At Hidden Angkor Tour, tailor-made tour packages are furnished for tourists heading to Siem Reap, Cambodia. These itineraries are easy to navigate and enjoyed by many travelers in the past. We have touched almost all the touristic sites through Siem Reap in the tour programs showcasing Cambodia cultural, heritage, rural, religious and many more attractions.
We are living up to the travelers’ expectations by customizing tour packages at their will for many years. The itineraries are categorized in a way that the travelers can easily surf through the tour options. The tour itineraries mentioned here can be customized further according to the travelers’ budget, category of hotel, and size of the tour, adding or removing the places of interest and other elements as well. We will be happy to customize them for you.
Chong Kneas Floating Village and City tour (08h00–17h00)
Morning Visit visit Arts & Crafts School, Les Artisan and Local Markets. This school is a joint venture between the Cambodian and French governments to train young Cambodians to acquire skill in traditional sandstone carving, woodwork and silk weaving. A showroom displays samples of their works, which are for sales. Made to order pieces are also available. Raffles International is a patron of the school, providing both educational supports for its students and an outlet to sell the crafts made by them.
Afternoon visit local village and boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake. It is an interesting (temple-free) trip to take the boat drive for approximately one hour. It is the most important breeding area for many of South-East Asia's rarest waterbirds. Visit the floating village, fishing farm and Gecko environmental center.
Small circle of Angkor Area and City tour (08h00–17h00)
Morning depart from the hotel in the air-conditioning coach with English speaking guide (or other required languages) to visit the magnificent 12th century Angkor Wat. It is visually, the city Angkor is one of the grandest monuments ever constructed. The entire complex covers approximately 164sq miles with over 200 temples. Among the 30 temples that are accessible today, the most famous is Angkor Wat, the largest religions building in the world, with a volume of stone equaling that of the Cheops pyramid in Egypt, architecturally and artistically breathtaking. Angkor Wat is a massive three-tiered pyramid crowned by five beehive-like towers rising 65 meters from ground level. Suryavarman II constructed Angkor Wat in the form of massive 'temple mountain' dedicated to the Hindu god and Vishnu.
An eight-meter high wall encloses this ten square kilometer city, which is encircled by a moat. Stop at the south gate of Angkor Thom for taking some photos of the twenty metre high gate. Angkor Thom is the last capital of the Khmer Empire, as a fortified city enclosing residences of priests, official of the palace and military, as well as buildings for administering the Kingdom.These Structures were built of wood and have perished but the remaining stone monuments testify that Angkor Thom was indeed a „Great City‟ as its name implies. The Bayon or state temple of Jayavarman II is one of the most enigmatic and power religious constructions in the world. It is a unique mass of “faces tower” which create a stone-mountain of ascending peaks. There were originally 49 towers of which 37are still standing today. Most are carved with four faces on each cardinal point. The central tower has many more.
Afternoon Explore city
Small Circuit of Angkor Area (08h00–17h00)
Depart from the hotel in the air-conditioning coach with English speaking guide (or other required languages) to visit the magnificent 12th century Angkor Wat. It is visually, the city Angkor is one of the grandest monuments ever constructed. The entire complex covers approximately 164sq miles with over 200 temples. Among the 30 temples that are accessible today, the most famous is Angkor Wat, the largest religions building in the world, with a volume of stone equaling that of the Cheops pyramid in Egypt, architecturally and artistically breathtaking. Angkor Wat is a massive three-tiered pyramid crowned by five beehive-like towers rising 65 meters from ground level. Suryavarman II constructed Angkor Wat in the form of massive 'temple mountain' dedicated to the Hindu god and Vishnu.
Afternoon, start a tour of the temples in Angkor Thom built by Cambodia's great king, Jayavarman VII in the 12th century, was one of the largest of all Khmer cities and remained the capital until the 17th century. We enter the city through the monumental south gate, its tower feature four faces pointing in each of cardinal direction with the elephants holding up the man gate, preceded by a no less impressive Avenue of Gods and assures lining the bridge across the structure moat. An eight-meter high wall encloses this ten square kilometer city, which is encircled by a moat.
Stop at the south gate of Angkor Thom for taking some photos of the twenty-meter high gate.
Angkor Thom is the last capital of the Khmer Empire, as a fortified city enclosing residences of priests, official of the palace and military, as well as buildings for administering the Kingdom. These Structures were built of wood and have perished but the remaining stone monuments testify that Angkor Thom was indeed a „Great City‟ as its name implies.
