Meals: lunch | Accommodation: in Siem Reap

We will leave by tuk-tuk to the meeting point with our bikes. From there, we will ride through small rural villages towards Bakong temple. In the wet season, this ride provides magnificent views of endless paddy fields. Upon arrival at Bakong, the temple can be explored. The next temple, Prasat Preah Ko, is situated only a mere 300m away. These temples are called the Rolous Group and were built in the 9th century when the first capital, Hariharalaya, was located here. From the main entrance of Bakong, the road continues to Psar Bakong, a very traditional country town market.

We will have a very special lunch at a beautiful traditional wooden house in a serene rural setting close to the 9th-century capital of Hariharalaya and the rustic Cambodian town of Roluos. Our traditional Khmer lunch menu will be made from locally-sourced organic ingredients. 

Afterward, we will head towards the most beautiful floating village on the Tonle Sap Lake, Kompong Pluk. At the harbor, a local boat will be awaiting us for a wonderful ride through the floating village. Kompong Pluk is still quite unexplored and has an atmospheric submerged forest to explore. 

We will return later to Siem Reap for a rewarding shower before enjoying in the evening the great modern performances at Phare Circus.

Meals: not included | Accommodation: in Siem Reap 

We will journey north to Kbal Spean. The original ‘River of a Thousand Lingas’, Kbal Spean is an intricately carved riverbed deep in the foothills of the Cambodian jungle only discovered in 1969. The Khmers venerated its limestone bed with a riot of carvings, including thousands of lingams. A trip to Kbal Spean is one of the easiest ways to experience a short jungle trek in the Angkor area, as it is a steady but scenic climb to reach the river carvings. 

Afterward, we will head to Banteay Srei, Angkor’s ultimate art gallery. This petite pink temple is the jewel in the crown of Angkor-era sculpture. The elaborate carvings here are the finest found in Cambodia. Indeed, its name is translated as ‘Fortress of the Women’, as the intricate detail here is considered too fine for the hands of a man. We return back to Siem Reap and visit the War Museum.

Time for an unforgettable way to experience the surrounding countryside of Siem Reap. We will hop on our quads and ride through the less-traveled tracks around rural communities, taking the opportunity to stop and responsibly interact along the way with the villagers, visiting an ancient temple off the 'beaten track' and enjoying the sunset with a cocktail amidst a rice field. 

Meals: lunch, dinner | Accommodation: in Siem Reap

Early Morning we will visit Ta Prohm, which has been abandoned to the elements, as a reminder that while empires rise and fall, the riotous power of nature marches on, oblivious to the dramas of human history. Left as it was ‘discovered’ by French explorer Henri Mouhot in 1860, the tentacle-like tree roots here are slowly strangling the surviving stones.

Afterwards, time to induce some adrenaline release with Angkor Zipline. Family‐friendly, fun and safe, flying through the air above the jungle canopy is an exhilarating experience. The course includes 10 ziplines, including a tandem line, rope bridges, a tree-house and a 15m abseil descent to navigate. There is also a nature trail and a family of wild gibbons in the jungle. 

In the afternoon, we will travel to the mighty temple of Preah Khan or 'Sacred Sword', built by King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. Sister temple to Ta Prohm, the cruciform corridors here are impressive and there are also some wonderful carvings adorning the walls, including the spectacular hall of dancers. A curious two-storey structure that seems almost Grecian in inspiration. This is one of the few temples originally dedicated both to Buddhism and Hinduism. The original eastern entrance was for Mahayana Buddhists, while the other cardinal points represented the Hindu trinity of Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. We then continue on to the elegant curves of Neak Poan, with its ornamental fountain and series of elaborate. 

Our exploration will finish with a sunset over the rice fields from the royal crematorium of Pre Rup, a classic view of the Cambodian countryside. 

This evening we will enjoy a special dinner at Sala Kdei, a beautiful traditional wooden house overlooking the royal bathing pool of Sra Srang. Once used by the ancient Khmer kings and their concubines, this is a celebrated spot for sunrise and sunset located in a serene setting amid the rural village atmosphere, with a full selection of popular national dishes, including such favourites as amok, steamed fish with coconut, chilli and lemongrass in banana leaf. Quality ingredients, fresh, organic and locally sourced. Enjoy your Khmer meal!  

Meals: not included | Accommodation: in Siem Reap

Rising at the crack of dawn, we will journey to the Mother of all temples, Angkor Wat. Believed to be the world's largest religious building, this temple is the perfect fusion of symbolism and symmetry and a source of pride and strength to all Khmers. Built-in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II, this is the most famous temple at Angkor. We will stay at Angkor Wat to enjoy a picnic breakfast. As the crowds return to their hotels, we will venture inside to enjoy all its magnificence.

In the afternoon, we will visit the immense walled city of Angkor Thom which was the masterpiece of King Jayavarman VII. The scale is simply staggering and we will feel immediately overwhelmed by the audacity of Jayavarman on arrival at the city’s gates. On our list: The Terrace of the Leper King, Terrace of Elephants, and Baphuon, one of the most beautiful temples at Angkor, dating from the 11th century. It has undergone a massive renovation by the French and is now once again open for viewing. 

Our climax will arrive with the enigmatic and enchanting temple of Bayon. Each of its 54 towers is topped off with the four faces of Avalokiteshvara (Buddha of Compassion), which bear more than a passing resemblance to the king himself. We will unravel the mysteries of the temple’s bas-reliefs, with their intricate scenes of ancient battles against the Chams and their snapshot of daily life during the Angkor period. We can either cycle around Angkor Thom or make our exploration on foot.