Arrive in Siem Reap where you will meet our guide at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day settling in and soaking in the atmosphere of this bustling city.

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Enjoy an evening under the big top in downtown Siem Reap with an evening show at Phare, the Cambodian Circus. Run by the NGO of the same name which supports the futures of Khmer youth with art and performance training, Phare is a lively show combining elements of high flying, tight-rope walking, juggling, contortion, music and theatre circus arts in one energetic showcase of Cambodian culture. Enjoy an evening of cultural discovery for a good cause, and pick up a few souvenirs on your way out.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Wake early to watch sunrise at Angkor Wat - the largest religious monument in the world and a testament to the power and ingenuity of the people who once worshiped here. Marvel at the reflections of the iconic structure mirrored in the sunlit lake, before heading back to hotel for breakfast.

Then start with a visit to the South Gate of Angkor Thom where statues of the gods of good and evil line the entrance. Your next stop is the Bayon, known for the hundreds of smiling faces that grace the towers. The bas reliefs are quite impressive and tell stories of daily life and the great battles that were fought between the Khmers and ancient Thais. Move on to Phimeanakas, shaped a bit like a pyramid with two ponds in the rear. The ponds were once used for religious rituals but today serve as swimming pools for Khmer kids. Walk to the top of the temple for impressive views of the Angkor complex.

See the rows of trunks that form the wall of the Terrace of the Elephants, a platform from which King Jayavarman surveyed his army. Close by is the Terrace of Leper Kings, which includes a statue depicting Yana, the Hindu god of death. Then it’s a short drive to one of the most loved temples of all - Ta Prohm. This small crumbling temple is held together by giant tree roots giving it a magical feel.

Return to Siem Reap for lunch and to escape the hot sun. Then later in the afternoon explore the magnificent Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious monument. This visually spectacular temple is a massive three-tiered pyramid, rising 65 metres from the ground and crowned by five lotus towers. It’s the national symbol of Cambodia and proudly appears on the country’s flag.

(optional) Just before the sun starts its descent, hop in a gondola to cruise around the Angkor Thom moat. Glide along towards the small temple of Prasat Chrung where you can enjoy a cold beer or two while watching the sun set on the majestic temples.

In the evening continue your discovery of ancient Cambodia with a performance of traditional Apsara dance at the theatre in Siem Reap. Dancers, singers and musicians bring ancient Khmer culture to life in spectacular surroundings whilst you dine on traditional Cambodian cuisine. The souvenir booklet provides guidance through every delicate hand gesture and the story behind the dances.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Banteay Srei is considered the’ jewel in the crown’ of all the Angkor temples and is about a 1 hour drive from Siem Reap. This small delicately carved pink sandstone temple is also known as the Citadel of Women. The temple has hundreds of small, intricate figures and deities, cut into the walls and lintels that depict scenes from Hindu stories. Three rectangular enclosures make up the temple with the inner buildings comprising of a sanctuary and two libraries.

From Banteay Srei drive a short distance to Banteay Samre, a temple similar in style to Angkor Wat with magnificent towers and balustrades. The temples name is derived from the Samre people who live to the east of the baray and according to legend a Samre farmer here killed the king and ascended to the throne!

Explore Cambodia’s stunning countryside with an adventurous twist today, on a one-hour quad bike journey at sunset. In the late afternoon, hop on your quad and drive a 12 kilometre route into the countryside. Arrive just in time to watch the sun set over the rice fields after passing through rural villages and past smiling locals.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Drive to the edge of the Tonle Sap Lake and embark on a cruise to Kompong Phluk, an isolated Khmer community of three villages built on wooden stilts, rising from six to eight metres high. The community has about 3,000 inhabitants who farm fish and vegetables on floating platforms.

During your visit, your boat will take you through mangrove forests, a unique ecosystem that survives on flooded soil for months. Mangroves are also hosts for a variety of wildlife, keep an eye out for birds and especially the crab-eating macaques!

Continue to drive to a small village called Chansar and stop just outside the village to hop aboard an ox cart. Enjoy a ride through the picturesque fields and to the home of a Khmer family who specializes in making brooms. Watch how they make brooms from natural materials and, if you like, have a go! Then take a guided walking tour around the village where you have the opportunity to participate in fishing, farming or animal husbandry activities, depending on the time of year.

Enjoy a simple Khmer lunch followed by more activities or just spend time chatting with the locals. Funds from your tour go directly to the community to improve the lives of the people. On the way back to Siem Reap, you will stop at a Buddhist temple to receive a blessing from the monks.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Your guide will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your flight to Phnom Penh. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure.

Overnight in Phnom Penh

Begin your tour of Phnom Penh with a visit to the Royal Palace overlooking the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap Rivers. Built in 1866 by King Norodom, the palace is now home to the reigning monarch. Within the palace grounds you will find the coronation hall, an open air theatre for the Royal Dance Troupe, and the King’s private residence. The grounds are open to the public except when the King is in residence. The grounds also house the Silver Pagoda, its floor covered by 5,000 silver tiles each weighing 1 kilogram.

Next you will visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, which documents the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge against both their political enemies and many thousands of everyday Cambodians. In 1975 this former high school was taken over by Pol Pot's security forces and converted into Security Prison 21 (S-21). It soon became the largest detention and torture centre in the country. Please note that the images on display are quite graphic and unsettling, but teach an important lesson about the history and resilience of the Cambodia.

Complete your education of the Khmer Rouge with a visit to Choeung Ek - the Killing Fields, where the brutal executions of more than 17,000 men, women and children took place. The large mass grave pits have all but gone, however the stupa filled with skulls is a chilling memorial.

Overnight in Phnom Penh

Silk Island is a typical Khmer village with houses built high on stilts with workshops below. Meet the families who are still maintaining the old traditions of hand looming silk and dying it to bright hues. You’ll be amazed by the homemade spinning wheels made from old bicycle parts. Watch as the silk is transformed from a cotton wool-like texture into thread. If you like you can try your hand at weaving or purchase silk items directly from the family. Take some time to wander the village and chat to the locals, before enjoying a picnic lunch and visit to a Buddhist temple before returning to Phnom Penh early afternoon.

Overnight in Phnom Penh

Your guide will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your onward flight.