Angkor Wat Discovery 5 Days – Siem Reap

Tour Overview

Discover the stunning temples of Angkor on this 5-day Angkor Wat discovery tour, from the iconic Angkor Wat (the largest religious monument in the world) to the mysterious Bayon Temple with its giant smiling stone faces, the atmospheric Ta Prohm overgrown by giant tree roots, the beautiful Banteay Srei with its stunning pink sandstone carvings, and the many other beautiful temples of the Angkorian empire. Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor, is a vibrant town with its bustling markets, its restaurants, bars, and its rich culture. This tour is perfect for temple lovers and history enthusiasts who want to explore the magnificent temples of Angkor in depth.

Itinerary Highlights

Day 1: Arrival in Siem Reap

Arrive at Siem Reap International Airport (Siem Reap, Cambodia). Transfer to your hotel. Explore Siem Reap, the gateway to the stunning temples of Angkor, a vibrant tourist town with its beautiful temples, its bustling markets, its restaurants, bars, and its rich culture. Visit the Angkor National Museum (with its excellent collection of Khmer art and artifacts, and its exhibits on the history of the Angkorian empire, a great introduction to the temples you will be visiting). Visit the bustling Old Market (Psar Chas) and the famous Pub Street (the vibrant nightlife area of Siem Reap, with its restaurants, bars, and shops). Visit the nearby Artisans Angkor (a beautiful craft center where local artisans create beautiful Khmer-style carvings, paintings, and textiles using traditional techniques). Evening welcome dinner with Cambodian cuisine including amok, lok lak, fresh seafood, and the famous Angkor beer, and enjoy a traditional Apsara dance show (the classical Khmer dance, with its beautiful costumes and graceful movements, depicting stories from Hindu mythology and Khmer history). Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 2: Angkor Wat Sunrise & Small Circuit Temples

Early morning watch the sunrise over Angkor Wat (the largest religious monument in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the iconic temple of Cambodia, built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II, with its stunning five towers, its beautiful bas-reliefs, and its breathtaking architecture. The sunrise over Angkor Wat is one of the most iconic and beautiful sunrises in the world, with the temple silhouetted against the colorful sky and reflected in the reflecting pool). After the sunrise, explore Angkor Wat in depth: visit the various levels, the beautiful bas-reliefs (including the famous Churning of the Ocean of Milk, the Battle of Kurukshetra, and the various other scenes from Hindu mythology and Khmer history), the galleries, the libraries, and the central towers (the iconic five towers representing the five peaks of Mount Meru, the sacred mountain of Hindu mythology). After Angkor Wat, visit the Angkor Thom (the great walled city of the Angkorian empire, the last and most enduring capital of the Khmer empire, built by King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century, with its massive walls, its five grand gates adorned with giant stone faces, and its many beautiful temples and monuments). Enter through the stunning South Gate (with its giant stone faces of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, and the famous causeway lined with statues of gods and demons churning the ocean of milk). Visit the Bayon Temple (the iconic temple at the center of Angkor Thom, with its 54 towers and 216 giant smiling stone faces of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, one of the most recognizable and mysterious temples in the world, with its stunning bas-reliefs depicting scenes from everyday life and historical events). Visit the Royal Palace (the former royal residence within Angkor Thom), the Phimeanakas (the sacred temple-pyramid within the royal palace), the Elephant Terrace (the massive terrace with its beautiful carvings of elephants, used as a viewing platform for public ceremonies), and the Leper King Terrace (the beautiful terrace with its stunning carvings and the statue of the Leper King). After lunch, visit the Ta Prohm Temple (the famous temple overgrown by giant tree roots, made famous by the movie Tomb Raider, with its stunning atmosphere and its beautiful fusion of nature and architecture. Ta Prohm was built in the late 12th century by King Jayavarman VII as a Buddhist monastery and university, and it has been left largely unrestored, with the giant silk-cotton trees and strangler figs growing over the ruins, creating a magical and atmospheric setting). Explore Ta Prohm, walk through the ruins, and enjoy the beautiful fusion of nature and architecture. Evening dinner with Cambodian cuisine. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 3: Grand Circuit Temples & Banteay Srei

