Day 1: Siem Reap – Beng Mealea – Koh Ker

Today, 8:00am meet your personal guide and driver and travel to the lost temple of Beng Mealea, the titanic of temples, a slumbering giant lost for centuries in the forests of Cambodia. It is the most accessible of Angkor’s lost temples, a mirror image of Angkor Wat, but utterly consumed by the voracious appetite of nature. Constructed by Suryavarman II (1113-1150), the builder of Angkor Wat, the forest has run riot here and it is hard to get a sense of the monument’s shape amid the daunting ruins. Here it is possible to enjoy an Indiana Jones experience clambering about the vast ruin.

We then head into the bush to the remote Angkor capital of Koh Ker is an Angkorian site in northern Cambodia 70 miles northeast of Siem Reap; it was briefly the capital of the Khmer empire between 928 and 944 under king Jayavarman IV and his son Hasavarman II. After the Khmer empire had been established in the Angkor area (Roluos), Jayavarman IV moved the capital in 928 to Koh Ker. Here a vast number of temples were built under his reign, until his successor returned to the Angkor area about twenty years later. The Koh Ker site is dominated by Prasat Thom, a 30-meter-tall temple-mountain raising high above the plain and the surrounding forest. Picnic lunch at Koh Ker

After exploring Koh Ker through the afternoon, begin the drive to Sro Em (1.5hrs, 100km, arriving this evening for a well-deserved shower and good night's rest.

Lodging: Stay 1 night at the Preah Vihear Boutique Hotel (Deluxe Room) – Preah Vihear

Day 2: Preah Vihear – Anlong Veng – Siem Reap

This morning drive further north to Preah Vihear (25km). At the foot of the mountain, change to a pickup truck which will bring you to the mountain top to the most breathtaking temple of Prasat Preah Vihear. The temple, an important pilgrim place during the Angkorian period, was built by a succession of seven Khmer Monarchs. Like other mountain temples, it was designed to represent Mount Meru and was dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. Breath in the astounding views from the cliff stretches as far as the eye can see.

Later, drive about 2 hours to Anlong Veng, the last territory under the Khmer Rouge rule and, to this day, the regime remains a presence in the area. Visit the house of Ta Mok, Pol Pot’ssecond in command, Ta Mok’s Stupa and Pol Pot’s grave. Drive back to Siem Reap 2-hours and transfer to your hotel.

Additional Info

• Children 1 and younger are complimentary.
• Maximum group size is 8 people.
• Hotel pickup is available from most centrally located Siem Reap hotels. Please arrange pickup from your hotel or a nearby location when you call to confirm your reservation.
• Please be ready and waiting in your hotel lobby 15 minutes prior to your scheduled pick-up time.