Uniworld Mekong River Cruise: Ta Prohm & Ta Keo
Ta Prohm Angkor Temple
Uniworld Mekong River Cruise: Ta Prohm & Ta Keo
DAY 12: UNIWORLD MEKONG RIVER CRUISE TOUR IN CAMBODIA CONTINUES WITH AN INCLUDED AFTERNOON EXCURSION FROM SIEM REAP TO TA PROHM AND TA KEO
The heat of the Cambodian afternoon was reaching its peak as our Uniworld river cruise group departed the Victoria Angkor Hotel and Spa for our included excursion to Ta Prohm and Ta Keo near Siem Reap.
Once again, we needed our Angkor Visitor’s Passes to gain entrance to these temples. The first stop after a 20-minute coach ride was Ta Prohm, located about 1 km east of Angkor Thom, and left mostly untouched and in the same condition as when it was found. The atmosphere created by the jungle and old growth trees is completely different than all the other Angkor temples we had visited.
INTERESTING FACTS: TA PROHM
- Ta Prohm was built in the Bayon style
- Construction started near mid-12th century
- It was built as a Buddhist temple
- Is where Indiana Jones and Lara Croft Tomb Raider movies were filmed
- Giant trees growing out of the rubble and large stones make this temple very different from other Angkor temples
Ta Prohm Angkor Temple near Siem Reap
Ta Prohm Causeway – Conservation Progress
Ta Prohm Gopura – Conservation Progress
Gnarly Tree at Ta Prohm
Ta Prohm Angkor Temple in Cambodia
Ta Prohm was a location for the movie Tomb Raider
Our group was driven past Ta Keo, with a quick stop for photos, but there wasn’t an opportunity to explore these ruins any further.
INTERESTING FACTS: TA KEO
- Ta Keo is one of the tallest monuments in Angkor
- The 11th century mountain temple construction was never finished
- It is said the temple was hit by lightening during construction – a bad omen
- The sandstone temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva
Ta Keo Angkor Temple in Cambodia
Then it was time to return to Victoria Angkor Hotel and Spa and the rest of the evening was free to enjoy on our own… Time to head into Siem Reap and explore Pub Street and the Night Market.
Next… Excursion to Siem Reap Silk Farm
Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City | Day 2: Cu Chi Tunnels | Day 3: Saigon City Tour | Day 3: Embarkation | Day 4: Cai Be | Day 4: Sa Dec | Day 5: Chau Doc | Day 6: Phnom Penh | Day 6: Phnom Penh Orphanage Dancers | Day 7: Killing Fields and S-21 Prison | Day 8: Prek Bongkong Khmer Silk Village | Day 9: Wat Hanchey | Day 9: Kampong Cham Excursions | Day 10: Disembarkation and Siem Reap | Day 11: Angkor Wat | Day 11: Angkor Thom | Day 11: Private Dinner at La Tradition d’Angkor | Day 12: Banteay Srei and Banteay Samre |
