Day 01
Beng Mealea and Koh Ker Temple Exploration
- After breakfast, begin the drive to Preah Vihear Province with your Cambodian tour guide. Koh Ker is located about 120 km from Siem Reap town. You will head out to this sparsely populated area of Cambodia, where only a few tourists venture this far from the main tourist areas in Siem Reap.
- Along the way to Koh Ker, stop at Beng Mealea temple. This Hindu temple has been left to the elements, and the jungle has taken over much of the structure. Trees grow through the ruins, and its design resembles Angkor Wat. Because of this, it is thought to have been built by King Suryavarman II, who also built Angkor Wat.
- Then, stop for lunch at a local restaurant, where you can sample some of the local Khmer cuisine.
- Continue the tour to Koh Ker Temple. The Koh Ker complex consists of more than 50 known structures, many of which still lie in ruins. Only around 12 temples are accessible to tourists, and the largest is called Prasat Thom. This seven-tiered temple was likely the pinnacle of the capital city built by King Jayavarman IV.
- After exploring the temples at Koh Ker, begin the drive back to Siem Reap town. The journey takes a few hours, giving you time to sit back, relax, and watch the Cambodian countryside roll by.
- Head back to Siem Reap and get dropped off at your hotel or accommodation.
