OPTION-4

SIEM REAP 3 DAYS-TOUR WITH KOH KER ITINERARY

DAY-1: SMALL CIRCUIT  

The day tour reverses direction and avoids the tourists crowds. Due to the volume of tourists in Angkor, I recommend this itinerary, enabling you to feel free and peaceful for your photos!

MORNING 

Pick up from the hotel at 7:00am , at lobby in SIEM REAP

  • Buying 3 day of Angkor pass  in $62 USD for an adult)
  • 7:00 am – 7:45 am (45mn) : Driving from your hotel to Buy ticket then heading to Ta Prom
  • 7:45am – 9:00am (1h-15mn) :  VISIT : TA PROM (Tomb Raider or Jungle temple)
  • 9:05am – 9:35am (30mn) : VISIT : BANTEAY KDEY 
  • 9:40am – 10:10am (30mn)  : VISIT : TA TEO
  • 10:15am-10:45am (30mn) : VISIT : CHAO SAY TEVADA – THOMANON
  • 10:50am – 11:05am (15mn) : EAST GATE OF ANGKOR THOM
  • 11:15am – 11:45am (30mn) : LEPER KING AND ELEPHANT TERRACE

AFTERNOON

  • 11:45am – 12:45pm (1h) : BREAK FOR LUNCH
  • 12:45pm – 2:15 pm (1h and 30mn) : VISIT : BAYON – BAPHOUN – PHIMEANAKAS.
  • 2:15pm – 2:30pm (15mn) : DRIVE FROM ANGKOR THOM – ANGKOR WAT
  • 2:30pm – 4:30pm (2h) : VISIT : ANGKOR WAT
  • 4:30pm – 5:00pm (30mn): DRIVE BACK TO YOUR HOTEL.

PHOTO GALLERY OF SMALL CIRCUIT

Siem Reap Angkor tour-Inside of Angkor wat view with the water basinANGKOR WAT

Siem Reap Angkor tour-Angkor wat inside ANGKOR WATSiem Reap Angkor tour-Angkor thom gatesANGKOR THOM
SIEM REAP ANGKOR - BAYON TEMPLEBAYON Siem Reap Angkor tour: Ta promTA PROMSiem Reap Angkor tour-Ta prom by cameraTA PROM 

DAY-2: BIG CIRCUIT + BANTEAY SREI

MORNING 

  • Pick up from the hotel at 8:00 am, at lobby in SIEM REAP
  • 8:00am – 8:30am (30mn) : Driving to PREAH KHAN 
  • 8:30am – 10:00am (1h and 30mn) : VISIT:  PREAH KHAN
  • 10:10am – 10:40am (30mn) : VISIT: NEAK PEAN
  • 10:50am – 11:50am (1h) : VISIT:  TA SOM
  • 11:50am – 12:30pm (40mn) : Drive to BANTEAY SREI

AFTERNOON

  • 12:30pm – 1:30pm (1h) : Break for LUNCH
  • 1:30pm – 3:30pm (2h) : VISIT : BANTEAY SREI
  • 3:30pm – 4:00pm (30mn) : Drive to EAST MEBON
  • 4:00pm – 4:30pm (30mn) : VISIT : EAST MEBON
  • 4:40pm – 5:10pm (30mn) : VISIT :  PRE RUP
  • 5:10pm – 6: 10pm (1h) : Drive back to HOTEL END

PHOTO GARLLERY OF BIG CIRCUIT AND BANTEAY SREI

Siem Reap Angkor tour-Kids selling souvenir around templesPREAH KHANSiem Reap Angkor tour-Preah Khan libraryPREAH KHANSiem Reap Angkor tour-Preah Khan Outer wallENTRANCE OF PK
Siem Reap Angkor tour-temple shrine-temple santuaryTHE SRINE OF PKSiem Reap Angkor tour-Preah Khan BarrayBARRAY OF PKSIEM REAP ANGKOR - NEAK PEAN TEMPLENEAK PEAN
SIEM REAP ANGKOR - TA SOM TEMPLETA SOMSIEM REAP ANGKOR - EAST MEBON TEMPLEEAST MEBONSIEM REAP ANGKOR - PRE RUP TEMPLEPRE RUP
BANTEAY SREI BAN-SAMRE

