Angkor Tour in 2 Days - Tonle Sap and Beng Mealea

Itinerary

Day 1: Day 1: Visit Tonle Sap (Floating Village) and Beng Mealea

Stop At: Kampong Phluk Floating Village, 812 Siem Reap, Siem Reap 170904 Cambodia
Day 1: Visit Tonle Sap (Floating Village) and Beng Mealea

Breakfast. In the morning, a French speaking guide and driver will pick you up at the hotel at 8am. You will visit the largest freshwater reserve in Southeast Asia, the picturesque lakeside villages of Tonle Sap, is located 30 km south of Siem Reap. You will take a private boat to visit the Cambodian life on the water, the fishermen and the mangrove landscape. The inhabitants move by boat on the lake during the rainy season, the children go to school by boat, the women sell the cake and the vegetables on their small boats. Walk through the footbridges of the fishing village perched on huge piles. Houses on huge piles of 6 to 7 meters high. Houses are surrounded by the flooded forest that can be visited by boat in the rainy season and on foot during the dry season.

The Tonle Sap, designated a biosphere reserve by Unesco in 1997 for its ecological, economic, social and cultural value, is the largest freshwater reserve in Southeast Asia. It is also the nourishing lake of more than half of the Cambodian population.
Cambodian families live around the lake and most of them make their living from fishing and also farming, floating houses, and all activities revolve around fishing, there are plenty of huge fishponds in floating cages. More than 300 000 tonnes of fish are fished each year.

Afternoon, lunch in a Cambodian restaurant

After the meal and a moment of rest, you continue the visit to discover Beng Mealea temple dated for 12 centuries abandoned in the middle of the forest and encircled by the roots of the trees. This temple is 60 km from Siem Reap, was built by the Suryavarman II, it is never restored.
Return to Siem Reap late afternoon
Duration: 5 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 2: Day 2: visit the main temples of Angkor peitit circuit

Stop At: Angkor Wat, Sangkat Nokor Thum, Siem Reap Cambodia
In the morning you can enjoy your breakfast at the hotel before starting the tour. French guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel and then take you to visit the most beautiful World Heritage sites: the site of Angkor called the "little circuit". The city of Angkor was the capital of the Khmer Empire and the largest metropolis of its time.

The starting point is the temple of Ta Prohm, it is a temple where the roots of trees have invaded the roofs and walls of the temple. Ta Prohm is one of the most atmospheric temples of Angkor. The Hollywood blockbuster 'Tomb Raider' (with the participation of Angelina Jolie) has made the temple famous. Once you have covered the site, you will be surprised by the unique atmosphere created by the Angkorian temples half covered with trees and vegetation.

Then you will continue to visit the Bayon Temple which is located in the middle of the great ancient city of Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Khmer Empire during the reign of King Jayavarman VII, it is a city surrounded by a rampart 8 meters high and 3 km on each side, drawing a perfect square. Bayon, state temple of King Jayavarman VII dated 1181, is one of the most mysterious temples in the Angkor region. You will admire its beautifully carved central towers that cover 200 huge stone Buddha faces facing the four cardinal points. Coming out of Bayon, you will visit the terrace of Elephants. Then you will visit the temple of Baphoun, which was one of the biggest temples of the Angkor site. Built like a pyramid in the 11th century, Baphuon's main attraction is the reclining Giant Buddha (60m long) that can be discovered on the South side. Right next to the temple, you will discover Phimeanakas, which is inside what was the Royal Palace. The temple of Phimeanakas (literally "heavenly palace"), built in the 10th century, was covered with a golden roof.
In the afternoon, you will have a break for lunch.

After the meal and a moment of rest, you will visit the largest and most impressive temple of all the sites of Angkor: the temple of Angkor Wat, the largest sacred building in the world. This great temple, built by King Suryavarman II in the early twelfth century, lasted 37 years of work dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, symbol of the apogee of the Khmer civilization. The complex covers nearly 210 hectares, and unveils to visitors the majesty and beauty of its impressive architecture. You will visit the epic scenes on the walls of the temple with our French guide. The 5 towers of Angkor Wat are now on the flag of Cambodia. Return to the hotel late afternoon, overnight in Siem Reap.
Duration: 6 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.