4-Day Angkor, Kulen, Tonle Sap, Banteay Srei & Beng Mealea Tour

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
All about Angkor
5 stops
1
Angkor Thom
After organising tickets for Angkor Park, we visit Angkor Thom first and head for Bayon temple with its many stone faces.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included
2
Bayon Temple
Bayon temple is the one with numerous impressive faces carved into the stone. This is worth an hours visit. Nearby is Baphoun temple, so we have a quick stop there and have a look too.
2 hours • Admission ticket not included
3
Terrace of the Leper King
Moving on a little further, we stop to see the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King, both also within the Angkor Thom area.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included
4
Angkor Wat
After a break for lunch at a nearby restaurant, we continue to the main attraction, Angkor Wat. This is a large complex and you may want to climb to the top. So this is a long stop.
3 hours • Admission ticket not included
5
Phnom Bakheng
Finally, we head off to Phnom Bakheng where we probably mix with a large crowd at the top of this ancient temple. We have to go there a bit early and wait due to a restriction on numbers at the summit.
2 hours • Admission ticket not included
Day 2
Cool Kulen Waterfall and the Giant Buddha
7 stops
6
After our usual 8:30am start to leave Siem Reap and proceed on the long drive to Kulen Mountain. It's about 45km , so bring a book or something to amuse you.
2 hours • Admission ticket not included
7
1000 Lingas
On the way to Kulen, we stop at the river of 1000 lingas. If the river is not too strong, you can see numerous lingas carved on the stone bed of the river.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included
8
Phnom Kulen National Park
Upon reaching Phnom Kulen (means mountain of lychees), we proceed to the two waterfalls where guests can take a swim. Try not to be too alarmed by the small fish that may nibble at your dead skin, similar to what they do in the fish baths in town. There is no charge for this at the waterfall.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
9
Phnom Kulen National Park
From the waterfall, we trek a little way up to the Preah Ang Thom pagoda where you can view the giant reclining Buddha. And while you're there maybe get a blessing of holy water.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included
10
Phnom Kulen National Park
After a lunch on the mountain, we travel down and head for Banteay Srei. We stop on the way to see Sugar Palm manufacture (or alternatively the landmine museum).
30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
11
Banteay Srei
Banteay Srei goes by several names, “Lady temple”, “Tiny temple”, “Pink temple”. It is quite different. Originally called Tribhuvanamahesvara, the name Banteay Srei is a modern one, meaning "citadel of the women".
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
12
Banteay Samre
From there we visit Banteay Samre and Pre Rup temples before returning to the hotel at about 6:30pm.
2 hours • Admission ticket not included
Day 3
Angkor Sunrise and Grand Tour
5 stops
13
Angkor Wat
We start early and leave town no later than 5:00am. We drive to Angkor Wat and choose a good spot for photos and hopefully catch a beautiful and spiritual sunrise.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included
14
After sunrise, we drive back into town so guests can get their inclusive breakfast at their hotel.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
15
Preah Khan
We drive back to Angkor and stop at Preah Khan (meaning "The sacred sword"). The temple complex is quite large and was built to commemorate the Kings victory of the Chams (the people of what is now Vietnam) in 1191.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included
16
Neak Pean
From there, we drop by a series of temples; Neak Pean, Ta Som and East Mebon temples as they are roughly next to each other along the road. Neak Pean is an artificial island with a Buddhist temple on a circular island in Jayatataka Baray. After so many temples, we need to stop for a local lunch.
2 hours • Admission ticket not included
17
Ta Prohm
After lunch we proceed to Ta Nei, Ta Phrom and Banteay Kdei temples. Ta Phrom gained some popularity because of the old trees that have intertwined their roots into the masonry of the temple. The temple was consequently used in the filming of the Tomb Raider movie starring Angelina Jolie. We return to town about 3pm.
3 hours • Admission ticket not included
Day 4
Beng Mealea and Tonle Sap
3 stops
18
A regular 8:30am start from town and we go directly to Kpg Pluk and stop at the boat port; a journey of about 30km.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included
19
Tonle Sap Lake
We board a motorized boat and chug along the river to the three Kompong Pluk villages at the edge of Tonle Sap lake. The population of around 3000 live in houses raised above the water level by 6 metre stilts and make their living from the fishing in the Tonle Sap and surrounding mangrove forests.
3 hours • Admission ticket not included
20
Prasat Beng Mealea
We grab a bite to eat, usually at one of the novel floating cafes. Upon leaving the floating villages, we continue to the ruins of Beng Mealea temple; a Hindu temple. Beng Mealea is largely unrestored, with trees and thick brush thriving amidst its towers and courtyards and many of its stones lying in great heaps. For many years it was unpopular due being difficult to reach (poor road) and also being 77 km from Siem Reap. After seeing Beng Mealea, settle back for a long drive back to town.
5 hours • Admission ticket not included

Additional info

• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

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