DAY-3: KOH KER + BENG MEALEA 

MORNING 

Pick up from lobby at 7:00am in SIEM REAP : 

  • 7:00am – 9:30am (2h and 30mn): Drive from SIEM REAP – KOH KER in 120km on the street N6, N64.
  • 9:30am – 10:00am (30mn): PRASAT BRAM TEMPLE
  • 10:05am – 10:20am (15mn) : VISIT : PRASAT NEANG KHMAO
  • 10:30am – 12:30pm (2h) : VISIT : PRASAT THOM (PHYRAMID)

AFTERNOON

  • 12:30pm – 1:30pm (1h): BREAK FOR LUNCH
  • 1:35 pm – 1:50pm (15mn) : VISIT : LINGA TEMPLE
  • 1:55pm – 2:15pm (15mn): VISIT : PRASAT KRACHAB
  • 2:20pm – 2:50pm (30mn): VISIT : PRASAT DOMREI (Elephant temple)
  • 2:50pm – 3:50pm (1h) : Drive to BENG MEALEA TEMPLE in 59km on national street N:64
  • 3:50pm – 5:30pm (1h and 40mn): VISIT : BENG MEALEA TEMPLE 
  • 5:30 pm – 7:00pm (1h and 30mn): Drive back to SIEM REAP in 67km on the national street N:64 and N:6.

PHOTO GARLLERY OF KOH KER AND BENG MEALEA

Preah Vihear tour-Koh ker tour - Beng Mealea tour photo - I and my clients at prasat bramPreah Vihear tour-Koh ker tour - Beng Mealea tour photo - prasat bramPreah Vihear tour-Koh ker tour - Beng Mealea tour photo -Linga temple
Preah Vihear tour-Koh ker tour - Beng Mealea tour photo -Koh ker photoPreah Vihear tour-Koh ker tour - Beng Mealea tour photo - koh ker temple with monk-phyramid templePreah Vihear tour-Koh ker tour - Beng Mealea tour photo

NOTED: WE ARE FLEXIBLE, WE DON’T LIMIT THE TIME FOR YOUR TRIP, WE ONLY SET ESTIMATED TIME BY FLOLLOWING OUR EXPERIANCE!

CHECK ATTRACTIONS AND PRICE ON THE NEXT PAGES

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PRICE FOR

SIEM REAP 3 DAYS-TOUR WITH KOH KER

OPTION-4

Private A/C car and minivan

LUXUSSTAREXSANYONG
Car Suv 5 SeatsVan 12 SeatsVan 15 Seats
$185 USD

Per Car : 1-4 persons

$215 USD

Per Van 1-8 persons

$215 USD

Per Van 1-12 persons

EXTRA SUNRISE 5$ AND SUNSET 5$ USD

INCLUSION


  • Driver food and accommodation
  • Gasoline
  • Parking fees/ tolls 
  • Cool waters and towels

EXCLUSION


  • All entrance fees pay by your own account
  • Your meals and hotel pay by your own account
  • English speaking tour guide (if you need professional English tour guide please inform to us we will arrange with driver for you)

TEMPLES IN SMALL CIRCUIT

ANGKOR WAT

Angkor Wat (Khmer: អង្គរវត្ត or “Capital Temple”) is a temple complex in Cambodia and the largest religious monument in the world, on a site measuring 162.6 hectares (1,626,000 m2; 402 acres). It was originally constructed as a Hindu temple of god Vishnu for the Khmer Empire, gradually transforming into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the 12th century. It was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century inYaśodharapura (Khmer: យសោធរបុរៈ, present-day Agkor), the capital of the Khmer Empire, as his state temple and eventual mausoleum. Breaking from the Shaiva tradition of previous kings, Angkor Wat was instead dedicated to Vishnu. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation. The temple is at the top of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag, and it is the country’s prime attraction for visitors. Angkor Wat combines two basic plans of Khmer temple architecture: the temple-mounntain and the later galleried temple.……CLICK TO READ MORE!

