6 days Phnom Penh to Siem Reap

Beneath the Cardamom Mountains or on the banks of the Mekong, Khmer village life goes on pretty much as it always has (give or take the odd iPhone). And when you’re watching the sunrise over Angkor Wat or the ruins of Tha Promh, the modern world feels a long way off. While progress was dampened for years by a tragic history, Cambodia is now a country on the move.

With riverside boulevards and art galleries popping up in Phnom Penh, and Siem Reap's growing reputation for hip cafes and top-notch dining and, Cambodia tours aren’t just about the temple-gazing (although we have to admit, the gazing is pretty darn good!).

Day 1: Phnom Penh

Welcome to Phnom Penh, Cambodia! Our adventure begins with a welcome meeting late in the afternoon. If you arrive early, consider strolling through the streets of Phnom Penh and admiring the interesting French colonial architecture. You'll spend the night in a hotel.

Day 2: Phnom Penh

Today, a full city tour introduces you to the sights of Phnom Penh, a city located near the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. While the private quarters of the Royal Palace, home to King Sihamoni, are closed to the public, you will be able to visit the Silver Pagoda within the palace complex, which is the most sacred temple in the country.

Phnom Penh is a living relic of the country’s past struggles and successes. Your tour includes visits to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, which tell the tragic legacy of the Khmer Rouge. Tuol Sleng, a former school, served as a Khmer Rouge torture center, and it’s estimated that more than 20,000 people were held and tortured there.

The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek feature a stupa containing around 8,000 human skulls, marking the site of the infamous executions. This peaceful setting makes it almost unthinkable that nearly 9,000 corpses have been exhumed from the area.

These visits are significant parts of the experience, but if you prefer not to visit them, please inform your leader. Alternatively, you can opt for a visit to Wat Phnom, the temple that gave rise to the foundation of the city in the 15th century. After today's activities, we may choose to relax in a café by the riverfront. We will spend the night in the same hotel. (Breakfast and lunch are included)

Day 3: Phnom Penh - Siem Reap

Begin the scenic drive to Siem Reap (approximately 7 hours, including stops). Along the way, swing by a local village restaurant for a tasty lunch. Arrive in the small but expanding town of Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor and the most popular destination for travellers in all of Cambodia, perhaps even in South East Asia.

We take a walk and enjoy the atmosphere. A visit to the old market is a must, even if you're not looking for souvenirs, wandering through the stalls and surrounding shops the silks, cottons, sarongs, silver and statues are a riot of colour and a feast for the eyes – and there will be one for our stomach too if we try some of the cheap, delicious street food!

There's also a long tradition of shadow puppetry in the region, and if we're lucky we might catch a show at one of the local restaurants in the evening, perhaps while you're eating the specialty cuisine of Cambodia – amok, the name given to curry steam-cooked in banana leaves. We stay overnight in a hotel. (Breakfast and lunch are included)

Day 4: Siem Reap - Angkor Thom - Angkor Wat

Today we will visit the "Great City" of Angkor Thom, the sights include the famous Bayon Temple, Phimeanakas Temple within the Royal Palace enclosure, Baphoun Temple, the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. Our next destination is Ta Prohm - one of the area's most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery.

Afternoon dedicated to visit the most famous & magnificent Angkor Vat temple. This architectural masterpiece was constructed in the 12th century and covers an area of about 210 hectares. With many galleries with columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and ponds full of water, carved low-reliefs about Ramayana Story and day-to-day life at the time of Angkor's construction. Dinner is served at a local restaurant with Apsara dance show. We stay overnight in the same hotel. (Breakfast and dinner are included)

Day 5: Siem Reap - Kbal Spean - Banteay Srei

In the morning, we will visit the enchanting Banteay Srei. This temple is renowned for its intricate carvings in pink sandstone, leaving no space undecorated. Following our visit, we will drive to a small chain of hills. After about an hour, we will arrive near Kbal Spean and continue our journey on foot. After approximately a 40-minute walk, we will hear the sound of a waterfall.

We will discover that the riverbed and the surrounding rocks are covered with carvings representing the gods of the Brahma religion, dating back as far as the 11th century. This site is known as the "Thousand Lingas River." The water flows over sculptures of Vishnu, Lakshmi, Hanuman, Rama, and many Lingas, which were carved in stone to sanctify the water and thank the gods for their gift.

The sound of a small waterfall invites us to follow the river further through the small gorge. In the evening, we will enjoy a performance at Phare, the Cambodian Circus. The performers use theater, music, dance, and modern circus arts to tell uniquely Cambodian stories—historical, folk, and modern. We will spend the night in the same hotel. (Breakfast and lunch are included)

Day 6: Siem Reap

After breakfast, we are free to leave at any time, as there are no activities planned today. (Breakfast is included)

The facts:

The trip cost:
 

• $698USD per person for a group of 2 to 6 people
• $536USD per person for a group of 7 to 10 people
   

The cost of the trip includes:
 

• Accommodation
• Transportation
   
• Meals listed on the itinerary
• Purified drinking water
   
• Tour guide
• Entrance fees
• VAT and other taxes

The cost of the trip does not include: 
 

• Travel insurance
• Drinks (soft drinks, alcohol)
   
• Tips and gratuities.
• Other personal expenses such as shopping, telephone, laundry and bar bills etc...

What to Bring:

Pack essentials, including light comfortable clothes suitable for outdoor activities, small day pack for cycling, walking and hiking. We also recommend packing: insect repellent, sun cream, raincoat and sun hat

Have a great journey!!!