Day trip to Koh Ker & Beng Mealea from Siem Reap

This morning, we drive 120km northeast of the Angkor complex to discover the capital of King Jayavarman IV at Koh Ker temple. The architecture here is impressive in its scale and conveys a sense of power and grandeur, not usually associated with Khmer art. A picnic lunch will be arranged on site. In the afternoon we return to Siem Reap, stopping en route at Beng Mealea, a unique 11th century temple, almost rivaling Angkor Wat in terms of its size. The main temple sits on 108 hectares and is surrounded by a 45 meter-wide moat. Although it dates from the same period as the Angkor temples, the artwork and friezes are different in style and tone from the sculptures at Angkor. Much of the temple is enveloped by jungle, adding to the sense of discovery and mystery.