Day 01
Sunrise at Angkor Wat and Sunset Cruise on Tonle Sap
- Depart from your hotel before dawn at approximately 4:30 am, or 5:00 am depending on the time of year, to begin the tour with sunrise at Angkor Wat from the East Gate. You will walk through the dark and quiet entrance into the central area of Angkor Wat and visit the whole temple before leaving through the West Gate.
- Take a break for a fresh breakfast, usually a takeaway from your hotel, at a recommended restaurant located in front of the temple. Then continue your morning tour by entering Angkor Thom, the "Great City," through the South Gate, where guardian god "devas" statues line the right-hand side and demon god "asuras" line the left-hand side.
- Drive past Bayon Temple, located in the centre of Angkor Thom, as well as the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. Leave Angkor Thom through the East Gate, the "Victory Gate," to visit Ta Prohm Temple, also known as the "Tomb Raider Temple," one of the most atmospheric temples in the Angkor complex. The temple was "rediscovered" by the French explorer Henri Mouhot and is one of the best temples for photography lovers, with many attractive spots created by the encroaching roots of fig trees covering large parts of this ancient temple buried deep in the jungle.
- At the end of your morning touring, return to town and take a lunch break.
- Restart the tour in the late afternoon and drive to Tonle Sap Lake, the second-largest freshwater lake in the world, for a boating trip.
- Enjoy a leisurely sunset boat cruise at Kampong Pluk floating village, one of the biggest floating villages in Siem Reap province. You will have the chance to see the daily life of people living in floating houses, including schools, markets, hospitals, and more. Some houses and public places remain stationary, while others are still on floating boats, allowing them to move up or down from one place to another depending on the water level. This lake is the lifeblood of the country and the primary source of fish for Cambodians. During the rainy season, from May to November, the lake typically doubles in size, making it the best time for Cambodia to catch fish for daily food or for sale. In the dry season, from December to April, this area becomes fertile land for farmers to plant rice and other vegetables.
- Return to your hotel in the late evening and enjoy your free time to explore Siem Reap town independently.
