Cambodia Angkor Wat 4 Days Tour with Amazing Sunrise

Trip Highlights

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Capture the Angkor Wat bathed in the golden twilight of dawn and dusk.
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Pretend to be the character in the movie “Tomb Raider” at Ta Prohm Temple.
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To see how nature blend with spirituality at the mysterious jungle ruins - Beng Mealea.
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Feel the charm of Cambodian cultural essence of Apsara Dance while savoring authentic Khmer cuisine.
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Cruise across Tonle Sap Lake to experience the daily life of the floating villages.

This trip can be tailored to match your dates and interests!

Itinerary Expand All
Day 1: Siem Reap Airport Pick-up; Visit Angkor National Museum As soon as you arrive at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI), your guide and driver will pick you up and escort you to the hotel we pre-booked for you. During this 4-day tour, we’ll mainly focus on Angkor Ruins. However, if without certain historical context, the journey may just leave you a feel of simply walking through various impressive stones. Therefore, if time permits after settling in, your guide and driver will accompany you to the Angkor National Museum to preview the architectural wonders we’ll visit in following days. Following the curated galleries, you’ll draw a clear map in your mind of Cambodian history of Angkor Dynasty (9th-15th century), aka Khmer Empire, from Hindu mythologies, Buddhist icons to classic Cambodian architectures. With this knowledge, you’ll no longer see mere stone structures, but a vivid world left behind by that great empire. ★ What to Expect: 1. Our well-organized itinerary covers all the Small, Grand, and Outer Circuits of Angkor Wat within a limited timed, showing the most iconic temple ruins as well as off-the-beaten-path spots that are usually overlooked by many other operators, such as Beng Mealea Temple and floating villages on Tonle Sap Lake. 2. Traveling in a private air-conditioned vehicle stocked with bottled water will ensure your comfort in the tropical heat and spare you the hassle of bargaining with local tuk-tuk operators. 3. Our experienced guide is not only a knowledgeable historian but also a skilled photographer, who knows exactly the best vantages and the most magical lights for unique and crowed-free pictures. Accommodation: Tara Angkor Hotel (4 stars) or FCC Angkor by Avani (5 stars), Siem Reap Angkor National Museum, Siem Reap Angkor Wat Temple
Day 2: Siem Reap Small Circuit: Angkor Wat Sunrise, Bayon Temple, Ta Prohm, Bakheng Temple Sunset We’ll rise early this morning to witness the breathtaking sunrise over Angkor Wat. After King Suryavarman II (1094-1150 AD) captured the Angkor realm in the early 12th century, he spent over 30 years to construct Angkor Wat, which is now titled as the world’s largest religious complex. Designed to demonstrate Hindu cosmology, the temple houses five towers rising in the shape of lotus buds, symbolizing spiritual awakening and rebirth and insinuating the soul’s ascent from earth to heaven. After the sunrise, we’ll explore Angkor Wat up close to marvel at its exquisite bas-relief depicting Hindu and Buddhist mythologies. ★ What Makes Us Different: 1. To ensure the best sunrise view, your experienced guide may adjust the itinerary according to weather. 2. If you like, we can prepare a breakfast box so that you can enjoy a picnic while admiring the stunning sunrise at Angkor Wat, or we can return you to the hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, let’s continue to Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Angkor Dynasty. Following King Suryavarman II’s death is the empire’s descent, and the capital was even sacked by the enemies. Until 1181 AD, the legendary King Jayavarman VII (1122-1218 AD) defeated invaders and ushered the empire into its golden age. If Angkor Wat resorts the empire’s soul, Angkor Thom represents its glory. Angkor Wat Temple Khmer Smile, Bayon Temple Along the paths, we’ll arrive at Bayon Temple at the heart of the ancient city. Beyond its world-famous “Smile of Angkor”, the 1,200-meter-long (3,937-foot) bas-relief gallery is another must-see, which records fierce battles and scenes of bustling daily life in the past. You guide will help you distinguish the Chinese merchants and Cambodian according to the unique physical traits and attires of the figures frozen on the wall. After admiring the lifelike animal reliefs at the Terrace of Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King, we’ll head to Ta Prohm Temple, where nature interwinds with history. Massive tree roots swallowed the late-12th-century sanctuary, completely enveloping its towers. This mesmerizing fusion of stones and plants made the temple a filming location for Hollywood’s “Tomb Raider”, attracting flocks of movie fans around the world. Then, a 20-minute