Panoramic Combodia Tour

After your arrival, we suggest you take a taxi to the downtown area for a suitable hotel and have some rest. It usually costs USD6-8 to the downtown area. We suggest Central Boutique Angkor Hotel for you, as it only needs 15 minutes to get to the hotel from the airport. You can also enjoy delicious foods and various artifacts in the Angkor Night Market which is only 5 minutes' walk from the hotel. A hotel card may be helpful when you are out. 

Time permitting, you can hang out to visit Angkor National Museum to learn abundant history and culture of Angkor period which would make your rest trip more interesting and easier. A great number of exquisite artifacts and treasures of Angkor period are exhibited here and the multimedia technology will bring more authentic experience for you. You can rent a tuktuk to the museum from the hotel, and it is also useful in the next days of your Cambodia independent tour. In addition, it's cheaper to book tickets on the official website of the museum. 

Angkor National Museum
Location: No. 968, Vithei Charles de Gaulle, Khrum 6, Phoum Salakanseng, Khom Svaydangum, Siem Reap District, Siem Reap Province, Kingdom of Cambodia
Opening Hours:
Apr. 1st - Sep. 30th: 8:30-18:00；
Oct. 1st - Mar. 31st: 8:30-18:30 

If possible, you can take a tuktuk to the ticket office of Angkor historic sites before 16:30. You may get there in 15 minutes and the tickets will be sold at 16:40. Three-day ticket will be suitable for your trip which costs USD 62 per person. You can have a full look of attractions in Angkor historic sites, but the three-day ticket doesn't include Beng Mealea, Phnom Kulen and Tonlé Sap Lake. If it's too late to buy the tickets, you may get up early and head for ticket office in the next day. 

Accommodation Suggestion: Central Boutique Angkor Hotel (3 stars)

Today your independent Siem Reap tour is to explore around Angkor Thom where the grand Royal Palace lies. You are suggested to start from its towering southern gate. Then, head northwards to have a look of Bayon Temple and Baphuon Temple to appreciate the magnificent stone carvings. After that, the Terrace of the Elephant where the king holds ceremonial parade and an Indian temple, Phimeanakas may leaps into your eyes. Go farther, the Terrace of the Leper King shows a human statue and the exquisite embossments to you. According to the ancient tales, the mysterious Prasat Suor Prat standing in the forest, probably serves as a place to trail prisoners. Then go eastwards and get out of Angkor Thom through the Victory Gate which usually welcomes the ancient soldiers who have a victory in the battle. 

Go on your trip to the east, you may find two similar temples standing on the opposite of each other, which are Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda. It's quite strange that you might feel cool when you step in the temples of Angkor. Then, take a few steps to the east, there lies a temple called Ta Keo. It is special with its simple and grand building style among these ancient sites. Head to northeast of Ta Keo, there is a small temple built with bricks named Prasat Kravan. This classical brick temple is famous for its beautiful bas-reliefs of Vishnu and Lakshmi, the gods in Indian mythology. 

After that, take a tuktuk to the west of Prasat Kravan, and you can find Angkor Wat near the ticket office. It is the largest and best-preserved temple in Angkor historic sites. As a typical building in the golden art period of Angkor, it was originally dedicated to Lord Vishnu and became a Buddhism temple in the late 13th century. The Angkor Wat is known for its magnificent architecture and exquisite embossments. The light will be alright to appreciate the murals and embossments in Angkor Wat in the afternoon. At end of the day, you are suggested to watch the sunset on Phnom Bakheng, lying about 1 mile away to the northwest of Angkor Wat. After arriving on the top of the mountain, you can take a chance to have a panoramic view of the Angkor historic sites. 

After a day's traveling, please get enough rest and get ready for watching sunrise in the early morning. 

Tips: Because the restricted number of visitors is allowed on the top of Phnom Bakheng, you are suggested to arrive there before 16:00. As the road to the top of the mountain is a little steep, a pair of comfortable shoes is necessary. For your safety, we suggest you leave there before it's completely dark. In addition, the visitors wearing the skirts or shorts are not allowed to climb the mountain. 

Accommodation Suggestion: Central Boutique Angkor Hotel (3 stars)

Today you are suggested to leave for Angkor Wat before 5:00, as the sunrise starting at around 6:00. The lotus pool in the north of the temple is one of the best places to watch the sunrise. Then, you can take a tuktuk to Preah Khan directly, and head east for Preah Neak Pean to see the little temple on the island lying in the center of a pool. Near the Preah Neak Pean, there is also a temple, Ta Som, which was built to memorize a great general in Angkor period. To the southeast of Ta Som, East Mebon was built by Rajendravarman II to offer sacrifices to his parents. Keep going around 1 mile south to East Mebon, a temple in the style of pyramid comes into your sight. This temple, named Pre Rup follows the style of pyramid. It was used to hold cremation ceremonies at that time. Take steps to the southwest, Sras Srang, an imperial bathing pool will leap into your eyes. Then, continue walking to the west, Banteay Kdei is said to be the place for the king and the queen to take a nap after showering or swimming. To the northwest of Banteay Kdei, Ta Prohm is surrounded by the thick woods. It is a temple built by the Angkor King for his mother. 