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ANGKOR THOM

Angkor Thom was established as the capital of Jayavarman VII’s empire, and was the centre of his massive building programme. One inscription found in the city refers to Jayavarman as the groom and the city as his bride. Angkor Thom seems not to be the first Khmer capital on the site, however. Yasodharapura, dating from three centuries earlier, was centred slightly further northwest, and Angkor Thom overlapped parts of it. The most notable earlier temples within the city are the former state temple of Baphoun and Phimeanakas which was incorporated into the Royal Palace. The Khmers did not draw any clear distinctions between Angkor Thom and Yashodharapura: even in the fourteenth century an inscription used the earlier name. The name of Angkor Thom—great city—was in use from the 16th century.  The last temple known to have been constructed in Angkor Thom was Mangalartha, which was dedicated in 1295.………..……CLICK TO READ MORE!

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​​​​​BAYON

The Bayon(Khmer: ប្រាសាទបាយ័ន, Prasat Bayon) is a well-known and richly decorated Khmer temple at Angkor in Cambdia. Built in the late 12th or early 13th century as the official state temple of the Mahayana Buddist King Jayavaraman VII ( Khmer: ព្រះបាទជ័យវរ្ម័នទី ៧), the Bayon stands at the centre of Jayavarman’s capital, Angkor Thom ( Khmer: អង្គរធំ). Following Jayavarman’s death, it was modified and augmented by later Hindu and Theravada Buddhist kings in accordance with their own religious preferences.

The Bayon’s most distinctive feature is the multitude of serene and smiling stone faces on the many towers which jut out from the upper terrace and cluster around its central peak. The temple is known also for two impressive sets of bas-reliefs, which present an unusual combination of mythological, historical, and mundane scenes. .……CLICK TO READ MORE!

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​​​​​TA PROM (TOMB RAIDER)

Ta Prohm (KHMER ប្រាសាទតាព្រហ្ម, pronunciation: prasat taprohm) is the modern name of the temple at Angkor, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia, built in the Bayon style largely in the late 12th and early 13th centuries and originally called Rajavihara (In Khmer: រាជវិហារ). Located approximately one kilometre east of Angkor Thom and on the southern edge of the East Baray, it was founded by the Khmer King Jayavaraman II as a Mayana Buddhist monastery and university. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Ta Prohm is in much the same condition in which it was found: the photogenic and atmospheric combination of trees growing out of the ruins and the Jungle surroundings have made it one of Angkor’s most popular temples with visitors. UNESCO inscribed Ta Prohm on the World Heritage List in 1992………CLICK TO READ MORE!

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​​​​​BAPHUON

The Baphuon (Khmer: ប្រាសាទបាពួន) is a temple at Angkor,Cambodia. It is located in Angkor Thom, northwest of the Bayon. Built in the mid-11th century, it is a three-tiered temple mountount. built as the state temple of Udayadityavaraman II. dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. It is the archetype of the Baphuon style. The temple adjoins the southern enclosure of the royal palace and measures 120 metres east-west by 100 metres north-south at its base and stands 34 meters tall without its tower, which would have made it roughly 50 meters tall. Its appearance apparently impressed Temur Khan’s late 13th century envoy Chou Ta-kuan during his visit from 1296 to 1297, who said it was ‘the Tower of Bronze…a truly astonishing spectacle, with more than ten chambers at its base.’ In the late 15th century, the Baphuon was converted to a Buddhist temple. A 9 meter tall by 70 meter long statue of a reclining Buddha was built on the west side’s second level, which probably required the demolition of the 8 meter tower above..……CLICK TO READ MORE!

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​​​​​ PHIMEANAKAS TEMPLE

Phimeanakas (Khmer: ប្រាសាទភិមានអាកាសPrasat Phimean Akas, ‘celestial temple’) or Vimeanakas (Khmer: ប្រាសាទវិមានអាកាសPrasat Vimean Akas) at Angkor, Cambodia, is a Hindu temple in the Khleang style, built at the end of the 10th century, during the reign of Rajendravarman (from 941-968), then completed by Suryavarman I, in the shape of a three tier pyramid as a Hindu temple. On top of the pyramid there was a tower, while on the edge of top platform there are galleries. Phimeanakas is located inside the walled enclosure of the Royal Palace of Angkor Thom north of Baphuon………CLICK TO READ MORE!

