. You will arrive home at approximately 6:00pm.

Bayon Temple
PM: West Gate-Prasat Top-Phimeanakas-Baphou-Bayon. The departure this afternoon is around 2:30pm and we head for the west gate of Angkor Thom. Inside and up a forested track we find prasat Top a small temple built in the 14th century, from here we head to the Royal Palace, Phimeanakas, Baphoun, and the last is Bayon temple where we start with viewing the lower level and discussing the bas relief carvings. Gradually, we make our way to the inner walls, where unfinished carvings were later completed after the reign of king Jayavarman VII. A narrative is provided on the faces of the king. As sunset approaches we move to the upper level where the setting sun casts interesting shadows on the array of carved faces. Our driver will meet us here and have us return home around 6:00pm.

Day 2 : Ta Nei - Ta Keo and Temples on grand circui Tekeo Temple

AM: Today we suggest a wake up call at 6:00am followed by breakfast and deaparture near to 6:30am. Our first destination, Ta Nei, is a temple rarely visited. Although it lacks the grandeur and intensity of better known monuments, it provides a sense of discovery as access is via a sandy track through thick forest. It contains some beautiful lintels and pediments carved with scenes dedicated to Buddha. From here we walk directly to Ta Keo, which is described as being the expitome of the temple-mountain. Its unfinished condition is due to a struggle for the throne at the beginning of the 11th century.

Phreah Khan Temple
PM: This afternoon suggest around 2:30pm to explore temples on grand circuit including Preah Khan "Sacred Sword" built in the pond of blood, the former battlefield between Cham and Khmer soldiers in 12th century, Neak Poan one time believed as the spiritual and physical treatment center, Ta Som, and sunset at East Mebon the island temple.

Day 3 : Angkor Wat and Temple in the Jungle

AM: Angkor Wat temple. One of travels remaining great adventures: A pre-dawn start to catch the sunrise at Angkor Wat [AD1113] with optional local breakfast before exploration of this wonder of the world; the central complex and bas-reliefs.

Taphrom Temple
PM: Kravan - Srah Srang - Banteay Kdei PM: Kravan - Srah Srang - Banteay Kdei - the Enchanting temples Ta Prhom. Begin from Prasat Kravan built by King Harsavarman II in 921AD, dedicated to Vishnu, Hindu. Continue to Srah Srang which one time was the Royal Bath, and Banteay Kdei. Walk through the forests to rediscover the mysteries of the temples away from the throngs of tourists, the incomparable Ta Prohm (AD1186). In the ancient time, this temple was known as the Royal Buddhist Monastery, and it was really a town. A Sanskrit inscription on stone, now removed to the Conservation Angkor office, tells us something about its size and function.

Ta Prohm owned 3,140 villages. It took 79,365 people to maintain the temple, including 18 high priests, 2,740 officials, 2,202 assistants and 615 royal dancers. Among the property belonging to the temple was a set of golden dishes weighing more than 500 kilograms, 35 diamonds, 40,620 pearls, 4,540 precious stones, 876 veils from China, 512 silk beds and 523 parasols. Even considering that these numbers were probably exaggerated to glorify the king, Ta Prohm must have been one of the most important and impressive monuments in that period. Now known as a Tomb Raider temple by Angelina Julie, Hollywood star 2002.

Day 4 : The Remote Temples and Countryside

A full day tour out of twon: We suggest to start early to Banteay Srei which means "Citadel of the Women" is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu, and constructed during the reign of Rajendravarman II in 967 AD by Yajnavaraha, a Brahmin priest of the court and a grandson of King Harshavarman II.

This temple is nearly everyone's favorite site. The special charm of this temple lies in its remarkable state of preservation, small size and excellent in decoration. The unanimous opinion among the French archeologists who worked at Angkor is that Banteay Srei is a Precious Gems and Jewels in the Khmer art. Banteay Srei, was originally called Isvarapura, according to the inscription. Architecture and decorative features of Banteay Srei are unique and exceptional in a Khmer art. The carvings are most beautiful, more intricate, more delicate, and more detailed than other temples' carvings.

Phnom Kulen
The sacred Kulen mountain with fine river carvings and beautiful waterfalls. Local lunch before driving to the eastern extremity of the range for the mysterious Beng Mealea, a blueprint for Angkor Wat.

Day 5 : Koh Ker (Former capital in 10th century)
After a local breakfast start an exploratioin at Koh Ker, was temporarily the Angkor capital during the 10th century. The main structure is Prasat Thom, which translates into the obvious and hardly imaginative name “Big Temple”, which it is, being a 40-meter high pyramidal structure. If you like sunrise, get up at 5:00am you can either see from the village or get close to the temple to get the real sense of the countryside at the former capital of Angkor. Spend the whole morning as much as you are interested at Koh Ker and then have a local dinner or back to have your dinner at Siyong village around 12:00 PM, and arrive home.

