Preah Vihear and Pol Pot historical sites tour from Siem Reap

Highlights

• Visit a former camp of Pol Pot
• Witness the views at the internationally renowned Preah Vihear temple
• Learn the dark history of the Pol Pot era during a private tour with an experienced local guide

All about the trip

We will travel out of Siem Reap to the Preah Vihear temple in Preah Vihear province. Preah Vihear was built on the top of a 525-meter cliff between Cambodia and Thailand border. It gives the best view of forests and villages. While in the area, we will also make a stop at the historical sites of Pol Pot.

Preah Vihear is quite a big northern province of Cambodia. Its capital is called Phnom Tbeng Meanchey. The province itself is named after the temple of Prasat Preah Vihear, which is the hotspot of this province. Much of the province is extremely remote and strongly forested. Unfortunately, due to large logging companies, they've reduced the natural landscape by carving huge tracts of pristine tropical hardwoods out of the locations. It is also one of the least populated provinces in the Kingdom of Cambodia. This tranquil site is popular for the Preah Vihear temple, standing in the vicinity of the borderline between Thailand and Cambodia. You’ll also find the site of Pol Pot’s cremation, and not far from there the creepy guesthouse that used to belong to Ta Mok, Brother Number 5, a man also known as “The Butcher”, thanks to the enthusiasm he brought to the paranoid purges carried out by the Khmer Rouge in 1978.

We travel to Preah Vihear, a UNESCO heritage temple located four hours to the north of Siem Reap. At the top of a long staircase, this is an outstanding masterpiece of Khmer architecture and a unique temple to visit. Much of the province, which borders Thailand, is extremely remote and strongly forested. Its isolated location has kept it extremely well-preserved and means you’re likely to have the temple to yourself to walk through the complex and admire the views of the sprawling valley below. We'll have lunch at local restaurant afterward. While in the area, we will also make a stop at the historical sites of Pol Pot. It was in this region that he was cremated, and not far from there the creepy guesthouse that used to belong to Ta Mok, Brother Number 5, a man also known as “The Butcher,” due to the paranoid purges carried out by the Khmer Rouge in 1978. After seeing this historical site, we return to Siem Reap.

What is included in the price

• Local lunch
• Entrance fees
• English speaking guide
• A/C vehicle on private basis

What is not included in the price

• Optional tip
• Travel insurance
• Personal expenses
• Other drinks & refreshments not stated

Instructions

Revealing clothes such as shorts and skirts above the knees and showing bare shoulders are prohibited in sacred places and temples.