HIGHLIGHTS
- Explore the grandeur of Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious monument
- Visit iconic temples including Ta Prohm, Bayon, Preah Khan and Neak Pean
- Enjoy a local street food tour by tuk tuk in Siem Reap
- Witness sunrise over Angkor Wat
- Discover the floating villages of Tonle Sap Lake by boat
- Take part in a traditional home cooking class and receive a monk blessing
- Taste local snacks, palm wine, and fresh seasonal fruits
- Be entertained at the Phare Circus in Siem Reap
- Visit Phnom Penh’s Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda
- Learn about Cambodia’s dark past at Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields
- Ride a cyclo through the French Quarter and visit Wat Phnom
- Experience a sunset cruise on the Mekong with local snacks and drinks
- Small group touring – solo travellers with their own room
PRE TOUR STAY
Consider arriving a day before the tour starts or staying on after the tour ends. You can relax and refresh after your flight. The cost of the additional night/s of stay applies. Ask our travel team about this option, and the additional costs.
DAY 1
Siem Reap – Arrival
Sua s'dei and welcome to Cambodia!
On arrival in Siem Reap, you’ll be met by your local English-speaking guide and transferred as a group to our hotel. Settle in and get ready to experience Cambodia’s ancient wonders, vibrant street life and warm hospitality.
This evening we’ll enjoy a welcome dinner at a village-style restaurant on the edge of Siem Reap, known for seasonal produce sourced from their organic farms and gardens.
Meals: Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Arrival transfer with local guide
- Welcome dinner
DAY 2
Siem Reap – Temples & Street Food By Tuk Tuk
Start the day with an early breakfast before hopping aboard a tuk tuk driven by a local female driver; a fun and empowering way to explore the city.
Our first stop is the atmospheric Ta Prohm temple, wrapped in giant tree roots and known for its appearance in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. We continue to Angkor Thom, the ancient royal city, where we’ll visit Bayon Temple, famous for its more than 200 smiling stone faces.
After returning to the hotel for a short rest, our late afternoon adventure kicks off with a street food tour. Discover local snacks and Khmer delicacies on a foodie trail through bustling streets, ending with dinner at a local restaurant and dessert from a street stall. You may choose to finish the evening exploring Pub Street or get local tips from your guide for a quieter night out.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Temple visits: Ta Prohm, Angkor Thom & Bayon
- Female-led tuk tuk touring
- Evening street food tour and dinner
- Hotel break mid-afternoon
DAY 3
Siem Reap – Sunrise & Floating Villages
Rise early to witness sunrise at Angkor Wat – a magical start to the day. Before entering the temple, we’ll pause for fruit and coffee at a local vendor’s stall. Then it’s time to explore Angkor Wat’s towering galleries, intricate carvings and central sanctuary.
Return to the hotel for breakfast, with the rest of the morning free to relax or join an optional visit
to Preah Khan and Neak Pean temples (no extra cost).
Mid-afternoon, we travel by private boat to visit the floating village of Kampong Phluk on Tonle Sap Lake, Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake. Cruise through the canal and into a flooded forest by rowboat – a peaceful, surreal experience. (Note: during the dry season, Chong Kneas village may be visited instead.)
Dinner is at a riverside restaurant offering innovative local flavours in a beautiful setting.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Angkor Wat sunrise visit
- Morning refreshment stop (fruit, coffee/tea)
- Optional temple visits: Preah Khan & Neak Pean
- Boat trip to Kampong Phluk floating village
- Rowboat through flooded forest
- Dinner together
DAY 4
Siem Reap – Cooking Class, Monk Blessing & Circus Show
This morning we head to the countryside for a hands-on cooking experience. Shop at a local market, then learn to prepare traditional dishes in a local family’s kitchen. Later, visit a nearby pagoda where we’ll offer some of the food to resident monks and receive a sacred water blessing. Lunch is what you’ve helped to prepare!
In the afternoon, visit Banteay Srei – the 'Citadel of the Women' – known for its intricate pink sandstone carvings, and optionally stop at Banteay Samre. En route, taste Khmer noodles and local sweets, and sample palm wine and sugar syrup fresh from the tree.
Tonight, there’s the option to grab some dinner (own expense) in the open air cafe before being dazzled by a live performance from the Phare Circus – a social enterprise showcasing Cambodian talent.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Traditional cooking class and lunch
- Monk blessing ceremony
- Banteay Srei temple visit (plus Banteay Samre, optional)
- Local tastings: Khmer noodles, palm wine and sweets
- Phare Circus performance
DAY 5
Siem Reap to Phnom Penh – Royal Welcome
We depart Siem Reap early for our private transfer to Phnom Penh. En route, we may stop to see the ancient bridge and the infamous Skuon market, where deep-fried tarantulas are a local snack.
After checking in and freshening up, we visit Phnom Penh’s Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda – a striking complex of golden spires and historic artefacts. The Silver Pagoda alone features over 5000 silver tiles.
This evening, stroll down lively Bassac Lane where you’ll find small bars, eateries, and live music. (Meals and drinks here are at your own expense.)
Meals: Breakfast
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Private transfer to Phnom Penh (about 5.5 hours)
- Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda visit
- Optional stop at Skuon market
DAY 6
Phnom Penh – Dark History & Sunset Cruise
Today we delve into Cambodia’s tragic past. We begin with a visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a former school turned prison under the Khmer Rouge. Afterwards, continue to the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek – a deeply moving site that honours the victims of this dark era.
Later, ride by cyclo through the French Quarter, passing colonial architecture and stopping at Wat Phnom – the city’s spiritual heart. There’s also a chance to try Khmer fortune telling (own account) from a traditional palm-leaf manuscript.
Browse the stalls at Central Market, then board a private wooden boat for a relaxing sunset cruise along the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. Enjoy snacks, local beers and soft drinks on board as Phnom Penh lights up at dusk.
Our farewell dinner is served at a rooftop venue with live music and a stylish Cambodian menu.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum & Killing Fields visits
- Cyclo tour through French Quarter
- Wat Phnom visit & Khmer fortune telling
- Central Market shopping
- Sunset cruise with snacks and drinks
- Farewell dinner at a rooftop restaurant
DAY 7
Phnom Penh – Departure
Enjoy a leisurely morning before hotel check out.
Meals: Breakfast
Itineraries may be subject to change, due to circumstances outside of our control. If there is any itinerary change prior to departure of significance we aim to inform you prior to travel. Itinerary changes while on tour will be informed by your tour leader/guide while on tour.
