Helicopter flightsThis unforgettable experience offers a trulyunique perspective of the Angkor kingdom.The flight takes you over Angkor Wat, as well as Prasat Kravan, Sras Srang and Pre Ruptemples. You will also fly over the Eastern and Western Barays, once enormousreservoirs that provided water for theintensive cultivation of land around Angkor.Longer helicopter tours are also available,taking you to some of the more remotetemples in the complex.Photography tutorialsFor those with a keen interest in photographywho want to get the best out of their time atthe temples in Cambodia, we can design toursto help you do just that. Spend the day with aprofessional, local photographer who will takeyou around some of his favourite temples aswell as the best known, helping you toimprove your photography skills.Today, the town of Siem Reap is becoming avisitor attraction in its own right and there aresome fantastic sights to discover and excitingactivities to try, particularly for those who areprone to temple fatigue. Here we list a few of our favourites.Tonle SapTonle Sap lake is home to a number offloating villages, the largest of which has apopulation of about 10,000 people, all ofwhom make a living from the fishing industry.A boat trip on the lake reveals ruralCambodian life as it co-exists with the seasonalfloods, in floating and stilted villages. Stop offto visit a house in the village to learn a littlemore about local life or share lunch with alocal family. Served by the Mekong, the waterlevel of the Tonle Sap fluctuates greatlythroughout the year and the lake will be at its most picturesque and scenic during themonths of October to January, when it is fullfrom the heavy summer rains.BirdwatchingPreak Toal biosphere is located on the Tonle Sap Lake and is one of the premier birdwatching destinations in Southeast Asia, hometo some rare water birds such as the greaterand lesser adjutant, white-shouldered ibis,painted stork and oriental darter. For realenthusiasts we can organise an overnight stayat a local ranger's station, to ensure you arethere for sunset and sunrise, when activity is at its peak.Day trips from Siem Reap32Tonle Sap Lake, Siem ReapCambodian sceneryPainted storks, Preak ToalCycling & horse ridingSpend the day cycling through the Cambodiancountryside, taking in some of the lesserknown temples and pagodas which scatter thecountryside. Or for those who enjoy horseriding, you can explore the countryside aroundSiem Reap on horseback. These gentle ridesinclude the opportunity to enjoy localCambodian life at a slow pace, passing throughrice fields and local villages, as well as a visit toan Angkorian temple en route.Quad bikingFor the more adventurous, we have a range of quad biking tours that present a fun andexhilarating way to see the rural peripheries of Siem Reap and grant you an insight intoCambodian rural life. You will be met byhuddles of excitable children as they wavefrantically at you trying to catch a smile inreturn. Heading out in the late afternoonaffords a beautiful view of the setting sun as it dips below the rice fields.

www.audleytravel.com/cambodia ?01993 838 160 ?Cambodia33RAFFLESHOTELLEROYAL,PHNOMPENHLe Royal is one of the finest hotels in Cambodiaand evokes a bygone era. Built in 1929 thiscolonial landmark has housed guests from royaltyto war correspondents and featured briefly in thefilm The Killing Fields. After many years of neglect,the hotel reopened in 1997 under the Rafflesbrand. The 170 guest rooms and suites, eachtastefully appointed with art deco style furnishings,are set around manicured gardens and attractiveswimming pools. Facilities include a spa, andseveral dining options, whilst the famous ElephantBar is the perfect setting for an aperitif and achance to soak up the colonial charm.THEQUAY, PHNOMPENHSet on the waterfront overlooking Phnom Penh'sbusy river, The Quay is one of the best locatedhotels in the city and, with its cutting-edge design,also one of the most stylish. The ground floor has a minimalist restaurant and serves bothwestern and traditional Khmer fare. All rooms are fitted with wide screen televisions and DVDplayers. The eight panoramic suites located at thefront of the building offer great views of theriverside area from private balconies and therooftop bar is a great venue for relaxing.BattambangOfficially Cambodia's second city, Battambang islocated 40 kilometres west of Tonle Sap Lake atthe centre of a fertile plain. It retains the characterof a market town and besides a few white goodsstores in the town centre shows little desire toenter the 20th century, let alone the 21st. Thetown itself is situated on the Sangker River and its dusty streets are lined with colonial buildings.This is one of the most laid-back towns inSoutheast Asia, but apart from observing daily lifeat its least demanding, there is plenty to see.Nearby attractions include the hilltop Angkoriantemple of Wat Banan, the sacred mountain andkilling caves of Phnom Sampeau and the riversidetemple of Wat Ek Phnom.Phnom PenhWith its frenetic markets and wide tree-linedboulevards, Cambodia's historic capital is a vibrantand charming city. A full-day tour takes you to themagnificent Royal Palace, with its adjacent SilverPagoda on the banks of the Tonle Sap andMekong rivers, then on to the National Museum.This splendid building houses a collection ofKhmer treasures, providing a good preface toyour exploration of Angkor. For the afternoon,we suggest you visit the Tuol Sleng Museum ofgenocide and the infamous Killing Fields. Thoughemotionally draining, these sites give you anaccurate insight into the atrocities that took place under the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot. The city has plenty more to offer. The diversemarkets are great places to explore and thesurrounding countryside shelters several pre-Angkorian temples.VILLALANGKA, PHNOMPENHVilla Langka is a boutique hotel, convenientlylocated in central Phnom Penh. The hotel has 43 rooms, with either a contemporary or moretraditional style, enclosing a courtyard garden with pool. The hotel staff are friendly, and theambience is relaxed and informal. It is a smalloasis in the hustle and bustle of Phnom Penh.Young woman at market, Phnom PenhPhnom Penh riverfrontRaffles Hotel Le Royal, Phnom PenhWat Banan, BattambangCambodian market place, Phnom PenhSilver Pagoda, Phnom PenhCentral market, Phnom Penh