2-Day: Kulen Waterfalls, Angkor Wat Sunrise, Banteay Srei Tours

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• 1
  Phnom Kulen National Park

  Day1: Phnom Kulen National Park with waterfalls Phnom Kulen National Park is a highly revered pilgrimage site and one of Cambodia's most spectacular natural landscapes. Located roughly 50 kilometers—about a 1.5 to 2-hour drive—from Siem Reap, it is widely considered the birthplace of the ancient Khmer Empire and provides a refreshing, scenic retreat from the standard temple circuits.

  2 hours • Admission ticket free
• 2
  Phnom Kulen Waterfall

  The Waterfalls: The park features two main cascading waterfalls set deep within the jungle. The upper waterfall is smaller and shallow, while the lower main waterfall drops about 15 meters into a large, refreshing pool. It is incredibly popular for swimming and cooling off, with the most dramatic water flow happening during the rainy season.

  1 hour • Admission ticket free
• 3
  Kulen Nature Trails

  River of a Thousand Lingas: Just upstream from the falls, the sandstone riverbed is intricately carved with hundreds of ancient Hindu symbols (lingas) and deities dating back to the 9th century. The water flowing over these carvings is considered sacred by locals.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 4
  Preah Ang Thom pagoda

  Preah Ang Thom: Near the peak sits an active 16th-century pagoda housing a massive reclining Buddha carved directly into a giant sandstone boulder. You will likely see many devout pilgrims making offerings here.

  20 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 5
  Banteay Srei

  Banteay Srei—often called the "Jewel of Khmer Art" or "Citadel of the Women"—is a 10th-century Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva. it is world-famous for its extraordinarily detailed and remarkably preserved carvings executed in fine pink sandstone. - Intricate Pink Sandstone Carvings: Unlike the grand gray sandstone used at Angkor Wat, Banteay Srei was built with a harder, pinkish sandstone that allowed ancient sculptors to carve intricate 3D lintels, pediments, and delicate devata (goddess) figures that remain sharp to this day. - Miniature Scale: The entire temple complex is built on a noticeably smaller, more intimate scale than other Angkorian monuments, creating a unique charm and making it easy to visit in under an hour. - Ideal Combo with Phnom Kulen: Because Banteay Srei lies directly along the road leading northeast toward Phnom Kulen National Park, it is most commonly visited as a morning stop on the way to or from the mountain.

  1 hour • Admission ticket free
• 6
  Golden Sunrise Angkor

  Day2: Angkor Wat Sunrise, At 4:30 am, We need to leave from Hotel. The sunrise at Angkor Wat is one of the most iconic travel experiences in Asia, as the dark silhouette of the 12th-century temple's five lotus-bud towers. - Prime Reflection Spot: Position yourself along the left (northern) lily pond inside the outer enclosure. - Arrival & Timing: Gates open at 5:00 AM for sunrise viewers. Plan to arrive at the site between 5:00 AM and 5:15 AM to clear ticket checks, walk across the main causeway in the dark (bring a flashlight or use your phone torch), and secure a good spot near the edge of the pond. - Construction and Royal Purpose (12th Century): Built by Suryavarman II, Dedication to Vishnu, State Temple & Mausoleum. - Cosmological Architecture - Transition to Theravada Buddhism (13th–14th Centuries) - Continuous Function and Survival: Never Fully Abandoned - UNESCO World Heritage: UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992.

  3 hours • Admission ticket free
• 7
  Pre Rup

  Pre Rup Temple is a striking 10th-century Hindu temple mountain located within the Angkor Archaeological Park. Dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva, it was built in 961 AD under King Rajendravarman II. - Warm Brick & Laterite Construction: Built primarily using a combination of red brick, laterite, and sandstone. - Three-Tiered Temple Mountain: Designed as a physical representation of Mount Meru, the temple features three stepped terraces capped by five lotus-shaped central towers. - Popular Sunset Lookout: The steep staircases lead to elevated upper platforms that provide wide views across the surrounding jungle canopy, making it a well-known alternative sunset viewing spot. - Meaning & Local Legend: The local name "Pre Rup" translates to "Turning the Body," referring to an ancient Khmer funeral ritual where a deceased person's ash outline was rotated in different cardinal directions during cremation ceremonies.

  1 hour • Admission ticket free
• 8
  Ta Prohm Temple

  Ta Prohm Temple is one of the most famous and captivating temples within the Angkor Archaeological Park. Built in the late 12th and early 13th centuries by King Jayavarman VII as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university dedicated to his mother, it is world-renowned for being left in a state closely resembling how European explorers first encountered it: engulfed by jungle vines and massive tree roots. - The "Tomb Raider" Temple: Broadly popularized after featuring in the 2001 movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, its photogenic blend of crumbling ancient stonework and towering nature makes it one of the most visited sites in Cambodia. - Strangler Figs & Silk-Cotton Trees: Huge roots of silk-cotton and strangler fig trees cascade over moss-covered sandstone corridors, doorways, and towers, dramatically holding the ruins together. - Royal Legacy: Originally named Rajavihara ("Royal Monastery"), ancient inscriptions record that the temple complex was home to over 12,000 people.

