Discovery
of Siem Reap and Angkor Wat (Cambodia)
Ref: RT008A & RT008B
Thanks to the opening of the checkpoints at the borders of Aranyaprathet
and Poipet, Siem Reap has now become accessible again from Thailand
by the road. A journey that permits to observe the life of the
Cambodians in the countryside before beginning the visits of
the site
of Angkor Wat, the lake Tonle Sap and Banteay Srei.
Programme B : 3 days / 2 nights
in Siem Reap (by plane)
An ideal journey for those who don't want to take the road and
prefer speed and comfort to the adventure.More info
Programme A : 4 days / 3 nights in Siem Reap (via the road)
Day 1: Bangkok / Aranyaprathep (Aran)
How to reach Siem Reap via the road from Bangkok:
By Bus: departure every hour from the Morchit 2 bus station, in air-conditioned buses. Choose a departure in the early morning, like 7.00, in order to be able to wander around in the Aran market, to eat a soup, and to go through the border at 13.00.
By Train: departure at about 6.00 from Hualampong railway station, in ordinary car. Arrival to Aran at about 13.00. The market is at 800 m (when leaving the station on the right) and the border at 7 km (on the left).
By Car or mini-van: departure from Bangkok at about 7.30, arrival to Aran at 12.00. By private vehicle, there is the possibility to adapt the itinerary to make some stops at Ayuthaya, Nakhon Nayok, Kabinburi, or Sakeo and to spend one night at Aranyaprathep (a guide is necessary). Depending on the dates of your stay, it is possible to combine a mini-van with other individuals (from 4 to 6 adults).
From Aranyaprathep to Poiphet, there are several kind of transportations to reach the border: by motorcycle-taxi (about 40-50 Thb); by Harley-Taxi which can transport comfortably 2 or 3 persons with the luggage; or with your vehicle if you have booked it in Bangkok.
After
you have crossed the border on foot, and arrived in the main
street of Poiphet, it will be necessary to find the transport
company with which you booked your journey in Bangkok, otherwise
you will have to negotiate with a pickup the price of the
transfer to Siem Reap, or possibly Sisophon from where it
will be easy to find another vehicle to Siem Reap.
At the arrival in Siem Reap, check-in at the hotel or in a
guesthouse for 3 nights (contact us for the availability of
the moment).
Late
afternoon free for an orientation tour in the city, or for enjoying
the hotel facilities, or the possibility of a trip on a hill
that dominate the site of Angkor and its huge western basin,
with the sunset.
Dinner and night at the Hotel.
Customs formalities:
Aryanaprathep in Thailand: usual formalities to exit the territory.
Poiphet border checkpoint in Cambodia: since a few months,
possibility to get a valid tourist visa for 30 days
(form, passport photocopy, 2 photos, and 1,000 Thb at the time of our last visit!)
Departure for the discovery of the temples of Angkor and ten centuries of Khmer art.
Angkor, monumental and archaeological site, capital of the Khmer kings of Cambodia from the IXe to the XVe century. In the XIIIe century, Angkor covered about 100 km2 and was one of the biggest cities in the world, but its decline began shortly after. Threatened by the attacks of their Thai neighbours, the Cambodians abandoned Angkor in 1430 and relocated their capital to a safer site, in the south. The temple of Angkor stayed some time a centre of pilgrimage for Buddhists, but the jungle covered the rest of the city. The French archaeologists rediscovered it and revealed its existence in the world in 1860.
Beginning of the visit with the royal city of Angkor Thom, the superb Bayon with its majestic towers with faces sculpted in the stone indicating the 4 cardinal points, the royal temple of Baphuon, the Phimeanakas temple, the terrace of the King Lepreux and the one of the elephants. Stop in the Takeo temple, then visit of the mysterious temple Ta Phrom buried under the roots of the jungle.
Late afternoon, visit of the masterpiece of the Khmer architecture, the fabulous Angkor temple, with the sunset. Dinner and night at the Hotel.
Note: English-speaking local guide during this day, the
tickets for the entry to the temples of Angkor for the 2 following
days are given (without guide)
Day 3 : Siem Reap / Lake Tonle Sap / Angkor Wat Temple
Breakfast at the Hotel.
Morning dedicated to the visit of the lake Tonle Sap with
departure by vehicle from the hotel (English-speaking local
guide), then get in a boat for the discovery of lacustrine
landscapes, and several villages on stilts where the Cambodians
live with the movements of the big lake...
Afternoon free at leisure, with the admission to the temples
of Angkor (possibility to rent some bicycles there).
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 4 : Siem Reap / Angkor Wat Temple / Bangkok
Breakfast at the Hotel
For those who come back to Bangkok by the road, it is best
to take a vehicle in the morning, then before leaving Siem
Reap you will have the possibility to enjoy a last visit in
one of the temples of Angkor with the sunrise..
For the others who go to Battambang or Phnom Penh : contact
us.
Raid by vehicle from Bangkok to Siem Reap, rental of a sampan for the visit
of the lake Tonle Sap and the rivers, discovery of the temples riding elephants,
expedition with a 4x4 vehicle (with driver) or on a motorcycle to lost temples
in the jungle, overview of the site of Angkor by helicopter, mine hunting
in zones at risk (just kidding!), rental of a traditional Khmer house,
passage of the border via the island of Khong, and much more…
Package Discovery of Siem Reap and
Angkor Wat(by road)
Destination: Siem Reap (Cambodia)
Duration: 4 days / 3 nights
Tour Code:RT008A
How to reach Siem Reap via the road from Bangkok : LocalBus: Bangkok / Aranyaprathet
Boiphet / Siem Reap
3rd class train : Bangkok / Aranyaprathet (Departure from Hualampong Railway Station at 5:55 AM for 255 km.)
Transfer from Aranyaprathep to Poiphet: Moto-taxi
Harley-taxi Mini-van: Bangkok / Aranyaprathet Boiphet / Siem Reap/vehicle.
Private vehicle: Possibility to adjust the itinerary in order to break the trip and visit Ayuthaya, Nakhon Nayok, Kabinburi, Sakeo and spend a night at Aranyaprathep (a guide is still necessary).
Info: Bring your diving record book or license card, eventually your diving equipment, solar cream, sun glasses, towel and other personal toilet items, hammock, and a sense of adventure!
Remark: Itineraries are given for information only. They can be modified or reorganized, depending on technical or safety concerns that might arise. In this case, only the persons responsible of the group on location are authorized to take the necessary decisions. Concerning the climatic conditions of the moment or all other event out of our control, we cannot be held responsible for the modifications or cancellations that could result, but we will do everything that is in our power to assist you during your stay.
A traveller in need of adventure and sensations will prefer the road, therefore, thanks to the opening of the check-points at the borders in Aranyaprathet and Poipet, that enable one to discover not only a region of Thailand little explored but also, after having crossed the border, to observe the life of the Cambodians in the countryside.
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Attention!
A choice of two programmes:
Programme A: 
Customs formalities:
