Highlight of Cambodia

7 days 6 nights

Phnom Penh – Battambang – Siem Reap

Day 1: Arrival in Phnom Penh

Day 2: Phnom Penh (B/L)

Day 3: Phnom Penh – Battambang (B/L)

Day 4: Battambang – Siem Reap (B/L)

Day 5: Siem Reap (B/L/D)

Day 6: Siem Reap (B/L)

Day 7: Siem Reap – Departure (B)

Day 1. Arrival in Phnom Penh

On arrival in the capital of Cambodia, your tour guide will meet and bring you to the hotel in the city center. Check-in and relax after the long journey.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 2. Phnom Penh (Breakfast/Lunch)

After breakfast, take a look into the country’s tragic recent history with a tour of Tuol Sleng Prison (S-21) and the Killing Fields at Choeung Ek, sobering reminders of the evils of the Khmer Rouge regime. Although not a joyful tour, visiting these monuments are the keys to understanding the development of this country.

In the afternoon, visit the Royal Palace. The palace dates back to 1866 and houses the Silver Pagoda, named for the over 5000 heavy silver tiles that cover its floors. Next stop is the National Museum, built in traditional Khmer style. It houses the world’s foremost collection of ancient Khmer artistic, archaeological, and religious artifacts from the 4th to the 13th centuries.

End today’s journey at the famous Wat Phnom, founded by Lady Penh, whom the capital city is named after. Pay a visit to Russian market before heading back to your hotel.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 3. Phnom Penh – Battambang (Breakfast/Lunch)

After breakfast, leave the capital for Battambang. First stop at the busy riverside town of Kampong Chhnang where you stop to see the silversmith village and the pottery village. Continue to drive to the incredible floating town of Kompong Luong. The largest floating community on the Tonle Sap Lake. You’ll explore by boat and experience life in a real floating community untouched by mass tourism.

After lunch, continue to Battambang, the second largest city in Cambodia. Check into your hotel then take a cycling tour around the riverside town of Battambang  to discover its beautiful colonial architecture.

Overnight in Battambang.

Day 4. Battambang – Siem Reap (Breakfast/Lunch)

This morning take a fun ride on the Bamboo Train which 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. Sitting on a bamboo platform on 4-wheels, you will travel the 8 km to the next station through beautiful landscape and rice paddies.

Next, make a stop at the nearby Ancient House located in Wat Kor Village, the oldest standing Khmer timber house in the village, where the lady of the house will give you a guided tour, showing you everything from how they mill their own rice to demonstrating the after-dinner betel leaf ritual. Finally, visit Phnom Sampeau, meaning “Ship Hill” in Khmer, due to its distinctive shape. From the small temple on the top, you will have a fantastic view over the typical landscape of paddy fields and sugar palm trees. Phnom Sampeau is home to the notorious killing caves, which are cruel reminders of Cambodia’s troubled past.

In the afternoon, drive to Siem Reap.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 5. Siem Reap (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Today you will explore some of Angkor’s most beautiful temples starting at the West Gate of Angkor Thom, undiscovered by mass tourists then continue to the ancient South Gate and Bayon temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avalokitesvara. The nearby Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King are also must-visits as they are both known for their intricate relief carvings.

Continue to visit the fabulous Ta Prohm embraced by the roots of enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers. Built in the 12th century by King Jayavarman VII, Ta Prohm is a Buddhist temple dedicated to the mother of King.

Return to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

This evening enjoy a performance of ‘Phare Circus’. The hour long show mixes traditional and modern theater, music, dance, acrobatics, juggling and contortion performed in a story about Cambodian lives and society.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 6. Siem Reap (Breakfast/Lunch)

Wake up early in the morning and enjoy a pre-dawn drive to Angkor Archaeological Park. Select a good viewpoint at Angkor Wat, sit back and watch the sunrise over the back of the temple. Seeing the temple emerge from darkness to being bathed in early morning light is an unforgettable experience.

Once the sun is up, go inside to explore Angkor Wat temple, a World Heritage Site since 1992, famous for its beauty and splendor. Angkor Wat features the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which runs along the outer gallery walls and narrates stories from Hindu mythology.

In the afternoon, visit the unique temple of Banteay Srei. The so-called “Citadel of the Women” was constructed in rose-colored sandstone and displays some of the finest examples of classical Khmer art. The unique charm of this temple lies in its compact size, remarkable state of preservation, and the excellence of its decorative carving.

Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 7. Siem Reap – Departure (Breakfast)

Today visit Beng Mealea, known as the ‘Pond of Lotus’ temple. The temple was hidden in a maze of the jungle for hundreds of years before being found and opened for visitors. After that, drive to the abandoned Koh Ker to explore the pyramid temple of Prasat Thom and some other beautiful temples covered by jungles.

On the way back to Siem Reap, visit Les Artisans d’Angkor, the latter established in 1992 in order to support Cambodian arts and crafts, and to help young people find work in their local villages by continuing the practice of traditional arts.

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

End of all services.

Inclusions services: 

• Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast
• Land transportation by private air-conditioned vehicles
• Experienced and skilled English-Speaking Guide
• All admission fee at attractions as mentioned in the itinerary.
• All meals as mentioned in the itinerary.

Exclusions services: 

• Visa handling fee,visa stamping fee.
• Internal airfares in the tour (please refer to the airfare supplement)
• International airfare from/to Vietnam
• Any other meals not mentioned above.
• Any kind of drinks in meals
• All other services which are not mentioned in INCLUSIONS
• Early check-in and late check-out at all hotels
• Travel insurance in all kinds
• Personal expenses such as Bar, telephone, Laundry bills …
• Tipping/ Gratuities Guideline
• Any additional expenses caused by reasons beyond our control such as natural calamities (Typhoon, floods), flight delays, rescheduling or cancellations, any accidents, medical evacuations, riots, strikes etc.
• Surcharge for peak season/public holidays if any.