Discovery Guide Welcome
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DISCOVERY GUIDE WELCOME An ancient world inviting exploration. Located in the heart of Siem Reap, Anantara Angkor Resort is your ultimate access point to discover the ancient majesty of the Khmer empire. Admire the transcendent beauty as the sun’s first rays caress Angkor Wat. Marvel at nature reclaiming millennia-old temples. Gaze at exotic wildlife and spectacular natural attractions at the largest lake in Southeast Asia. Enjoy a romantic, candlelit dinner and Apsara show. The only limit is your imagination. We warmly invite you to peruse our carefully selected range of excursions to help stimulate your sense of curiosity and adventure. From these inspirational possibilities, we look forward to helping you curate adventures that nurture your passions and create unforgettable memories. Hospitably yours, Discovery Team ABOUT ANGKOR The most significant religious monument ever to have been constructed, the temples of Angkor are the greatest legacy of the mighty Khmer Empire and the ultimate expression of Cambodian ingenuity. Built over centuries, the ruins of this holy city are the remnants of the Angkorian capitals and represent the pinnacle of this ancient civilization. Angkor was the capital of the Khmer Empire, which flourished from approximately the 9th to 15th centuries and has been recognised as one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. Spread across a staggering 400 square kilometers, the Angkor Archaeological Park is home to the remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire. 2 3 CONTENT CULINARY 5 Spice Spoons – Anantara Cooking School 6 Dining by Design 7 CULTURE Streetwise Guru 9 Culture and History 10 EXPLORING Tonle Sap Lake 14 Vespa Tours 16 ANGKOR WAT TEMPLES Temple Guru 17 Bespoke Tour Experience 18 JUNGLE AND LOCAL IMMERSION Biking 22 Quad Biking 22 Horse Riding 23 Helicopter Trip 25 Ultra-Light Flights 27 Flight of the Gibbon 29 Jeep Adventure 29 Motorbike and Trekking 30 Golf 31 SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE Running Experience 34 COMMUNITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 35 4 CULINARY Whether you’d like to learn the hidden secrets to Cambodian cuisine or curate your own unique culinary adventure, Anantara Angkor Resort has a range of creative ways to explore the dishes of this ancient kingdom. Treat your taste buds to a world of flavours, with creative and sophisticated local specialities presented in a rich and interactive environment. 5 SPICE SPOONS - ANANTARA COOKING SCHOOL Join us for an immersive culinary experience, celebrating local dishes and learning traditional secrets of Khmer cooking techniques that have been passed on for generations. Your journey commences with a visit to a bustling local market where you can hand select fresh ingredients and sample local flavours. Discover the sights and sounds of the thriving market as you gather the freshest produce for your meal. Your master chef instructor will assist you in choosing from a collection of traditional Khmer cuisine set menus, or you can create your own by selecting from a range of individual recipes. Learn the history and special characteristics of each dish along with the unique methods of preparation. Soon you’ll be creating them yourself under the watchful guidance of your instructor. Savour your creations at a chef hosted meal and leave with unforgettable memories and new culinary skills. Includes: Personalised early Morning Market Tour with local chef, ingredients chosen for the menu, lunch and certificate. 6 DINING BY DESIGN Create your own perfect experience with Anantara’s signature private dining concept. Select from a range of idyllic locales and cuisines for a unique culinary experience, complete with attentive butler service. Customise your entire experience by selecting from a choice of menus or create your own menu with the help of your personal chef. Dining by Design offers a journey that is utterly bespoke, undeniably romantic and completely unforgettable. THE COURTYARD AND APSARA SHOW Dine in Royal Khmer style amidst the traditional courtyard evoking Angkor’s monumental heritage. Celebrate romance as Apsara dancers emerge beneath frangipani trees alongside cascading waters. A private performance inspires your evening. POOLSIDE Our softly lit infinity pool creates a gentle ambiance while the expansive night sky provides the ultimate backdrop for an evening of romance. Accented by flickering candlelight, the moons refractions on the water create a truly magical atmosphere. ROOFTOP GARDENS Savour the views and take to the skies for an evening of indulgent privacy. Dine at a candlelit table and then settle into an oversized couch on the secluded terraces overlooking the property and residential Khmer architecture. 