Authentic Cambodia Itinerary 11 days

Sous sa rye (Hello)!

When you get to Siem Reap Airport, your private guide and driver will be there to greet you with a big smile and a sign with your name on it. They will then take you straight to your hotel.

After you check-in, you'll have time to settle in and get used to Siem Reap's pace. If you have time on the first day, Let's go to the great Angkor National Museum. Before going to the temples, the visit is a great way to learn about the best parts of Angkor. The museum has a collection of Angkorian artifacts, texts, and audiovisual presentations that could be very large. If you know even a little bit about the history and meaning of the architecture, visiting the temples will be a much richer and more interesting experience.

NOTE: To get into Cambodia, you need both a passport and a visa. Your passport must also be valid for at least six months after the date you enter Cambodia. You can get a visa on arrival in Cambodia. Make sure you have two photos that fit the size of a passport.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Morning

Escape the throng by beginning your day with a visit to the 13th-century Ta Prohm, a hauntingly magnificent temple where the roots of enormous banyans and strangler figs entwine most of the stonework, producing images that have changed little since Henri Mouhot unearthed Angkor in 1863. This temple makes the "Tomb Raider Temple" one of the most iconic and spectacular Angkorian structures.

Angkor Thom was the historic capital of the Great Khmer Empire, which once governed a significant area of Southeast Asia. This city is surrounded by an 8-meter-tall, square-shaped wall. You will enter the city through the ancient South Gate, a massive stone structure adorned with four enormous faces and elephants. The sacred Naga serpent is held by a row of 54 gods or demons on each side of the entrance.

Return to the hotel to take a respite from the midday heat.

Afternoon

You visit the late-12th-century Buddhist monastery Banteay Kdei ("Citadel of Chambers") and Sra Srang, also known as the "pool of ablutions,”. The Bayon Temple is situated at the exact geographic center of the ancient city. This magnificent work of art from the 12th century is renowned for its 54 towers with mysterious faces, which represent the 54 provinces of the Ancient Khmer Empire.

Both the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King are renowned for their superb bas-reliefs, so you will view them as well. On your tour through the grounds of the historic Imperial Palace, you will discover a variety of secret temples that are rarely visited.

End your travel day with a leisurely gondola ride across the moats of Angkor Thom. Picture the regal city when it governed over two million people in blissful seclusion about 800 years ago. As the sun approaches the horizon, make your way to Prasat Chrung, a small temple built in the style of Bayon, and climb an iron staircase to a quiet spot for breathtaking sunset views over the ruins.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Meals included: Breakfast.

Morning

As dawn breaks, you will be at the most important religious structure in the nation, admiring the magnificent Temple of Angkor Wat from across a pond.

After the sun rises behind the three towers, the majority of people will return to hotel breakfasts and the throng will begin to disperse. We will tour Angkor Wat in a more quiet setting by taking advantage of the cool temperatures and soft early light.

You will start touring Angkor Wat, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. At this time, you have no likely caught views of the towers above the treetops and the gates in front of you. Now, though, you will be able to satisfy your burgeoning curiosity of recent days.

Visit Angkor Wat and learn about the extraordinary mythology and architecture that have left archaeologists with more questions than answers. Angkor Wat is home to some of the most intricate and vast stone carvings in the world. This complex is four times the size of Vatican City, making it the largest religious site in the world. Spend the balance of the morning exploring the numerous passageways, levels, and rooms that formerly contained priceless antiquity. This will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

You will depart Angkor Wat and go to the countryside to see the "jewel" of the Angkor region, the beautiful Banteay Srey temple. The so-called "Citadel of the Ladies" is the best-preserved temple in Cambodia. The bas-reliefs of this small temple are some of the best specimens of classical Khmer artwork. Banteay Srey is exclusive to Angkor due to its construction of pink sandstone, which cannot be found elsewhere.

Heading north to one of the first Hindu pilgrimage sites in Cambodia, Kbal Spean. You will ascend through dense jungle to a vantage point viewing the lowlands and Kulen hills upon arrival. At the summit, the riverbed of the "River of 1000 Lingas" contains incredible stone carvings of Hindu deities, animals, and other symbols.

Afternoon

After enjoying lunch, you may take a refreshing dip in the neighboring waterfall, a local family favorite. On the route back to Siem Reap, stop briefly at the Land Mine Museum, which promotes mine awareness. Mr. Aki Ra, the museum's founder, was trained as a child soldier during the Khmer Rouge regime and currently works as a de-miner. The museum also serves as a rescue center for a number of land mine amputee children rescued by Aki Ra from the streets of Phnom Penh or from impoverished rural areas.

