Angkor Wat

Upon arrival, you’ll be warmly greeted and escorted to your choice of hotel. This afternoon, our expert guide will show you the imposing majesty of Angkor Wat – the largest temple complex in the world. Late in the day, you’ll be led to a prime vantage point to witness the sun set over the jungle ruins of Angkor – a magnificent and unforgettable spectacle.  Meals B

This morning, you’ll tour Angkor Thom – the last capital of the Khmers – with its Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. At Bayon Temple, you’ll behold a 12th-century masterpiece of architectural grandeur and symmetry. After visiting the extensive monastic complex at Preah Khan, you’ll have a break to relax and enjoy lunch on your own. In the afternoon, your sightseeing focuses on some of the less-visited but equally impressive sites of Angkor including Chau Say Tevoda, Prasat Kravan and Ta Keo. You’ll also tour the oft-photographed Ta Prohm; dedicated in 1186, this vast temple complex has been largely left in its natural state, surrounded by the massive roots and limbs of the encroaching jungle.  Meals B

After breakfast, a scenic one-hour drive brings you to Banteay Srei – considered by many to be the “jewel in the crown” of all the Angkor temples. Also known as the Citadel of Women, this delicately carved, pink sandstone temple is ornamented with hundreds of figures cut into the walls and lintels. Not far away, you’ll also tour Banteay Samre, a complex with impressive towers and balustrades that evoke the grandeur of Angkor Wat. Return to your hotel in the afternoon and enjoy the rest of this day at leisure.  Meals B

After breakfast, we’ll take you to the shores of Tonle Sap Lake to embark on a guided boat excursion to Kompong Phluk. Comprised of three villages built on wooden stilts over the water, this isolated Khmer community is home to about 3,000 residents who farm fish and raise vegetables on floating platforms. It’s an excursion that promises fascinating insight into the enduring traditions and daily life of rural Cambodia. The tour also shows you the mangrove forests that thrive along the edges of the lake; it’s a unique ecosystem home to unusual wildlife including crab-eating macaques. In the afternoon, you’ll be escorted to the airport in Siem Reap for your onward flight. (Guests that depart Siem Reap prior to 1pm will not visit Tonle Sap Lake) Meals B