3-Day Hidden Temple Explorer

Day 1: Siem Reap to Sra Eam – Beng Mealea & Koh Ker Temples

We begin the journey in Siem Reap and head southeast to visit the 12th century Beng Mealea. The Lost Temple of Beng Mealea is the titan of temples, a slumbering giant lost in the forests of Cambodia for centuries. It is the most accessible of Angkor’s lost temples, a reflection of Angkor Wat but completely consumed by nature’s insatiable appetite.

We then continue to Koh Ker, where we take a one-hour drive through rural areas and primary forests. We visit Prasat Pram, one of the wonderful temples in the Koh Ker group, covered in strangler figs. We then drive to a lonely temple called Prasat Neang Khmao, which looks like it has been burned down before. We then continue to other temples in the area, such as Damrei Kandoeng, Chrap, Banteay Pir Choan, Kra Chab, Linga. After lunch at the local restaurant, we finally visit a unique 7-tiered pyramid on Koh Ker or Prasat Thom. Koh Ker served as the capital of the Khmer Empire in the 10th century. It is an amazing temple with peaceful surroundings. You can climb the pyramid using wooden stairs and enjoy the beautiful view of the green forest. We drive 1 hour and 30 minutes to Sra Eam village, 30 km from Preah Vihear temple, where we spend the night.

Overnight stay in Sra Eam

Day 2: Travel to Battambang – Preah Vihear & Banteay Chhmar Temples

On our second day of visit, we set off after breakfast at the hotel and the drive takes us 30 minutes to the foot of the Preah Vihear Mountains, where you can take the local motorbike or pickup truck to the temple and explore on foot the most impressive temple construction from this period date from the first half of the 11th century and are dedicated to the god Shiva. They continue to the final level, clinging to a cliff in the Dangrek Mountains and towering hundreds of meters above Cambodia’s lowlands.

We then drive about three hours to Banteay Chhmar, the temple is a truly magical place off the beaten path. Located in Banteay Meanchey province and about 20 km east of the Thai border, the temples were built during the reign of Jayavarman VII in the late 12th or early 13th century. Banteay Chhmar Temple is one of Cambodia’s most important and least understood temples from the Angkor period. The temple complex, its moat, baray (water reservoir) and the surrounding untouched nature form a unique archaeological site and an important link in Cambodia’s cultural heritage.

We then drive to Battambang, where you spend the night and have the evening at leisure.

Overnight stay in Battambang

Day 3: Battambang Tour and Travel to Siem Reap

After breakfast then you check out, we discover the French colonial buildings in the heart of Battambang town. Visit Wat Domrey Sor, White Elephant temple, is one of the central Buddhist temples in Battambang, this temple was built in the late 18th century. Experience the bamboo train ride along the rail tracks offering great views of the surrounding countryside. Hilltop temple of Wat Banan, the mountaintop temple from the Angkor era is the best preserved of the Khmer temples in Battambang – Lok Ta Dambong Kra Nhoung Shrine (Black man Statue).

Phsar Prahok or Stinky Market, it is an interesting place where they make Fish Prahok, the traditional Khmer cuisine and its ingredients. This place has been selling prahok since the 1990s as it is located near a river which hosts various types of fish. Explore Wat Samrong Knong, it was built in the 19th century on the site of a pre-Angkorian temple complex. The Khmer Rouge used the temple compound as a prison. The complex is now home to the magnificent main pagoda and a hodgepodge of ancient ruins, glittering modern structures and memorials to those who perished here.

We visit Doun Teav village and learn how family makes hand-made rice paper for fresh and deep-fried spring rolls – We head to the ruins of Ek Phnom, it was built during the Bayon period 11th-century in year of 1027 in reign of king Suryavarman I (1002 – 1050) in the Angkor period in order to dedicate for the deities in Hinduism.

We then drive to Phnom Sampeau, a sacred mountain dotted with interesting pagodas and stupas. There is also a moving memorial to the victims of the Khmer Rouge who were thrown into one of the many caves that dot this sacred mountain. After visiting this view on the hill and later you will see the most spectacular 7 million bats flying out of the cave. Wrinkle-lipped bats fly up to 50 km from their roosts each night to hunt insects. Bats eat 50-100% of their own weight every night before returning home.

We then drive back to Siem Reap, where the journey takes almost three hours.

Overnight stay in Siem Reap

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