Today's backpacking tour will end here. We suggest you charter a car through the hotel in advance for a long trip in the next day. 

Tip: The sunrise and sunset only appear in the dry seasons in Cambodia, November to February of the next year. 

Accommodation Suggestion: Central Boutique Angkor Hotel (3 stars)

It's a long trip today. You are suggested to set out early and start your backpacking tour from Banteay Samre, a grand temple surrounded by a moat and walls. It is a Hindu temple in the Angkor Wat style. Stepping out of the temple, you should drive to Banteay Srei which is mainly built with the red clay and bricks. Different from other sites, Banteay Srei is a unique temple built in the bright colors. It is worth mentioning that the embossments in this temple are quite detailed. There is an elegance woman with a lotus on the hand carved on the wall, and even her dress can be clearly recognized. With its distinct building style and beautiful embossments, it's regarded as "the diamond of Angkor Art". Then you can drive about 6 miles to northeast of Banteay Srei. You can see a mysterious temple, Beng Mealea. It usually costs USD5 to enter this temple. It looks like the undiscovered "Angkor Wat" lying in the jungles and ruins. 

After visiting so many temples for a few days, a beautiful waterscape will probably make you relax. You may head for Kompong Phluk to visit the floating village, as well as the forest above water. The admission fee of this village is USD20. The boat to the forest above water costs USD5 for extra. After that, you can go to the Tonlé Sap Lake to watch the sunset. 

Accommodation Suggestion: Central Boutique Angkor Hotel (3 stars)

Preah Vihear Temple is suggested as your destination today. Please remember to bring your passport with you, because the ticket office will check it when you visit the temple. It usually takes three and half an hour to get there. Preah Vihear Temple, located at the border of Preah Vihear Province and Thailand, has the similar construction style of Angkor Wat. This temple stands on the top of a cliff. It is a typical building in Angkorian Period with its exquisite stone carvings. The maroon building seems quite grand and plain under the blue sky. After visiting, you can take a taxi back to your hotel. 

Tip: You are suggested to book the bus tickets from Siem Reap to Battambang through the hotel or travel agent in advance. 

Accommodation Suggestion: Central Boutique Angkor Hotel (3 stars)

The bus to Battambang will take 3-4 hours. We suggest you the 3-star King Fy Hotel, located in the center of Battambang with the convenient transportation. Then you may rent a tuktuk from the hotel to experience the bamboo train which is quite exciting but not dangerous. After that, you can drive to visit the Phnom Banan. When you arrive at the top of Phnom Banan, you may become intoxicated in the scenery like quaint villages and thick forest at the foot of the mountain. After that, you can watch the groups of bats flying out of the caves around 18:00. 

Your independent tour in Battambang comes to the end today. We suggest you book the bus ticket from Battambang to Phnom Penh in advance. 

Accommodation Suggestion: King Fy Hotel (3 stars)

It will take you 4-5 hours to reach Phnom Penh. After arrival, you are suggested to check in the Cardamom Hotel & Apartment, only 1 mile from the Central Market. After that, you can hang out to Central Market which is a French building. The local specialties and artifacts can be found there. In addition, you should never miss the local snacks. The Night Market is another good place to go. You can buy souvenirs for your families and friends in the market. It opens during 17:00 - 22:00. 

Accommodation Suggestion: Cardamom Hotel & Apartment (3 stars)

Continue your independent tour in Phnom Penh. First, you can take a tuktuk to visit the Royal Palace. It has witnessed the splendid history and culture of Cambodia. The Royal Palace looks splendid in white and yellows colors. The white color stands for Brahmanism, while the yellow represents Buddhism. It is divided into two parts, the north part as residence of royals and the south part for visiting. The murals of the Indian mythology on the wall are also available to visitors. The Royal Palace opens during 8:00 to 10:00 and 14:00 to 16:00. 

Then you can walk to the National Museum, located on the north of the Royal Palace. You may learn Angkor culture in detail here. After a few hours' visiting, you can head for Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields. Here, you can see the diverse punishments in the history of Cambodia. After that, you can take a tuktuk back to the hotel. 

Accommodation Suggestion: Cardamom Hotel & Apartment (3 stars)

Your independent Cambodia tour is drawing to a close. Please take your own luggage to check out the hotel. Then take a taxi to Phnom Penh International Airport in about 20 minutes. We suggest you arrive at the airport 2 hours in advance for your leaving flight. Have a nice trip!