Cambodia Highlights

Chum Reap Suor and welcome to the Kingdom of Wonder, Cambodia. Upon arrival to Siem Reap Airport, our representative will greet you and transfer you to your beautiful boutique hotel in the city.

Upon refreshment, the rest of your day is free at leisure to explore this small, quaint town’s markets, pub street, and museums.

Meals: No meals

Accommodation: Lynnaya Urban River Resort & Spa

Meet Cambodia’s epic past with a tour of the Angkor Archaeological Park. One of the most important historical sites in the entire region of Southeast Asia, the City of Temples will surely amaze and astound even the most experienced traveller.

Built between the 9th-15th centuries, each complex was at one point the capital of the Khmer empire.  Your tour will begin at Angkor Thom, famous for its carved faces pointing out in either direction on top of massive, 75 ft (23 m) towers. Within is the mysterious Bayon Temple, the Mona Lisa of Southeast Asia, located at the exact center of Angkor Thom, with a total of 216 carved faces.

Stops will also include the Elephant Terrace, the Leper Terrace, before moving on to the popular Ta Prohm, recognizable from the film Tomb Raider.

After a local lunch, visit the magnificent Angkor Wat. In the afternoon sun, it seems as if the entire complex is sparkling. This masterpiece is the largest city in the Angkor Park and is considered one of the best preserved ancient monuments in the world due to its perfect composition, balance and artistic design.

Behold the unsurpassed beauty as the sun slowly sets behind Angkor Wat, and then transfer back to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Lynnaya Urban River Resort & Spa

A delicious breakfast awaits you before the day tour which will further delve into the history and culture of the region.  A 1-hour drive north will bring you to Banteay Srei, the citadel of women. Constructed from pink sandstone, Banteay Srei is unlike any other temple in the entire Angkor Archaeological Park. Banteay Srei is also renowned for its detailed classical Khmer art carvings. Afterwards, we will visit Banteay Samre, another temple near to Banteay Srei and notable for its well-preserved libraries.

Return to Siem Reap in the afternoon and enjoy the rest of the day free at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Lynnaya Urban River Resort & Spa

Experience the most gorgeous boat trip in the country as your comfortable private boat whisks you away from Siem Reap to the quaint provincial town of Battambang. (Please note between March and July the journey may have to be done by land if the water level is especially low).

Voyage out onto the Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, and visit a floating fishing village to observe the daily local life. Depending on the river’s level, the ride will then continue on the Tonle Sap River, which can last anywhere from 5-8 hours, allowing you ample time to observe the daily lives of the local people along these remarkable waterways.

Transfer to your hotel in Battambang and enjoy the rest of the day free for your leisure.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Bambu Battambang Hotel

Today’s tour will help you explore the provincial city of Battambang, a traveler’s favorite in Cambodia. Enjoy a leisurely walk to view some of the French colonial architecture, such as Psar Nath, the central public market, the elegant post office, a converted French villa-turned bank, and the Lord Governor’s Palace, before stopping at the Battambang Provincial Museum to peruse local artifacts.

Lunch at Jaan Bai, a restaurant run by the Cambodia Children Trust Organization that helps orphans and street children learn a vocation.

In the afternoon, enjoy the highlight of the town, a ride on the iconic, rickety bamboo train. Originally used as a means of transportation during pre Khmer Rouge times. It is referred to as a Nori/Norry due to the French influence (ie lorry) in the region in the late 1800s.

Discover Phnom Banan, an Angkorian-styled temple before returning to your hotel to enjoy the day free for your leisure.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Bambu Battambang Hotel

This morning settle in for a scenic drive through the Cambodian countryside to Phnom Penh. On route, make a pit stop to peruse peruse the local artwork in Angdong Russey Village and the marble stone carvings in Pursat Village.

The journey continues onwards to Kampong Chhnang, a small town renowned for its traditional pottery, before departing for Phnom Oudong, the former royal capital from 1618-1866 until it had several international setbacks by the Thai, Americans, and most recently, Khmer Rouge. Here, we will visit Oudong Mountain, which offers amazing panoramic views of the surrounding scenery below, before finally arriving to Phnom Penh one hour later.

Upon arrival to your boutique hotel in Phnom Penh, there will be some time to freshen up and relax before leaving for the evening activity.

As the sun begins to set, board a riverboat for a stunning sunset dinner and cocktail cruise along the Mekong and Tonle Sap River. Enjoy a different vantage point of the glittering Royal Palace as the boat gently glides by, and watch the twinkling Phnom Penh skyline as you savor delicious Khmer food and beverages.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Queen Grand Boutique Hotel and Spa

Today we will discover the two very different sides of Phnom Penh as we learn more about the history that has shaped the city.

Stroll along the Sisowath Quay Riverwalk as it bathed in morning sunlight and enjoy the wide boulevards flanked by leafy palm trees on either side until we reach the Royal Palace, gleaming in all of its golden glory. As it is the official residence of the King and Queen of Cambodia, most of the complex is off-limits; however, there is still plenty of opportunity to visit famous sites such as the Throne, Moonlight Pavilion, and of course, the Silver Pagoda, home to the Emerald Buddha and 90 kg solid gold Buddha encrusted with diamonds and jewels.

Learn about the recent dark history of Cambodia by visiting the infamous sites left from Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. A 45-minute drive brings us to one of the most infamous Killing Fields, Chuong Ek.  Just one of the 20,000 mass grave sites found within the country, Chuong Ek is now a Buddhist memorial to the many lives that were lost between 1975 and 1979. It is also a monument to the many who survived the atrocities committed and an educational tool to ensure history does not repeat itself. It is believed that 17,000 men, women, and children were slaughtered here.

After your visit finishes, journey back to Phnom Penh and stop at Tuol Sleng Prison, a former school-turned torture center and only 1 of the 150 execution centers used by the Khmer Rouge regime. Nowadays, it is a Genocide Museum dedicated to the victims and survivors and holds many artifacts kept by the Khmer Rouge such as photographs, clothing, preserved prison cells and other items.

Upon completion of the city tour, the rest of the day is free for your independent exploration of the city.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Queen Grand Boutique Hotel and Spa

Enjoy your last Khmer breakfast and explore the city at leisure until your onward booked transfer.

This is the perfect time to snatch up those last minute souvenirs at the Russian Market and Phsar Thmei, or to check-out interesting sites such as the National Museum of Cambodia, which holds the world’s leading collection of Khmer art and sculptures and Wat Phnom, a Buddhist temple built in 1373 and the founding site of the city.

Meals: Breakfast