Cambodia - Awe-Inspiring Temples

Day 1: Departure to Mumbai International Airport
Departure to Mumbai Airport from Foliage Outdoors Office at 1430 hrs on an AC Vehicle. Board flight to Siem Reap (via Bangkok) at 2300 hrs. 

Day 2: Arrival in Siem Reap and visit to Angkor National Museum 
Arrival in Siem Reap at 0930 hrs. Transfer to the hotel by AC vehicle. After a quick fresh up and lunch, visit the Angkor National Museum in Siem Reap. The museum's collections include sculptures, ceramics, religious objects, and multimedia presentations that provide context and insight into the rich heritage of Cambodia. A perfect start to the tour! Evening visit to the local market. Thereafter enjoy a sumptuous dinner with a Traditional Dancing Performance! Dinner and overnight stay at a boutique hotel in Siem Reap.
(Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.)

Day 3: Full-Day Exploration at Angkor Wat 
Wake before sunrise this morning and head to Angkor Wat, a legendary UNESCO World Heritage Site. Said by some to symbolize the soul of the Khmer people, the magnificent temple was built during the reign of King Suryavaman II in the early 12th century. Historians believe that many of the fascinating basreliefs and stone carvings immortalize many of the mighty king’s wars. Images of Apsara dancers decorate the five famous towers which replicate the universe according to Hindu mythology. Proceed to a serene viewpoint where you can experience the dramatic sunrise as the first rays of the day kiss the magnificent temple's good morning. Continue to explore Angkor Wat, one of the world’s most impressive temples constructed between the 9th and 13th centuries and the largest Hindu structure in the world. The temple is home to hundreds of fine carvings of Apsara and Hindu mythology. Stroll around the massive hallways to discover small shrines still in use today by the local people. The fortified city of Angkor Thom covers an area of 10 square km. Enclosed by a wall and wide moats; the city includes many of Angkor's most popular sights. Enter by the monumental South Gate over a causeway lined on either side by statues of demons and gods, each carrying a giant naga. Continue to the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper Kings, former spaces for public ceremonies, both adorned with dramatic basreliefs. Visit the ruined Baphuon, Royal Enclosure and Phimeanakas before continuing to the mysterious Bayon Temple. In this temple, one of the most popular and compelling in Angkor, explore the galleries of beautifully preserved basreliefs and ascend narrow stairs to reach the central sanctuary, where giant stone faces smile enigmatically down from every angle. Dinner and overnight stay at a boutique hotel in Siem Reap.
(Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.)

Day 4: Phnom Kulen National Park Visit 
Phnom Kulen National Park or Kulen Mountain is considered by Khmers to be the most sacred mountain in Cambodia. Located 25 miles northeast of Siem Reap City, Phnom Kulen is a holy mountain which serves as a place of pilgrimage on weekends and special occasions. It stretches over a vast area covered by a chain of small mountain plateaus. Reach the mountaintop and visit a modern-style pagoda that offers stunning views over the Angkor area. Visit the 26-foot statue of a reclining Buddha and wash your hands at the Linga statue to purify your mind and body. Continue to visit the River of One Thousand Lingas and the magnificent waterfall close to it. Take a refreshing swim in the stream and pool of the waterfall. Down the mountain hill to have a Khmer lunch at a local restaurant.  Banteay Srei is one of the most beautiful temples in Angkor. Built from pink sandstone, the walls are covered in exquisitely preserved carvings of unusual delicacy.  Banteay Srei is often spoken of as the jewel of Khmer art and described as a gem of a temple, this small monument of pink sandstone boasts some very fine sculptures with no equivalent in other Khmer temples. The site is exquisite and its access is a nicely landscaped garden. Today, it is one of the most visited complexes in Cambodia’s Angkor region. The conservation and restoration of Ta Prohm is a partnership project of the Archaeological Survey of India and the APSARA (Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap). Dinner and overnight stay at a boutique hotel in Siem Reap.  
(Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.)

Day 5: Visit to Ta Prohm Temple
The temple of Ta Prohm was used as a location in the film Tomb Raider featuring the character Lara Croft portrayed by Angelina Jolie. The trees growing out of the ruins are perhaps the most distinctive feature of Ta Prohm and "have prompted more writers to descriptive excess than any other feature of Angkor. Visit Preah Khan temple. Preah Khan is a temple built by King Jayavarman VII with towering enclosures and shoulder-hugging corridors in a jungle setting. Preah Khan covers a very large area but the temple itself is enclosed within a rectangular wall of around 700 by 800 meters. Visit Banteay Kdei Temple massive Buddhist temple dating from the second half of the 12th century, Banteay Kdei is surrounded by four concentric walls, the outer walls measuring 500 by 700 meters. Thereafter visit Srah Srang. Srah Srang is a basin east of Banteay Kdei measuring 800 by 400 meters with a tiny island in the middle where only the stone base remains of what was once a wooden temple. Visit Neak Pean temple-Neak Pean is a Buddhist temple that sits in the middle of a circular artificial island in Jayatataka Baray. Overnight in Siem Reap. Dinner and overnight stay at a boutique hotel in Siem Reap.  
(Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.)  

Day 6:Transfer to Airport 
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the Siem Reap Airport in time to board the home-bound flight. End of Services.
(Meals included: Breakfast)