Temples of Angkor Extension

With the haunting remains of temples and shrines scattered across a tropical landscape, Angkor is a lasting monument to the glory of a bygone Khmer civilization and one of the wonders of the modern world. With a private guide, discover majestic temples adorned with intricate bas-reliefs or entwined by encroaching vegetation, climb up towers for sunset views of the countryside, contemplate the past as you pause beside huge moats and man-made lakes, and pass through imposing gateways decorated with colossal sculptured Buddha images. Built between the 9th and 13th centuries to glorify a succession of Khmer kings, most of Angkor was abandoned in the 15th century, and when the site became the source of scholarly interest in the late 19th century, efforts were made to clear away the jungle vegetation that threatened to destroy the monuments. The restoration under UNESCO and various national projects continues today.

Detailed Itinerary

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...L

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. We will see the South Gate with its impressive causeway flanked by gods and demons, the Elephant Terrace, and the Leper King Terrace, all within Angkor Thom (ancient city).  Overnight at hotel...BL

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. After lunch at a local restaurant in Siem Reap, we 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...BL

Day 4
Tonle Sap Lake / Siem Reap / Bangkok

Morning boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake, one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia, and explore the floating village of Kampong Khleang and its forest of stilted houses. A visit inside a local home allows you to learn firsthand about life on the lake before returning to Siem Reap for lunch. Time permitting, visit “Les Artisans d’Angkor,” a school promoting the arts and crafts of Cambodia. Transfer to the airport for an afternoon or evening flight to Bangkok...BL