Floating Village of Chong Kneas (Half Day)
Taking a break from the temples, we travel out to the mighty Tonle Sap Lake to visit the floating village of Chong Kneas. Nestled under the hill of Phnom Krom, this floating community moves location with the waters of the lake. During the wet season when the lake swells to five times its size, the village is near Phnom Krom, but during the dry season, it moves as much as 4km from the hill.

Everything floats on water in this living fishing community. There are floating schools, floating shops, floating petrol stations, even floating karaoke bars. Many of the houses are floating fish farms with large pens of fish underneath. For those that are interested, we can also make a stop at the Gecko Environment Centre to learn more about the lake, which is like the heartbeat of Cambodia, providing sustenance to millions of Khmers.

Exploring the Temples of Roluos and Kompong Pluk (Full Day)
We depart Siem Reap by remorque moto, a charming carriage hitched onto the back of a motorbike, the famous local transport of Siem Reap. For the more adventurous we offer the option of a Trek mountain bike.

We follow small back roads through rural landscapes and picturesque villages. Our first stop is the temple of Bakong in the Roluos group, the first of the great pyramid mountains which later kings were to copy. From Bakong, we continue into Roluos town to visit a very local market, untouched by tourism. After some refreshments here, we follow the course of the Roluos river to the nearest navigable point where we board small wooden boats for the trip to Kompong Pluk.

Cruising down a narrow waterway, we enter this medieval floating village, where the houses stand atop stilts as much as seven metres above the water. Everything lives on the water, pigs, dogs, crocodiles and people, all jockeying for space in this incredible floating town. We explore the local wat here, before boarding a bigger boat to take us through the flooded forest and across the Great Lake to Chong Kneas and the holy mountain of Phnom Krom. We climb Phnom Krom for a glorious sunset over the Tonle Sap before heading back to Siem Reap by road.

Kompong Khleang and the Tonle Sap (Half Day)
We travel southeast to one of the largest and least-visited villages on the Tonle Sap Lake, Kompong Khleang, about 55km from Siem Reap. It has a population of about 10,000 people, all of whom make a living from the fishing industry. We explore the canals (wet season) or streets (dry season) of this incredible town. In the wet season, the houses appear to be floating, as water laps at the verandas, but in the dry season towering stilts are revealed, the houses almost like wooden skyscrapers.

We visit one of the pagodas here, built on the site of an ancient temple, and see the wall paintings. We may also stop off to visit a house in the village to learn a little more about local life. We cruise into the open water of the great lake to see a small floating village and learn some more about this incredible natural floodbarrier. Later we return to Siem Reap by road.

Angkor National Museum (Two Hours)
This new flagship museum on the road to Angkor is a showcase for the sculpture and culture of the Khmer civilisation. An ultra-modern art space, this museum uses the latest technology to bring this ancient empire to life. The collection is themed by period, religion and royalty and includes the impressive Gallery of 1000 Buddhas, inspired by Preah Poan at Angkor Wat. There is plenty of information on hand throughout the tour and lots of interactive displays, such as the sunrise over Angkor Wat, although we'd recommend the real sunrise as a more memorable experience. The main drawbacks are a rather limited collection compared with the National Museum in Phnom Penh, although this is slowly being addressed, plus a rather high entry fee compared to other museums in the region. There is an attached Cultural Mall with cafes, shops and art galleries.

Angkor Conservation (Two Hours)
This Ministry of Culture compound has long been home to some of the hidden treasures of the Khmer empire. A storage depot to protect statues and carvings during the long periods of war and instability in the second half of the 20th century, many of the best known statuary around Angkor was moved here for safe-keeping in the early 1970s. Some of it has been loaned to the new National Museum, but much of it is still here in large warehouses or strewn throughout the leafy grounds. This is an interesting place to explore for those with a keen interest in Khmer sculpture.

Cambodian Cultural Village (Two Hours)
This is by no means a 'must' for visitors to Siem Reap, but for families travelling with children, it can be a lot of fun and a much-needed diversion from the temples. It aims to represent all of Cambodia in a whirlwind tour of recreated houses and villages. The visit begins with a wax museum and includes homes of the Cham, Chinese, Kreung and Khmer people, as well as miniature replicas of landmark buildings in Cambodia. There are dance shows and performances throughout the day. Even for those without children, it could make an interesting diversion, as it is a genuine Cambodian tourist attraction and most of the visitors are Khmers on a big day out rather than the foreign tourists seen around Angkor.

Pagodas and Handicrafts in Siem Reap (Half Day)
We visit the 19th century temple of Wat Bo, one of the most important pagodas in Siem Reap. Dating from the 19th century, the interior of the main temple includes some of the finest religious murals in Cambodia, depicting the life of the Buddha. We continue to the Chantiers Ecole workshop of Artisans d'Angkor, a handicrafts cooperative helping to revive the artisan skills of the Angkor era. We learn about different techniques, including lacquerware, stone carving and silk painting and visit the impressive showroom.