Temple inside the walls of the city described are Bayon, Baphuon, the Leper King, Preah Palilay, Tep Pranam and Prasat Sour Prat. The next temples to visit are Baphoun, the Terrace of Elephants and Terrace of Leper King. Return to the hotel after the sunset at Bakheng Mountain.
The Bayon or state temple of Jayavarman II is one of the most enigmatic and power religious constructions in the world. It is a unique mass of “faces tower” which create a stone-mountain of ascending peaks. There were originally 49 towers of which 37are still standing today. Most are carved with four faces on each cardinal point. The central tower has many more.
The Elephant Terrace is at the heart of Angkor Thom and looks out overage Royal spare. It marks the entrance to the Royal Palace and was the focal point for Royal receptions. The Carving of the elephants along its Walls gives it its modern name.
TaPhrom temple was built in the 12th century by Jayavarman VII as a royal monastery. It was dedicated to the king‟s mother. This temple was chosen to be left in its natural state as an example of how most of Angkor looked, upon its rediscovery in the 18th century. Shrouded in jungle, the temple of Ta Phrom is ethereal in aspect and conjures up a romantic aura with gigantic roots and branches intimately intertwined with the stoned and probing walls to form a natural roof above the man made structures.
Phnom Bakheng, late 9th century was the state temple of the first capital of Angkor. Begin the ascent from the east side at the foot of the hill close to the road. The view from the top is magnificent, particularly of Angkor Wat to the South East and is the most popular spot for tourist at sunset. The three prominent hills of the area, Phnom Bakheng, Phnom Krom and Phnom Bok were all crowned with temples at the same period.
In the morning Visit Banteay Srei Temple located twenty-five kilometres north of Angkor Wat, “The Citadel of Women” or “Citadel of Beauty”, is an exquisite miniature, a fairy palace in the heart of an immense and mysterious forest, very thing that Grimm delighted to imagine, and that every child‟s heart has yearned after, but which mature years have sadly proved too lovely to be true. And here it is, in the Cambodian forest at Banteay Srei, carved not out of the stuff that dreams are made of, but of solid sandstone.
Afternoon, visit Ta Phrom, Ta Som, Neak Poan and Preah Khan (built in late 12th century) by Jayavarman VII dedicated to his father. Preah Khan is a huge, highly explorable monastic complex. Full of carvings, passages and photo opportunities. It originally served as a Buddhist monastery and school, engaging over 1,000 monks. For a short period it was also the residence of King Jayavarman VII during the reconstruction of his permanent home in Angkor Thom. Preah Khan means "sacred sword".
Rolus Group and Kampong Pluk Floating Village (08h00–17h00)
The most impressive member of the Roluos Group, sitting at the center of the first Angkorian capital, Hariharalaya. Bakong stands 15 meters tall and is 650x850m at the outer wall. Constructed by the third Angkorian-era king as his state-temple, Bakong represents the first application of the temple-mountain architectural formula on a grand scale and set the architectural tone for the next 400 years. The temple displays a very early use of stone rather than brick. Though begun by Indravarman I, Bakong received additions and was expanded by later kings. The uppermost section and tower may have been added as late as the 12th century AD. Some of the lintel carvings, particularly on the outer towers, are in very good shape. Picturesque moat and vegetation surround Bakong.
Preah Ko consists of six brick towers arranged in two rows of three towers each perched on a sandstone platform. The towers face east, and the front central tower is the tallest. The sanctuaries are dedicated to three divinized forefathers of Indravarman and their respective wives. The front central tower is dedicated to Jayavarman II, the founder of the Khmer empire.[1] The tower to the left is dedicated to Prithivindreshvara, King Indravarman's father; the tower to the right to Rudreshvara, his grandfather. The three rear towers are dedicated to the wives of these three men. The central towers all bear images of the Hindu god Shiva.
Kampong Phluk is a cluster of three villages of stilted houses built within the floodplain of the Tonle Sap about 16 km southeast of Siem Reap. The villages are primarily Khmer and have about 3,000 inhabitants between them. Flooded mangrove forest surrounds the area and is home to a variety of wildlife including crab-eating macaques.
National Park with Water Fall (08h00–17h00)
Kbal Spean ("Bridge Head") is an Angkorian era archaeological site on the southwest slopes of the Kulen Hills to the northeast of Angkor in Siem Reap District, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia. It is situated along a 150m stretch of the Stung Kbal Spean River, 25 kilometres (16 mi) from the main Angkor group of monuments.
