10 Day Trip to Discover the Hidden Treasures in Siem Reap

You will be picked up at the lobby of hotel. Then, transfer to visit Angkor Wat, first a Hindu, then subsequently a Buddhist, temple complex in Cambodia and the largest religious monument in the world. The temple was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century in Yasodharapura,( present-day Angkor), the capital of the Khmer Empire, as his state temple and eventual mausoleum. Breaking from the Shaivism tradition of previous kings, Angkor Wat was instead dedicated to Vishnu. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious center since its foundation. The temple is at the top of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag. After that, you will go to visit Angkor Thom with the wall rising eight meters high, the laterite wall measures 3x3km and guards many treasures inside, protected by a moat still flooded today. You will enter the ancient city through its South Gate. In the very centre lies the temple of Bayon – silent witnesses of time, the 216 enigmatic faces gaze over the horizon and one can only wonder what they have seen throughout the ages. Your guide will point out the best angles for photography here and give explanation of the many intricate carvings on the walls of the galleries. You will then continue to Baphuon with its long causeway and an impressive giant Reclining Buddha, a jigsaw puzzle only put back together in 2011 following a 37 year-long disruption caused by the war. Phimeanakas is hiding in the shaded jungle and offers a decent over-the-tree-tops view to those who conquer the steep steps to the top. Continuing along the Esplanade of the Royal Palace more commonly known as the Terrace of the Elephants you will wind up your exploration in the shaded area of the picturesque Preah Palilay. Break for lunch.

Afternoon, you will visit Thommanon temple, one of a pair of Hindu temples built during the reign of Suryavarman II at Angkor, Cambodia. The name of the temple is derived from the Pali words "Dhamma", which means 'Buddhist Teachings' and "Nanda", which means 'supreme wisdom'. Then, visit Chau Say Tevoda, a temple at Angkor, Cambodia. It is just east of Angkor Thom, directly south of Thommanon across the Victory Way. Built in the mid-12th century, it is a Hindu temple in the Angkor Wat period. It is dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu with unique types of female sculptures of devatas enshrined in it. Our next stop, Ta Prohm, gained its 21st Century fame from the movie Tomb Raider featuring Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft. Today, with Lara long gone, this temple is on the itinerary of most visitors and rightfully so. Many corners of Ta Prohm showcase an intricate relationship between the roots of Spung tree (Tetrameles Nudiflora) and ancient stones covered in moss. Truly a photographer's paradise, don't miss the opportunity to capture your own explorer's moments. Drive back to hotel and drop off.

You will be picked up at the lobby of hotel. Then, transfer to visit Preah Khan temple, another temple with spectacular trees and roots taking over the ancient man made structures which would give Ta Prohm run for its money any day! Explore the delicate carvings and don't miss the only two-storey construction in Angkor; standing on high columns this is a unique phenomenon in Khmer architecture. Your knowledgeable guide will help you navigate through the temple grounds before continuing further.

Constructed in roughly the same period as Preah Khan, Neak Pean offers a different view altogether. Located in the centre of the Northern Baray, this temple is essentially an island and most impressive to view in the wet season. The long raised wooden causeway leading to the temple is surrounded by water and submerged tree trunks lend the scene a ghostly appearance. After that, visit Ta Som temple, a small temple at Angkor, Cambodia, built at the end of the 12th century for King Jayavarman VII. It is located north east of Angkor Thom and just east of Neak Pean. The King dedicated the temple to his father Dharanindravarman II who was King of the Khmer Empire from 1150 to 1160. Then, visit The East Mebon, a 10th Century temple at Angkor, Cambodia. Built during the reign of King Rajendravarman, it stands on what was an artificial island at the center of the now dry East Baray reservoir. The East Mebon was dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and honors the parents of the king. Lunch break.

After lunch, we go to visit Banteay Samré, located 400 metres to the east of the East Baray. Built during the reign of Suryavarman II and Yasovarman II in the early 12th century, it is a Hindu temple in the Angkor Wat style. Then, we visit Phnom Bok, the 695-foot-high (212-meter-high) hill with brick-built temples from around the same period built by Yasovarman I, who reigned 889–910 AD. Driver back to the town and drop off at hotel.

