Honeymoon Vacation

Upon arrival at Siem Reap International Airport, you will be welcomed by your driver and transferred to your hotel for check-in. At the hotel, you will be greeted by one of our management team, and it is the opportunity to go through your itinerary again before it gets started.

After breakfast at 8 am, we venture off the beaten track as we drive to the place where it all began. Rich in history, the “Age of Angkor” began in Phnom Kulen. It is one of the only two places in Cambodia where Buddha is said to have set his foot.

You will visit a scenic waterfall and a giant reclining Buddha; these are parts of a standard trip here. In addition, we push on further exploring kilometers of complex back trails, deep jungle trek, and hidden temples, including the magnificent and highly sought-after stone elephant and lion statues.

Then you will have lunch at the local restaurant near the waterfall (clients own account).

In the late afternoon, you will go for a spa massage at the best spa massage club in Siem Reap.

We depart the town as we venture towards an unspoiled floating community called Kampong Phluk, known for its stilted-house villages and flooded forest.

Along the way, we will stop to have a look around the Rolous Market. This is a great chance to glimpse the local daily life selling indigenously grown vegetables, different fish species, and other local produce.

We will also see one of the bridges on the Rolous River, built during the period of French dominance in Cambodia. We then board a boat and begin sailing down the river, eventually arriving at the floating community of Kampong Phluk, where we will experience a truly unique way of life.

Within the community, there are fish farms, an island pagoda, schools, and houses built on 8 to 10m high stilts.

As we venture beyond the villages, we will head into the flooded forest; home to some of Cambodia’s water-bird species. The boat will then set off for the largest freshwater lake in SE Asia, Tonle Sap, where we will explore before heading back to the mainland and returning you back to your hotel for your lunch and the rest of the afternoon free.

At 4pm, you will get picked up from your hotel to enjoy the special sunset on a traditional private boat for your experience. The boat row along the water way where you will meet all the nature, culture, history and spectacular sunset view on the moat of Angkor Thom gate. This is the best opportunity for you and your family to capture all the charm and views into your photographs.

Rising up early, you will be picked up from your hotel at 5 am for the great Sunrise experience in Angkor Wat. Our guide will escort you to the best place where you could take a fantastic shot of the sun when it shines behind the temple.

After the sunrise, you will have to decide if you would like to carry on the tour to see the temple of Angkor Wat before your breakfast or heading to the breakfast first, and then you can start with your temple tour later. You are the boss!

Mother of all temples, Angkor Wat, is thought to be the world’s largest spiritual building. This temple is the perfect combination of symbolism and balance and stands as a huge source of pride to all Khmers. We begin by deciphering the mysteries of the bas-reliefs, which depict Hindu mythology as well as the splendors of the Khmer empire. These intricate carvings stretch for nearly one kilometer and are a contender for the title of the world’s longest unbroken work of art. We then proceed to the upper levels of the inner sanctuary, following in the footsteps of the faithful and the destructive who came before us.

The final steps up to Angkor’s upper terrace are the steepest of all, as pilgrims used to stoop on their way to meet the Gods. We have finally arrived at the pinnacle and sacred heart of Angkor Wat, a perfect combination of spirituality and symmetry that few moments can match.

Next, you will continue to visit the enigmatic and enchanting temple of Bayon. By beginning our tour here, we can avoid the crowds and see the temple at its quietest.

This temple, located in the heart of Angkor Thom, is an eccentric expression of Cambodia’s most celebrated king’s creative genius and inflated ego. Its 54 towers are each adorned with the four faces of Avalokiteshvara (Buddha of Compassion), who bears a striking resemblance to the king himself. These enormous heads look below every side, exuding power and control with a hint of compassion, simply the mix needed to keep a hang on such a vast empire.

You continue your expedition amongst the walled city of Angkor Thom, the work of art of King Jayavarman VII. Following the Chams’ occupation of Angkor from 1177 to 1181, the new king decided to construct an impregnable fortress in the center of his empire. The causeway is lined by a complex bridge depicting the churning of the ocean of milk from Hindu folklore in which devas (gods) and asuras (devils) play tug of war with a naga (seven-headed snake) to get the elixir of immortality.

