KOMPONG PLUK, THE FLOODED FOREST
Drive to the fishing village of Kompong Pluk (if the road is passable) near Siem Reap and board a private boat. Visit Kompong Pluk village with its houses standing on stilts and board a pirogue to discover the seasonally flooded forest. Enjoy the natural splendor of the country during a cruise across the Tonle Sap Lake to the village of Chhong Kneas. Visit the floating village and discover the centuries-old lifestyle of the inhabitants of the lake. Return to Siem Reap port and drive back to Siem Reap.
Note: From August to January the water level is still high enough to flood the forest surrounding the Tonle Sap Lake. For the remainder of the year you will not see a flooded forest but the houses of the village will appear as like standing on gigantic stilts which makes a visit to this village worthwhile all year round.
Services
Tour departure:
Duration (approximate):
Transfer from/to hotel included
Meals included
Seat-in-coach tour
Daily
07:30-18:00 hrs
YES
N/A
N/A
KOMPONG KHLEANG, THE STILT HOUSE VILLAGE
Drive to the village of Kompong Khleang near Siem Reap. This permanent community is one of the largest on the Tonle Sap Lake, home to over 20,000 people living in gigantic stilt houses with an economy based on fishing. Enjoy the spectacular site and board a private boat to visit a small island at the centre of the village to see its market, school and brightly painted pagodas. Continue by boat to see the life on the waters of the great Tonle Sap Lake.
Note: During the high water season from August to January the water level rises to within one or two meters of the buildings. During this time of year the village becomes a lively place with floating houses scattering in the vicinity of Kompong Khleang on the lake. The dry season reveals a spectacular site as the stilt houses rise up to ten meters into the sky. The floating houses are now on the open lake and can be visited with a scenic boat ride.
We suggest to conduct this tour in the morning as there are more activities to be observed compared to the rather quiet afternoon.
Services
Tour departure:
Duration (approximate):
Transfer from/to hotel included
Meals included
Seat-in-coach tour
Daily
07:30-18:00 hrs
YES
N/A
N/A
TONLE SAP LAKE & OX-CART RIDE
Drive to the country side and take an ox-cart ride through a village and rice fields. At the end of your ride, have a fresh coconut drink with a family and visit their house. Do not hesitate to talk with them to get to know more about their lives.
A vehicle will transfer you to the Tonle Sap Lake.
Visit a floating village and take an excursion in a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle Sap Lake, the “Great Lake” of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia.
Services
Tour departure:
Duration (approximate):
Transfer from/to hotel included
Meals included
Seat-in-coach tour
Daily
07:30-18:00 hrs
YES
N/A
N/A
Siem Reap – The Countryside Life Tour by Vespa– Departure
The Countryside life tour “An insight into the rhythms of daily life in Cambodia”
This tour offers a wonderful insight into the Cambodian countryside and the lives of the people who live there! We start at APOPO to learn about their Hero Rats that are helping to make Cambodia safe from landmines. Then we escape from the traffic of the city and follow tree lined side roads deep into the countryside. At the local market our guides introduce you to his favorite sellers and their exotic produce. We stop at beautiful temple where we receive a Buddhist blessing and gain an insight into the local belief systems and the daily life of a monk. We continue through the natural scenery of rice paddies and farmland towards our local family house where we stop for refreshments and to meet the family water buffaloes. We will meet local families who epitomize the hard-working ethics of the rural people; a family of rattan weavers, sticky rice makers, sugar-palm harvesters and noodle makers and a traditional medicine man. It is a heart-warming day and you are sure to return with a smile!
Note: APOPO is closed on Sundays and some Public Holidays when we run the tour without this visit.
Stops include: APOPO, local market, working pagoda, West Baray (stop only), refreshments in countryside home, traditional local family businesses, Cambodian medicine man.
Services
Tour departure:
Duration (approximate):
Transfer from/to hotel included
Meals included
Seat-in-coach tour
Daily
08:00-12:00 hrs / 14:00-18:00 hrs
YES
N/A
N/A
HALF DAY ANGKOR WAT WITH APSARA CONSERVATION PROJECT
At the mythic Angkor Wat you will spend time with a researcher from the German Apsara Conservation Project, who will explain their work on these particular figures. Apsaras are celestial maidens of great beauty and charm, not averse to using their power of seduction to influence an outcome. All revenue will be transferred directly to the Apsara Conservation Project fund. Afterwards you continue your temple visit with your local guide. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat’s five towers symbolize Meru’s five peaks – the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond. Sunset at Angkor Wat.
