APR 21-29, 2025

Angkor, Zenith Passage, and the Ancient Khmer Kingdom, Cambodia

Photo by Ed Barnhart

This 9-day tour will bring you to the ancient Khmer Kingdom of Angkor during Zenith Passage - the moment when the Sun crosses the perfect center of the sky. At that moment, bright shafts of light beam down into the dark interiors of their temples.

Participants fly into the city of Seam Reap, the modern city that grew up in the shadow of the ancient ruins of Angkor. With Siem Reap as their home base, day trips will visit Angkor's many temple complexes. Evening lectures will provide further context and a deeper understanding of ancient Khmer Culture. Participants will follow zenith passage as it tracks north through Cambodia to the temples of Kulen Mountain, where the Khmer Empire began.


SIEM REAP, ANGKOR WAT, PREAH KHAN, TA KEO, TA PROHM,BAKONG, LOLEI, ANGKOR THOM, BENG MALEA, KOH KER, BANTEAY SREI, LAKE TONLE SAP, AND KULEN MOUNTAIN

Itinerary

  • Day 1: Arrival to Siem Reap - Monday, Apr 21

    • Arrival to Siem Reap

    • All Day: Flights arrivals to Siem Reap, Cambodia
    • Evening: Welcome meeting and orientation at hotel
    • Overnight in Siem Reap
  • Day 2: Siem Reap - Tuesday, Apr 22

    • Siem Reap - Markets and Museums

    • 7-9am: Breakfast at hotel
    • 10-12pm: Tours of Psar Has and Psa Leu markets
    • 12-2pm: Lunch break on Pub Street
    • 2-3pm: Lecture: Dynastic History of the Khmer Empire
    • 3-5pm: The Angkor National Museum
  • Day 3: Angkor Wat - Wednesday, Apr 23

    • Angkor Wat - Sunrise and Tour

    • 5am: Depart for Angkor Wat from hotel
    • 6-7am: Sunrise over Angkor Wat
    • 7-9pm: Breakfast back at the hotel
    • 9-1pm: Tour of Angkor Wat
    • 1-6pm: Lunch and free time
    • 6-7pm: Lecture: Zenith Passage at Angkor
  • Day 4: Temple Complexes of Angkor - Thursday, Apr 24

    • Central Angkor - Preah Khan, Ta Keo, and Ta Prohm

    • 7-8am: Breakfast at hotel
    • 9-11am: Tour of Preah Khan
    • 11-1pm: Lunch break at hotel
    • 2-5pm: Exploring Ta Keo and Ta Prohm
    • 5-7pm: Happy hour and boats in the moat of Angkor Thom
  • Day 5: Lake Tonle Sap and Bakong Zenith Passage - Friday, Apr 25

    • Lake Tonle Sap and Bakong at Zenith Passage

    • 7-8am: Breakfast at hotel
    • 8-11am: Transport to and boat in Lake Tonle Sap
    • 12-1pm: Exploring Bakong and Zenith Passage
    • 1-2pm: Picnic lunch
    • 2-4pm: The Temples of Lolei and the Rolous Group
    • Free evening in Siem Reap
  • Day 6: Angkor Thom at Zenith Passage - Saturday, Apr 26

    • Angkor Thom and Zenith Passage at the Bayon

    • 7-8am: Breakfast at hotel
    • 9-12pm: The Victory Gate and the Bayon
    • 12-1pm: Zenith Passage at the Bayon
    • 1-2pm: Lunch break at hotel
    • 2-5pm: Transport to and tour of Beng Melea
    • 5-7pm: Transport to Koh Ker
    • Overnight in Koh Ker Garden Hotel
  • Day 7: Koh Ker and Kulen at Zenith Passage - Sunday, Apr 27

    • Koh Ker zenith passage sunrise and Kulen Mountain

    • 5-6am: Breakfast and depart for Koh Ker
    • 6-7am: Zenith Passage dawn on top of the Prang Pyramid
    • 7-9am: Exploring Koh Ker
    • 9-11am: Transport to Kulen Mountainr
    • 11-3pm: Reclining Buddha, Lunch and Kulen waterfall
    • 3-5pm: Return to Siem Reap
    • Overnight in Siem Reap
  • Day 8: Banteay Srei and the Land Mine Museum - Monday, Apr 28

    • Fort Banteay Srei and the Land Mine Museum

    • 7-8am: Breakfast at hotel
    • 8-10am: Transport to and tour of the Land Mine Museum
    • 10-12pm: Tour of Banteay Srei
    • 12-1pm: Return to Siem Reap
    • Afternoon: Free time in Siem Reap
    • 7-8pm: Final group gathering at the hotel
  • Day 9: Departures - Tuesday, Apr 29

    • Departures

    • Morning: Breakfast and free time
    • All Day: Taxis to the Siem Reap International Airport
    • END OF TOUR
Questions about this tour?

Lodging

Siem Reap
Lynnaya Urban River Resort

Resort style hotel. AC, restaurant, bar, telephone, cable TV and wifi.

Koh Ker
Koh Ker Temple Garden Hotel

Located in the closest village to Koh Ker. Comfortable, but basic. AC, restaurant, and wifi.

Price Includes

All lodging, private ground transportation, breakfasts, anthropologist guide, local guides, evening lectures, entry fees, and water bottles on the bus

Price Does Not Include

Airfare - Round trip to Siem Reap, lunches, dinners, gratuities (maids, drivers, guides, etc..), and travel insurance - MEC strongly suggests that every tour participant obtain travel insurance for the week

MEC strongly recommends travel insurance. If you don't have a trusted company, InsureMyTrip allows you to compare compare policies from many different companies and make your best choice.

Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip

This 9-day tour will bring you to the ancient Khmer Kingdom of Angkor during Zenith Passage - the moment when the Sun crosses the perfect center of the sky.

Participants fly into the city of Seam Reap, the modern city that grew up in the shadow of the ancient ruins of Angkor. With Siem Reap as their home base, day trips will visit Angkor's many temple complexes.

SIEM REAP, ANGKOR WAT, PREAH KHAN, TA KEO, TA PROHM,BAKONG, LOLEI, ANGKOR THOM, BENG MALEA, KOH KER, BANTEAY SREI, LAKE TONLE SAP, AND KULEN MOUNTAIN
Shared Room
$3,200
Private Room
$3,700
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Make A Payment
  • $500 deposit due upon registration
  • 50% balance due 90 days before the trip
  • Final balance due 30 days before