DAY 1 - ARRIVE SIEM REAP - CYCLE TO BANTEAY SREI TEMPLE AND PHARE CIRCUS (D)

CYCLE TO BANTEAY SREI TEMPLE

Arrive this afternoon at the Siem Reap International Airport where your English speaking guide will be waiting to meet you and transfer to your chosen hotel.
From the aiport it’s time to get into the saddle right away. Begin at Wat Tbang, a beautiful modern temple in the deep countryside of Siem Reap. The route is often filled with Cambodian children who stop and shout “hello”. After cycling through this green and blue expanse head out for the temple of Banteay Srei, the so-called “Citadel of the Women”, which remains the best preserved temples in Cambodia. It displays some of the finest examples of classical Khmer art as this small temple is noted for its truly remarkable fine bas-reliefs. Banteay Srei is unique in that it is constructed of pink sandstone, which is seen nowhere else in Angkor.

Come back to town as the sun dips to have dinner this evening’s entertainment at Phare Punleu Selpak. Though nown around town as the Cambodian circus, you won’t find any animals here. A nonprofit school or the arts, Phare is a demonstration of the graduate students’ acrobatic and musical ability. It has more in common with Cirque du Soleil with exceptionally talented players acting out anything from Cambodian folklore to the very real history of the Khmer Rouge. It’s a must see for anyone in Siem Reap.
Ovenight in Siem Reap.

Distance and journey time:

Transfer from Airport to hotel: 20 mins
Transfer from hotel to Wat Tbeng: 40mins
Transfer from Banteay Srei Temple to hotel: 60mins
Cycling distance up to: 15 km
Difficulty: Very Easy

DAY 2 - ANGKOR COMPLEX (D)

ANGKOR COMPLEX

After breakfast this morning, meet with the guides and prepare for our journey through the jungles of Angkor.
After departing the hotel by bicycle, head toward the jungle temple of Ta Prohm temple (a setting of one of the Tomb Raider films), built in the mid-12th to early 13th centuries. Ta Prohm is unique in that it has been left largely as it was found: overgrown by jungle, trees and vines, with many parts of the temple crumbling to the ground. This makes Ta Prohm one of the most picturesque and memorable of the Angkor temples.

Cycle through jungle paths through the rear entrance of Tah Prohm and toward the ruined city of Angkor Thom.

This was the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. An eight meter high wall draws a perfect square around the city ruin. Enter through the ancient East Gate. On each side of the entrance path a row of fifty-four gods and demons hold the sacred Naga snake of Hindu lore.

From here, continue to Bayon Temple in the exact center of the city. This 12th century masterpiece is a study in grandeur and is well-known for its fifty-four towers with enigmatic faces representing the fifty-four provinces of the Great Khmer Empire. The Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King are also must-visits as they are both known for their intricate bas-reliefs.

Return later to the famous Angkor Wat. Built during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, Angkor Wat is constructed following the model of the temple mountain symbolizing Mount Meru, the home of the gods. Inside the temple, the walls are covered with stone carvings and bas-reliefs depicting Hindu mythology and the wars Suryavarman II fought during his reign. Angkor Wat is well known for the more than 2,000 Apsara dancers decorating the temple. Construction is thought to have taken around thirty years of intensive labor. Today, Angkor Wat is figured on Cambodia's national flag as the temple symbolizes the soul of the Khmer people.

With the day finished, it’s time to return to the hotel and relax for this evening.
Ovenight in Siem Reap.

Distance and journey time:

Transfer back to hotel: 20mins
Cycling distance up to: 25km
Difficulty: Easy

DAY 3 - SIEM REAP - ROLUOS - DEPARTURE (B,L)

ROLUOS

In the morning, start your cycle with a 15 km cycle ride to the early temples of the Roluos Group. Roluos is the site of an ancient centre of Khmer civilization known as Hariharalaya. It was the first city built by the Angkorian kings in the 8th and 9th century and consists of three main temples: Bakong, Lolei and Preah Ko. The surrounding countryside with its rice paddy fields and sugar palm trees are very typically Cambodian. Enjoy the view of the surrounding countryside from the top of Bakong, a pyramid style temple that peeks up around the tops of the trees. Come back to town for lunch at Viroth’s garden style restaurant.

After lunch guide and driver will return you to the airport where you can catch your onward flight. Goodbye for now, but we hope to see you again soon!

Distance and journey time:

Transfer from Rolous to hotel: 30mins
Transfer from hotel to airpot: 20 mins
Cycling distance up to: 15km
Difficulty: Easy