Angkor Wat Extension

DAY 1: Siem Reap

Arrive Siem Reap and transfer to your hotel. Over the following three days we discover the spiritual and cultural heart of Cambodia at the monumental palaces of the powerful Khmer Empire. The main cluster of monuments, are about 7kms north of Siem Reap, but others are scattered over an area in excess of 160 sq kms. At Angkor, we find architecture that rivals the great Pyramids of Egypt and the Incas lost city of Machu Pichhu, - a site that boasts the largest religious structure in the world. Two of the complexes most famous structures are those of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. They were built between the 9th and 13th centuries as a glorious shrine to the Hindu God Vishnu. Because of early trade with India, The Khmer art and architecture was rooted in Indian prototypes, but the expression and content was distinctly Cambodian. Most of the art from the Angkor period is Hindu although Mahayana Buddhism took hold in the late 12th century. Angkor Wat, meaning capital, is the most spectacular temple at Angkor. A large moat once protected it from invasion. Nearby is Angkor Thom, a structure that is thought to be constructed earlier than Angkor Wat because of the stiff and plain sections, which were later decorated with ornate bas-relief craftsmanship. The entire palace settlement was abandoned in the 15th century and over run by forest. In the late 19th century there was a renewed interest by the French naturalist Henri Mouhot who stumbled across the forgotten city in 1860, which led to a campaign to clear the jungle. This restoration still continues today. We’ll explore the enormous complex of elevated towers, covered galleries, courtyards, stairways and exquisite carvings. We’ll also visit some less ornate temples that served great importance during the Khmer rein, including the Bayon, The Royal Enclosure, Phimanakas and the Terraces of the Elephant. We conclude at the northeast Terrace of the Leper King, thought to have been a cremation platform for the aristocracy of Angkor. The 7m high terrace, has bands of bas-reliefs, one on top of the other, with intricately sculptured scenes of royal pageantry and seated apsaras as well as nagas and garudas that frequented the slopes of Mt Meru. We’ll return to the hotel late afternoon. Tonight you will be free to sample some of the local cuisine or possibly take in a local cultural show.

DAY 2: At Angkor Complex

After breakfast at the hotel we’ll drive the 7km road that leads to the temple sites. We’ll visit Kravan, Pre Rup, East Mebon – the final monuments to be built in plaster and brick; marking the end of a Khmer architectural epoch. The Siem Reap River was believed to have been diverted while the temples were being built. This river played an integral role in the development of the temple sites at Angkor. A bulging hill some 30kms from Angkor was identified as a source to ravish stone to aid the building of a religious and cultural centre. The quarry scar is still visible to this day. Huge pieces of rock were removed from the quarry and lugged by elephant down to the Siem Reap River, placed on large bamboo rafts and floated down river to the Angkor complex where it was offloaded again by elephant and transported to the temple site for construction. As such, the elephant was a highly revered beast during the Khmer Empire, a fact depicted on the many bas-reliefs found at the temple sites. We’ll return to the hotel during the middle of the day for lunch and to avoid the heat of the midday sun. The afternoon comprises a myriad of new temples from different eras, and our day will culminate in a walk up a short but steep trail where from the top, the entire Angkor complex is viewed from an elevated perspective. Every few hundred feet a temple site disturbs the forest canopy. If it’s a clear day, the sunsets from this vantage point are immaculate, turning the sky a striking blend of orange and red hues, while the jungle comes alive with a cacophony of bird calls. We’ll return to the hotel after dark and this evening will be at leisure in Siem Reap.

DAY 3: Trip Concludes in Siem Reap

Following breakfast at the hotel we will drive south of Siem Reap to Phnom Krom. This was the site from where stone was extracted. The drive in itself is an interesting one – giving us an insight into the lifestyles of the people of rural Siem Reap. Wooden houses are joisted upon tall stilts, conveying the extensive flooding of the Tonle Sap River over the wet season. Behind these dwellings rice paddies roll out across the flood plains as far as the eye can see. We travel by longboats propelled by noisy board motors, to the Tonle Sap – the Great Lake of Cambodia. This is the source of one of Siem Reap’s most important industries – fishing. In particular the elephant fish – also known as the hok yue is considered one of Cambodia’s delicacies. For many fishermen, the lake has become home – a cluster of small wooden houseboats giving easy access to large-scale commercial fishing opportunity. Schools, shops and handicraft factories and even a zoo, is found amidst the floating village. We arrive back to the head of the river to witness the frenzy of fisherman bartering their catch – the smell is most unpleasant! With time to freshen up at the hotel and complete check out procedures, we travel to Siem Reap airport for our departure.