Cambodia’s Secrets of Angkor

Uncover the secrets of Cambodia’s mystical Angkor Wat region during three full days of exploration on a five-day Short Break Adventure. Investigate sacred temples from Angkor Wat to Ta Prohm with a knowledgeable local guide. Be awed not only by the ruins but by stories of god-kings and lost civilisations, ancient mythology and fascinating folklore. Trek through the dense, steamy Cambodian jungle to admire Hindu sculptures that were carved into a riverbed over a thousand years ago, sample plenty of spicy Khmer dishes and meet locals in stilted villages. This is the perfect addition to any holiday in South East Asia!

Itinerary

Day 1: Angkor Wat / Siem Reap

Sua s'dei! Welcome to Cambodia. Your Short Break Adventure will begin straight away with a pickup from your hotel at 8 am. You’ll head out on a day tour of Siem Reap, starting with a visit to Angkor Wat temple – easily the most famous and best-preserved of all temples within the Angkor complex. Spend some time wandering this incredible site, then tuck into a Khmer-style lunch at a local restaurant. After, continue to Angkor Thom – with its 54 towers decorated with more than 200 enigmatic smiling faces. Visit the beautiful Ta Prohm temple, which was made famous by the film Tomb Raider. Tonight is free to relax or explore at your own pace. You might like to hit the night markets for some cheap and delicious street food or maybe indulge in a traditional massage.

Day 2: Banteay Srei / Siem Reap

Join a friendly local guide this morning some serious temple-hopping, nature appreciation and an in-depth look at local life in Siem Reap. Visit the Banteay Srei Butterfly Centre, where you’ll learn all about the lifecycle of butterflies. The netted tropical enclosure here contains thousands of beautiful, free-flying butterflies and is the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia, and all revenue is re-invested to the local community to help alleviate poverty. Explore the Cambodian Landmine Museum, which was established in 1997 by ex-child soldier Aki Ra. The museum aims to educate visitors on the importance of clearing landmines in Cambodia and supports at-risk Khmer children. Next is the Banteay Srei Temple, then you’ll stop for lunch. Meet the sugar palm community at Preah Dak Village – the biggest sugar palm producer in Siem Reap. Here, you’ll learn how this organic sugar is produced and taste one of their sweet treats. You'll then head back to the Angkor complex to see a few more of the gorgeous temples, ending with Preah Khan Temple – one of the largest complexes at Angkor.

Day 3: Tonle Sap / Siem Reap

Discover more local secrets as you explore by remork (Cambodian tuk tuk) on a half day tour today. Leaving Siem Reap, travel through the countryside to Tonle Sap Lake – one of the world’s most productive bodies of fresh water. Each year, millions of fish come to spawn in the seasonally flooded forest surrounding the lake, attracting a water birds and people who have settled in villages along the shores. This ecosystem was classified as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1997. Take a boat trip around the lake to see floating villages and get a taste for life ruled by monsoonal rains and water-based agriculture. Take the back roads back to town and witness seasonal agricultural activities like cricket catching, rice planting and harvesting, smoking fish, fish paste (prohoc making), and duck farming. Stop at a local village to pick up Khmer snacks and visit a Buddhist monastery. Your adventure then comes to an end back in in Siem Reap at about 1 pm. No accommodation is included tonight, so if you’d like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent.

Departure Dates