Cambodia Package Tour - Cambodian Circuit, 7 days

Day 1	Phnom Penh Arrival in Phnom Penh Transfer Sightseeing in Phnom Penh Cambodia's capital sits at the confluence of the Mekong, Bassac and Tonle Sap rivers. Considered the loveliest of the French-built cities of Indochina, it was founded as a small monastery in 1372 by a rich Khmer woman called Penh, after she found four Buddha statues in a tree trunk on the banks of the Mekong. She set up the monastery on a nearby hill or "phnom" in Cambodian. ROYAL PALACE AND SILVER PAGODA: the royal palace stands on the site of the former citadel, Bantey Kev (built in 1813). Visitors are not allowed to some portions of the grounds, as the palace is the official residence of King Norodom Sihamoni. The silver pagoda is often called the Pagoda of the Emerald Buddha or Wat Preah Kaeo after the statue housed there. The wooden temple was originally built by King Norodom in 1892 and inside, its floor is comprised of more than 5000 silver blocks which together weigh nearly 6 tons. NATIONAL MUSEUM: designed by a French archeologist and painter, George Groslier, in Khmer style in 1920 to exhibit works previously scattered throughout the country. It contains a collection of Khmer art including the beautiful 6th century bronze statue of Vishnu. CENTRAL MARKET or RUSSIAN MARKET: Visit one of Phnom Penh's two great markets. The Central Market is located in a distinctive domed Art Deco building, and is filled with jewelry, fabrics and all types of souvenirs. The Russian Market is a sprawling labyrinth of stalls selling everything from CDs and DVDs to silks, crafts, jewelry and more. Both are fascinating places to browse. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 2	Phnom Penh Excursion to Takeo Province south of Phnom Penh with several interesting historical sites including Angkor Borei. TONLE BATI: a lake south of Phnom Penh, with a beach and the impressive laterite temple of Ta Prohm. TA PROHM: a temple built by King Jayavarman VII (who ruled from 1181 to 1201) on the site of a 6th century Khmer shrine. A stele found here dates from 1574 and inside the north gate is a statue of the Hindu god Preah Noreay. PHNOM CHISOR: the main temple on this hill is constructed of laterite and brick with carved lintels of sandstone. The inscriptions found here date back to the 11th century and the wooden doors to the sanctuary are decorated with interesting carvings. ANGKOR BOREI: a 6th century monument built in laterite by King Rudravarman of Funan. His patron deity was Vishnu and many Hindu statues survive from this site. It is one of the few remaining sites with traces of the Kingdom of Funan (a kingdom influenced by India and thought to have spread as far as southern Burma and Indonesia). PHNOM DA: a hill south of Angkor Borei with four artificial caves, built as shrines. On top of the hill is a square laterite tower. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 3	Phnom Penh - Kampong Cham - Kampong Thom By vehicle from Phnom Penh to Kampong Cham Journey north through the Mekong River basin. If time permits, visit the spider merchants at Skoun. Sightseeing in Kampong Cham Kampong Cham is a lively port on the banks of the Mekong River with some good examples of colonial-era architecture. PHNOM PROS and PHNOM SREI: these two hills, each with a temple, translate as ‘Man hill’ and ‘Woman hill’ respectively. The hills offer beautiful views of this central part of Cambodia. RUBBER PLANTATION: visit a rubber plantation at Chhup. LOCAL MARKET: an interesting place to see the local produce and to meet the local people. WAT NOKOR BAYON: located 2 kilometers from the river, this is an 11th century Mahayana Buddhist shrine made of sandstone and laterite with a large reclining Buddha and numerous alcoves containing Buddha images. By vehicle from Kampong Cham to Kampong Thom Overnight in Kampong Thom.

