Discover Angkor Wat and LaosWith Dr. Damian Evans
January 7 - 23, 2011
Located in what is now Cambodia, Angkor Thom, capital of the flourishing Khmer Empire in the 11th century, once was one of the world’s most densely populated cities. An incredible mass of dazzling pagodas grew up around Angkor Thom, culminating in the glory of the magnificent temple complex at Angkor Wat. With the fall of the Khmers, the temples were slowly recaptured by the lush forest and remained a hidden legend until 1861 when they were re-discovered and introduced to the western world.
Join Far Horizons for an exciting 17-day archaeological tour to Cambodia and Laos that includes six full days exploring the great Khmer city of Angkor, and in the company of renowned archaeologist, Dr. Damian Evans, who has been at the forefront of the research there. The Greater Angkor Project (GAP), the largest international, multidisciplinary research program at Angkor, has used information from shuttle fly-overs and NASA radar imagery to create a new map of ancient Angkor, and other ground-breaking new results are being revealed on almost a monthly basis. Finally, scholars are beginning to come to terms with the perennial questions that have perplexed visitors and scholars alike for more than a century, and on this trip, you will gain an insider’s view of the latest discoveries being made in this great city.
Go behind-the scenes into the great repositories of Khmer art and artifacts at Angkor Conservation which is normally off-limits to the public.
Tour works-in-progress by other archaeological teams associated with the University of Sydney, such as massive temple reconstruction projects.
Visit active excavations being carried out by the Greater Angkor Project (GAP), and engage with various members of the multinational team.
Travel by small boat to see the small temple on the West Mebon in the huge Western Baray, the largest reservoir in Angkor.
Enjoy talks by specialists working in Angkor.
Receive daily briefings on research breakthroughs and emerging issues related to our understanding of the history and archaeology of the Khmer – the kind of insider knowledge that won’t make it to history or guide books for years to come.
From Siem Reap we cross the border into Laos and travel to Wat Phu, certainly one of the most spectacular of the Khmer cities. For centuries, the Mekong River was a major artery of the Khmer Empire, and the spectacular temple ruins along the water’s edge proclaim this civilization’s greatness. And while in Laos, we explore the capital city of Vientiane, and discover the World Heritage City of Luang Prabang.
Join Dr. Damian Evans, the Director of the University of Sydney Robert Christie Research Centre in Siem Reap, Cambodia and Deputy Director of the Greater Angkor Project, and enjoy an insider's view of these two countries on this truly memorable cultural trip.
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(B) breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) dinner
Day 1: Depart for our archaeological tour on the group flight from Los Angeles to Bangkok.
Day 2: Arrive Bangkok. Overnight at the 4-star Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel.
Day 3: A morning flight takes us to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. Our archaeological tour of the city includes the former Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda, so named for the 5,000 silver tiles which adorn it and which houses the priceless Emerald Buddha sculpted from baccarat crystal. We visit the magnificent National Museum of Art that contains some of the greatest works of art ever produced in Southeast Asia. Founded by the French in the early 20th century, the museum is housed in a beautiful building built in traditional style. Overnight for two nights at the 5-star Le Royal, a Raffles International Hotel housed in an exquisitely restored building. First established in 1929, in its heyday the hotel enjoyed an international clientele comprising adventurers, journalists, royalty, and dignitaries. (B/L/D)
Day 4: Our all day tour of Phnom Penh begins by wandering through the Russian Market, or Psar Tuol Tom Puong, repository of an amazing selection of goods from silk to silver to antiquities. This afternoon visit the Genocide Museum of Tuol Sleng, documenting the devastation left by the Khmer Rouge. The site is a former high school which was used as the notorious Security Prison 21 (S-21) by the Khmer Rouge regime from its rise to power in 1975 to its fall in 1979. The buildings at Tuol Sleng are preserved as they were left when the Khmer Rouge were driven out. The regime kept extensive records, including thousands of photographs. Several rooms of the museum are now lined, floor to ceiling, with black and white photographs of some of the estimated 20,000 prisoners who passed through the prison. (B/L/D)
