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Kampong Khleang & Beng Mealea: Full-Day Private Tour Exploring Ancient Temples and Floating Villages
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Prasat Bakong
Embark on a full-day private tour to Kampong Khleang and Beng Mealea, where you'll explore ancient temples and floating villages. Immerse yourself in the remarkable lifestyles of Cambodian fishing communities and enjoy photo opportunities, local interactions, and scenic views along the way.
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Ro Lus Market - You’ll also visit a local market located on the banks of the Rolous River. Rolous Market is a key spot where villagers gather in the mornings and late afternoons to buy fresh vegetables, meats, fruits, freshwater fish, and household items. It’s the oldest Khmer market in the area and a must-see for those wanting to experience local life.
- Kampong Phluk - Kampong Phluk is an excellent destination for tourists to explore flooded mangrove forests and floating villages. Visit the stunning Tonle Sap, the second-largest freshwater lake in the world. This lake is vital to the country, serving as the main source of fish and protein for most Cambodians. Explore the flooded forest and floating villages, where you’ll see a fishing village that moves with the changing water levels throughout the year. Your local guide will explain the daily lives and work of locals who live both on land and water. Along the way, you’ll stop to explore local villages on foot and interact with the residents.
- Kampong Phluk Floating Village - The community relies heavily on fishing, especially for shrimp, during Cambodia’s wet season. Many houses and buildings are built on stilts ranging from 6 to 9 meters to adapt to the changing water levels between wet and dry seasons. During the dry season (November-April), as the river recedes, many villagers turn to farming to supplement their income. Tourism, which began in the village about 10 years ago, is also a growing part of the local economy.
- Wat Khsach - Make stops to visit the Bamboo Sticky Rice village, where you can taste local sticky rice cooked in bamboo, sample seasonal fruit, and take photos. Bamboo sticky rice is made with sweet rice, black beans, coconut cream, and other spices, all cooked inside a piece of bamboo. It’s a traditional Khmer dish.
- Prasat Beng Mealea - Explore the fascinating Beng Mealea temple, built in the 11th century by King Suryavarman II, which served as a prototype for the more famous Angkor Wat. Beng Mealea stands almost forgotten in the jungle, and reaching it is an adventure. It was isolated during Cambodia’s civil war. It is the largest temple outside the main Angkor complex, with some parts remarkably intact and others completely destroyed, with tree roots enveloping many walls and doorways. The atmosphere is eerie but offers a unique contrast to the more visited temples near Angkor Wat. Beng Mealea shares many features with Angkor Wat but on a smaller scale, including three encircling galleries, four gates and entrances, and two interior libraries. Unlike Angkor Wat, it has only one central tower instead of five.
- Ancient Quarry - Visit the site where ancient Khmer people cut stones to build Angkor Wat. You’ll see hundreds of stones that were cut and left behind. The tour guide will explain how the stones were cut and transported to build Angkor Wat.
- Banteay Srei - Banteay Srei is primarily constructed of red sandstone, which allows for the elaborate decorative wall carvings that are still visible today. It is the only major temple at Angkor not built by a monarch but by a king’s counselor in the 10th century. The temple is intricately carved and well-preserved, with detailed reliefs that are among the finest in Cambodia.
- Cambodia Landmine Museum - The Cambodia Landmine Museum and Relief Center educates the public about the dangers of landmines and supports education for Cambodian youth. It serves as a place of healing for bodies, hearts, and minds. The center believes that love, support, and education are essential for securing a better future for the children living there and for visitors. Just inform your guide if you wish to visit this site.
- Banteay Srey Butterfly Centre - The BBC is a butterfly zoo near Angkor Wat, established in 2009. It is the largest enclosed butterfly center in Southeast Asia, designed and funded by British butterfly enthusiasts Ben Hayes and Mike Baltzer. The BBC is part of a Cambodian project that connects responsible tourism with environmental conservation. The center showcases a variety of local lepidopterans, including butterflies and moths, in a large netted garden. Due to their short lifespan and seasonal nature, there are twice as many species present around the center during November and December. The BBC also operates as a sustainable butterfly farm, providing training for locals. Some butterflies are kept for the center’s gardens, while others are sold or exported.
- Preah Dak - This village is renowned for producing Khmer palm sugar. The tour guide will explain how locals extract palm juice and produce palm sugar. Just inform your guide if you wish to visit this site.
What's Included
- Private air conditioned vehicle
- Short boat ride
- English Speaking Tour Guide
What's Not Included
- Temple entrance ticket (USD37.00 per person which covers all temples in this day tour. Child is FOC)
- Kompong Khleang entrance ticket (US$2.00 per person)
Additional Information
Embark on a journey through rustic landscapes to the distant Beng Mealea temple. Explore Kampong Khleang, a unique floating village. Tonle Sap Lake, one of the world’s largest sources of fresh water and the heartbeat of Cambodia, is a dwelling for numerous families. Accompanied by a seasoned guide, gain insights into the exceptional lives of Cambodian fishing societies and discover an unexplored aspect of Cambodia. Along the journey, there will be stops at a country market, the Bamboo Sticky Rice village, the Beng Mealea temple, and the renowned Bakong Temple.
• Interact with the local inhabitants and observe their everyday routines
• Grab the chance to get some great shots during the journey and at the excursion sites
• Sample some local delicacies including seasonal fruit and Bamboo Sticky rice
• Take delight in the pastoral scenery, visit a village bazaar, and enjoy a tranquil boat ride
• A knowledgeable guide will accompany you for the entire day’s proceedings
• Hear expert narrative from your guide and share your experiences.
• This is a personalized tour, designed to cater to your preferences.
- Your Tour Guide will send you a Link to purchase the temple entrance e-ticket days in advance.
- To enter some sacred places of the temples, you have to wear clothes that cover your knees and shoulders.
- Please wear flat shoes that are comfortable for walking.
Location
Ro Lus Market
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(1 Rating)
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Tong
May 21, 2020
Very enthusiastic guide - We have had a tour with Journey2Angkor recently and the service was excellent. The car was clean, the guide was so informative. We loved Beng Maelea temple.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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