Classic Cambodia: a cultural adventure

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.

After breakfast, you’ll start your adventure with a guided tour around the magnificent Angkor temple complex. 

Start with 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. 

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.

Start the day by heading out of Siem Reap to 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.

Stop for lunch at a local restaurant before the journey to Kbal Spean. A short walk along the jungle trail to the waterfall will provide a stunning view of the River of a Thousand Lingas - an ancient Khmer site in Phnom Kulen National Park.

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.

Strikeout of Siep Reap for the banks of the Sangker River. Your destination is the town of Battambang, known as Cambodia’s rice basket due to the prolific surrounding rice fields. 

There’s a chance to relax by the pool in the afternoon before the evening walking tour of the city center. Battambang has been shaped by Khmer, French, and Chinese influences to create a fascinating cultural tapestry. This has created a fascinating local culture and clash of colonial-era and modern architecture.

Take a morning tour of the gorgeous Battambang countryside on a bamboo train, known locally as a ‘norrie’. It’s a unique and fun experience traveling by what is essentially a bamboo bed.

Follow this up with an exploration of traditional crafts. You’ll visit local families who make traditional products such as rice paper and bamboo sticky rice, using age-old techniques. In this way, you’ll experience and learn about everyday life in Cambodia’s rural communities.

Later in the afternoon, we will make for Sampov Mountain to catch the sunset and take in spectacular views over Battambang. Sampov is a truly special place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and embrace the tranquility of the mountain. 

Stay until dusk to witness the bats pouring out of the nearby caves and heading out across the surrounding paddy fields in search of food.

This morning, you’ll journey over to Farmhouse Smiling Gecko.  

On the way, you’ll be pausing at various points to get the lie of the land and witness the changing landscapes. One of those stops will include a visit to a family maintaining traditional pottery techniques. 

Arriving at Farmhouse Smiling Gecko, you can relax by the swimming pool or treat yourself to a soothing massage. This bungalow resort was established in 2015 by a local NGO to provide disadvantaged locals with a training opportunity to acquire skills that will allow them to earn a living without leaving their hometown.

In the afternoon, a member of the Smiling Gecko team will give you an overview of their other inspirational projects. Each has a focus on education, supporting local employment initiatives, and promoting self-help among the rural population.

Start the day with a tour of the farm. You will gain a deeper insight into the structures and work of the innovative social project and visit some of the other local Smiling Gecko projects. This might include the school, agricultural farms, and the carpentry workshop. 

Your afternoon will be at your own leisure. After a week on the road, this is the moment to relax and enjoy the spacious swimming pool or join a yoga session in a beautiful yoga shala. Wellness programs can also be found in the small but excellent massage center.

Wave goodbye to Farmhouse Smiling Gecko and head for the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. 

You’ll make a brief stop at Phnom Oudong to take in the beautiful view of plains and rice fields before arriving in the capital.

Found at the confluence of two mighty rivers - the Mekong and Tonle Sap - Phnom Penh has retained much of its colonial-era buildings creating a clash of Asian and Western traditions. 

You’ll have the afternoon to explore the city at your own pace. However, in the evening, it’s time to jump aboard a sunset cruise along the riverfront. Take in the sights and sip cocktails, beer, or soft drinks as you get a unique perspective on Phnom Penh.

Today, embark on a full day city tour of Phnom Penh with your guide in tow.

Your first stop will be a sobering visit to Choeung Ek, better known as the “Killing Fields,” where thousands of people were executed during the Khmer Rouge regime. This will be followed by the genocide museum, “Tuol Sleng,” which is a testimony to the Cambodian genocide of that period.

Get into the hustle and bustle by visiting the magnificent Royal Palace, the impressive waterfront, and the fascinating architecture with Asian and Western influences. With its local flair, historical beauty, and culture, Phnom Penh is a unique place to experience.

It's time to goodbye to Cambodia. Your driver will transfer you to the airport for your international flight home.