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Extension: Angkor Wat and the Great Temples of the Khmer

Program Number: 19034RJ
Start and End Dates:
7/21/2013 - 7/25/2013; 8/11/2013 - 8/13/2013; 9/4/2013 - 9/8/2013; 9/9/2013 - 9/11/2013; 9/19/2013 - 9/23/2013; 9/24/2013 - 9/26/2013; 1/22/2014 - 1/24/2014; 2/21/2014 - 2/23/2014; 3/23/2014 - 3/25/2014;
Duration: 2 nights
Location: Cambodia
Price starting at: $496.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: Adventure Afloat Study Cruise
Meals: 6; 3 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 2 Dinners    
Meal Options: Vegetarian    

Explore the grandest of the temples built by the ancient Khmer society: magnificent Angkor Wat, Banteay Srey and Ta Prohm (the Jungle Temple). Learn about their famous discovery by 19th-century French explorers. Examine the amazing bas-relief work that was done by the master builders of the 11th and 12th century.




Please note that some departures are pre-extensions and some are post-extensions to 19033.



Itinerary At-a-Glance

Siem Reap (Cambodia), 2 nights.



First and Second Full days in Siem Reap:
Siem Reap (Cambodia) 2 nights

Explore the massive Angkor Temple Complex with a local expert. Journey outside of modern Siem Reap to one of the oldest Angkorian temples known as Banteay Srey - home of some of the most celebrated of all of Angkor's carvings. Visit Angkor Thom and its magnificent Bayon Temple. Enjoy some time to explore Siem Reap and the central market on your own.
Lodging: Comfortable full service hotel.
Meals and Lodgings
   Tara Angkor Hotel
  Siem Reap, Cambodia 2 nights
 Tara Angkor Hotel
Type: Four-Star Hotel
  Description: The Tara Angkor is equipped with modern amenities and elegantly furnished to make your stay luxurious and enjoyable. With exceptionally warm hospitality and traditional Cambodian sincerity and kindness your stay will be something not to be forgotten.
  Contact info: Vithei Charles de Gaulle
Siem Reap,   Cambodia
phone: (+855) 63 966 661
web: www.taraangkorhotel.com/facility.php
  Facility amenities: The Tara Angkor Hotel's stylish 4 star property has cemented its status as one of the jewels in Siem Reap’s accommodation sector. Our facilities include 213 magnificent rooms and suites, two restaurants, a lobby bar, and a swimming pool with jacuzzi, fitness center and sauna.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights prior: TBD Please contact Road Scholar Travel Services for more details.
  Additional nights after: TBD Please contact Road Scholar Travel Services for more details.


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
This extension begins in the morning on Day 1 in Siem Reap at the program hotel. You will be staying at Tara Angkor Hotel that night.
  End of Program:
Program ends after breakfast in Siem Reap, Cambodia on Day 3. You will be staying at Tara Angkor Hotel the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required.
  Parking availability:
Driving in these countries is not recommended. It can be difficult to drive with the traffic and the driving habits.
Transportation (For Independent Travelers)
  Train or bus availability: Taxis are available.
To Start of Program
  Location:  Siem Reap
  Nearest airport:  Siem Reap International Airport.
  Transportation to site: This program, Extension: Angkor Wat and the Great Temples of the Khmer is designed as a post extension of your main program 19033 - Vietnam and Cambodia: Life Along the Mekong by Barge. All transfers from the main program to the post-extention are included in your program cost.
  From End of Program
  Location: Siem Reap
  Transportation from site: Taxis from the Tara Angkor Hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia, to the airport are available and cost approximately $10 (subject to change). It will take 10 minutes to get from the hotel to the airport. Private arrival and departure transfers -at an additional cost- may be arranged in advance by calling Road Scholar Travel Services.
    (Additional transportation information same as above)
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: Siem Reap / Angkor Museum / Ta Promh
(Friday, February 21)

Note: Participants must be able to get in and out of bus and sit and stand nearly the whole day in hot and humid weather.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: Begin your introduction to the temples of Angkor with a visit to Ta Prohm, the Jungle Temple. Unlike most of the temples of Angkor, Ta Prohm has been largely left to ruins. With its dynamic interaction between nature and man-made art, this atmospheric temple is a favorite for many - who can't help but feel a little like Indiana Jones or Lara Croft (which was filmed here) as they pick through the rubble. Later in the morning, take a field trip to the Angkor National Museum. This new national museum will provide you with an informative introduction to the temples and their art.
 Lunch: Lunch at the hotel.
 Afternoon: Enjoy some free time to relax while the heat of the day is at its peak. Later in the afternoon visit the temple Banteay Srei, the Citadel of Women. The Citadel of Women, a pink sandstone temple, was built in the latter half of the 10th century by Rajendravarman II and Jayavaraman V. The carvings of Banteay Srei are among the oldest and most intricate that you will see.
 Dinner: Dinner at a restaurant in town.
   