Services
Tour departure:
Duration (approximate):
Transfer from/to hotel included
Meals included
Seat-in-coach tour
Daily
08:00-12:00 hrs / 14:00-18:00 hrs
YES
N/A
N/A
ANGKOR ZIP LINE
A once in lifetime opportunity to experience a world-class zipline inside the UNESCO World Heritage designated Angkor Archaeological Park.
Spend 2 to 2.5 hours in the ancient jungles of Cambodia on a safe, educational adrenaline rush for the whole family. The entire adventure, from start to finish, is approximately 2 to 2.5 hours depending on the group size.
Surrounded by wildlife, butterflies, flowers, fauna, and towering trees, two of our certified Sky Rangers will lead you and your group of no more than 9 guests on a safe journey. We promise you a rainforest eco-adventure you will never forget.
Services
Tour departure:
Duration (approximate):
Transfer from/to hotel included
Meals included
Seat-in-coach tour
Daily
08:00-12:00 hrs / 14:00-18:00 hrs
YES
N/A
N/A
ONE DAY TEMPLES TOURS
Transfer from Siem Reap International Airport or hotel directly to the Angkor temple complex. In the morning, visit the antique capital of Angkor Thom (12th century): See the South Gate (with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk), Bayon temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), Baphuon (recently re-opened after years of restoration), the Elephants Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King.
Lunch at local restaurant
Visit Ta Prohm. a beautiful jungle temple that has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery.
Visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat’s five towers symbolize Meru’s five peaks – the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond.
Transfer back to Siem Reap International Airport or hotel.
Morning, drive to the remote Beng Mealea temple through the typical Khmer countryside (60 km from Siem Reap). Explore the long abandoned ruins of Beng Mealea (11th century), still strangled by the overgrown jungle.
Lunch box will be provided at the site.
A further 1-hour drive brings you to Koh Ker, situated in the northeast of Siem Reap. Discover the long abandoned temples in the forests of northern Cambodia. Also known as Chok Gargyar, it served as the capital of Jayavarman IV (reigned 928-42). His son and successor Harshavarman I moved the capital back to Angkor in 944. There are a remarkable number of religious buildings in the Koh Ker region, considering the short space of time that it was the capital of the empire. There are more than 30 major structures and experts believe there may have been as many as 100 minor sacred buildings in the region. It was also a prolific period for gigantic sculpture and several of the most impressive pieces in the National Museum in Phnom Penh come from Koh Ker, including a huge garuda (half-man, half-bird creature). Return to Siem Reap.
Tour departure:
Duration (approximate):
Transfer from/to hotel included
Meals included
Seat-in-coach tour
Private tour
Language
Daily
07:30-18:00 hrs
YES
YES
N/A
Minimum 1 person
English (other languages are on request and may be subject to supplements)
KULEN MOUNTAIN AND BANTEAY SREI
Kulen Mountain Range: Morning, drive through the typical Khmer countryside to the holy Kulen Mountain range which provided some of the stones used to build the Angkor temples. With beautiful sceneries to admire on the way up, our vehicle will bring us on a steep dirt road to the top of the mountain. There we first will see the site of the Lingas carved in the riverbed by successive kings of the Angkor period and a walk further will bring us to the site of a huge natural rock with on top a big reclining Buddha carved in the rock. Our walk will also bring us to a waterfall, don’t forget your swimsuits and join the locals! More carvings in the riverbed can be discovered above the waterfall. This is also a very popular place for Khmer people to come and enjoy their weekend with a picnic.
In the afternoon, drive to the typical Khmer countryside and visit Banteay Srei temple (10th century), regarded as the jewel in the crown of classical Khmer art. In the afternoon drive to Banteay Srei temple, regarded as the jewel in the crown of classical Khmer art. Stop at a local village to visit families who are producing palm sugar.
Note: During the high water season from August to January the water level rises to within one or two meters of the buildings. During this time of year the village becomes a lively place with floating houses scattering in the vicinity of Kompong Khleang on the lake. The dry season reveals a spectacular site as the stilt houses rise up to ten meters into the sky. The floating houses are now on the open lake and can be visited with a scenic boat ride.
We suggest to conduct this tour in the morning as there are more activities to be observed compared to the rather quiet afternoon.