Temples of Angkor Extension

Day 1
Bangkok / Siem Reap, Cambodia / Angkor National Museum

Morning flight from Bangkok to Siem Reap, Cambodia. After exiting through immigration, you are met by your guide for a transfer to your hotel. After lunch at a local cafe, visit the Angkor National Museum, with its wonderful collection of Cambodian artifacts showcasing the origins of Khmer art, culture, and architecture. Overnight at hotel.

Day 2
Angkor Wat / Angkor Thom

We begin our explorations of the glorious temples of Angkor with a visit to Angkor’s grandest and most inspiring temple complex: Angkor Wat. This architectural masterpiece was constructed in the 12th century and covers an area of over 500 acres. We explore its many galleries with columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards, and ponds full of water reflecting the temple. Intricately carved bas-reliefs extend the length of the outer walls and corridors, depicting mythological scenes of Hindu epics and day-to-day life at the time of Angkor’s construction. In the afternoon we visit the “Great City’ of Angkor Thom, whose centerpiece is the magnificent Bayon Temple, noted for its gigantic Boddhisattva sculptures and its remarkable bas-reliefs. Overnight at hotel.

Day 3
Ta Promh / Banteay Srei

Huge fig, banyan, and kapok trees have grown throughout the temple monuments of Ta Promh, their giant roots often splitting open ancient Buddha sculptures with surreal effect. The site has a mysterious and evocative “forgotten city” feeling and is a favorite with visitors. We also discover the enchanting 10th century Banteay Srei Temple, the “Citadel of the Women,” beyond the main Angkor complex. It seems as if the temple, which is in an amazing state of preservation, was designed to leave no space undecorated, and its extraordinary fine carvings in pink sandstone are quite unique. Overnight at hotel.

Day 4
Tonle Sap Lake / Siem Reap / Bangkok

Morning boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake, one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia, and visit the floating village of Kampong Khleang with its forest of stilted houses. Time permitting, visit “Les Artisans d’Angkor,” a school promoting the arts and crafts of Cambodia. Transfer to the airport for the afternoon or evening flight to Bangkok.

Extension Costs

Valid October 1, 2011–September 30, 2012

4-Star first class Victoria Angkor Hotel

5-Star deluxe La Residence d’Angkor

Note: A holiday season surcharge applies between December 23, 2011–January 4, 2012. There is also an additional charge for mandatory dinners on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

All costs subject to change