Siem Reap with a Twist in 3 days

Arrive at Siem Reap International Airport and transfer to the hotel (rooms may not be ready until the afternoon).

Lunch at local restaurant
14:00 hours
You will be picked up after lunch, and start driving out of the city to the dirt roads crossing the countryside and local villages until you arrive at your embarkation point.

Once settled on board, start sailing past a hilltop pagoda, between the floating homes of a small fishermen's village, until the boat arrives at the best spot to drop the kayaks.

Start kayaking through the floating village, observe their livelihood, stop to take pictures or interact with the families, go at your own pace and enjoy the trip until you are ready to get back on board your boat.

When you are ready to rest and really relax, your boat will take you out a bit further at the edge of the great lake, where you will experience the particular beauty of a sunset on the Tonle Sap, in silence, while enjoying cocktails and snacks.
Return to your hotel

08:00 hours

Your tour guide and driver pick you up from hotel and take a part in a sacred Buddhist ritual when you travel to Cambodia and receive a spiritual cleansing ceremony performed by the monks. The ceremony begins with the monks chanting harmoniously as they wish you good luck, safe travel, and a long life. It is accompanied by a light sprinkling of water. At the end of the blessing, your wrist is adorned with special red ties that signify the blessing performed.

Then, start by visiting the last capital of the Khmer Empire: Angkor Thom, built in the 12th century and deserted most likely during the 16th century. Inside its walls, visit:
-the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk
-Bayon temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with 216 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara
-Baphuon, a pyramidal representation of Mount Meru
-the Terrace of the Elephants, used by Jayavarman VII to watch his victorious army return
-the Terrace of the Leper King, which's statue was formerly thought to represent a legendary "leper king", but is now considered to represent Yama - the Lord of the Dead and believed the terrace itself might have functioned as a royal cremation platform.
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Continue towards famous Ta Prohm, beautiful jungle temple which nature seems to have taken over, has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery.

Stop and relax for a nice lunch at Sala Russey, local restaurant facing Srah Srang.

14:00 hours
Afternoon, visit the most famous of all temples: Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious monument named UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992. The 12th century temple complex spreads over 81 hectares. It's five towers symbolize Meru's five peaks, the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond.

Return to your hotel.
18:30 hours
Transfer for dinner before the show at Phare caf'e9

Performance by Phare, The Cambodian Circus.

Enjoy an amazing blend of traditional and modern theatre, music, dance, acrobatics, juggling and contortion, comedy and more, a beautifully choreographed and performed story about Cambodian lives and society. Go back with a memory filled with energy and emotions portrayed by the famous artists of Phare Ponleu Selpak Artistic and Social Center. PPS Association is a Cambodian non-profit, non-governmental association founded in 1994 by eight young Cambodians ex-refugees artists. Be part of non-profit organization efforts to build artists' careers and to bring Cambodian arts to the rest of the world.

08:00 hours

This morning, discover the "Behind the Scenes", inaccessible to the public, of a great social enterprise.

Artisans Angkor, created in 1992 when the country was faced with the challenge of rebuilding its economy, has developed from the ambitious belief that it is possible to revive ancient Cambodian Arts & Crafts while improving the lives of thousands of people living in rural areas.
Not only are they committed to the preservation of Cambodia's cultural legacy, but they also want to empower individuals by helping them secure their future by the means of education and welfare.

Today, it has 48 workshops (of silk, stone and wood carving, lacquerware, gilding, ceramics, silver plating, silk painting, and jewellery) operating in 12 sites located in Siem Reap province and provides employment to over 1100 people, including about 800 artisans, many of which, over the last few years, had the privilege to be selected for the restoration of several parts of the historical Angkor site. You will visit 3 special workshops and learn about all the facets of their creations.

A private vehicle will pick you up from your hotel and will take you to the first hidden workshop which is one of the ceramics, followed by a lacquer workshop. Observe in details the fine and delicate work it is to create a piece and learn about each process explained by your personal Artisans d'Angkor expert.

Continue to Puok, where Artisans d'Angkor Silk Farm is located and visit a stone carving workshop which is also the location where special project are realized. You will be able to see both up-close but as these are private individual's orders, and some may be very confidential, no photos or videos of special projects are allowed.

You will continue to the main location of Artisans d'Angkor, in the city center where you can have a glimpse at the Chantiers-Ecoles, where students are trained to become artisans and end your experience in the Prestige Room with a glass of wine with sparkles'85

Lunch at Pou Kitchen and Restaurant for some amazing creative cuisine by Chef Mengly
After lunch, proceed to Siem Reap International Airport for departure flight to the next destination.