Morning visit the temples on the Grand Circuit of Angkor: visit the Preah Khan Temple (a beautiful and large temple complex built by King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century, dedicated to his father, with its stunning architecture, its beautiful carvings, its massive trees growing over the ruins, and its fascinating history as a Buddhist monastery and university). Visit the Neak Pean (a beautiful artificial island temple built by King Jayavarman VII, consisting of a central temple on an island in a large basin, surrounded by four smaller basins representing the four sacred rivers of Hindu mythology, with its beautiful setting and its spiritual significance). Visit the Ta Som Temple (a beautiful small temple built by King Jayavarman VII, with its stunning architecture and its famous giant tree growing over the eastern gate). Visit the East Mebon (a beautiful temple built in the 10th century by King Rajendravarman, originally on an island in the now-dry East Baray reservoir, with its stunning architecture and its beautiful elephant statues at the corners). Visit the Pre Rup (a beautiful temple-mountain built in the 10th century by King Rajendravarman, with its stunning architecture and its beautiful views of the surrounding countryside from the top). After lunch, visit Banteay Srei (the beautiful temple with its stunning pink sandstone carvings, often called the jewel of Khmer art, built in the 10th century by a courtier of King Rajendravarman, not by a king, which makes it unique. Banteay Srei is famous for its incredibly detailed and beautiful carvings in pink sandstone, depicting scenes from Hindu mythology including the stories of Shiva, Vishnu, and the various other Hindu deities, with a level of detail and artistry that is unmatched in Angkor). On the way to Banteay Srei, visit the Banteay Samre temple (a beautiful temple built in the 12th century, with its stunning architecture and its beautiful carvings). Evening dinner with Cambodian cuisine. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 4: Off the Beaten Path Temples – Beng Mealea & Koh Ker

Morning drive to Beng Mealea (approximately 1.5 hours from Siem Reap), a stunning and largely unrestored temple from the Angkorian period, built in the 12th century during the reign of King Suryavarman II (the same king who built Angkor Wat), with its beautiful architecture, its stunning atmosphere, and its beautiful fusion of nature and architecture. Beng Mealea is often called the wild Angkor, as it is largely unrestored and overgrown by the jungle, with its beautiful carvings, its mysterious atmosphere, and its stunning setting. Explore the temple, walk through the ruins, climb over the collapsed stones, and enjoy the peaceful and atmospheric setting. After Beng Mealea, continue to Koh Ker (approximately 1.5 hours from Beng Mealea), a stunning and remote temple complex in the jungle, the capital of the Angkorian empire for a brief period in the 10th century under King Jayavarman IV, with its stunning temples including the famous Prasat Thom (a massive 30-meter tall pyramid temple, one of the most unique and impressive temples in Cambodia, with its stunning architecture and its beautiful setting in the jungle). Explore Koh Ker, visit the various temples including Prasat Thom, Prasat Kraham (the Red Temple), Prasat Prang, and the various other temples, and enjoy the remote and peaceful setting. Evening return to Siem Reap. Dinner with Cambodian cuisine. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 5: Siem Reap – Culture & Departure

Morning explore the culture and crafts of Siem Reap: visit the Artisans Angkor craft center, watch the artisans at work creating beautiful Khmer-style carvings, paintings, and textiles using traditional techniques. Visit the Cambodia Landmine Museum (a museum documenting the devastating impact of landmines in Cambodia, and the efforts to clear them, founded by Aki Ra, a former Khmer Rouge child soldier who became a landmine clearance expert). Visit the War Museum (with its collection of military equipment from the various wars in Cambodia). After lunch, do some last-minute shopping for Cambodian products including traditional crafts, textiles, jewelry, sculptures, and local products. Visit the Old Market or the various craft shops for souvenirs. Afternoon transfer to Siem Reap International Airport for your departure flight. Concluding your 5-day Angkor Wat discovery temple tour.

What’s Included

• Air-conditioned vehicle
• Driver
• Fuel Cost, Parking Fee, Toll Fee
• Accommodation in selected hotels
• Daily breakfast

What’s Not Included

• Entrance fees to attractions
• Tour Guide
• Meal (lunch and dinner)
• International flights
• Travel insurance
• Personal expenses