Cambodia discovery: from city to sea

Siem Reap

Day 1: Touch down in Siem Reap

Suo Sdei! Welcome to Cambodia!

We’ll be waiting to welcome you into Siem Reap and guide you to your first hotel. Here you can take time to rest, recover and get ready for your adventure.

In the evening, you’ll enjoy a welcome dinner at Heaven Restaurant. This is a social enterprise serving creative Cambodian cuisine whilst providing vocational training and education to unskilled youths from rural areas.

Angkor Wat - Bayon Temple - Ta Prohm

Day 2: Explore the Angkor temple complex

Start your adventure at sunrise with a guided tour around the magnificent Angkor temple complex. 

Witness sunrise over Angkor Wat - built in the early 12th century by King Suryavarman II and the most famous Angkor temple. Your expert guide will be on hand to recount the history and share impressive details as you explore its libraries, galleries, and towers. 

After breakfast, you'll head into Angkor Thom through the ancient gate, an impressive stone gate carved with elephants and four giant faces. You’re making for Bayon Temple, famed for the enigmatic faces that represent the 54 provinces of the Great Khmer Empire.

After lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll uncover Ta Prohm temple. Overgrown by jungle trees and vines, Ta Prohm has been largely left as it was discovered, making it one of the most atmospheric temples in the complex.

Banteay Samrei - Banteay Srei - Beng Mealea

Day 3: Discover Banteay Samre, Banteay Srei and Beng Mealea

Head out of Siem Reap and make for the temple of Banteay Samre. This is a Hindu temple in the Angkor Wat style and named after the Samré, an ancient people of Indochina.

Follow unpaved roads through lush landscapes and experience a glimpse of life in the local villages on the way to your next destination: the temple of Banteay Srei. Known as the Citadel of Women, this red sandstone temple is one of Angkor’s most significant structures. The temple walls are decorated with well-preserved and elaborate carvings.

Enjoy lunch near the temple, then continue to the spectacular ruins of Beng Mealea. This temple preceded Angkor Wat and may have served as a prototype of sorts. Today, the temple is largely overrun by the surrounding jungle and the stone walls are crumbling which adds to its unique charm.

Siem Reap - Kampong Phluk

Day 4: Experience the great lake of Tonle Sap

It’s time to take in the natural beauty of Cambodia by heading to the great lake of Tonle Sap.

Taking the backroads to experience a slice of rural Cambodia, we’ll wind our way towards the floating villages of Tonle Sap. Here, you will gain a deeper understanding of the traditions and livelihoods of those that have adapted to life on the water. 

Head back to Siem Reap in the afternoon and take the rest of the day to explore the city at your own pace.

Siem Reap - Phnom Penh

Day 5: Take a foodie tour of Phnom Penh

Start the day with a journey to the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. Stop at Skun village for a taste of their famous deep-fried tarantulas and enjoy a coffee in Kampong Thom.

You’ll have the afternoon to explore Phnom Penh at your own leisure but be sure to be back at the hotel at 5 pm for your foodie tour by tuk-tuk. 

The tour will be at the lively bar on Sisowath Quay. Grab a cocktail and enjoy views across the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers as the sunsets.

Head down to the river, where roadside stalls sell a variety of edible insects to try. Your guide will be on hand to decipher the surprisingly tasty offerings. 

Continue by tuk-tuk to the Russian Market, where typical Khmer food such as Banh Chheu and beef skewers, are served. Take your pick of the food stalls, pull up a plastic stool amongst the locals, and soak up the atmosphere.

Phnom Penh - Silk Island - Tuol Sleng

Day 6: Cycle across the Silk Islands

Escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and cross the river by ferry to the Silk Islands. 

Swapping the ferry for bicycles, we take a leisurely ride through orchards and vegetable farms, learning about the lives of the people who call the Silk Islands home. 

On our cycle, we’ll discover traditional village crafts and get a better sense of authentic Cambodian life on these islands. Learn about Cambodia’s silk weaving history, stroll through quiet villages, relax on the riverbank, or go for a dip.

Returning to the city, we’ll spend the afternoon at Choeung Ek, better known as the “Killing Fields” where thousands of people were executed during the Khmer Rouge regime. This will include the genocide museum, “Tuol Sleng,” which is a testimony to the Cambodian genocide of that period.

Phnom Penh - Kampot

Day 7: Stroll the riverside streets of Kampot

Today, we depart the capital and journey to the riverside town of Kampot. 

This region supplied most French with a vital spice for many years during colonial rule - Kampot pepper. These days, you’ll find more plantations of durian – a spiky, pungent fruit with a distinct flavor that you’ll either love or hate.

You’re free to explore the town at your own pace in the afternoon. Stroll along the river admiring the French colonial architecture and view of the Bokor Mountain Range. Relax with a cup of coffee on the veranda of one of the riverside restaurants. 

In the evening, explore further with a guided walking tour of the town. Learn about the history of Kampot and its iconic landmarks.

Kampot - Bokor National Park

Day 8: Uncover a once-luxurious resort in Bokor National Park

Head for the hills to discover Bokor National Park.

Take the train to Bokor Hill Station and uncover the remains of a 1920s luxurious mountain resort. This was once a temperate retreat for French colonialists to escape the heat of Phnom Penh. 

Today, many of the buildings lie abandoned, creating an eerie but enchanting atmosphere. The views from the top of the mountain are stunning, and the ride through the lush jungle is a still refreshing break from the city.

Kampot - La Plantation

Day 9: Cook up local cuisine at La Plantation

Today, we’ll meet the team at La Plantation, a social and sustainable family project that combines traditional farming with modern processing. 

Black, red and white Kampot peppers are all grown here as well as the exclusive Fresh Salted Kampot Pepper, and other products besides.

You’ll join a morning cooking class to introduce you to the local spices grown on the farm. Learn how to cook some traditional Khmer dishes and take recipes home so that you can recreate your favorites.

Kampot - Koh Rong

Day 10: Journey to Koh Rong island

Leaving Kampot, we take the scenic route towards Sihanoukville. Take in the blue waters of the Gulf of Thailand and the buzz of everyday Cambodian life as we journey south.

Stopping off for lunch at a local hut near the sleepy hamlets along the way, you’ll catch a speed boat from Sihanoukville to Koh Rong. 

Step onto white sand beaches for a relaxing remainder of the day.

Koh Rong

Day 11: Relax on the beaches of Koh Rong

Spend your last full day in Cambodia relaxing on the picture-perfect beaches of Koh Rong.

Take a cycle ride to explore the area at your own pace or soak up some sun on this paradise island with a cocktail.

Koh Rong - Phnom Penh

Day 12: Goodbye Cambodia

After a final breakfast at your hotel, you'll transfer back to Phnom Penh for your international flight home.