Day 5: Today is a long but worthwhile day as we travel into the lush countryside to Prasat Wat Nokor, also known as Nokor Bachey Pagoda. At first glance, this decaying 11th century Mahayana Buddhist shrine made of sandstone and laterite, seems to offer simply an opportunity to visit a Khmer temple. Instead, as though passing through a portal, a transformation occurs and little by little we become aware that this is a “living temple” and, furthermore, that seemingly grafted onto this ancient site is an equally important and revered modern expression of the Buddhist faith. Certainly we find ancient carved lintels and pediments still in situ; but we then find ourselves visually assaulted by a riot of multi-hued, almost garishly painted scenes from the life of Buddha. Additionally, there are current day altars created by and for the devoted nestled within the many alcoves each graced with a modern day statue of Buddha. To have the opportunity to see this vivid juxtaposition of the ancient and the modern within a living temple is an experience not to be missed. Continue to Siem Reap and overnight for the next six nights in the Angkor Village Hotel, created in the lovely Cambodia style. (B/L/D)
Day 6: Our archaeological adventure today takes us east to the Roluos Group comprising three remarkable temples. Dating from the late ninth century, this is the oldest area open to visitors of the 600-year Angkor Period. See Bakong, protected by fierce seven-headed serpents and elegantly sculpted elephants, Preah Ko with its six towers made entirely of brick and covered with ornate stucco ornamentation, and the small pagoda of Lolei. Tonight while enjoying dinner, watch a traditional dance performance at the hotel’s Apsara Theatre. (B/L/D)
Day 7: Drive to Banteay Srei, an exquisite miniature temple hidden in the heart of an immense and mysterious forest. In remarkable condition, it has a beautiful tapestry-like decoration completely covering the walls, and scenes inspired by Indian epics that contain a liveliness that is not seen in the more formal adornment of earlier complexes. Continue to Banteay Samre, featuring a graceful temple encircled by a wall. Continue to Ta Prohm, a site that has been left largely untouched since its “rediscovery” by French explorers. Visit Thommanon a small temple dedicated to Shiva, recently restored and boasting beautiful Apsara carvings, as well as Prasat Kravan, the Cardamom Sanctuary, containing extremely fine bas-reliefs on its inner walls. Enter the East Gate of nearby Banteay Kdei, or the Monk’s Citadel, which overlooks the sacred lake of Srah Srang. Drive to Tonle Sap the largest fresh water lake in South East Asia. For most of the year it is fairly small; however, during the monsoon season, the Tonle Sap river which connects the lake with the Mekong River reverses its flow. Water is pushed up from the Mekong into the lake, increasing its area from 2,700 to 16,000 square km flooding nearby fields and forests. Travel aboard a small, shaded vessel provides the perfect opportunity to drift among the floating villages and tiny fish farms that border the lake and to witness the ritual of lake life. Then we watch a traditional shadow puppet show at Wat Bo, sharing our enjoyment of this time-honored art form with the local children who gather to see it. (B/L/D)
Day 8: Spend the day in Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Khmer Empire and surely one of the world’s great archaeological sites. Walk the long causeway guarded by tranquil gods and intimidating demons. View the Bayon with its awe-inspiring sculpture, the Terrace of the Elephants protected by a multitude of these animals, and the Terrace of the Leper King,. Explore Phimeanakas, the sanctuary where the king was said to have had nightly congress with the Snake Goddess as well as Bapuoun temple. This afternoon, visit the Artisans d’Angkor Workshop created to revive, support and teach the artistic traditions of Cambodia. In the late afternoon we go to Angkor Wat to view the sunset. (B/L/D)
Day 9: Begin the day in Angkor Wat, constructed as the funerary sanctuary of a 12th century king and representing an earthly model of the cosmic world as shown on the exquisite imagery covering the interior walls. View lovely Neak Pean where a temple was built within a vast pond in the form of a cross and crowned with a lotus blossom. Walk through the vast complex of Preah Khan, built in the 12th century for King Jayavarman VII and covering 140 acres. Dinner is on our own. (B/L)
Day 10: Today’s adventure will take us to Beng Mealea, one of the most interesting of Angkor's many edifices. The 12th century temple is enclosed by a massive moat and is nearly the size of Angkor Wat, but utterly subsumed by the jungle. Clambering overlarge sandstone blocks to reach the inner sanctuary and worship corridor is an exploration to remember. (B/L/D)