Accommodations: Tara Angkor Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: Siem Reap Sunr Rise at Angkor Wat / Free time
(Saturday, February 22)

Note: Must be able to walk on uneven terrain. Climbing is required on stone steps, some without railing.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: Immerse in the breathtaking beauty of Angkor Wat as it silhouettes in the sky during sunrise. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Angkor Archaeological Park contains the magnificent remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century. As the best-preserved temple at the site, Angkor Wat, is the only temple to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation is Hindu - dedicated to the god Vishnu - then Buddhist. The temple is at the top of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. Also explore Angkor Thom, the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire. Established in the late twelfth century by king Jayavarman VII, at the centre of the city is the mesmerising temple of Bayon.
 Lunch: Lunch on your own.
 Afternoon: After enjoying some free time, go off the beaten path to the Spitler School, an Elementary School, where you will be introduced to the educational system of Cambodia.
 Dinner: Dinner at a restaurant in town.
   
Accommodations: Tara Angkor Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3: Depart for airport
(Sunday, February 23)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel
 Morning: Depart for Siem Reap International airport.
   
Meals Included: Breakfast
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

Suggested Reading List


A Dragon Apparent, Travels in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam


Author: Norman Lewis


Description: A classic account of travels and adventure during the last years of French Indochina, strong on atmosphere and including wonderfully detailed descriptions of local cultures and archaeological treasures. First published in 1951.



A History of Cambodia


Author: David Chandler


Description: An excellent, scholarly history from early civilization through the rise of Angkor, French colonial period, Vietnamization of Cambodia, Khmer Rouge and Coup de Force of 1997.



Angkor Map


Author: Dawn Rooney


Description: A site plan and pocket guide to the city of Angkor at a scale of 1:40,000.



Birds of Southeast Asia


Author: Craig Robson


Description: This authoritative, masterfully illustrated guide, featuring 140 color plates covering 1,270 species throughout the region, also includes Malaysia, Burma, Borneo and Indonesia.



Cambodia Map


Author: Gecko Maps


Description: A full color map of Cambodia (1:750,000), featuring useful inset maps of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Angkor on the reverse.



Cambodia's Curse, The Modern History of a Troubled Land


Author: Joel Brinkley


Description: Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Joel Brinkley returns to Cambodia a generation after the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime to report on the country's continuing struggle to recover from its past.



Collected Short Stories, Volume 4


Author: W. Somerset Maugham


Description: Maugham can evoke turn-of-the-century colonial Asia like no other. This collection of stories features many set in Malaysia, Borneo and other southeast Asian locales, including the well-known tale "The Letter."



First They Killed My Father, A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers


Author: Loung Ung


Description: An eye-opening eyewitness account of the atrocities suffered by millions of Cambodians from the perspective of a young girl who survived the reign of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge.



Khmer, The Lost Empire of Cambodia


Author: Thierry Zephir


Description: Stunningly compact, this profusely illustrated history of the Khmer, its art, architecture and archaeology, is a splendid introduction to monuments of Angkor.



Masterpieces of the National Museum of Cambodia


Author: Helen Ibbitson Jessup


Description: A collection of 80 of Cambodia's sculptural treasures, with extended, multilingual captions for each work as well as a historical preface, a chronology and bibliography. Photographs are in full color.



Odyssey Guide Angkor


Author: Dawn Rooney


Description: The sixth edition of Rooney's indispensable guide to Khmer culture and history. Includes monuments, temple plans, color photographs and practical information about Siem Reap.



Phnom Penh, A Cultural History


Author: Milton Osborne


Description: As a one-time resident of Phnom Penh and an authority on Southeast Asia, Milton Osborne provides a colorful account of the troubled history and appealing culture of Cambodia's capital city.



The Gods Drink Whiskey


Author: Stephen T. Asma


Description: Asma writes with verve and wit in this eye-opening account of his yearlong stint teaching at the Buddhist Institute in Phnom Penh. His account is both an overview of Theravada Buddhism and a down-to-earth portrait of contemporary Cambodia.



The King's Last Song, A Novel


Author: Geoff Ryman


Description: Ryman interweaves the story of a modern day archaeologist with the tale of 12th-century King Jayavarman VII in this sweeping historical novel.



The River's Tale, A Year on the Mekong


Author: Edward Gargan


Description: A personal, probing chronicle of a 3,000 mile journey on the river from its source in China through Tibet, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia to the Mekong Delta in Vietnam.



To Cambodia With Love


Author: Andy Brouwer


Description: In this insightful guide, Brouwer presents 50 writers on the history, culture and attractions of Cambodia, including Khmer specialist Dawn Rooney (Odyssey Guide Angkor) and memoirist Loung Ung (First They Killed My Father).





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