Angkor’s Hidden Temples and Villages

Arrive into Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, where an English-speaking guide will be waiting to welcome you and transfer you to your hotel, around an hour away. Settle in and rest before the adventure begins tomorrow. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Set off this morning for the Roluos Group, a cluster of ninth-century temples known as Lolei, Bakong and Preah Ko, on a gentle three-kilometre walking tour through the ruins. Step inside one of the ancient sanctuaries for a traditional blessing ceremony, seated before a Buddhist monk to receive wishes of good health and good fortune while learning about Khmer customs. Afterward, climb aboard an ox cart for a leisurely ride through the surrounding countryside, taking in the tranquil rice fields at an easy pace. In the afternoon, visit Ta Prohm, the temple made famous by the film Tomb Raider and best known for the trees and vines that have grown over its walls for centuries. Continue to Banteay Kdei, a Buddhist monastery dating to the late twelfth century, and Srah Srang, known as the 'pool of ablutions.' Overnight in Siem Reap.

Head out this morning to the shores of Tonle Sap Lake, around 55 kilometres from the city, then cruise through the floating village of Kampong Khleang for a glimpse of life on the water. For a closer look, stop at a local family's home for a packed lunch, watching boats pass by from inside a typical stilted house. Between April and September, water levels can be too low for boats, though the village remains fascinating to explore by car, its stilted houses fully exposed above the dry lakebed. In the afternoon, travel by remork to Angkor Wat, the twelfth-century temple built by King Suryavarman II in the image of Mount Meru, the mythical home of the Hindu gods. Inside, intricate carvings and reliefs depict Hindu myths, with more than 2,000 apsara dancers carved into the walls. Angkor Wat remains Cambodia's defining symbol, appearing on the national flag to this day. Overnight in Siem Reap.

This morning, head into the countryside to Banteay Srei, known as the 'Citadel of the Women' and considered Cambodia's best-preserved temple, built uniquely from pink sandstone found nowhere else at Angkor. On the way back, stop at a local community to see how palm sugar is traditionally made, a seasonal product still central to the region's daily life. In the afternoon, explore Angkor Thom, beginning at the Terrace of the Elephants and the old Royal Palace enclosure, then continue through the lower galleries of Bayon, carved with scenes of everyday life from the late eleventh century. Finish at Preah Khan, once known as 'the city of victorious royal fortune' and later named for the sacred sword believed to have been housed there, a sprawling complex built in the late twelfth century in honour of King Jayavarman VII's father that once supported a population of nearly 100,000 in its service. Overnight in Siem Reap.

After breakfast, check out and travel to Beng Mealea, one of the most atmospheric temples in the Angkor region, hidden by jungle for centuries and still partly wrapped in branches and roots. Follow a wooden walkway through the ruins, exploring moss-covered arches and inner chambers where nature and architecture have grown into one. Afterward, transfer to Siem Reap Angkor International Airport for your onward flight, bringing your journey through Angkor's temples and countryside to a close.