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​​​​​LEPER KING TERRACE

TheTerrace of the Leper King(or Leper King Terrace) (Khmer: ព្រះលានស្តេចគម្លង់Preah Lean Sdach Kumlung) is located in the northwest corner of the Royal Square of Angkor Thom, Cambodia. It was built in the Bayon style under Jayavarman VII, though its modern name derives from a 15th-century sculpture discovered at the site. The statue depicts the Hindu god Yama, the god of death. The statue was called the “Leper King” because discolouration and moss growing on it was reminiscent of a person with leprosy, and also because it fit in with a Cambodian legend of an Angkorian king Yasovarman I who had leprosy. The name that the Cambodians know him by, however, is Dharmaraja,……CLICK TO READ MORE!

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​​​​​ELEPHANT TERRACE

The Terrace of the Elephants (Khmer: ព្រះលានជល់ដំរី) is part of the walled city of Angkor Thom, a ruined temple complex in Cambodia. The terrace was used byAngkor’s king Jayavarman VII as a platform from which to view his victorious returning army. It was attached to the palace of Phimeanakas (Khmer: ប្រាសាទភិមានអាកាស), of which only a few ruins remain. Most of the original structure was made of organic material and has long since disappeared. Most of what remains are the foundation platforms of the complex. The terrace is named for the carvings of elephants on its eastern face.The 350m-long Terrace of Elephants was used as a giant reviewing stand for public ceremonies and served as a base for the king’s grand audience hall. It has five outworks extending towards the Central Square-three in the centre and one at each end. The middle section of the retaining wall is decorated with life size garuda and lions; towards either end are the two parts of the famous parade of elephants complete with their Khmer mahouts….……CLICK TO READ MORE!

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​​​​​TA KEO

Ta Keo had to be the state temple of Jayavarman V, son of Rajendravarman, who had built Pre Rup. Like Pre Rup, it has five sanctuary towers arranged in a quincunx, built on the uppermost level of five-tier pyramid consisting of overlapping terraces (a step pyramid), surrounded by moats, as a symbolic depiction of Mount Meru. Its particularly massive appearance is due to the absence of external decorations, as carving had just begun when the work stopped, besides an elaborate use of perspective effects. It is considered an example of the so-called Khleang style.

Plan of Ta Keo………CLICK TO READ MORE!

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TEMPLES IN BIG CIRCUIT

​​​​​PREAH KHAN

Preah Khan (Khmer: ប្រាសាទព្រះខ័ន; “Royal Sword”) is a temple at Angkor,Cambodia, built in the 12th century for King Jayavarman VII to honor his father. It is located northeast of Angkor Thom and just west of the Jayatataka baray, with which it was associated. Siem Reap Angkor tour-Preah Khan libraryIt was the centre of a substantial organisation, with almost 100,000 officials and servants. The temple is flat in design, with a basic plan of successive rectangular galleriesaround a Buddhist sanctuary complicated by Hindu satellite temples and numerous later additions. Like the nearby Ta Prohm, Preah Khan has been left largely unrestored, with numerous trees and other vegetation growing among the ruins….……CLICK TO READ MORE!

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​​​​​NEAK PEAN

Neak Pean (or Neak Poan) (Khmer: ប្រាសាទនាគព័ន្ធ) (“The entwined Some historians believe that Neak Pean represents Anavatapta, a mythical lake in the Himalayas whose waters are thought to cure all illness. SIEM REAP ANGKOR - NEAK PEAN TEMPLEThe name is derived from the sculptures of snakes (Nāga) running around the base of the temple structure, neak being the Khmer rendering of the Sanskrit naga. “They are Nanda and Upananda, two nagas traditionally associated with Lake Anavatapta.serpents”) at Angkor, Cambodia is an artificial island with a Buddhist temple on a circular island in Jayatataka Baray, which was associated with Preah Khan temple, built during the reign of King Jayavarman VII. It is the “Mebon” of the Preah Khan baray (the “Jayatataka” of the inscription).Etymology………CLICK TO READ MORE!

