Temple at Angkor, Cambodia

With Trip Leader Max Holland and British conservation architect John Sanday, we discover hidden temples of Khmer civilization, remote Cambodian villages, and the wonders of the immense temple city of Angkor Wat.

Photo by Brian McGilloway

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Angkor and the Jungle Temples of Cambodia

Discovering Hidden Villages and Lost Monuments of the Khmer Realm
with Max Holland and John Sanday

This itinerary is no longer available

We may run this trip again in the future, please contact us if you are interested.

Join veteran Trip Leader Max Holland and renowned Angkor expert John Sanday to explore Cambodia’s lost world of jungle-draped temples. The exquisite monuments of the Angkorian era extended across a vast area, not just the world-famous site at Angkor Wat. Many were abandoned after Angkor’s 15th century defeat by the Thais, or more recently left to the jungle during the Pol Pot era. On our special expedition, we “discover” amazing lost temples with conservation architect John Sanday, including Banteay Chhmar, a 12th century grand-scale masterpiece of Khmer king Jayavarman VII. John and his team are currently restoring Banteay Chhmar, and we have a unique opportunity to see the work in progress. We also visit remote Cambodian villages, explore recently opened jungle-draped temples, and spend three full days at glorious Angkor Wat.

Highlights

  • Explore jungle-draped Banteay Chhmar with John Sanday, renowned conservation architect
  • Village homestay for one night, hosted by local families
  • Full-day cruise on beautiful Tonle Sap Lake
  • Angkor Wat’s magnificent temples

Details

  • 13-day trip begins and ends in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
  • 11 nights in hotels, one night village homestay in private homes
  • All meals included except 2 dinners
  • Overland travel with walking tours

This itinerary is no longer available

We may run this trip again in the future, please contact us if you are interested.

Suggested Reading

Reading list, click here.

Itinerary at a Glance

Days 1-3
Phnom Penh, Cambodia / Kampong Chhnang

After visiting the monuments of this city of French colonial architecture and tree-lined boulevards, we head through the timeless rice-farming villages of the Mekong Delta to Kampong Chhang.

Days 4-5
Battambang Province / Tonle Sap Lake

In a beautiful setting of stilt villages and brilliant green rice paddies, we visit intriguing pagodas and local villages, then make a full-day boat crossing of Tonle Sap, Cambodia’s “Great Lake,” cruising through flooded mangrove forests, bird preserves, crocodile farms, and floating villages.

Days 6-8
Angkor Wat

Built between the 9th and 13th centuries to glorify a succession of Khmer kings, Angkor’s temples are massive and majestic. With three full days, we explore from the grandest temple complex, Angkor Wat, to the little-visited outlying Khmer sites.

Day 9
Village Homestay / Banteay Chhmar

Today we head out to the remote 12th century “jungle” temple of Banteay Chhmar with John Sanday, who is supervising its restoration. Banteay Chhmar (“Citadel of the Cats”) is one of the great architectural masterpieces of Southeast Asia and one of Cambodia’s top-listed sites for nomination to UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Tonight we have the unique opportunity to experience village life as we spend the night as guests in local homes.

Days 10-13
Banteay Top / The Rolous Group

We explore the long-abandoned 12th century temple of Banteay Top as well as the temples of the 9th century Rolous Group, where 500-year-long Khmer civilization began. We head back to Phnom Penh via the impressive pre-Angkorian monuments at Sambor Prei Kuk. Depart from Phomn Penh on Day 13.

This is the Itinerary-at-a-Glance. For the complete trip description, Download Full Trip Brochure