We then travel to Wat Athvea to visit an interesting fusion temple which includes the impressive remains of an 12th century sandstone structure and an attractive old pagoda. The original Angkor-era temple was used as a training site for construction workers and is one of the only temples facing west. It is possible to arrange a blessing ceremony for the success of your trip in Cambodia.

Exploring the Pagodas of Siem Reap (Half Day)
We spend today visiting the historic pagodas of Siem Reap, a peaceful and charming alternative to the temples of Angkor. We begin with a visit to the modern pagoda of Wat Thmei where there is a moving memorial stupa to the victims of the Khmer Rouge. We continue to Wat Preah Inkosei which is built on the site of a 10th century temple. Two brick towers remain and one includes a superb lintel depicting the Churning of the Ocean of Milk. We may also meet some English-speaking monks to learn more about Buddhist rituals. There is also a small shadow puppetry workshop here, showcasing some of the most popular characters from the Ramayana.

We continue to the 19th century temple of Wat Bo, one of the most important pagodas in Siem Reap. Dating from the 19th century, the interior of the main temple includes some of the finest religious murals in Cambodia, depicting the life of the Buddha.

We visit the old royal palace compound of Wat Dam Nak, which has been converted to a place of learning for the Centre for Khmer Studies. There are some elegant old buildings here and extensive gardens.

We then travel to Wat Athvea to visit an interesting fusion temple which includes the impressive remains of an 12th century sandstone structure and an attractive old pagoda. The original Angkor-era temple was used as a training site for construction workers and is one of the only temples facing west. It is possible to arrange a blessing ceremony for the success of your trip in Cambodia.

Banteay Srei Lifestyle (Full Day)
This morning we travel towards Banteay Srei village to learn the art of Cambodian cuisine with a cooking class at the Angkor Palm country house. This is a traditional wooden house set in a pretty village. Choose from a selection of favourites, including meat, fish and vegetarian options and discover a cuisine laced with subtle spices and tempting aromas. Once we finish the class, we enjoy the fruits of our labour, eating our very own creations. Take these recipes home and impress your friends with a Cambodian evening, a great excuse to show them your holiday snaps.

After lunch, we continue to the Cambodia Landmine Museum to learn more about these enemies within. This museum has eye-opening displays on the curse of land mines in Cambodia. The collection includes a mock minefield so that visitors can attempt to locate the deactivated mines.

Later we continue to Banteay Srei, Angkor’s ultimate art gallery. This petite pink temple is the jewel in the crown of Angkor-era sculpture. The elaborate carvings here are the finest found in Cambodia and the name translates as ‘Fortress of the Women’, thanks to the intricate detail here, considered too fine for the hands of a man.

On our way back to Siem Reap, we may stop to visit a local family house and learn about the importance of the Sugar Palm in rural communities. We get the chance to see how they harvest the fruits and turn them into sugar or a sweet delicacy.

For those who are interested, there is the option of a sunset at Pre Rup temple to complete the day, offering beautiful views across the ricefields.

Prek Toal Excursion (Full Day)
Today we travel to the pristine biosphere of Prek Toal, home to some of the most endangered birdlife on the planet. The immense Tonle Sap Lake is one of the most productive bodies of water in the world and millions of fish spawn here in the flooded forest. Prek Toal lies on the northeastern shore of the Tonle Sap, about one hour by boat from the port at Phnom Krom.

Prek Toal is a vast area of natural flooded forest that draws thousands of birds annually to breed during the dry season. This is one of the premier places in Southeast Asia to see rare birds such as storks, adjutants, pelicans and ibis. Birdwatchers will drift through their habitat and can observe large flocks of birds feeding on the lake shore, perched in the trees or soaring above the forest.

A trip to Prek Toal requires an early start at 5.30am. We transfer by boat from Phnom Krom to Prek Toal and enjoy breakfast along the way. The morning is spent birdwatching on a traditional wooden boat as we glide through the flooded forest with local specialists. After a local lunch, we experience local life in the floating village, learning about different fishing techniques and traditional water hyacinth weaving. We return to Siem Reap late afternoon.

Birding at Ang Trapeang Thmor (Full Day)
We leave Siem Reap after breakfast and travel west into Banteay Meanchey province. We pass through Kralanh district before veering north towards Phnom Srok. We eventually come to Ang Trapeang Thmor Sarus Crane Reserve, a giant reservoir constructed during Khmer Rouge rule which now provides a habitat for more than 200 species of bird. During the dry season, this reserve provides a habitat for more than 300 rare Sarus Crane, one of the tallest birds in the world with a distinctive crimson head. We enjoy a picnic lunch at the site before enjoying some more birdwatching in the early afternoon. We return to Siem Reap by road.