Unique Siem Reap – Battambang 7 Days

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Witness the grandeur of the Khmer Empire in the dramatic and sensuously beautiful Angkor Complex.
• Discover the daily routines of the families living in the floating houses in Tonle Sap.
• Take an authentic experience of the real Khmer lifestyle at Banteay Chhmar homestay.
• Get off the beaten track and experience the beauty of the true Cambodian daily life in Battambang.
• Catch a better insight into the blood history of Cambodia under Khmer Rouge regime in Phnom Sampov.

Day 1: Siem Reap – Arrival

Upon arrival, you will be warmly greeted by local guide and driver and taken to the hotel. Today you are free to rest after long flight.

Day 2: Siem Reap – Angkor Temples

Early morning, Asia Eyes Travel’s tour guide and driver will pick you up and transfer to the most beautiful, haunting and spiritual moment to visit magnificent Angkor Wat at dawn. This special activity is designed also to help you see “the Temple reflex on the water” when it’s much cooler and less crowded. Angkor Wat, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was constructed by Suryavarman II who reigned Cambodia from 1113 to 1152 and built the five towers in the 12th century and dedicated them to the Hindu God Vishnu. The plan of the pyramidal conception of the temple combined with spaces, alleys and ditches is an ancient masterpiece of architectural design and construction.

Day 3: Siem Reap – Angkor Silk Farm – Tonle Sap Lake

After breakfast, Asia Eyes Travel’s tour guide and driver will take you to Angkor Silk Farm where you will learn the entire process of producing a silk item from toe to top. As the Silk Farm covers an area of 8 hectares, of which 5 are used for the mulberry trees plantation, you will enjoy the beautiful setting while learning about the fascinating process of silk-making. During your visit, our local guide will give you more details on the mulberry trees, silkworm farming, cocoon unwinding, preparation of the silk threads, ikat technique (tie-dyeing of the threads) and silk weaving. 

Later in the afternoon, transfer to Tonle Sap which is the largest permanent fresh-water lake in South Asia and flows into Tonle River, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. On arrival, board a traditional wooden boat to a “floating village” – boats that have been converted to look like houses and the “village” moves from place to place according to the water levels. Stay there until sunset then transfer back to the hotel.

Day 4: Siem Reap – Banteay Chhmar – Homestay

After breakfast, check out and join us on a lifestyle tour to Banteay Chhmar Community which is located away from the bustling Siem Reap. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by the community leaders followed by a lunch prepared by a local women’s group under a straw hut and settling into your homestays.
The afternoon is full of interesting activities. First with a visit to the Banteay Chhmar Temple and Ta Prohm Temple. Next, you will take part in an ox-cart ride through the village and stop at the Silk Center.
Check in your home stay later this afternoon for refreshment. In the evening, walk out to enjoy the tasty dinner in the temple with traditional wooden torches.

Day 5: Banteay Chhmar – Battambang – Phnom Sampov

After having breakfast in your homestay prepared and delivered by CBT, you will walk through the Banteay Chhmar local market. Then, take the trip to the Banteay Torp Temple. The trip comes out scenic with the beautiful rice fields along the way.
Enjoy your included lunch in Banteay Torp and then, departure to Battambang, Cambodia’s second largest city.
We arrive in Battambang in the late afternoon. End of the day trip by visiting Phnom Sampov – an important religious site known throughout all Cambodia. During the Khmer Rouge period the mountain was used as a place to kill “enemies” of the regime and in what are known as the “killing caves” there is a memorial to these victims. Every evening at nightfall, thousands of bats make their way out of caves in the hillside to feed before returning at dawn.
Return to your hotel to relax at your own leisure

Day 6:  Battambang Sightseeing – Siem Reap

In the morning, visit Wat Kor Village with a cluster of Khmer heritage houses that the village is known for. Built of now-rare hardwoods almost a century ago and surrounded by orchard gardens. They have wide verandahs and exude the ambience of another era.

Take a slow 30-minute ride on the Bamboo Train before going to town center and enjoy a walking tour through the city’s bustling boulevards lined with quaint French colonial buildings and central market and end up with lunch time in town.
Then drive 13km to the North of Battambang to visit Wat Ek Phnom – an ancient Hindu temple that was built in the 11th century during the Angkor Wat era by King Suryavarman II. In front of the ruins of Wat Ek Phnom stands the multi-colored, modern-day pagoda of Wat Ek Phnom with a majestic white-stoned Buddha, surrounded by 18 Bodhi trees.

Later of the day, spend around 3 hours driving toward Siem Reap and passing by Cambodia’s charming countryside, past stretches of rice paddies and exotic hamlets. Arrive at Siem Reap in late afternoon and check in the hotel.

Day 7: Siem Reap – Departure

After having breakfast at the hotel, you are free for shopping or relaxing until our driver will come and pick you up to the Siem Reap International Airport for your flight next to other destination.