9 Day Kingdom of Cambodia Tour

Fly into Phnom Penh, the city that retains its traditional Khmer and colonial charm. French villas along tree-lined boulevards remind the visitor that the city was once considered the ‘pearl’ of Southeast Asia. Recent political changes have triggered an economic boom, with new hotels, restaurants, bars and nightclubs springing up across the city. We meet our guide at the airport and transfer to hotel for check in.

MEALS: None

OVERNIGHT: 3 or 4 Star Hotel, Phnom Penh

Today is spent exploring the city of Phnom Penh. We start at the Royal Palace, built in 1866 by the Predecessors of King Norodom, is one of the most impressive colourful Khmer-style Palaces. Continue on to Emerald Buddha Temple, National Museum and Independence monument. We also learn about the dark side of Cambodia and It’s more recent turbulent and harrowing history. Visit the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum (S21), ironically a former school, located in a quiet Phnom Penh suburb, this was the infamous Khmer Rouge prison / torture centre. After this we visit Wat Phnom, Central Market and enjoy a cyclo ride along the riverside. This laid-back tour gives us a different perspective of the streets and sights of the city. We will enjoy a cruise for view sunset on the Mekong and Tonlé Sap River (1 hour). Situated at the “Four Arms” where the Mekong meets the Tonlé Sap River before splitting into two branches, Phnom Penh offers the ideal location to discover the mighty Mekong.

MEALS: Breakfast

OVERNIGHT: 3 or 4 Star Hotel, Phnom Penh

Giant Ibis Bus departs at 8:30 (2hr30) or similar Pick up by bus company and we take shuttle bus towards Kampot. The southern coast of Cambodia, edging the border with Vietnam, once served as a glamorous seaside resort for the French in the early 1900s. Evocative of the French Riviera towns along the Mediterranean coast; the towns of Kep, Sihanoukville and Kampot have tree- lined, wide roads fringing the ocean, large statues, luxury villas, casinos and even a palace overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. Arrive in Kampot, pick up by driver and transfer to hotel for check in.

MEALS: Breakfast

OVERNIGHT: 3 or 4 Star Hotel, Kampot

CTT Express bus departs at 11:30 (2hrs) or similar Pick up by bus company and we take shuttle bus towards Sihanouk Ville, which has long been a place of relaxation for Cambodians. Upon arrival at Sihanouk Ville, we take speedboat to Koh Rong Island. Famous for its serene beauty and often described as an ‘island paradise’ by visiting tourists, the island of Koh Rong boasts pristine white sandy beaches, warm crystal-clear ocean waters, and a hot tropical climate.

MEALS: Breakfast

OVERNIGHT: 3 or 4 Star Hotel, Koh Rong

A full day to explore this beautiful island at your own leisure or relax and soak up the sun and beautiful sandy beaches. There are many spectacular tourist locations on Koh Rong. The main tourist beach (Koh Touch) creates a vibrant atmosphere with lots of hotels, bars, and night clubs. The quiet, less-busier beaches are Long Set Beach, Lonely Beach and Palm Beach, which are more relaxing destinations.

MEALS: Breakfast

OVERNIGHT: 3 or 4 Star Hotel, Koh Rong

Farewell Island and take speedboat back to Sihanouk Ville, where you will be pick up by driver and we transfer to Sihanouk Ville airport for flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival at Siem Reap airport, we meet our driver and transfer to hotel for check in. The remainder of the day free for your own times in Siem Reap.

MEALS: Breakfast

OVERNIGHT: 3 or 4 Star Hotel, Siem Reap

After breakfast your tour guide will pick you up and our first stop of the day is Angkor Thom, a masterpiece of King Jayavarman VII. Following the occupation of Angkor by the Chams from 1177 to 1181, the new king decided to build an impregnable fortress at the heart of his empire. We begin to visit Bayon Temple. At the exact center of Angkor Thom, this is an eccentric expression of the creative genius and inflated ego of Cambodia’s most celebrated king. Its 54 towers are each topped off with the four faces of Avalokiteshvara (Buddha of Compassion), which bear more than a passing resemblance to the king himself.

We continue to visit Terrace of the Leper King. Along the Terrace of Elephants, originally used as a viewing gallery for the king to preside over parades, performances and traditional sports. At the southern end lies the Baphuon, once of the most beautiful temples at Angkor, dating from the reign of Uditayavarman 1 in the 11th century. We continue to visit Ta Prohm “Tomb Raider” fame. Ta Prohm has been abandoned to the elements, a reminder that while empires rise and fall, the riotous power of nature marches on, oblivious to the dramas of human history. Left as it was ‘discovered’ by French explorer Henri Mouhout in 1860, the tentacle-like tree roots here are slowly strangling the surviving stones, man first conquering nature to create, nature later conquering man to destroy. We journey out to the Mother of all temples, Angkor Wat. Believed to be the world’s largest religious building, this temple is the perfect fusion of symbolism and symmetry and a source of pride and strength to all Khmers. Another night in Siem Reap to enjoy the any bars and restaurants of Pub Street.

MEALS: Breakfast

OVERNIGHT: 3 or 4 Star Hotel, Siem Reap

Enjoy your last day of your holiday to Cambodia with a relaxing day at leisure. You may decide to return to the temples of Angkor for ore exploration or you can choose to take one of our optional trips;

Tonlé Sap Lake Tour (3hrs)

Pick up from your hotel at 8am depart for the Tonlé Sap. Enjoy a boat ride on the Lake. This is the largest permanent fresh-water lake in South East Asia and flows into Tonlé Sap Rive, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. We sail to a fishermen’s “Floating Village”, complete with a floating school and floating police station. The villages moves from place to place following water levels and current.

Cooking Class (Half Day)

Pick up by Tuk Tuk and we join Cooking class “Khmer food lovers”. Participants learn how to prepare Khmer dishes in addition to choosing products at a local market. These courses are conducted by the chefs who make every effort to ensure that you have a good time, once you have completed your cooking class, you will be comfortably seated on the terrace in our garden to enjoy the food we have prepared together. Includes Lunch.

Phnom Kulen “1000 of Lingas” & Waterfall (Full Day)

We’ll escape the heat of the city by driving 48kms North of Siem Reap to visit the holy Kulen Mountains, also referred to as Phnom Kulen (“Mountain of the Lychees”) by locals. The sandstone from this mountain was the main supplier of construction materials for the Angkor Kingdom. We’ll stop at the sacred site of The River of a Thousand Lingas, which features hundreds of lingas carved in the sandstone bed of the river, which date back to the 9th century. Further downstream, large blocks of stone, also under water, are carved with Apsaras dancers and Vishnu figures. Next on the agenda is a wander around the mountain-top pagoda which is home to relics, statues and a large reclining Buddha. The last mountain stop will be Kulen Waterfall, featuring a natural pool which is the perfect place to cool off on a hot day and a great picnic spot too, so that’s what we’ll do. On the way back to Siem Reap we’ll pay a visit to local villages make palm sugar.

MEALS: Breakfast

OVERNIGHT: 3 or 4 Star Hotel, Siem Reap

Your holiday to Cambodia has unfortunately come to an end. You will be transferred to Siem Reap International airport in time for your onward flight.

MEALS: Breakfast