Siem Reap Arrival

Upon arrival to Siem Reap, begin this Angkor wellness tour with a meet and greet with the English speaking guide, followed by a city transfer and hotel check-in.

Enjoy a fresh tropical fruit platter in the room and prepare for the following 4 days of exploration with a 60-minute Khmer massage, the ideal start to a Siem Reap wellness trip!

Dinner this evening will be served at the Embassy Restaurant, an exclusive fine-dining experience headed by executive chefs Pol & Sok, the “Kimsan Twins”. Their experience has taken them to different continents and, under the tutelage of Michelin-starred chefs, they have created one of the most unique styles of five-star cuisine that can be experienced in Siem Reap. With a constantly changing menu based around seasonality, skilfully prepared masterpieces can be sampled from multiple-course set menus, paired with a selection of fine wines.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Distances and journey time:

Siem Reap Airport – Siem Reap (8 km): 15 mins

Siem Reap

Rise early for a sunrise, 60-minute private yoga class led by Navutu’s in-house yoga master.

After yoga and breakfast, depart for an unforgettable cycling tour through the Angkor complex. A cycling guide will lead a special trip through the jungle ruins, taking less-traveled paths to some of the most famous sites in Angkor.

Begin the Angkor cycling trip out of Siem Reap to the ticket checkpoint at the Angkor Archaeological Park, continuing on to the famous Angkor Wat. Built during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the early 12th Century, Angkor Wat is constructed following the model of the temple mountain symbolising Mount Meru, the home of the gods. Inside the temple, the walls are covered with stone carvings and bas-reliefs depicting Hindu mythology.

Continue to the ancient city of Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire. Angkor Thom is most notable for its perfectly square, eight-meter-high retaining wall and lavish entrance gates. Inside the centre of the complex is the 12th century Bayon Temple, well-known for its 54 towers carved with enigmatic faces, the Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King.

Return to Siem Reap for an organic lunch at the Niam Niam restaurant before spending the afternoon relaxing at leisure. A 60-minute body oil or foot massage is included after the morning’s cycling.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Distances and journey time:

Cycling distance: Up to 25km

Difficulty: Easy

Siem Reap

Rising early in the morning, take part in a sunrise pranayama meditation session at Wat Atvear – a superbly serene way to start the day in Angkor. Enjoy a guided breathing meditation course (led by a meditation master) with the 12th century Prasat Vat Athvea temple providing the backdrop. After meditation, return to the hotel for breakfast.

Head back out to the temple park to continue the Angkor tour. En route, stop at Wat Preah Prom Rath, one of the most splendid pagodas in Siem Reap, surrounded by beautiful gardens and decorative sculptures. Here, Buddhist monks will offer a private blessing ceremony, wishing good health and safe journeys – a truly memorable experience!

Start the full tour at the 12th century Preah Khan, before continuing to Ta Prohm temple. Overgrown by jungle trees and vines and partially crumbling to the ground, this 12th -13th century structure is one of the complex’s most picturesque.

Conclude the morning visit at the beautiful Banteay Kdei, a former Buddhist monastery from the late 12th century. Each of its four entrances is decorated with garudas holding the four faces of Avalokiteshvara.

Return to Siem Reap for lunch at the stunning riverside Chanrey Tree restaurant serving refined Cambodian cuisine. After lunch head back to the hotel for a little time to relax and a 60-minute spa treatment.

Wrap up the day’s Angkor tour with a two-hour walking tour around Kompheim village, providing some excellent insight into the everyday life and challenges faced by rural Cambodians. Learn about rice farming as oxen and buffaloes wade through the paddies, interact with locals and visit their homes seeing how they live, cook and eat, exposing the different levels of poverty in Cambodia. Half of the tour fee goes to a village enrichment fund managed by HUSK, a non-profit NGO that works with communities to improve the lives of Cambodians.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Distances and journey time:

Siem Reap – Temples (06 km): 10 mins

Siem Reap

Wake up with and entirely new experience today: a Sound Bath. An effective and proven technique that uses vibrational sound – specifically crystal and Tibetan bowls – to help reduce stress, uplift consciousness, and create a sense of deep peace.

After this peaceful session, continue on with a boat trip to the Tonlé Sap Lake for an opportunity to learn about life on the water. Tonle Sap is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and an officially designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Board a local boat and visit the village of Kampong Kleang, where few tourists venture. Cruise through the village where fisherman and their families live in stilted houses among the petrified mangrove forests and waterways. A unique means of encountering and enjoying the fascinating scenery of Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake.

(Note: during the months Apr-Sep the water level may be too low for a visit by boat. However the village is still fascinating and can be visited by car. It is quite dramatic to see how the stilted houses are exposed from lake when water levels are low!)

Enjoy a deluxe picnic lunch at one of the local houses and watch everyday life in the village before returning to Siem Reap.

In the afternoon, either enjoy a 60-minute acupuncture session, shiatsu (deep tissue massage), or a reiki treatment (a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation), followed by some time to relax by the pool.

Return to the temple complex in the late afternoon to end the day with a relaxing cruise in a gondola paddle boat on the moat of Angkor Thom. Watch a spectacular sunset at Prasat Chroung temple with cocktails, champagne, canapés and soft drinks available on the boat.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Distances and journey time:

Siem Reap – Kampong Kleang (52km): 1hr 25 mins

Siem Reap Departure

Spend the morning exploring Siem Reap’s colourful markets with a chance to shop for souvenirs or simply observe the vibrant local scenes as people go about their daily lives.

After the market visit, head to the workshop of Eric Raisina, located a few minutes’ drive out of town. After growing up in Madagascar and studying in Paris, Eric moved to Cambodia devoting himself to developing new Cambodian silk weaving and dyeing techniques. Eric’s signature products have become a much sought-after fabric in Parisian fashion houses. Tour his workshop and see the new designs being created by his skilled team.

Just around the corner is another art studio, Theam’s House. Lim Muy Theam is a Cambodian artist and designer who draws inspiration from both Khmer and contemporary international design. For more than 10 years, Theam has trained a team of artisan apprentices who work either at the studio or in their home villages. Explore this amazing art studio and observe various works being created, such as lacquer ware, painting and fine sculptures.

Relaxed and rejuvenated, wrap up the Siem Reap wellness trip and transfer to the airport for departing flight!

Distances and journey time:

Siem Reap to Siem Reap Airport (8km): 15 mins