After breakfast, we go to visit Kravan temple, an early 10th century Hindu monument. It consists of a line of five brick towers built closely together set atop a low platform oriented towards the East. Keep going to Srah Srang, the King's Baths – a large reservoir still containing water today. From here it's only a short walk to the sprawling labyrinth of the Buddhist temple Banteay Kdei, a 12th – 13th century temple built by King Jayavarman VII. In English, the name translates to “A Citadel of Chambers”. The temple is actually made up of a number of complex chambers and passages. We visit Bat Chum, a small sanctuary with three towers facing east. It was constructed in the mid 10th century (around 960) by the architect Kavindrarimathana for his own personal use. Kavindrarimathana is the only Khmer-era architect whose name has survived, and it is known that he also designed East Mebon and the royal palace of King Rajendravarman. Quite unusual for this time, Kavindrarimathana was a Buddhist and dedicated Bat Chum to the Buddha, Vajrapani, and Prajnaparamita (one tower represented each incarnation). After that, we visit Ta Keo, It was built in the end of the tenth century to early 11th century by the King Jayavarman V to Suryavarman I dedicated to Siva (Hindu), replica to Kleang style of art. Visit Ta Nei, built under King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. Some scholars believe that the temple was constructed as a hospital. It is now in a fairly ruined state and approached only via a track through the forest. Lunch Break.

After lunch, we visit Baksei Chamkrong, a small pyramid temple located just to the south of Angkor Thom. It was constructed in 947 by King Harshavarman and is dedicated to Shiva. Measuring 27 meters on each side, the temple rises in 4 tiers of laterite surmounted by a single tower with an entrance facing east. The jambs on the entrance include two well-preserved inscriptions which give the precise date and time of the temple's dedication—9:40 AM on the morning of Wednesday, February 23, 948. The text also indicates that the shrine was built in honor of Shiva and his spouse Devi and to memorialize King Harshavarman I's parents. It goes on to celebrate earlier Khmer kings including Jayavarman II, the founder of the Khmer empire, along with the mythological hero Kambu whose marriage to Mera spawned the Khmer people.

Then, we walk up to visit Bakheng temple for sunset. Phnom Bakheng was the first significant temple built at Yasodharapura, the city which came be known as Angkor. It was constructed in the late 9th, early tenth centuries as the state temple of King Yasovarman I, who moved the capital here from Roluos, about 13 kilometers to the southeast. The site was selected because the hill upon which the temple stands towers 70 meters above the otherwise flat countryside. From here, Yasovarman could gaze upon his capital city which covered at least four square kilometers, bounded by earthen walls. Back to hotel.

This late 12th – early 13th century Buddhist temple is located in the northwest corner of Cambodia's Banteay Meanchay province and only 20km from the Thai border. It is one of the largest temple-city complexes built by a Khmer king. The temple is in a bad state of preservation as no restoration efforts were conducted here in the 20th century. The layout resembles Angkor Thom and other structures attributed to Jayavarman VII. The outer gallery is carved with bas-relief depicting military engagements and daily life scenes very similar to the well known ones in Bayon.

Travelling to Banteay Chhmar takes a little effort but this should not deter you. The temple sees very few visitors mainly due to its remote location and this will earn you the well deserved bragging explorer's rights. An interesting touring addition for those who are keen to learn about the recent turbulent history of Cambodia. Anlong Veng lies 125km north of Siem Reap in the area of Dangrek Mountains which mark the border between Cambodia and Thailand. It appears on the touring map for two main reasons: it was the last stronghold of the Khmer Rouge and is the resting place of Pol Pot. Not much remains of Pol Pot's bunker but a shell of a house overgrown with foliage and “decorated” with profane graffiti. The province still has plenty of mine fields but these are away from the town centre and experts are working continuously on their clearance. Your guide will be able to shed more light on the last few decades and perhaps share the story of his/her family in those difficult times.