Day 4	Kampong Thom - Siem Reap Sightseeing Kampong Thom Kompong Thom town is situated on the Stoeng Sen River and is a good base from which to visit the important archaeological sites at Sambor Prei Kup, 35 kilometers from town. SAMBOR PREI KUK: an ancient Chenla capital, also known as Isanapure, this is the most impressive group of pre-9th century monuments in Cambodia, dating from the reign of King Isanavarman in the 6th century. PHNOM SANTUK: has 809 steps and an eclectic collection of shrines, carved Buddha, great views of the surrounding countryside and an active monastery. WAT ANDRI: near Route 6 on the way to Siem Reap, the highest ranked Buddhist monk in Kampong Thom province lives here. It is home to 50 monks and 20 nuns. By vehicle from Kampong Thom to Siem Reap Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 5	Siem Reap Sightseeing in Angkor Visit Angkor Wat ANGKOR WAT: a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu by King Suryavarman II, who reigned between 1131 and 1150. It was constructed over a period of 30 years and is world famous for its beauty and splendor. Angkor Wat features the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which runs along the outer gallery walls and narrates stories from Hindu mythology. In 1992 the UNESCO declared the monument and the whole city of Angkor a World Heritage Site. Visit Angkor Thom ANGKOR THOM: a fortified Royal City (10 square kilometers) built by King Jayavarman VII, who ruled from 1181 to 1201. The city has five monumental gates and is encircled by a moat 100 meters wide. In the center of the walled city are the city’s most important monuments including Bayon, Baphuon, the Terrace of Elephants, the Terrace of the Leper King and Phimeanakas with Royal Enclosure. BAYON: Jayavarman VII's temple mountain that stands at the center of Angkor Thom. It is one of the most popular of Angkor's monuments and a place of narrow corridors, steep flights of stairs and an amazing collection of towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces. BAPHUON: the pyramid shape represents the mythical Mount Meru and marks the center of the city that was here before Angkor Thom. PHIMEANAKAS: near the center of what was once the royal palace within Angkor Thom. Phimeanakas means ‘Celestial Palace’, though today there is not much left to indicate its former splendour. FORMER ROYAL PALACE: nothing remains today except two pools that were used by royalty for washing. TERRACE OF ELEPHANTS: this terrace was used for viewing public ceremonies and was a base for the King’s grand audience hall. The famous lines of elephants are at either end of the retaining walls. TERRACE OF THE LEPER KING: North of the Terrace of Elephants is a platform named ‘Terrace of the Leper King’. On the platform is a nude statue – one of Angkor’s mysteries. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 6	Siem Reap Sightseeing in Angkor Visit Banteay Srei Temple BANTEAY SREI: built in the late 10th century, it is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva. The temple is square with entrances on the east and west. Of main interest are the three central towers which are decorated with male and female divinities and beautiful filigree relief work. Visit Banteay Samre BANTEAY SAMRE: built in the middle of the 12th century under Suryavarman II, and dedicated to the god Vishnu. Excursion to the Tonle Sap Lake with boat trip TONLE SAP (Great Lake). Located in the heart of Cambodia, this extraordinary lake swells up to seven times its original size during the monsoon season. Its ecosystem is one of the richest and most diverse in the region. This boat trip will explore the floating fishing villages that live at the edges of the lake, passing submerged forests and fishing farms. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 7	Siem Reap Sightseeing in Angkor Visit Preah Khan PREAH KHAN: a temple built by King Jayavarman VII with towered enclosures and shoulder-hugging corridors in a jungle setting. Preah Khan covers a very large area but the temple itself is enclosed within a rectangular wall of around 700 by 800 meters. Visit Neak Pean Temple NEAK PEAN: built by King Jayavarman VII (ruled 1181 to 1201), it is a Buddhist temple consisting of a square pool with four smaller square pools arranged on each axis. In the centre of the large central pool is a circular island encircled by two nagas with intertwined tails. Visit Pre Rup Temple PRE RUP: built by Rajendravarman II (ruled 944 to 968), it consists of a pyramid shaped temple with the upper-most of the three tiers carrying five square shrines arranged as a quincunx. The name means ‘turning the body’ and refers to the traditional method of cremation. Visit Ta Som TA SOM: built in the late 12th century by Jayavarman VII for his teacher ‘Som’. Ta Som means ‘the old Som’. Visit Eastern Mebon EASTERN MEBON: temple erected by Rajendravarman (ruled from 944 to 968), it is located on a former islet in the centre of the Eastern Baray. The base of the temple is guarded at its corners by stone figures of harnessed elephants. Transfer