Pick-up at 8:00 am from your hotel. And drive about 65 km north-east of Siem Reap to Beng Mealea. This temple was built during the 12th century during the reign of Suryavarman II, at about the same time as Angkor Wat of which its layout and style closely mirror. However, Beng Melea is completely ruined and largely overrun by vegetation and competes with Ta Prohm for the “lost in the jungle” ambience. It is a tangle of trees, lichen-covered stones, broken towers and galleries. Many impressive sculptures are hidden among the rubble and the vegetation. This temple is very lightly touristed and offers plenty picturesque pictures’ opportunities.
After the visit, we will drive about 60 km to the north-east to reach the temple complex of Koh Ker. Here, we have lunch in the temple precincts and take the eastern part of the circuit which has some of the largest lingas in temple lingas in the Khmer Empire. The atmospheric temples of Prasat Krachap and Banteay Pichean are surrounded by forest. If you are lucky,you may see birds of prey such as eagles, circling overhead.
Koh Ker was the capital city of the Khmer Empire during hardly two decades (928-944) during the reign of Jayavarman IV who is sometimes considered as an usurping because of the disruption in the royal succession at the time of its accession. The main ruins at Koh Ker consist of an impressive seven-storey sandstone pyramid (Prasat Thom). The second biggest structure of Koh Ker is Prasat Krahom (red temple) built with red bricks and lost in the jungle. The surrounding land was irrigated by the Rahal Baray, similar to, but smaller than, the ones at Angkor.
After the visit, we will drive you back to your hotel and trip finishes approx. 5:00pm.