Approximately around 3:00pm, and have a relaxed afternoon on this day. On the way back, stop at Ou Thmadap to see the place where sand stones were cut for buliding the temples.

Day 6 : Prek Toal - Bird Sanctuary
AM: After breakfast drive down to the Tonle Sap, the biggest lake in South East Asia, located in centre of Cambodia, one of the biggest sources of fresh water fishes in the world. Continue from floating village, Chong Khnea to Bird Sanctuary at Prek Toal, boat drive takes a bout hour an a half. First you arrive the environmental office under UNESCO control, see some introduction of birds at the office by its officers and then leave for the sanctuary by another boat. At the place there is a shelter made my environmental staffs for tourists to watch birds with binoculars. Lunch on this day is recommended to pack except you think you are ok to have a local lunch there prepared by environmental staff (have to confirm in advance). The Bird Sanctuary watch is seasonal, please check with Golden Asia Vacation office everytime you feel to watch.

Royal Residence
PM: This evening we get you to walk around town to the Royal Residence, Bungalo, the Shrine where people from coners of Cambodia always worship when they are here, and then see the fruit bats hanging arround the shrine, or go back to temples if you like.

Day 7 : Khmer Cooking Class and Local Crafts
AM: This morning if you feel "junkie" with temples you can return your favorite one but if not, just stay and relax at the hotel until 10:30am then start the cooking class at Tiger Paper restaurant. At the cooking class the thef will accompany you to the market and introduce to all herbs needed for cooking, and then back to begin the class. You have opportunity to enjoy your own cook.

Handicrafts shopping
PM: Visit the local crafts by villagers or Artisan Center the place where the poor, low educated, and handicaped young people are provided the trainning skills to work on wood and stone carvings and/or enjoy shopping.

Day 8 : Travel to Phnom Penh through Sambo Prey Kuk
After breakfast, from Siem Reap the first stop at Jayavarman VII's wonderful laterite bridge - Kompong Kdei, built in 12th century and now the condition still can carry about another 1,000 years on. The bridge is flanked by two finely carved nine-headed sephents. The story from the villagers there say the bridge is very sacred, during the civil war everytime of the fire between Khmer Rouge and Government's soldiers the people always got safe under the bridge, the shells and bombs fell around but did not damage it.

The second stop is to visit Sambo Prey Kuk guided by the local specialist. Sambo Prey Kuk consists of 3 main groups of temple, north, middle and east. According to the recent report says about 200 templs including the new recent found. The driver will drop the specialist off at Kompong Thom town, along the way to Phnom Penh there is a carving village and do not forget to stop at Skun to see (taste?) "Aping" in Khmer or English is "deep fried spider", my wife's favorite snack which is available all year round only at Skun. Arrive Phnom Penh, and check in your chosen accommodation, be ready for tomorrow tour to the 6th century life.
* Please feel free to stop your driver if you see something along the way interesting for photographs.

Day 9 : Phnom Penh - National Museum - Royal Palace
AM: Jewels of the Capital. National Museum for the best Angkor era art in the world. The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda. Sisowath quay where you can enjoy a private sunset boat cruise on the Mekong, end of services.

PM: Khmer Rouge. A tough beginning to understanding Cambodia. You will make more sense of modern Cambodia with a familiarity of the events of the late 1970s and how the country continues to recover from this tragedy. Visits to Toul Sleng museum coded "S21" which means "Security 21", the place where thousands of Khmer people were tortured to dead, only 7 survived from 1000s, and the Killing Fields Cherng Ek.

Day 10 : A full day tour: Ta Keo - Phnom Da Tour
(former khmer capital in 6th century) Funan and Water Chenla civilisations. After breakfast at your accommodation, drive down to the south, 72km, to visit the beautiful province of Takeo by road and boat. Roman coins and ruins have left evidence of an important staging post on the sea route between the ancient Mediterranean and Chinese empires. A pre-Angkorian site, old temples, ancient walls, a museum. One of Cambodia's oldest archaeological sites. Lunch is recommended to pack for this trip as no decent restauarant along the way.

When you reach Ta Keo provincial town, catch up the boat along a man made canal to Angkor Borei museum, some pre-angkorian collections are shown here. After museum continue by water to Phnom Da to visit the former capital of the Khmer in 6th century and learn more about long Khmer history.On the way back if time permits, visit Jayavarman VII's temple - Ta Prohm and Yeay Pov at Tonle Bati, one of the nice resorts for local people. Most of Tonle Bati resort's visitors are from Phnom Penh, and after that back to Phnom Penh.

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