climbing will bring us to Phnom Bakheng Temple on the hill top, where you can take in the panoramic view of Angkor Wat bathing in the romantic fading golden light. Please keep up to your guide when descending the hill since the sky will get dark in a very short time. To draw a full stop of today’s sightseeing, we have specially included a traditional Khmer-style dinner accompanied by a Apsara Dance Show, which seems to bring the fairies from the stone carvings to life before your eyes. At the end of the day, you guide and driver will offer you a seamless transfer back to your hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Apsara Dinner Show Accommodation: Tara Angkor Hotel (4 stars) or FCC Angkor by Avani (5 stars), Siem Reap Terrace of the Elephants Ta Prohm Temple - Shooting Site of 'Tomb Raider'
Day 3: Siem Reap Grand & Outer Circuits: Preah Khan, Banteay Srei & Beng Mealea Temples After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel. Let’s hit the road to the grand and outer circuits of Angkor Ruins. First, visit the Preah Khan Temple (Sacred Sword Temple) which is commissioned by the King Jayavarman VII in the 12th century to commemorate his father. This sanctuary, different from most Angkorian monuments, served as both a royal residence and a Buddhist university, once housing over a thousand monks and standing as a cultural and religious nucleus of the Khmer Empire. Here, you’ll be captivated by a two-story stone structure designed in Mediterranean style, which is believed to safeguard the royal sword, hence the name of this site. Then, we’ll proceed to Banteay Srei Temple. En route, we’ll stop at some villages to glimpse into authentic rural Cambodia life. Upon arrival at the temple, just follow the path flanked by statutes of Linga and pass through the doorway, where you’ll make the first “wow” to its extraordinary carvings chiseled out of pink sandstones. Your aesthetic expedition will reach its climax when you see the apsara figures on the façade of the sanctuary’s three main halls. Crafted with graceful gestures and serene smiles, they are dubbed as the “Mona Lisa of the East.” Other bas-reliefs on the temple’s preserved lintels and pediments mainly depict Indian epic stories of the Ramayana and Mahabharata or showcase ancient daily life and battlefields. Preah Kahn Temple Banteay Srei Temple ★ Special Inclusions: Adventure to the Hidden Beng Mealea Temple After lunch, we’ll drive one hour to a less-known remnant of Angkor Ruins, Beng Mealea. Since it is a little far from the downtown area, many operators may exclude this jungle ruins from the itinerary. To ensure you leave with no regrets, your guide and driver will accompany you on a venture into this mysterious and untouched gem. This 12-century temple is defined by its collapse. What you could peek at through its fallen galleries, crumbling towers, and walls wrapped with ancient roots, is the decline of civilization. Wandering on the wooden walkways with your guide, you’ll find hidden chambers and moss-covered courtyards, delivering a real-life adventurous Temple Run experience. At the end of the day, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel. Alternatively, if you are not tired yet, you can get off at the Old Market to experience the lively local bazaar and a wide range of dinner options. Later, grab a drink in the nearby Pub Street to complete your last night in Siem Reap, and finally return by tuk-tuk. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Tara Angkor Hotel (4 stars) or FCC Angkor by Avani (5 stars), Siem Reap Beng Mealea, a Hidden Gem of Angkor See the Floating Village Life on Tonle Sap Lake
Day 4: Tonle Sap Lake Boat Tour to Explore Floating Villages; Siem Reap Airport See-off After breakfast and checking out, your guide and driver will accompany you on a 40-minute private car ride to Tonle Sap Lake, where you’ll switch to a small boat and cruise to the floating villages. As the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, it nurtures over 170 floating communities, offering shelters to over 800 thousand refugees who have carved out an enduring life on the water for generations. Once entering the village, you may feel pity of their scarce material conditions, but looking at vibrant potted plants, and hearing laughter and music drifting from simple and crude karaoke lounges, you’ll be infected by the villagers’ positive attitude. Near the dock, a prominent sign of “Grateful for Peace, Cambodia Needs Peace” not only demonstrates wishes of Cambodians, but also deeply resonates with your heart. ► Tips: 1. It is advisable to bring insect repellent to free from the disturbing of mosquitos. And please wear non-slip shoes for safe boarding and disembarking. 2. Out of respect, please always ask for permission before taking photos of local residents. At the end of the tour, your guide and driver will escort you to Siem Reap airport for your homebound flight. Hope you a smooth journey! Meal: Breakfast
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