Itineraries

Special Three-day Visit & Adventure Itineraries

Day 1: Visit Roluos Group temples

The three temples of Preah Ko, Bakong and Lolei are clustered together near the modern village of Roluos, and extend over an area of three kilometres east of the Tonle Sap. The Roluos group, dating from the late ninth century, is the earliest extand site of the Angkor period that is open to visitors. The three  temples  belonging to this important gruop have similar characteristics of architecture,decoration, materials and construction methods, which combine to reveal the begining of the classic period of Khmer art. The brick structures are decorated with magnificent sandstone deities in niches and lintels, all of which are in remarkably good condition. Preah Ko: errected by Indravarman I in the late 9th century in dedication to his defied ancestors in 879. There are inscriptions in Sanskrit on the door frame. Bakong:  built and dedicated to Shiva by Indravarman I, this is the largest and most interesting of the Roluos Group temples and still has an active Buddhist monastery. Lolei: Built on an islet by Yasovarman I ( who ruled from 889 to 910), the founder of the first city of Angkor. The sandstone carvings in the niches of the temple are notable as are the Sanskrit inscriptions on the doorposts. After your visit to Roluos return back to Siem Reap where you have lunch.

Visit Angkor Wat: built in early 12th century by king Suryavarman II (regned 1113-1150) in dedication to Vishnu.  Angkor Wat is the largest Hindu monument of Angkor group and one of the most intact, is an architectural masterpiece. It perfection, balance, proportions, reliefs and sculture make it one of the finest monuments in the world. This temple is an expression of Khmer art at its highest point development. A study has shown that when Angkor Wat was laid out by the Khmers originally, the distance between certain architectual elements of the temple reflected numbers which were related to Hidu mythology ans cosmology. The positions of the bas-reliefs were regulated, for example, by solar movements. Scenes on the east-west sides reflect those relating to the rising and setting of the sun.It is an immense monument occupying a retangular area of 210 hectares which equals 400 fooball fields.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 2: Ater breakfast visit Angkor Thom

 Angkor Thom, the last capital, was indeed a ''Great City''  as its name implies, and it served as the religious and administrative centre of the vast and powerful Khmer Empire. It was grander than any city in Europe at the time and must have supported a considerable poppulation which may have been as high as one million. Within the city walls were the residences of the king, his family and officials, military officers and priests while the rest of the people lived outside of the enclosure. Enter by the monumental South Gate over a causeway lined on either side by statues of demons and gods, each carrying a giant naga. Continue to the Bayon vies with Angkor Wat as the favourite monument among visitors. The two temples evoke similar aesthetic responses yet are different in purpose, design, architecture and decoration. Zhou Daguan, the chinese emissary who provided the only first-hand account of the Khmers, described the splendour of Angkor Thom: At the centre of the kingdom rises a Golden Tower ( Bayon) flanked by more than twenty lesser towers and several hundred stone chambers. On the eastern side is a golden bridge guarded by two lions of gold, one on each side, with eight golden Buddhas spaced along the stone chambers. Then continue to Baphuon built in the middle of 11th century dedicated to Shiva. According to Zhou Daguan, the North of the Golden Tower rises the Tower of Bronze (Baphuon), higher even than the Golden Tower: a truly astonishing spectacle, with more than ten chambers at its base. Continue to the ancient royal palace where the kings of Angkor lived. Like much of Angkor Thom, the residences of the king, and those who worked in the palace, were built of wood and have disintergrated, leaving no traces. Phimeanakas (aerial palace), locoated in inside the Royal Palace compound, was the temple where the king worshipped. It must orginally have been crowned with a golden pinnacles, as Zhou Daguan described it as the '' Tower of Gold''. Tarrace of the elephants: built in the end 12th century by Jayavarman VI, located directly in front of the Royal Palace enclosure wall. Terrace of Leper King: built in the same date of  terrace of elephants and by the same king. It was used as crematorium for the king's family. Thommanon: is in a good condition errected by Suryavarman II, the founder of Angkor Wat dedicated to Vishnu god. Chau Sya Tevoda: Chau Say Tevoda and Thommanon are two small monuments framed by the jungle, that stand across the road from each other. Because of similarities in plan form they are often referred to as the brother-sister temples. Leave for Ta Keo before you continue to last and the most famous one ''Ta Prohm''. Ta Keo is one of the great temple-mountain at Angkor. It was never completed because it was struck by lightning.  Had it been finished, Ta Keo, undoubtedly, would have been one the of the finest temples at Angkor. Ta Prohm: built by Jayavarman VI, a Buddhist monastery dedicated to his mother shrouded in the jungle, the temple of Ta Prohm is ethereal in aspect and conjures up a romantic aura. Trunks  of trees twist amongst stone pillars. Fig, banyan and kapok trees spread their gigiant roots over, under and in between the stones, probing walls and terraces apart, as their branches and leaves intertwine to form a roof above the structures.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 3: After breakfast visit Preah Khan

Preah Khan: the ''sacred sword'', an extensive 56 hectares Buddhist complex built in AD 1191 as a monastery and centre for learning by king Jayavarman VII (AD1181-1220) and dedicated to his father. The inscription indicates that Preah Khan was built on a battle site where Jayavarman VII finally defeated the Chams. In those days it was know as Nagarajayacri which translated from Siames means '' The City of Preah Khan'' or ''The City of The Sacred Sword''. The sacred sword has indeed a long history in Khmer tradition.

Visit Neak Pean Temple

Neak Pean: built by king Jayavarman VII, located in the centre of the Jayatataka '' reservoir'' called North Baray and placed on the same exis as Preah Khan. Orginally, it could only be reached by boat. It is a small, somewhat out-of-the-way temple with a unique layout, decoration and symbolism. It have served as a place where pilgrims could go and take the water, both physically and symbolically - the Khmer equivalent of a spa.

Vist Ta Som

Ta Som: built by king Jayavarman VII, a Buddhist temple (dedicated to the father of the king). It is a small, quiet temple and affords a delightful undisturbed visit. A significant feature of Ta Som is the growth of a huge ficus tree on the east gateway, which provides a dramaic example of nature and art entwined.

Visit East Mebon

East Mebon: built by king Rajendravarman II (reigned AD944-968) dedicated to Shiva, an ancestor temple in memory of the parents of the king. The East Mebon and its neighbour Pre Rup were built by the same king, just nine years apart, and are similar in plan, construction and decoration. A major difference, however, is that the East Mebon once stood on a small island in the middle of the Eastern Baray, which was a large body of water (2 by 7 kilometres) fed by the Siem Reap River.

Visit Banteay Srei (the citadle of the women)

Banteay Srei: built in 967 by a high prist of king Rajendravarman II and completed by king Jayavarman V (reigned 968-1001), dedicated to Shiva. The enchanting temple of Banteay Srei is nearly everyone's favourite site. The special charm of this temple lies in its remarkable state of preservation, small size and excellence of decoration. It is a precious gem and a jewel in Khmer art.

Overnight in Siem Reap