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​​​​​TA SOM

Ta Som (Khmer: ប្រាសាទតាសោម) is a small temple at Angkor, Cambodia, built at the end of the 12th century for King Jayavarman VII. It is located north east of Angkor Thom and just east of Neak Pean. SIEM REAP ANGKOR - TA SOM TEMPLEThe King dedicated the temple to his father Dharanindravarman II (Paramanishkalapada) who was King of theKhmer Empire from 1150 to 1160. The temple consists of a single shrine located on one level and surrounded by enclosure laterite walls. Like the nearby Preah Khan and Ta Prohm the temple was left largely unrestored, with numerous trees and other vegetation growing among the ruins.  In 1998, theWorld Monuments Fund (WMF) added the temple to their restoration program and began work to stabilise the structure to make it safer for visitors….……CLICK TO READ MORE!

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​​​​​EAST MEBON

The East Mebon (Khmer: ប្រាសាទមេបុណ្យខាងកើត) is a 10th Century temple at Angkor, Cambodia. Built during the reign of King Rajendravarman, it stands on what was an artificial island at the center of the now dry East  Barayreservoir. SIEM REAP ANGKOR - EAST MEBON TEMPLEThe East Mebon was dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and honors the parents of the king. Its location reflects Khmer architects’ concern with orientation and cardinal directions. The temple was built on a north–south axis with Rajendravarman’s state temple, Pre Rup, located about 1,200 meters to the south just outside the baray. The East Mebon also lies on an east–west axis with the palace temple Phimeanakas, another creation of Rajendravarman’s reign, located about 6,800 meters due west….……CLICK TO READ MORE!

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PRE RUP

Pre Rup is located just south of the East Baray, or eastern reservoir, Pre Rup is aligned on a north-south axis with the East Mebon temple, which is located on what was an artificial island in the baray. The East Mebon was also a creation of the reign of Rajendravarman.SIEM REAP ANGKOR - PRE RUP TEMPLE Pre Rup’s extensive laterite and brick give it a pleasing reddish tone that is heightened by early morning and late afternoon sunlight. The temple has a square lay-out and two perimeter walls. The outer enclosure is a platform bounded by a laterite wall, 117 meters N-S by 127 meters E-W. A laterite causeway gives entry from the east; unfortunately, a modern road cuts across it. The four external gopuras are cross-shaped, having a central brick section (consisting of three rooms flanked by two independent passageways) and a sandstone vestibule on both sides. To either side inside the eastern gate is a group of three towers aligned north to south. One of the towers appears to have never been built or to have been dismantled later, however they are later additions, probably by Jayavarman V….……CLICK TO READ MORE!

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KBAL SPEAN  

Kbal Spean (Khmer: ក្បាលស្ពាន) (“Bridge Head”) is an Angkorian era archaeological site on the southwest slopes of the Kulen Hills to the northeast of Angkor in Banteay srei, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia. It is situated along a 150m stretch of the Stung Kbal Spean River, 25 kilometres (16 mi) from the main Angkor group of monuments, which lie downstream. The site consists of a series of stone rock relief carvings in sandstone formations of the river bed and banks. It is commonly known as the “Valley of a 1000 Lingas” or “The River of a Thousand Lingas”. The motifs for stone carvings are mainly myriads of lingams (phallic symbol of Hindu god Shiva), depicted as neatly arranged bumps that cover the surface of a sandstone bed rock, and lingam-yoni designs. There are also various Hindu mythological motifs, including depictions of the gods Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, Lakshmi, Rama, and Hanuman, as well as animals (cows and frogs). Kbal Spean is described as “a spectacularly carved riverbed, set deep in the jungle to the northeast of Angkor”. The river over which the bridge head exists is also known as Stung Kbal Spean, a tributary of the Siem Reap River that rises in the Kulein mountains north of Banteay Srei. The river bed cuts through sandstone formations, and the many architectural sculptures of Hindu mythology have been carved within the sandstone. The archaeological site occurs in a stretch of the river starting from 150 metres (490 ft) upstream north of the bridge head to the falls downstream. The river, being sanctified by flowing over the religious sculptures, flows downstream, bifurcating into the Siem Reap River and Puok River, which eventually flows into the Tonlé Sap Lake after passing through the plains and the Angkor temple complex

