Visit Cambodia: 2 weeks of temples & beaches

Itinerary in brief:

• 4 nights Siem Reap
• 1 night Preah Viher
• 1 night Banteay Chhmar
• 3 nights Battambang
• 2 nights Phnom Penh
• 3 nights Koh Rong

Day 1: Depart UK

Depart the UK from your chosen airport.

Included: International flights

Day 2: Arrive Cambodia

You will be welcomed to Siem Reap by your local guide, who will take you to your hotel for check in. In the evening you will enjoy a delicious dinner at Haven restaurant.

Included: Breakfast, guiding, transport, 4* hotel

Day 3: Siem Reap

After breakfast, you’ll explore the main Angkor Temple sites on a 3 hour cycle tour. First, you’ll head to the ancient city of Angkor Thom, to admire the enigmatic faces before continuing to the towers of Bayon Temple in the centre of the city and returning to the hotel for a relaxing break during the midday heat.

In the afternoon, continue by tuk-tuk to the unique Ta Prohm, one of the most memorable Angkor temples. Overgrown by jungle trees and vines, many parts of the temple are crumbling to the ground. You’ll also visit Bantey Kdei, a Buddhist monastery from the late 12^th century, and Srah Srang, also known as the ‘pool of ablutions’.

Then you’ll visit a local enterprise, Satcha, where craftsmen and women have a space to work as well as receive training in different artistic skills. Finish your day with a walk through the natural gardens and watch artists carve stone, wood, weave baskets and paint whilst your guide explains specific fields of work.

Included: Breakfast, lunch, guiding, transport, 4* hotel

Day 4: Siem Reap

This morning in an early start but well worth it when you capture a memorable experience watching the sunrise at Angkor Wat. Explore the iconic towers as the sun’s rays slowly appear over the temple, which is featured on Cambodia's national flag as the temple symbolizes the soul of the Khmer people. 

After breakfast back at the hotel, you’ll head out to experience the authentic Cambodian rural lifestyle. You’ll be driven to the outskirts of Siem Reap, through local villages and rice fields, stopping at a small but vibrant local market along the way.

Next, you will board a private, local wooden vessel for a boat trip along a canal which leads to the Tonle Sap Lake, Southeast Asia’s largest lake. Along the way, you will have a unique opportunity to gain a better understanding of the local lifestyle by having lunch in a family house.

Return to Siem Reap in the afternoon to relax at your hotel.

Included: Breakfast, lunch, guiding, transport 4* hotel

Day 5: Siem Reap

Today, you will head north through pastoral countryside to visit Kbal Spean, one of the earliest pilgrimage sites in Cambodia. Head off on a 3km trek up the hill through dense jungle, where you will be rewarded by excellent views over the plains and the Kullen Hills. During the rainy season, you can enjoy a refreshing swim in the waterfall, which is extremely popular with the local families. You’ll find some remarkable stone carvings of Hindu gods and symbols in the riverbed.

Next, visit the Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity, the first nature conservation project established in Cambodia. As you stroll through the grounds, you will see various endangered species, whilst learning about the threats to Cambodia’s wildlife. In the afternoon, you’ll discover the temple of Banteay Srey, the best-preserved temple in Cambodia. This unique temple is made of pink sandstone, which is seen nowhere else in the Angkor complex.

Stop in at the Cambodian Landmine Museum before heading back to Siem Reap to spend the afternoon at leisure.

Included: Breakfast, lunch, guiding, transport, 4* hotel

Day 6: Siem Reap – Preah Vihear

After an early breakfast, you’ll head north towards the Thai border, stopping along the way at the remote Koh Ker Temple complex, which is best known for its grandiose sculptures and structures. Here you’ll see various impressive temples including Prasat Thom (the tallest pyramid built in the Angkor era) and the Elephant Temple.

Enjoy a late lunch as you arrive in the province of Preah Vinhear before you check into your hotel. Later in the afternoon, you’ll visit the incredible Preah Vihear temple in a pick-up truck for a climb up the spectacularly steep mountain road. Once you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views over the plains of Cambodia and Thailand from the ruins of the temple. Perched on the end of a cliff with seemingly endless views over Cambodia’s jungles, the temple has some spectacular carvings to discover.

Included: Breakfast, lunch, guiding, transport, 3* hotel

Day 7: Preah Vihear- Banteay Chhmar

After breakfast, you’ll check out early for a transfer to Banteay Chhmar. The accommodation tonight will be at a traditional, local homestay. This will be a memorable and intimate encounter where you’ll experience Cambodian daily life and learn the local customs of a typical Khmer village.

After reaching the local homestay, you’ll enjoy lunch at the community centre where you can learn about one of the most successful community based tourism initiatives in Cambodia.

In the early afternoon, explore the UNESCO World Heritage Banteay Chhmar, an exceptional temple which gets very few visitors. Every step through the complex provides fascinating images of stones consumed by nature.

The day will finish towards the Ta Prohm temple, where you’ll enjoy a unique night-time picnic overlooked by the gaze of Bayon-style towers, whilst enjoying traditional Khmer music from local villagers.

Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, guiding, transport, homestay

Day 8: Banteay Chhmar – Battambang

This morning you’ll journey to Battambang, stopping briefly at a local silk weaving initiative, followed by a second stop at a satellite temple of Banteay Chhmar known as Banteay Torp. After lunch, you’ll continue your journey towards Battambang.

On arrival, check into your hotel and have the afternoon at leisure to discover the old town of Battambang independently. There are a number of interesting art galleries and shops to explore amongst the French colonial buildings.

Included: Breakfast, lunch, private guiding and transportation, 3* hotel

Day 9: Battambang

After breakfast, you’ll head out for a ride on the bamboo train. This unique experience was setup by villagers to facilitate transportation as in the past there were no regular trains running. You’ll ride the very basic train (made from a bamboo platform and 4 wheels powered by a small engine), 8 kilometres to the next station, through lush landscapes and rice paddies.

Next, you’ll make a stop at the nearby Ancient House, the oldest standing Khmer timber house in Wat Kor Village. You’ll be shown around, learning everything from how they mill their own rice to demonstrating the after-dinner betel leaf ritual.

You’ll continue south through local villages and farms on the way to Wat Banan, a temple on a mountain top between lush paddy fields and colourful lotus ponds. The climb is short and steep but worth it when you’re able to enjoy the views over the picturesque countryside and explore the ancient temple.

Relax for the rest of the afternoon at your hotel, before enjoying dinner at the stylish Jaan Bai (meaning ‘rice bowl’ in Khmer), a social enterprise restaurant established by the Cambodian Children’s trust to provide training and employment for disadvantaged youths, with all profits going to support the activities of the trust.

Included: Breakfast, guiding, transport, dinner, 3* hotel

Day 10: Battambang

The day begins with a morning cycle ride around the local villages surrounding Battambang with SoksaBike, a social enterprise set up to provide scenic and informative bike rides through the local countryside. During the 30km cycle tour there are plenty of stops to learn how the locals produce rice paper, prahok (typical Cambodian fish paste), grolan (sticky rice stuffed in bamboo) and other Cambodian treats.

Head back to your hotel to relax for a few hours before heading out to Phnom Sampeau, meaning ‘Ship Hill’ due to it’s distinctive shape. From the small temple on the top, you’ll have fantastic views 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. Your visit will last until dusk, when millions of bats emerge from the caves, flitting across the evening sky.

Included: Breakfast, guiding, transport, 3* hotel

Day 11: Battambang – Phnom Penh

It’s an early start today for your journey from Battambang to Phnom Penh. Your first stop is Kampong Chhnang, known for its traditional pottery, with many kilns at work in this province. You’ll stop in a village nearby to see the different aspects of pottery making.

Continue to Oudong, the former royal capital of Cambodia after the fall of Angkor. The drive passes through many rural villages, as well as the temple mountain, viewing its dozens of stupas from afar.

On arrival at Oudong you’ll enjoy a traditional Khmer lunch at a picnic hut at the foot of the hill before climbing the stairs to the top of the mountain, enjoying magnificent views over the plains below. Your guide will explain the history of the area and the religious culture of the Cambodian people.

Before heading to Phnom Penh, you’ll stop to take a look at the Vipassana Dhura Buddhist Meditation Centre. Your guide will explain more about the school of Vipassana (insight meditation) as you tour the centre.

You’ll reach Phnom Penh in the late afternoon, checking into your hotel to enjoy your evening at leisure.

Included: Breakfast, transport, guiding, lunch, 4* hotel

Day 12: Phnom Penh

This morning you’ll tour to the most remarkable sites of Phnom Phen in a cyclo - an original Phnom Pehn means of transportation and a fun way to explore the lively city. First, learn about Cambodia’s dark history on a visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, housed in the former school that was taken over by the Khmer Rouge and used as its main destination and torture centre names ‘S-21’.

You’ll continue along this lively riverfront to the Royal Palace which dates back to 1866 and houses the Silver Pagoda. In this temple you can admire a collection of shimmering buddhas in gold, silver, crystal and bronze. After this, you’ll stop in at Wat Phnom to see some examples Khmer art and architecture. After lunch, you will continue to the National Museum, which houses a collection of ancient Khmer artistic, archaeological, and religious artifacts from the 4^th to 13^th centuries.

In the late afternoon, you’ll return to the riverside where a boat is waiting. Climb aboard and cast off onto the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers for a sunset cruise under a scarlet sky, whilst admiring the views of the twinkling city at night.

Included: Breakfast, lunch, transport, guiding, 4* hotel

Day 13: Phnom Penh – Koh Rong

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up by your local guide and driven to Sihanoukville, around 3 hours away. On arrival at the pier, you’ll hop on a speedboat to the island, which will take around 45 minutes. On arrival, check into your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Included: Breakfast, transport, 4* hotel

Day 14 – 15: Koh Rong

Enjoy your day at leisure exploring the pristine island of Koh Rong. Relax on the beach, snorkel in the turquoise water or simply sip cocktails by the pool.

Included: Breakfast, 4* hotel

Day 16: Depart Cambodia

Enjoy your final morning in paradise before taking the speedboat back to the mainland, and being driven back to Phnom Penh. Here you’ll catch your international flight back to the UK.

Included: Breakfast, transport, international flights

Day 17: Arrive UK