Angkor Wat Sunrise and Tonle Sap Great Lake

Start at 4:30 for Angkor Wat Sunrise tour starts at pre-dawn to witness the breathtaking view of Angkor Wat temple, the best place for photography. Continue to explore the central complex and bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat [AD1113], one of travel’s remaining great adventures, before returning to the hotel for a late breakfast.

Begin again to explore the great Tonle Sap Lake, the richest fresh water fishing ground in Southeast Asia, a national treasure producing an ever-changing landscape. The communities that live around the margins of the lake cope with huge seasonal variations in water levels by building their homes on floating bamboo rafts or 30ft stilts. It is well worth the extra effort to get away from the touristy village of Chong Kneas to the more genuine stilted villages – Kompong Khleang or Kompong Phluk (dependent on water levels) – for an understanding of contemporary lake life.

Take the opportunity to pause at the stilted houses to see learn how a subsistence fishing family lives, before continuing by boat along the margins of the lake. While you explore the life on the water. You will enjoy lunch at the local home, while absorbing the atmosphere of this unique locality
On the way return to town, depending on time, you may like to continue to explore the earliest Angkor capital in the region Hariharalaya [AD881] near the contemporary town of Rolous. The two most important temples in the Rolous group are Preah Ko and the very picturesque Bakong with its photogenic moat and/or optionally pause at Wat Lolei to receive a water blessing from the monks at this contemporary Buddhist pagoda, said to bring good fortune for the journey ahead.