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BANTEAY SREI​​​

Considered by many to be the jewel in the crown of Angkorian art, Banteay Srei is cut from stone of a pinkish hue and includes some of the finest stone carving anywhere on earth. Begun in AD 967, it is one of the smallest sites at Angkor, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in stature.The art gallery of Angkor, Banteay Srei, a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, is wonderfully well preserved and many of its carvings are three-dimensional. Banteay Srei means ‘Citadel of the Women’ and it is said that it must have been built by a woman, as the elaborate carvings are supposedly too fine for the hand of a man. Banteay Srei is one of the few temples around Angkor to be commissioned not by a king but by a brahman, who may have been a tutor to Jayavarman V. The temple is square and has entrances at the east and west, with the east approached by a causeway. Of interest are the lavishly decorated libraries and the three central towers, which are decorated with male and female divinities and beautiful filigree relief work. Classic carvings at Banteay Srei include delicate women with lotus flowers in hand and traditional skirts clearly visible, as well as breathtaking re-creations of scenes from the epic Ramayana adorning the library pediments (carved inlays above a lintel). ……CLICK TO READ MORE!

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BANTEAY SAMRE

Banteay Samré (Khmer: ប្រាសាទបន្ទាយសំរែ) is a temple at Angkor, Cambodia, located 400 metres to the east of the East Baray. Built during the reign of Suryavarman II and Yasovarman II in the early 12th century, it is a Hindu temple in the Angkor Wat style. Named after the Samré, an ancient people of Indochina, the temple uses the same materials as the Banteay Srei. Banteay Samré was excellently restored by Maurice Glaize from 1936 until 1944. The design of its single ogival tower is immediately recognizable as Angkor Wat style along with other temples in the region such as Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda. Due to this temple’s similarity to some monuments of north-east Thailand, it has the appearance of a compact Phimai. While there are no inscriptions describing its foundation, it seems likely to have been built by a high official of the court during the reign of King Suryavarman II………CLICK TO READ MORE!

Cambodia Banteay Srei Landmine Museum

The Cambodian Landmine Museum and ReliefFacility is a museum located in Cambodia, south of the Banteay Srey Temple complex, 25 kilometers north of Siem Reap, and inside the Angkor National Park. Tourists began hearing stories about a young Khmer man, Aki Ra, who cleared landmines with a stick and had a house full of defused ordnance. Ra began charging a dollar to see his collection, using the money to help further his activities. Thus began the Cambodia Landmine Museum. In 2007 the Cambodian government ordered Aki Ra’s museum closed. He was allowed to move it to a new location 40 kilometers from Siem Reap, near Banteay Srey Temple, inside the Angkor National Park. A Canadian NGO, the Cambodia Landmine Museum Relief Fund, founded by documentary film producer Richard Fitoussi, raised the money to buy the land and build the Museum. Most of the funding was provided by Tom Shadyac, a movie director from California. The new museum opened in May 2007 and currently houses a 4 gallery museum as well as being the home to 27 children. The Cambodia Landmine Museum exists for 3 reasons

SHOOTING RANGE (ON THE WAY TO BANTEAY SREY TEMPLE)

Siem Reap Angkor Wat is the most popular tourist destination around the country and beside the great temples there are some other natural tourist sites like mountains, river, waterfall and human creative, and all the things which offered to human in order to provide to people a great pleasure when those of traveler has been adventured the place. So, human has been developing a lot things and the among of product is Shooting Range/Shooting Bazooka thus gun fire is one of the Cambodia attractive  tourist spot.

Temples and Firing Tours: Of course we can greet any gun fire customers at anywhere around Siem Reap town for your sightseeing around Siem reap. Morning, Our professional military police and also a driver will go to greet you at your hotel or anywhere else that we have set the meeting point, and escort you guys to visit some of Angkor Wat great temples, and then Shooting Range club, by sun set or before sun set we will take you guy back to your place.

Banteay Srei Palm Market

Pai Ri stirs boiling sap hunched over a large metallic pan that sits on a fire. Her little shop, near Siem Reap’s famous Banteay Srei temple, is brimming with customers, both local and foreign, taking a casual look at the many jars and bottles on the shelves and the other souvenirs for sale, which include traditional garments like kromas.

