Angkor Wat & Siem Reap Extension

Fly from Hanoi in the late afternoon and arrive in Siem Reap this evening. Fast Pass service is provided to expedite you through the airport, with assistance through immigration, baggage claim and into the arrivals hall. There, you will meet your Cambodian host who will transfer you to your hotel by private vehicle. Spend the next three nights at Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, an elegant 5-star hotel built in French Art Deco style. The first luxury hotel in Siem Reap, it opened in 1932 to serve high-society travelers from around the globe who wanted to see the marvels of Angkor Wat. Redolent with history, the hotel artfully blends period architectural details and colonial-era décor with Cambodian influences and every contemporary comfort to create a refined and memorable stay.

Rise before dawn to be at Angkor Wat for sunrise. As we wait in the cool early-morning air, mists wreathing the jungle, the glow in the east grows brighter. Soon, the sun appears as a golden ball over the temple spires. The scene unveiled is an iconic vision of Southeast Asia, with Angkor Wat’s stacked towers silhouetted in the foreground, rising into the rosy sky. After your fill of photo opportunities, return to the hotel to enjoy the lavish breakfast buffet in the dining room or on the terrace overlooking the pool and gardens.

Then, later this afternoon after the morning crowds have dissipated, return to Angkor Wat for a guided tour of this fabulous 12th-century temple complex, the largest religious monument in the world. We also visit other ruins in the area that comprise the Angkor Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site preserving the magnificent remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century. The site encompasses more than 150 square miles and contains some 1,000 temples and shrines, many still buried under dense jungle. The architecture and layout of the successive capitals reflect major symbolic and artistic significance, bearing witness to a high level of social order within the Khmer Empire. It dominated Southeast Asia from the early 9^th to the mid-15^th century, encompassing a region that includes modern-day Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and southern Vietnam. Greatly weakened over time, the Khmer Empire fell to the Siamese (Thai) in 1431.

Dinner this evening is included at a fine local restaurant featuring highlights of Cambodian cuisine.

Escape the bustle of town and head northeast into the hills today to more intriguing archaeological sites, passing several ruins and traditional local villages en route. Our first destination is Kbal Spean, a spectacularly carved riverbed set deep in the jungle. Along the base of the Kulen escarpment, where the Siem Reap River tumbles out of the forest, we start a casual hike along a jungle trail leading up the hillside. The path climbs through lush forest beside the Stung Kbal Spean River, a tributary of the Siem Reap, as it gushes down, then levels out into a series of terraced pools that end in a rushing waterfall. Here, we find a stunning series of rock relief carvings in the sandstone formations that shape the river’s path, known as the “River of a Thousand Lingas.” The stretch is so named for the myriad lingams (phallic symbols of the Hindu god Shiva) depicted as neatly arranged bumps covering the surface of the sandstone bedrock, interspersed with feminine yoni symbols, to ensure fertility. For centuries, Cambodian pilgrims to the site have perceived it as a sacred threshold between the earthly and divine realms, where water flowing over the carvings is imbued with blessing before continuing downstream to nourish the temples, agricultural fields and residents of Angkor.

After lunch, continue to Banteay Srei, a 10^th-century Hindu temple built of red sandstone, a soft medium lending itself to elaborate decorative wall carvings that remain beautifully preserved today. Built on a small scale, the temple and its intricate artistry are easily observed at eye level, offering a dramatic encounter with Khmer craftsmanship. Rediscovered in 1914, the site has undergone extensive reconstruction since. With our visit timed for late afternoon, we catch the exquisite light on the pink sandstone walls as the sun begins to lower in the sky.

The relaxed, inviting city of Siem Reap is often overlooked by visitors in their focus on the sites of Angkor, but it is well worth a closer look before you depart. It was little more than a village along the Siem Reap River when French colonists began studying the temples of Angkor in the 19^th century. Gradually, as French presence grew and word got out about the extraordinary temple complex of Angkor Wat, the town took on a colonial ambience and became a tourist hub.

This morning, by tuk tuk and on foot, discover some of Siem Reap’s most appealing sites. The Old Market in the city’s French Quarter is a feast for the senses, heaping with colorful fresh produce, spices, baguettes, and piles of rice and dried fish. Another highlight is the 15^th-century Buddhist temple of and Wat Preah Prom Rath, a striking blend of Khmer and Thai architectural styles. We also visit Satcha Handicraft Market to watch local artisans keeping traditional Cambodian crafts alive, from carving and pottery to weaving, painting and more. A stop at the APOPO Visitor Center explains efforts to detect and destroy landmines left over from decades of war in the 20^th century. Discover how highly intelligent African giant pouched rats are trained to sniff out landmines and unexploded ordnance, playing a vital role in clearing these dangers, and watch these rats (which are actually very cute!) in action.

This afternoon, a transfer to the airport in Siem Reap is provided to connect with departing flights.