  1 hour • Admission ticket free
• 9
  Ta Keo

  Ta Keo Temple is a massive 10th-century state temple-mountain located within the Angkor Archaeological Park. Dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva, it stands out as one of the grandest monuments in the park and is world-famous for being left completely unfinished. - The Unfinished Monument: Commissioned by King Jayavarman V around 975 AD, construction came to a sudden halt before any of the detailed bas-relief carvings were added. - Pioneer of Sandstone Construction: Ta Keo was one of the first Khmer temples constructed almost entirely out of durable green and gray sandstone rather than softer brick or laterite. - Steep Temple-Mountain Layout: Designed as a physical representation of Mount Meru, the structure consists of a massive, multi-tiered step pyramid capped by five central towers. - Raw & Monolithic Aesthetic: Because it lacks intricate decorative carvings, Ta Keo offers a rare glimpse into the structural "skeleton" of ancient Khmer engineering.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 10
  Ta Nei Temple

  Ta Nei Temple is a tranquil, late 12th-century Buddhist sanctuary hidden deep within the forested interior of the Angkor Archaeological Park. Located just northeast of Ta Keo Temple and northwest of the East Baray, it was constructed during the reign of King Jayavarman VII and remains one of the most peaceful and uncrowded sites in the complex. - Peaceful Jungle Setting: Surrounded by tall forest trees and giant roots, Ta Nei has been left partially unrestored, offering visitors an atmospheric, secluded setting away from the heavy tour groups found at larger sites. - Bayon-Style Architecture: Built around the same era as Ta Prohm Temple and Bayon Temple. - Off-the-Beaten-Path Access: Reaching Ta Nei requires traveling down a narrow dirt trail through the forest, making it a favorite stop for bicycle tours, nature walks, and visitors looking to escape the main crowds. - Atmospheric Decay: Lichen-covered sandstone blocks, collapsed galleries, and dappled sunlight filtering.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 11
  Chau Say Tevoda

  Prasat Chau Say Tevoda (often spelled Chao Say Tevada) is a mid-12th-century Hindu temple situated within the Angkor Archaeological Park, located just east of Angkor Thom's Victory Gate and directly across the road from its sister site, Thommanon Temple. Built during the reign of King Suryavarman II, it reflects the elegant architectural style and decorative craft of the Angkor Wat era. - Angkor Wat Architectural Style: Constructed primarily of sandstone and laterite, the temple features a central sanctuary, a gopura (gateway), and a long elevated stone causeway supported by columns leading to the nearby Siem Reap River. - Detailed Relief Carvings: Despite extensive historical damage, the temple retains impressive bas-reliefs depicting Hindu mythological scenes, including stories of Vishnu and Shiva.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 12

  Thommanon Temple is a small, remarkably preserved 12th-century Hindu temple located within the Angkor Archaeological Park near Krong Siem Reap. Positioned just east of Angkor Thom's Victory Gate and directly across the road from Prasat Chau Say Tevoda, it was built during the reign of King Suryavarman II—the same era in which Angkor Wat was constructed. - Exceptional Carvings & Devatas: Thommanon is celebrated for its highly detailed, well-preserved sandstone carvings, particularly its elegant devata (goddess) figures, floral motifs, and pediments depicting scenes from Hindu mythology (including stories of Vishnu and Shiva). - Angkor Wat Style Architecture: Built in a classical style featuring a single central sanctuary (prasat), an eastern gateway (gopura), and a library. - Superior Natural Preservation: Unlike its sister site across the street, Thommanon suffered far less structural decay over the centuries, allowing much of its fine sandstone surface detail to remain intact.

  20 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 13
  Angkor Thom

  Angkor Thom (literally "Great City") was the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer Empire. Established in the late 12th century by King Jayavarman VII, this massive 9-square-kilometer fortified city was built as a grand Mahayana Buddhist sanctuary and royal capital following the reconquest of the region from the Chams. - Monumental Gates & Nagas: The city is enclosed by 8-meter-high walls and a wide moat. Five monumental gates lead into the city, each approached by a stone causeway flanked by 54 gods (devas) on the left and 54 demons (asuras) on the right pulling the body of the serpent Vasuki. The South Gate is the most iconic and best-preserved entry point. - Bayon Temple at the Sacred Center: Sitting at the exact geometric center of Angkor Thom is Bayon, the state temple of Jayavarman VII. - Royal Terraces: Located within the central palace grounds are the Terrace of the Elephants—a 300-meter-long platform decorated with sculpted elephant processions.