Within Angkor Thom, our next stop is the Terrace of the Leper King. This intricately sculpted platform was the royal crematorium, and the statue, which was originally thought to be the leper king, is now figured to be Yama, the god of death.

We proceed along the Terrace of Elephants, which was originally used as a viewing gallery for the king to command parades, performances, and traditional sports. The Baphuon temple, one of the most beautiful in Angkor, is located at the southern end and was built during the reign of Uditayavarman in the 11th century. It has gone through a huge renovation and is now once again open for visiting.

After that, we head to the Ta Prohm temple, which has been left to the elements. The temple acts as a significant reminder that, while empires rise and fall, nature’s riotous power marches on, indifferent to human history’s dramas. The tentacle-like tree roots that French explorer Henri Mouhot discovered in 1860 are slowly strangling the remaining stones that man first conquered nature to build.

We will then pause for a late lunch at a local restaurant (Lunch is on the clients’ own account) before continuing to our final temple – Banteay Kdei. The name translates to ‘Citadel of Chambers,’ and as the temple exists on one level, it is easy to thoroughly explore the towers and corridors as well as their beautiful carvings. The construction of the temple had changed many times since its original plans causing a slight lack of consistency in its design. That being said, the final outcome of the temple is superb. As it is far less visited than its neighboring main sites, Banteay Kdei offers a serene and peaceful end to our exploration.

After the tour, we will then transfer you back to your hotel.

There are two main types of water blessings that you can participate in today.

The first is a blessing with a light sprinkling of water, while the second is a longer ritual in which you will be covered in water blessed by monks.

Today you will get the first blessing ritual by a monk in Wat Damnak Pagoda.

Here, we’ll meet the monks who will perform your blessing here. At the conclusion of the blessing, your wrist is adorned with special red ties that represent the blessing. You will also have time to explore the area before returning to the hotel.

In the evening, we will pick you up for a romantic dinner in the rural area beneath the star, surrounded by green tropical nature.

This morning, you will leave Siem Reap behind and travel onward to Cambodia’s capital city – Phnom Penh. Along the way, you will stop briefly in Skuon (commonly known as ‘Spiderville’). There, if your stomach permits it, you will be able to try the local delicacy of deep-fried tarantula!

Upon your arrival in Phnom Penh, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in.

Enjoy a Cyclo tour around Phnom Penh’s key sites, such as Wat Phnom, the National Library, the National Museum, the Central Market, Independence Monument, and, of course, the Royal Palace as well as the Silver Pagoda.

You will then continue to the Royal Palace complex and attached ‘Silver Pagoda’ compound consisting of several buildings, gardens, and structures, all located within 500×800 meter walled grounds overlooking a riverfront park.

The high sculpted wall and the golden spired Chanchhaya Pavilion, which mark the approach to the Palace, stand out against the riverfront skyline. The high walls of the Palace grounds muffle street noises, and the various Royal buildings rise like ornate islands from the tranquil, manicured tropical gardens. The silver pagoda is also recognized as the Emerald Buddha Pagoda or Wat Preah Kaew.

Next, visit the infamous Tuol Sleng Museum (S-21), where you can learn about the turbulent recent history of Cambodia.

In the late afternoon at 5:30 pm, we will pick you up at your hotel and take you on a dinner cruise down the Mighty Mekong River. After dinner, we will then transfer you back to your hotel.

Today you leave the capital behind and travel the 3-4 hour journey to Kep.

You can drive the whole distance or stop off for lunch at the riverside town of Kampot.
(Private Floating Jetty Dinner)
Link: https://www.knaibangchatt.com/experiences/private-dining/
***Mattia – Please help me write the piece of information about this private floating jetty dinner.

After breakfast, you will be picked up at 10am and ready to leave for Koh Kong, your next destination. The first check-in boat will leave at 2pm from the main pier and upon arrival, you will be greeted by resort staff and transferred by boat to the resort.

Tatai Waterfall by Boat

Visit the famous Tatai waterfall, also called Nature’s Spa, on a serene boat trip down the Tatai River. Be bold and climb the slippery rocks or simply relax to the sound of rushing water. This is a great way to refresh after a jungle hike.

Today you are free to enjoy your time as you wish.

After breakfast, we leave the river behind for the first check-out time at 8am by boat and transfer back to Phnom Penh International airport with plenty of time left before your departing flight home.