Day 11: Depart Cambodia on our flight to Paksé. The slow-moving Mekong River flows through southern Laos at a leisurely pace, through lush rain forest and past charming villages. This majestic waterway was once a major “highway” for the Khmer empire, and awesome reminders of the greatness of this civilization are located along the water’s edge. Aboard a local longtail riverboat, zigzag south through mild rapids and sand banks. Arrive at Champassak in time for a riverside lunch, followed by a guided tour of the majestic pre-Angkorian 10th century temple of Wat Phu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site once connected to Angkor Thom by a Royal Road. The temples contain extraordinary reliefs that are beautifully executed and are considered some of the best of Khmer art. Return to Pakse and overnight in a simple hotel located in the center of the town. (B/L/D)
Day 12: A morning flight brings us to Vientiane where we have time to explore the renowned Central Market overflowing with enticing wares. Tour Haw Phra Kaew, the original home of the Emerald Buddha and Wat Si Saket, containing hundreds of small wooden, bronze and terracotta Buddha images sitting in niches. Continue to Pha That Luang, Laos’ most sacred structure and a site of Buddhist pilgrimage. We visit the pagoda at sunset, when the central lotus-bud tower and its thirty smaller stupas, or domed spires, take on a beautiful golden glow. Dinner is on our own to enjoy one of this capital city's many fine restaurants. Overnight for the next two night in the Settha Palace, a beautiful French colonial mansion built at the turn of last century. The French left Laos in 1953, but today there are more French people living here than at the height of colonial occupation. (B/L)
Day 13: This morning we go to Carol Cassidy's Lao Textiles workshop, studio and gallery. Specializing in 100 percent hand-woven silk, the 40 Lao artisans she employs produce exquisitely crafted wall hangings, scarves, shawls and custom furnishing fabrics. Carol's pieces are displayed in galleries and museums throughout the world. After lunch, explore Vientiane, walking along the river, visiting the vegetable market as well as Rasanikone Handicrafts. (B/L/D)
Day 14: Fly to the former royal capital of Luang Prabang, a World Heritage City. Enjoy lunch at the Blue Elephant Restaurant upon arrival. Walk through the truly picturesque city and visit Wat Wisunalat, containing the largest Buddha in Luang Prabang, and Wat Xieng Thong, a royal pagoda built in the 16th century. See the murals depicting life on the Mekong River as it was centuries ago in Wat Paa Huak, and the ornate door panels at Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham. Overnight for two nights in the boutique Maison Souvannaphoumn Hotel, located in the heart of the city. (B/L)
Day 15: Board a long-tailed boat to motor up the Mekong River to the ancient meditation caves of Pak Ou. Located in a striking limestone cliff where the Nam Ou River meets the Mekong, the caverns were used for the worship of the river spirit until Buddhism spread into Laos along the southern route from India. Now filled with thousands of beautiful Buddha images, the site is still revered by local people who travel here to worship. After lunch walk through the former Royal Palace. Visit the Private Chapel to see a priceless gold Buddha, the opulent reception room of the king, the throne room, and the royal library. Our final dinner together will be at one of Luang Prabang’s superb restaurants. (B/L/D)
Day 16: Early this morning, watch the monks receive their offering of food from the local people. After breakfast, transfer to the airport for our flight to Bangkok, Thailand with lunch onboard. Dinner is on our own. Overnight at the 4-star Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel. (B)
Day 17: Transfer to the airport for our flight back to Los Angeles. (B)
TOUR Leader - Damian EvansDamian Evans received his PhD from the University of Sydney. He is presently the Director of the University of Sydney Robert Christie Research Centre in Siem Reap, Cambodia, established for the study of Khmer history, society and archaeology. Dr. Evans is also the Principal Investigator for the Radar Settlement Surveys in Cambodia and the Deputy Director of the Greater Angkor Project (GAP), the largest international, multidisciplinary research program at Angkor. His ground breaking discoveries using space technology have been reported extensively in international news reports, journals and newspapers including the Associated Press, the Daily Telegraph in England, the Los Angeles Times (front page), Science, International Herald Tribune, National Geographic News, and BBC News and BBC Radio. Dr. Evans was featured in both the National Geographic Channel’s and the History Channel’s documentaries on Angkor. He has been the invited speaker at conferences throughout the world including Mexico, Taiwan, Vietnam, the United States, China, Egypt and India, and has been the recipient of a multitude of awards and grants including one from National Geographic. Dr. Evans is conversant in both French and Khmer.