  1 hour • Admission ticket free
• 14
  Bayon Temple

  Bayon Temple is one of the most remarkable and recognizable sites within the ancient Khmer Empire, standing at the exact geometric center of Angkor Thom. Built in the late 12th and early 13th centuries under King Jayavarman VII, it served as the official Mahayana Buddhist state temple and is world-famous for its dramatic towers carved with serene, smiling stone faces. - The Smiling Face Towers: The defining feature of Bayon is its collection of gothic-style towers adorned with over 200 massive carved faces oriented toward the cardinal points. Scholars believe they depict Avalokiteshvara (the Bodhisattva of Compassion) infused with the regal likeness of Jayavarman VII, symbolizing omnipresent royal authority and divine protection. - Bas-Reliefs of 12th-Century Everyday Life: Unlike the heavily mythological carvings at Angkor Wat, the outer wall reliefs at Bayon offer a vivid historical window into daily life.

  1 hour • Admission ticket free
• 15

  Baphuon Temple is a grand 11th-century temple-mountain situated within the ancient royal city of Angkor Thom, located just northwest of Bayon Temple. Built under King Udayadityavarman II around 1060 AD as his official state temple dedicated to Shiva, it stands as one of the most structurally ambitious and historical monuments. - Elevated Sandstone Causeway: Visitors approach the main entrance along a unique 200-meter-long elevated sandstone walkway supported by hundreds of small pillar-like columns, giving the impression of a bridge floating above the ground. - Steep Temple-Mountain Layout: Representing Mount Meru in Hindu cosmology, Baphuon was built as a massive three-tiered step pyramid. In the 13th century, Chinese diplomat Zhou Daguan described it as an imposing structure featuring a tower topped in bronze that surpassed even Bayon in height. - The 16th-Century Reclining Buddha: During the 16th century, the temple was converted into a Theravada Buddhist sanctuary.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 16
  Terrace of the Leper King

  Preah Ponlea Sdach Komlong (Terrace Of The Leper King) is a 12th-century sandstone monument located within the ancient royal enclosure of Angkor Thom, situated directly north of the Terrace of the Elephants. Constructed during the reign of King Jayavarman VII, it is renowned for its multi-tiered bas-relief carvings and the iconic statue sitting atop its platform. - The Statue & Name Origin: On top of the terrace sits a weather-worn, sexless seated figure (a replica; the original 15th-century statue is preserved at the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh). - Hidden Inner Wall: The structure features a narrow passage between an outer wall and a hidden inner wall. - Intricate Bas-Reliefs: Seven vertical tiers of high-relief carvings line the exterior walls, depicting royal court attendants, multi-headed serpents (nagas), and mythical sea creatures.

  20 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 17
  Angkor Thom South Gate

  South Gate Angkor Thom is the most iconic, best-preserved, and widely visited entrance into the ancient walled city of Angkor Thom. - The Causeway of Gods and Demons: Reaching the gate requires crossing a stone causeway spanning the city's 100-meter-wide moat. The bridge is flanked by 108 stone figures—54 serene gods (devas) on the left and 54 stern demons (asuras) on the right—holding the body of the mythical serpent Vasuki in a representation of the Churning of the Ocean of Milk. - The Four-Faced Tower: Towering 23 meters above the roadway, the gate structure is crowned by a massive spire featuring four serene, smiling stone faces oriented toward the cardinal directions, symbolizing the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara and King Jayavarman VII. - Elephant Motifs & Structural Design: The base of the archway is adorned with sculpted carvings of Airavata, the three-headed elephant god, plucking lotus flowers with its trunks.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 18
  Phimeanakas Temple

  Phimeanakas Temple (meaning "Celestial Palace") is a 10th-century Hindu temple-mountain nestled deep within the shaded forest of the ancient Royal Palace enclosure inside Angkor Thom. - Steep Step-Pyramid Design: Built primarily of dark laterite stone, the three-tiered rectangular pyramid stands nearly 12 meters tall and features steep staircases guarded by stone lions and elephants at the corners. - Legend of the Naga Princess: 13th-century Chinese chronicler Zhou Daguan recorded that a golden tower once crowned the upper platform. - Royal Palace Setting: Serving as the private temple for Khmer monarchs, it sits at the physical heart of the walled royal enclosure directly west of the Terrace of the Elephants and north of Baphuon Temple. - Royal Bathing Ponds: Just north of the main pyramid lies Srah Srei (the Royal Enclosure's stone-lined swimming pool), featuring detailed carvings of fish, aquatic beasts, and nagas along its sandstone walls.

  20 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

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