Sitting majestically at the confluence of the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers, Phnom Penh was once considered one of the most beautiful cities in the Orient. Despite its recent turbulent history, it still retains much of its former colonial charm.

Upon arrival to Phnom Penh, our guide and driver will be waiting to provide transport into the city for check in. After checking in, the remainder of the day is free at leisure.

Overnight in Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh Airport Phnom Penh (11 km): 20 mins

Begin the first full day on a walking tour of Phnom Penh. Starting in the leafy suburb of Boeung Keng Kang, travel through the small streets to Wat Lanka, one of the oldest pagodas in Phnom Penh and then onto the Independence Monument.

Continue to the historic ‘White Building’, designed by the famous architect Vann Molyvann in the 1960’s. This once pristine housing complex now has a facade stained by time and lack of care. Beyond the crumbling facade, however, emerges of a close-knit community of artists- home to the Cambodian Living Arts organisation. Take a tour along the street by one of the artists and residents, visit the rehearsal space where it all started out and sit down in local coffee shop to learn about the history of the building and organisation.

From here continue through the picturesque Wat Bottom Park and along the lively riverfront to the Royal Palace. This palace dates back to 1866 and houses the Silver Pagoda, named for the over 5000 heavy silver tiles that cover its floors. Its original name is Wat Prakeo, meaning Temple of the Emerald Buddha. In this temple view a collection of Buddhas in gold, silver, crystal, and bronze.

After visiting the Royal Palace, return back to the hotel.

Enjoy the afternoon at leisure for further explore the city and its colorful markets.

Overnight in Phnom Penh

Begin the morning with a drive to Battambang along a tree-lined highway that cuts through rice paddy and maize fields. Stop off for lunch along with way at a local restaurant. 

This afternoon, embark on a short walking tour through Battambang’s colonial heart before heading to the Bamboo Train Station. The Bamboo Train has been set up by the villagers in order to facilitate the transportation of goods and persons as there are no regular trains running any more. The “train” itself is very basic: one bamboo platform on four wheels is activated by a small motor. Sitting on the platform (cushions are provided), travel 8km to the next station through beautiful landscapes and rice paddies (depending on the season).

End the day at Phnom Sampeau, meaning “Ship Hill” in Khmer, due to its distinctive shape. Ship Hill is one of the few hills standing out in this otherwise pancake-flat plain. From the small temple on the top, soak in fantastic views over the typical landscape of paddy fields and sugar palm trees. Phnom Sampeau is also home to the notorious killing caves, which are cruel reminders of Cambodia’s troubled past. Serenity and inhumanity represented in one place make this an interesting visit.

The visit will last until dusk – a time when millions of bats emerge from a cave and create patterns as they fly in tandem across the sky – a nightly spectacular show of nature!

Overnight in Battambang

Phnom Penh – Battambang (330km): 5hrs

Enjoy the morning at leisure with the option of taking a cycling tour around the surrounding countryside villages.

Optional: Village cycling tour (half day)

Enjoy a fun morning cycle around local villages with Soksa Bike, a social enterprise initiative set up to provide scenic and informative bike rides through the local countryside. During the 30km cycling tour there are plenty of entertaining stops: learn how the locals produce rice paper, prahok (typical Cambodian fish paste), grolan (sticky rice stuffed in bamboo) and other Cambodian treats. The local countryside is beautiful and the Battambang area is known for the high quality rice and also oranges grown in the area.

This afternoon continue the journey through rural Cambodia to Siem Reap, the gateway to the fabled Temples of Angkor.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Battambang – Siem Reap (174 km): 3 hours

After breakfast, start the Angkorian exploration via ‘remork’ (similar to the Thai tuk tuk). Begin by visiting the biggest religious temple in the world: the magnificent Angkor Wat Temple. Built in the early 12th century, Angkor Wat was built to represent Mount Meru, the Hindu/Buddhist mythical home of the gods. The temple is known not only for its design but also for its interior carvings and bas-reliefs.

Return back to Siem Reap for lunch at the Asian Square before returning to the Angkor park and visiting the ancient city of Angkor Thom. This city is surrounded by an 8 m high wall, drawing a perfect square around its perimeter. Upon visiting the capital, take note of the impressive stone gate, lined with Naga snakes and carved with Elephants and giant faces.

Continue to Ta Prohm temple, built in the mid-12th to early 13th centuries. Ta Prohm is unique in that it has been left largely as it was found: overgrown by jungle trees and vines, with many parts of the temple crumbling to the ground. As such, Ta Prohm is one of the most picturesque and memorable of the Angkor temples.

Optional: Phare Ponleu Selpak in Siem Reap – (evening)

This evening attend a performance of ‘Phare, the Cambodian Circus’. Starting at 7pm, professional artists perform an inspiring show of traditional and modern theater, music, dance, acrobatics, juggling and contortion performed in a story about Cambodian lives and society.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Siem Reap – Temples (6 km): 10 mins

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and spend the day at leisure. Alternatively, take part in some of the optional activities:

Optional: Tonle Sap Lake (half day)

Embark on an interesting boat trip on the Tonlé Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Tonle Sap covering an area of around 250,000 hectares in the dry season and swells to over four times in size during the wet season.

Board a local boat and visit Kompong Phluck, a village where houses on stilts become submerged when Tonlé Sap Lake extends. Along the way, pass floating houses and impressive flooded forests, portraying life on the water. (Note: Green Season is the perfect time to visit this site!)

Optional: Beng Mealea Temple visit (half day)

After breakfast, head into the beautiful Cambodian countryside for the drive to Beng Mealea. Feel like an explorer approaching a completely overgrown temple. Undiscovered for centuries, Beng Mealea has only recently been made accessible and remains entirely unrestored. It is one of the very few temples that actually give the opportunity to climb through it.

After the adventurous exploration, return to central Siem Reap.  

Optional: Banteay Srei and Golden Silk Farm (half day)

Head out of Siem Reap for the beautiful temple of Banteay Srei. The so-called “Citadel of the Women,” Banteay Srei remains the best preserved temple in Cambodia with its fine bas reliefs. Banteay Srei is also unique in that it is constructed of pink sandstone, which is seen nowhere else in Angkor.

Return back to Siem Reap stopping at the Golden Silk Pheach Farm, a local NGO which helps to revive the ancient Khmer know-how in silk activities and provides job opportunities to more than 100 local staff. The farm area, mulberry trees and weaving ateliers can be seen as part of the guided tour.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Enjoy the day at leisure until transport (provided) to the airport for the departing flight.

Siem Reap - Siem Reap Airport (8 km): 15 mins