Phnom Penh: Phnom Chisor - Angkor Borei - Ta Keo - Phnom Da

I am often asked about a good full-day trip out from Phnom Penh. One I have done several times now and that is a fourite of mine and much enjoyed by my tour groups is set out below. The whole trip requires a reasonably early start, say no later than 07:30 to 08:00am., which is the coolest part of the day anyway, and will require a full day to complete. But well worth it. For those with less time, energy or motivation, it can be abreviated - please see below.

This full day’s outing requires full mobility and includes visiting – Prasat Neang Khmau, a small 8th century brick temple; Phnom Chisor and climbing the 350 steps up Phnom Chisor, an important very early 11th century brick temple with fine sandstone lintels built during the reign of King Suryavarman 1 and originally known as Suryagiri – mountain of the sun. There are almost 400 steps to climb at Phnom Chisor and 348 to come down! Sensible footwear is required. Be sure to have your driver take you to the easy steps up and use the steep ones for coming down; Under no circumstances attempt to ascend or descend using the old Ankorean steps. Angkor Borei – the pre Angkorian 6th century site of the capital of the last king of Funan. On to Angkor Borei to visit the small museum there. Enter Ta Keo town and then by small boat to Phnom Da, a 6th or 7th century temple. Stopping along the way to visit the small museum. Return by boat along the canal constructed using ';drafted'; labour during the 11 year Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia. Return by road to Phnom Penh. It will be dusk or dark by the time you return to your hotel in Phnom Penh but most people will have had a very satisfying and enjoyable day out of the city and enjoyed something of the cultural richness of the Khmer era and seen the real Cambodian countryside. From Phnom Da you will see the ';new'; border with VN/KH, now some 30 Km inside Cambodia (KH)!

The abreviated trip, which can be made by either motocorcycle taxi ';moto dop'; or by ';taxi'; hired vehicle, ends after visiting Angkor Borei and it%26#39;s laterite temple ruins.

Be sure to take plenty of bottled water, a good moisturising sun screen and a picnic lunch or, alternatively, eat locally at one of the restaurants in Ta Keo. You will get some excellent images too during the course of this day-tour.

I hope you enjoy this outing. All of the places named are easily found in the better quality guide books or can be ';Googled'; for extra information.Your hotel/Guesthouse can arrange suitable transport for you but be sure as to the price before you commit to the vehicle hire.

All best regards. Angkorlad.