Cambodian Angkor Tour Services

Countryside Tours

I grew up in Siem Reap Province in a village known as Palmtree Village.  The vast majority of Cambodians live in small villages just like this one.  Exploring the modern opportunities in Siem Reap and the ancient spectacles of the temples are fantastic opportunities, but to fully explore Khmer culture and the struggles that Cambodia continues to face, a trip to the countryside is essential.  Cambodia is the poorest country in Southeast Asia and Siem Reap province remains the second poorest province in the country.

There are many villages that I work with that love to receive foreigners for a visit.  Travel with me to see water buffalo, stilt houses, and traditional rice cultivation in vibrantly green paddies.  The people of the countryside are generous and friendly and life is slow.  Traveling to one of these villages brings further interest and income to them.  A visit to them is a way for generous individuals to help redress the economic imballance in Cambodian society.

 Adventure Temple Tours

Banteay Srei Temple

Half Day Tour.

Banteay Srei temple was built in 967 AD.  It is the only temple in the kingdom built of pink and yellow sandstone,

higher quality and harder stone that was later abandoned for the grey and green sandstone used to built later temples like Angkor Wat.  This superior stone has ensured that the carvings of Banteay Srei have remained in such fantastic condition, offering a rare opportunity to visitors who explore beyond the immediate temple complex.

Kulen Mountain

Full Day Tour, USD$20 per person

Kulen Mountain is around 60km north of Angkor Wat and one of the holiest places in Cambodia.  The waters of the Siem Reap river, so important for the Angkor Empire,

Flowed from this mountain, and visitors can still see the fertility symbols carved into the riverbed centureis ago to ensure continued prosperity. Holy men study here and ascetic hermits live in ancient pagodas.  It was at Kulen that the Devaraja cult was born, turning the human rulers of the Khmer into gods.  Pilgrimages are still made to the mountain,

And visitors can swim in the clean, cool water and examine the carvings, waves of butterflies swooping past and off into the lush jungle around. Kulen Mountain is also the sight of the Reclining Buddha monument, a massive statue carved whole out of the mountain top in the 16th Century.  During the Indochina War, bombs were dropped all around the Buddha, but none destroyed that statue.  It is now a popular place for Khmer to make picnics.

MENG MEALEA TEMPLE

Full Day Tour

Beng Mealea Temple is 70km from Siem Reap at the foot of Kulen Mountain.  Built in the 12th Century, many scholars believe it was the model for Angkor Wat.It is just as wonderful of a temple but it is still largely lost in the jungle.

The accomodations made for tourists at Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom have not been made here, and visitors enjoy a much quieter and adventourous experience.  It's around 75 km away from Siem Reap city and the way from Siem Reap you will see the culture  house on the Road both site .Meng Mealea Ticket US$5 Person.

Koh Ker Temple Group

The third ancient capital of Khmer Empire was built by King Jayavarman IV in the 10th century

Koh Ker Entrance fees : US$10 including Beng Mealea

It is situated in Preah Vihear Provice on the top of a mountain with spectacular views of Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, and even Thailand.

The temple was made a UNESCO World Heritage site in July 2008.

Entrance fees are USD$5 per person, and Transportation and Tour Guide is USD$160

Sambo Prei Kuh .

This is a very old, and rarely visited, temple located a four hour drvie from Siem Reap.  The nearby Kampong Thom City is an excellent place to spend the night if you want to enjoy a leisurely trip.

The drive itself is beautiful, a journey along the lush scenery of the Prey Preas River.  Villagers in this area specialize in meals that include crickets, spiders, and frogs as well as sticky rice. The Sambo Prei Kuh temples were the second capital of the Khmer Empire and were built in the 7th Century by King Isanvarman I.

You cannot get to these temples by motorbike.  The journey is long and requires a car, as well as a guide experienced in the area.  Entrace fees to the temples are USD$5 per person.  Transportation and Tour Guide costs USD$170.  This is a rare temple experience that only those foreigners willing to step off the beaten path get to enjoy.

Preah Khan Kompong Svay

Full day Tour

These temples were built in the 12th Century when Preah Khan was the capital of the Angkor Empire.  The throne moved back to Angkor in 1181 after King Jayavarman VII defeated the invading Chams.It's about 170km from Siem Reap city to these temples.

The drive is very scenic, winding through farms and poor hamlets of Khmer, many of whom have never travelled outside of their small communities or to a city. Visitors must travel from Siem Reap by Car.

Entrance fees are USD$5 per person, and Transportation and Tour Guide is USD$170.

Banteay ChhmarTemples

Full Day Tour .

These temples were built by King Jayavarman VII in dedication to his son, who died in the war with Champa.

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