January 7 - 23, 2011
$9,995.00 (per person, double occupancy) includes international air from Los Angeles in coach; five internal flights; all hotels; meals as noted in brochure; entry fees; and land transportation.
Cost Does Not Include: The donation of $150.00 per person to Heritage Watch, passport or visa fees, airport taxes, beverages or food not included on regular menus, laundry, excess baggage charges, gratuities to guides and drivers, alcoholic drinks, or other items of a personal nature.
Single Supplement: $1,395.00. Should a roommate be requested and one not be available, the single supplement must be charged.
Fuel Surcharges: Far Horizons must pass on price increases when additional fuel charges are levied.
Donation Checks: The cost of the trip does not include the separate donation check for $150.00 (per person) to ‘Heritage Watch’. As a tour company that benefits from the historical, cultural and natural riches of our destinations, we have a policy of donating to scholars, archaeological and cultural projects, and museums in each of our destinations. This has created a bond with the academic community that allows you to gain an ‘insider’s view’ of work being done in each country.
Since its inception in 2003, Heritage Watch has grown from a small group of individuals concerned with the widespread looting and decimation of Cambodian sites to an organized non-profit organization dedicated to saving Cambodia’s cultural legacy, raising awareness of looting and its consequences, and researching the trade of illicit Cambodian antiquities. As Heritage Watch has grown, become better known and begun making a difference in Cambodia, so has their need. Your tax-deductible check for $150.00 will assist Heritage Watch with its goals.
RegistrationA deposit of $500.00 to Far Horizons and a separate check for $150.00 written to Heritage Watch is required upon making your reservation, along with a completed and signed registration form. Final payment is due 75 days prior to departure. Upon receipt of your deposit and completed registration form, you will be sent a reading list and a tour bulletin containing travel information. Prior to the trip, we will send links to various websites of pertinent interest to the trip. Click here to download our Registration Form.
Cancellations received in writing at least 75 days before departure will result in an administrative fee of $250.00. Cancellations received less than 75 days before departure will not receive a refund. If for any reason you are unable to complete the trip, Far Horizons will not reimburse any fees. Registrants are strongly advised to buy travel insurance that includes trip cancellation.
Air TicketingIf you do not fly on the group flight, you are responsible for all flight arrangements and transportation (including airport transfers) to join the group. If Far Horizons must change the trip dates or cancel the trip for any reason, Far Horizons is not responsible for any air ticket you may have purchased.
The tourist infrastructure in both Cambodia and Laos does not meet United States’ standards. Please keep this in mind as you travel through these countries.
Changes in our itinerary, accommodations, and transportation schedules may occur. A good book to read as well as a flexible attitude and a sense of humor are essential.
The private tours of archaeological sites and talks by specialists are scheduled in advance and include a donation to each. Specialists working at these sites are excited about showing their work to interested enthusiasts. However, please be aware that there may be times when the director or a member of the staff may not be onsite when our groups arrive due to other commitments.
OUR ARCHAEOLOGICAL TOUR TO CAMBODIA AND LAOS IS LIMITED TO 18 PARTICIPANTS