7 PHNOM KROM WOODEN VILAGE Located in a nearby countryside village, this cosy Khmer wooden bungalow is the ideal location for an authentic culinary journey in a Cambodian village. Enjoy a sumptuous feast surrounded by tropical gardens, with the sounds of the jungle accenting an unforgettable experience. WEST BARAY, RICE PADDY Combine a spectacular dining experience with a visit to local markets where you can shop, see local crafts being made and meet friendly locals before catching the sun slip over the horizon over this expansive lake. Enjoy a ride across the lake (seasonal) and a tailor made dinner with free flow drinks. BREAKFAST WITH A VIEW AT BANTEAY PREI - LOST TEMPLE Begin your day in spectacular fashion, surrounded by carved stone and framed by the dense jungle canopy. Meaning “citadel of the jungle”, Banteay Prei is one of the lesser known sites and excluded from most tourists’ itineraries, almost guaranteeing blissful solitude. Enjoy a gourmet picnic hamper served by an attentive but discrete butler as you welcome the new day from this unique location. GOURMET PICNIC AT BANTEAY THOM – JUNGLE TEMPLE This Anantara Signature Experience tour takes guests to three beautiful temples, gloriously secluded amidst the thick surrounding jungle. Ignite romance with a gourmet picnic hamper for lunch or high tea, all served by an experienced butler amidst these unexplored and isolated temples. 8 CULTURE STREETWISE GURU Investigate Siem Reap’s sightseeing highlights and step behind the tourist scenes on a bespoke private tour. With our well-informed Streetwise Guru as your personal guide, this experience is tailored to your preferences so that you can make the very most of your time. Enjoy a private consultation with our Streetwise Guru to ascertain the places and activities you would like to experience, with the quaint town of Siem Reap providing plenty of inspiration. Discover local Cambodian life and the French colonial quarter. Learn how to haggle over souvenirs, browse boutiques that support the traditional livelihoods of local people and charitable causes, or shop for the finest antiques, silk, jewellery and pottery items. Whether your passion is to uncover cultural and historic treasures, culinary gems, charming back streets or designer boutiques, your bespoke tour offers the personal freedom to explore the places of most interest to you. 9 CULTURE AND HISTORY CONSERVATION D’ANGKOR ANGKOR NATIONAL MUSEUM Gain exclusive private access to Conservation D’Angkor’s stockpile Enter the “Gallery of a Thousand Buddhas” and explore a dazzling of hidden treasures. Originally charged with protecting all of collection of traditional artwork and artefacts as you embark on a Cambodia’s ancient Khmer artefacts and Angkorian temples, captivating journey through Khmer history, civilization and cultural Conservation D’Angkor houses and safeguards 6,000 valuable heritage. sculptures that originally stood in the Angkorian Temples. Wander amongst stone heads from gods and demons, stone Buddhas, Informative and engaging, the museum is an important stop for lingas and hundreds of wood statues for an inspiring trip through anyone interested in learning more about the fascinating history of history. Angkor and the Khmer empire. Opening Hours: 8.00 am – 4.00 pm Opening Hours: 8.30 am – 6.00 pm (prior reservation necessary) Distance: Approximately 5 minutes by car Distance: Approximately 5 minutes by car 10 11 CAMBODIAN CULTURAL VILLAGE Immerse yourself in Cambodia’s history as legends and folklore come to life at Cambodian Cultural Village. The 210,000 square metre attraction is a celebration of the individual traditions, history and practices of the various ethnic groups of Cambodia and a charming feast for the senses. An energetic troupe of Cambodian youth recreate the diversity of Cambodia’s cultural groups through theatre, acrobatics and dance. Marvel as mythic legends are revealed, gain insights into the traditional Cambodian act of wooing a fiancé or witness the charm of a simulated Khmer Wedding Ceremony. Opening Hours: 8.00 am – 7.00 pm Distance: 2 minutes walk GOLDEN SILK FARM Learn the techniques and history of silk weaving at this working silk farm committed to producing only the finest golden silks. Once a thriving industry, the traditional production of golden silk has almost disappeared due to complicated production techniques and low yield. The Golden Silk Farm is dedicated to restoring and safeguarding the fabulous Khmer traditional methods and techniques of golden silk production. Spread across more than 12 hectares of a mulberry tree plantation and workshops, this working farm offers unique insights into this ancient craft and has provided employment opportunities for orphans and disadvantaged rural people in the surrounding area since 2002. Opening Hours: 8.00 am – 4.00 pm (prior reservation necessary)