A palm tree farmer and a producer of palm sugar, a beloved local sugar product, Mr Ri has been in the business for over a decade, having established her base of operations in a so-called palm sugar village located half way between Siem Reap city and the ancient, pink sandstone temple of Banteay Srei. She confides that business is good, with tourists often interested in learning about the artisanal process involved in concocting the sweet Cambodia treat.

Banteay Srey Butterfly Centre

(BBC) is an interactive butterfly exhibit located 25 km north of Siem Reap, on the road to the Landmine Museum and Bantey Srey temple.

The exhibit consists of a netted tropical garden with thousands of free-flying butterflies, all of which are native species to Cambodia. The enclosure is South East Asia’s largest butterfly exhibit and provides residents and tourists with an interactive and visual environment to learn about butterflies and support local communities.

What is Butterfly Farming?

Butterfly farming is the breeding of pupae for sale to local butterfly exhibits or for export to zoos and live exhibitions overseas. Butterfly farms are situated in close proximity to areas of natural forest and provide an alternative, sustainable income to rural communities.

Butterfly farms have been established in many tropical countries worldwide – including the Philippines, Costa Rica, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

KOH KER ATTRACTIONS

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PRASAT THOM (PYRAMID TEMPLE)

Koh Ker is a remote archaeological site in northern Cambodia about 120 kilometres (75 mi) away from Siem Reap and the ancient site of Angkor.

Koh Ker is the modern name for an important city of the Khmer empire. In inscriptions the town is mentioned as Lingapura (city of lingams) or Chok Gargyar (translated as city of or as iron tree forest). Under the reign of the kings Jayavarman IV and Harshavarman II Koh Ker was briefly the capital of the whole empire (928–944 AD). Jayavarman IV enforced an ambitious building program. An enormous water-tank and about forty temples were constructed under his rule. The most significant temple‑complex, a double sanctuary (Prasat Thom/Prang), follows a linear plan and not a concentric one like most of the temples of the Khmer kings. Unparalleled is the 36-metre (118 ft)-high seven‑tiered pyramid, which most probably served as state temple of Jayavarman IV. Really impressive too are the shrines with the two‑meter 6 ft 7 in high lingas.


PRASAT BRAM

The most south sanctuary of this group is the Prasat Pram on the west side of the road. A small (300 metres (328 yd)) long path leads to the monument. It has five towers or prasats (pram = five). Three brick towers stand in a row on the same platform. They face east. The central one is a bit taller than the others. In each of these prasats, once stood a lingam. These and the beautifully carved lintels were looted. Two prasats (faced west) are standing in front of the platform. One is built of brick and has diamond‑shaped holes in the upper part. This fact indicates that this tower once served as a fire sanctuary (fire cults were very important during the era of the Khmer kings). The other building is small, made of laterite and (in comparison with the brick towers) in bad condition. The bricks of small regular size are held together with an organic mortar of unknown composition (plant sap?). Originally the towers were covered by white stucco; remains of it can still be seen. Two of the towers are pictorially covered by roots. The five towers are surrounded by an enclosure. The collapsed entrance door (gopuram) is at the east side. Two artefacts of the Prasat Pram can be seen in the National Museum in Phnom Penh: A damaged lion statue and fragments of a standing four-armed Vishnu.


PRASAT NEANG KHMAU

Prasat Neang Khmau showing fire-scarred walls Located 12.5 km (7.8 mi) to the south of the main Koh Ker pyramid and built of sandstone and brick An early 10th century temple dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva. The temple’s fire damaged (black) outer surface probably gave it its name (Neang Khmau means the “Black Lady” in Khmer). The name of the temple is also said mean “Black Virgin” and legend says it might once have been heaven to Kali, the Dark Goddess of Destruction.


