Siem Reap and the Angkor temples

Welcome to Siem Reap! Upon arrival, you are greeted by your local crew and escorted to your hotel in the city center. End of the day at leisure.

Get ready to explore the temples of Angkor as very few other do. Ride pillion on the back of a scooter and embark on what is the most original and exciting way to dodge the crowds and enjoy Angkor. On this adventure, we visit the major highlights of Angkor Wat, the walled city of Angkor Thom, the Bayon and Ta Prohm (the “Tomb Raider” temple), as well as some lesser known gems. The most important temples are always busy nowadays, but our tour focuses not only on the temples, but also the amazing surroundings. We dodge the big buses by leaving the busy roads behind using hidden trails through the jungle, villages and rice fields. These villages and trails have existed since the time of the temples and it’s a unique experience that visitors on 4 wheels simply cannot recreate! We guarantee you will love the temples, however, it’s the ride on past ancient ruins, through the jungle and along ancient city walls that becomes the real highlight. A local lunch will be served en-route. We will be back at the hotel in the mid-afternoon, end of the day at leisure.

Today, we are going to learn more about traditional Khmer cuisine. For this nothing is better than doing it the local way. We transfer to a rural location outside of Siem Reap, where our culinary session will take place. Take a short walk in the village, witness some simple daily life and visit a local family. They will show us their herbs garden and tell us about food superstition and beliefs in the Khmer culture. The class is very hands on and interactive and each person has an individual cooking station. Led by a chef, you will learn step by step how to make several classic dishes of the Cambodian gastronomy. The session ends with a lunch made of all that we have cooked.
Following lunch, we take a drive to the long forgotten Beng Mealea temple. After a short walk through a dense jungle, you’ll feel like an explorer when entering the completely overgrown temple. Undiscovered for centuries, Beng Mealea has only recently been made accessible and remains unrestored. Complete the visit and return to the hotel. End of the day at leisure.

Enjoy a full day at leisure in Siem Reap. Explore any of the city’s numerous markets, they are all well worth a visit and a photographic spectacle. If you’re into crafts, do not miss the Made In Cambodia market, as well as some craftsmen workshops such as the Artisans d’Angkor. For delicious food and a break from the iconic fried noodles and num pang sandwiches that you’ll find in the street, we recommend visiting one of the social restaurants of Siem Reap. Our top suggested restaurant is Spoons Café with its beautiful bamboo structure and fine Cambodian cuisine. For those interested in learning more about the tragic history of Cambodia, we suggest a visit to the Cambodian Landmine Museum and Relief Centre. Engage in discussions with locals who are passionate about educating visitors about the past as well as the continued issues of landmines that many Cambodians still face today.

Day at leisure until your transfer to the airport for your outbound flight. Rooms are available until 12.00.