Cambodia Essential

Day 1: Phnom Penh Arrival

Welcome to Phnom Penh, the Capital City. Phnom Penh is the capital and most populous city in Cambodia. Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonization of Cambodia and has grown to become the nation’s economic, industrial, and cultural center.

Upon arrival inside the arrival terminal of Phnom Penh International Airport, look for our tour guide at the arrival counter holding a signboard with your name on it. You will then be transferred to your hotel for check-in (early check-in is not included and depends on the hotel’s availability). Enjoy free time at your own leisure. In the late afternoon, we will visit Wat Phnom, a historic hilltop temple, and Wat Ounalom, an important Buddhist monastery. Afterwards, you will enjoy a boat ride along the Mekong River to view the sunset. The day concludes with a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

Included for the day:
Transport: Private vehicle and driver
Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Welcome dinner
Accommodation: Baitang Hotel (deluxe garden view) or a similar standard hotel

Day 2: Phnom Penh City Tour

Breakfast at the hotel, and then we will start the day with a visit to Independence Monument, which is a symbol of Cambodia’s independence; followed by the Royal Palace, the residence of the King and a stunning example of Khmer architecture; then the National Museum, home to a rich collection of Angkorian artifacts; and the Central Market, a bustling market offering local goods and souvenirs. Lunch will be at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we will visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a former prison used during the Khmer Rouge regime, and the Choeung Ek Killing Fields, a site of mass executions and a poignant reminder of Cambodia’s tragic history. Afterwards, we will return to the hotel for free leisure time. Dinner is at your own

Included for the day:
Transport: Private vehicle and driver
Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Baitang Hotel (deluxe garden view) or a similar standard hotel

Day 3: Phnom Penh – Siem Reap (by flight)

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before a private transfer (without a guide) to Phnom Penh Airport for a short flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by a local guide and transferred to your hotel for check-in (please note that early check-in is not included and depends on availability). In the late afternoon, a guide and scooter driver will pick you up from the hotel to visit Preah Angchek Preah Ang Cham, explore Wat Damnak to learn more about Buddhism, interact with locals at the market, and participate in a Monk Blessing Ceremony for good luck and prosperity, reflecting local beliefs and culture. The evening concludes with a walk around the old market, followed by dinner at a local restaurant.

Included for the day:
Transport: Private vehicle and driver
Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Accommodation: Lynnaya Urban River Resort (deluxe garden view) or a similar standard hotel

Day 4: Siem Reap – Sunrise & Angkor Temples

At 5:00 am, our guide and driver will pick you up to drive to the main artificial lake of Srah Srang to watch the sunrise. Your guide will find the perfect spot for you to wait and witness the sun rising on the other side of the lake, creating a stunning and tranquil scene reflected in the water. After sunrise, beat the crowds early at 7:00 am with a visit to the picturesque Ta Prohm, a temple nearly swallowed by the jungle, overgrown with roots that create an eerily haunting and exotic scene. The magnificent roots of ancient trees pushing between the massive stone blocks evoke feelings that may stay with you forever. Your breakfast box from the hotel will be arranged at a local cafe, where you can enjoy a cup of coffee before we continue to explore the intricately carved Khmer ruins at Angkor Wat, one of the world’s most impressive archaeological sites. The temple is renowned for its exquisite Apsara carvings and detailed Angkorian-era art. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, explore the mysterious Royal City of Angkor Thom. Highlights include the Bayon Temple, with its 54 towers and massive stone faces. At first glance, it appears as a shapeless mass of stone, but upon closer inspection, you’ll notice the serene faces gazing out with half-closed eyes, conveying a silent, enigmatic presence from a primitive and remote era. Next, visit the surrounding complex, including Baphuon Temple, Elephant Terraces, Lepper King Terrace, and the Royal Palace area, offering a deeper insight into the grandeur of Angkor’s ancient civilization. Return to the hotel in town at about 3.30 pm

Included for the day:
Transport: Private vehicle and driver
Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Lynnaya Urban River Resort (deluxe garden view) or a similar standard hotel

Day 5: Siem Reap – Village Cooking & Tonle Sap Lake Boat Ride

Our guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to a remote village, where you will be welcomed by villagers and enjoy an ox-cart ride for about 10-20 minutes around the village. You will walk through the village to see daily activities such as weaving, working in rice fields, and tending vegetable gardens. Later, you’ll stop at a traditional Khmer house where the hosts will teach you how to cook three Cambodian dishes, which you can enjoy afterward. In the afternoon, continue to Tonle Sap Lake to take a boat ride through the floating villages, providing an interesting opportunity to learn about the unique lifestyle of people living on floating houses, with floating shops, schools, and more. Discover how this vast lake, covering 12 square kilometers, is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. Finally, return to your hotel in Siem Reap in the late afternoon

Included for the day:
Transport: Private vehicle and driver
Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Breakfast, lunch (cooking class)
Accommodation: Lynnaya Urban River Resort (deluxe garden view) or a similar standard hotel

Day 6: Siem Reap – Departure

Breakfast at the hotel.
Free at leisure until transfer to the airport for departure

Included for the day:
Transport: Private vehicle and driver
Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Breakfast