LINGA TEMPLE (PRASAT LEUNG)

The Prasat Balang is the first of three Linga-Shrines standing along the ring-road. It is a square laterite building standing on a platform and has one doorway and an open roof. In the sanctuary is an impressive lingam standing on yoni. The phallus-symbol is about 2 m (7 ft) high, has a diameter of nearly 1 m (39 in) and a weight of several tons. Together with the yoni it was carved out of the bedrock at this place. The lingam is in a good condition. The yoni is about 1 m (39 in) high and looks like an altar. On all four sides once were carved reliefs. In each of the four corners stood a beautiful chiselled Garudu with raised arms giving the impression these mythical figures would bear the yoni. Unfortunately the reliefs and the Garudas were looted. Around the Yoni there is just a small space giving room for some priests to perform the prescribed rituals. The water they put on the lingam became holy by touching the symbol of Shiva, run down and was collected in a ditch of the yoni. Then via a spout (with is still intact) it flowed to the outside of the shrine where believers could touch the blessed water.


PRASAT KRACHAP

Sometimes written Prasat Kra Chap, today the site has well preserved entrance gate and the ruins of 5 towers arranged in a quincunx. From inscriptions around the doors it has been established that the temple was dedicated in 928 to Tribhuvanadeva, a linga representation of Shiva


ELEPHANT TEMPLE (PRASAT DAMREI)

A small path leads from the ring-road to the Prasat Damrei (damrei = elephant). This sanctuary has an enclosure and stands on a high platform. On each of its four sides is a staircase with about ten steps. Eight stone lions once flanked the stairs but only one remains in its original place. A beautiful elephant sculpture once stood at each of the four corners of the platform but only two remain. The sanctuary is built of brick and is in good condition. A Sanskrit inscription found at the temple offers evidence that an erstwhile lingam was once erected on the top of the pyramid (Prang).

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BENG MEALEA  TEMPLE

Beng Mealea is a spectacular sight to behold, Beng Mealea, located about 68km northeast of Siem Reap, is one of the most mysterious temples at Angkor, as nature has well and truly run riot. Built to the same floorplan as Angkor Wat, exploring this titanic of temples is Angkor’s ultimate Indiana Jones experience. Built in the 12th century under Suryavarman II, Beng Mealea is enclosed by a massive moat measuring 1.2km by 900m. The temple used to be utterly consumed by jungle, but some of the dense foliage has been cut back and cleaned up in recent years. Entering from the south, visitors wend their way over piles of finely chiselled sandstone blocks, through long, dark chambers and between hanging vines. The central tower has completely collapsed, but hidden away among the rubble and foliage are several impressive carvings, as well as a well-preserved library in the northeastern quadrant. The temple is a special place and it is worth taking the time to explore it thoroughly – Apsara caretakers can show you where rock-hopping and climbing is permitted. The large wooden walkway to and around the centre was originally constructed for the filming of Jean-Jacques Annaud’s Two Brothers (2004), set in 1920s French Indochina and starring two tiger cubs. The filming included 20 tigers of all ages for continuity throughout the story. There are several very basic, unmarked family homestays a few hundred metres behind the restaurants opposite the temple entrance. The best restaurant is Romduol Angkor II , a sister restaurant to the Romduol Angkor near Sra Srang. Wholesome Cambodian food is on offer, plus ice-cold drinks.It costs US$5 to visit Beng Mealea and there are additional small charges for transport, so make sure you work out in advance with the driver or guide who is paying for these. Beng Mealea is about 40km east of Bayon (as the crow flies) and 6.5km southeast of Phnom Kulen. By road it is about 68km (one hour by car, longer by moto or remork-moto ) from Siem Reap. The shortest route is via the junction town of Dam Dek, located on NH6 about 37km from Siem Reap in the direction of Phnom Penh. Turn north immediately after the market and continue on this road for 31km. The entrance to the temple lies just beyond the left-hand turn to Koh Ker. Allow a half day to visit, including the journey time from Siem Reap or combine it with Koh Ker in a long day trip best undertaken by car or 4WD. Beng Mealea is at the centre of an ancient Angkorian road connecting Angkor Thom and Preah Khan in Preah Vihear Province, now evocatively numbered route 66. A small Angkorian bridge just west of Chau Srei Vibol temple is the only remaining trace of the old Angkorian road between Beng Mealea and Angkor Thom; between Beng Mealea and Preah Khan there are at least 10 bridges abandoned in the forest. This is a way for extreme adventurers to get to Preah Khan temple, but do not undertake this journey lightly.