The site consists of a series of stone carvings in sandstone formations carved in the river bed and banks. It is commonly known as the "Valley of a 1000 Lingas" or "The River of a Thousand Lingas". The motifs for stone carvings are mainly myriads of lingams (phallic symbol of Hindu god Shiva), depicted as neatly arranged bumps that cover the surface of a sandstone bed rock, and lingam-yoni designs. There are also various Hindu mythological motifs, including depictions of the gods Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, Lakshmi, Rama, and Hanuman, as well as animals (cows and frogs).
Phnom Kulen is considered a holy mountain in Cambodia, of special religious significance to Hindus and Buddhists who come to the mountain in pilgrimage.
It also has a major symbolic importance for Cambodians as the birthplace of the ancient Khmer Empire, for it was at Phnom Kulen that King Jayavarma II proclaimed independence from Java in 804 CE. Jayavarman II initiated the cult of the king, a linga cult, in what is dated as 804 CE and declaring his independence from Java of whom the Khmer had been a vassalage state (whether this is actually "Java" or "Lava" (a Lao kingdom) is debated, as well as the legend that he was earlier held as a ransom of the kingdom in Java. See Higham's The Civilization of Angkor for more information about the debate).[4] During the Angkorian era the relief was known as Mahendraparvata (the mountain of Great Indra).[5]
The site is known for its carvings representing fertility and its waters, which hold special significance to Hindus. Just 5 cm under the water's surface over 1000 small carvings are etched into the sandstone riverbed. The waters are regarded as holy, given that Jayavarman II chose to bathe in the river, and had the river diverted so that the stone bed could be carved. Carvings include a stone representation of the Hindu god Vishnu lying on his serpent Ananta, with his wife Lakshmi at his feet.[6] A lotus flower protrudes from his navel bearing the god Brahma. The river then ends with a waterfall and a pool.
Full day tour (08h00–17h00)
Beng Melea temple has three gallery walls and a moat at the entrance. The interior temple area is a big pile of rubble, great for climbing around and exploring. There was a movie recently filmed here and the filmmakers left their ramps, making it a bit easier to get around.
The east entrance is closed because of many fallen rocks, but enter just to the right of the main entrance and look for the relief images of the god of fire over the first door as you approach the gallery by the first ramp, then an image of a three-headed elephant born of the mythical Churning of the Ocean of Milk (the Hindu creation legend). A small library is inside this first gallery area. From here, plunge into the temple center.
The platform path from the center leads through a covered, dark gallery. Between sections, you'll have to do some clambering and rock hopping - be careful of the slippery moss. The path exits the opposite (west) side of the temple, and from there you can either wend your way back through, following a different course to the rocks, or walk around the outside.
Boeng Melea is 60km (37 miles) east of Siem Reap and is often visited as part of a day trip along with the Roluos Group. The road is paved and smooth until just after the Roluos group where you turn north at the town of Dom Dek, which has a local market that's worth a stop. From there, follow a dusty, bumpy road. Traveling by motorbike is not recommended, at least not without a good mask and nerves of steel.
Full day tour (08h00–17h00)
In the morning Visit Banteay Srei Temple located twenty-five kilometres north of Angkor Wat, “The Citadel of Women” or “Citadel of Beauty”, is an exquisite miniature, a fairy palace in the heart of an immense and mysterious forest, very thing that Grimm delighted to imagine, and that every child‟s heart has yearned after, but which mature years have sadly proved too lovely to be true. And here it is, in the Cambodian forest at Banteay Srei, carved not out of the stuff that dreams are made of, but of solid sandstone.
Kbal Spean ("Bridge Head") is an Angkorian era archaeological site on the southwest slopes of the Kulen Hills to the northeast of Angkor in Siem Reap District, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia. It is situated along a 150m stretch of the Stung Kbal Spean River, 25 kilometers (16 mi) from the main Angkor group of monuments. The site consists of a series of stone carvings in sandstone formations carved in the river bed and banks. It is commonly known as the "Valley of a 1000 Lingas”. The motifs for stone carvings are mainly myriads of lingams (phallic symbol of Hindu god Shiva), depicted as neatly arranged bumps that cover the surface of a sandstone bed rock, and lingam-yoni designs. There are also various Hindu mythological motifs, including depictions of the gods Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, Lakshmi, Rama, and Hanuman, as well as animals (cows and frogs).
If you still have time to visit Arts & Crafts School, Les Artisan and Local Markets
This school is a joint venture between the Cambodian and French governments to train young Cambodians to acquire skill in traditional sandstone carving, wood work and silk weaving. A showroom displays samples of their works which are for sales. Made to order pieces are also available. Raffles International is a patron of the school, providing both educational supports for its students and an outlet to sell the crafts made by them.