The evening is your time, let's walk around to learn Siem Reap by night.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Meals included: Breakfast.

Morning

Today, we will visit one of the most remote and non-touristy floating communities in Cambodia, offering us a glimpse into the way of life of local fishermen on Lake Tonle Sap.

We travel to the village of Dom Dek in the morning. If time permits, we stop at the vibrant and genuine local market.

We take a detour to explore the bizarre ambiance of Kompong Kleang village: a long dirt walk flanked with houses constructed on stilts up to 10 meters high to withstand the rainy season's flooding. Discover the villager's daily existence. As was formerly the case, the villagers here make their living through fishing.

Afterward, aboard a private, traditional wooden boat, we travel along the canal into Tonle Sap Lake. The floating town is a vast community that has lived and worked on the river for ages. In addition to residences, the hamlet contains schools, shops, workshops, and floating restaurants.

Afternoon

We travel to the Beang Melea temple, one of the last Hindu sanctuaries constructed before to the spread of Buddhism. While no major conservation or restoration work has been conducted, this is one of the most fascinating places to visit. In addition, this location is surrounded by the jungle.

Overnight at Siem Reap.

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.

We leave Siem Reap for Battambang in the early morning, Cambodia's second-largest city.

The late-12th-century Banteay Chhmar temple, which is still hidden away in the jungle, is another must-see Khmer architectural marvel we need to check in on the way.

Let's go on a walking tour of Battambang once we get there, taking in the colonial architecture. Visit the many cultural villages surrounding Battambang to discover how the natives make rice paper, prahok (a typical Cambodian fish paste), Krolan (sticky rice filled with bamboo), and other Khmer delicacies.

Overnight in Battambang.

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.

Morning.

Finish your breakfast, we are going to have a tour of the city to see all of the France colonial structures that are located in Battambang. We are also going to travel to the local market, Psar Nath, as well as the emblem of Battambang.

After that, we go to a historic Buddhist temple called Wat Samrong Knong. This temple was constructed more than 300 years ago and was still in use during the Pol Pot period. After that, we are going to take some time to explore the surrounding countryside and its quaint little towns. Get more about the different ways people make a living in the area around those small communities. While you go, you should stop to try some native cuisine like bamboo sticky rice, rice paper, and dried bananas.

The temple of Ek Phnom is the next location. It was established at the beginning of the 11th century, making it older than Angkor Wat, and you can find the large Buddha statue nearby the destroyed temple. This is one of the oldest ruined temples in Battambang, and it is located in the city. Along the journey, you might catch a glimpse of the local way of life or come across some children who are beaming with happiness and eager to say hello to you. Make a pit stop at the Golden Gate Bridge which is located next to the Kampong Pil pagoda. Here, you will have the opportunity to take some stunning photographs while standing on the bridge. Following that, we will continue our trip aboard the bamboo train to explore the surrounding area and its many quaint villages. The bamboo train travels over a single track and is comprised of a bamboo platform that is laid over two sets of wheels. In the past, this method of transporting goods was utilized to convey goods between Battambang and Phnom Penh. Moreover, this was a typical mode of transportation for farmers and villages.

Have lunch at the local restaurant.

Afternoon.

Next, have a look at the Banan temple, which is a mountain temple that is characterized by its elevated position and winding staircases. At the peak, there are breathtaking vistas of the Sangker River running through sugar palm trees, rice farms, and small villages. When you look to the south, you will see a mountain range that includes a mountain that is formed like a crocodile. The appearance of the temple is stunning both when viewed from the bottom and when viewed from the top.

We will visit a cave on Phnom Sampeu Hill to witness the incredible sight of millions of bats flying toward Tonle Sap Lake in search of food before we take you back to the hotel.

Overnight in Battambang

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.

Morning

Your driver and guide will be picked up after breakfast and transported for 5 hours to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. The lengthy journey from Battambang affords us the opportunity to see the daily lives of local people.

We stop at the soapstone or steatite workshop in Pursat, where religious statues and other objects are made. We then visit the terracotta studios in the village of Kompong Chhnang.

Proceed to Oudong, which served as the capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia between 1818 and 1866. See the Oudong Monastery, the largest in Cambodia, and the nearby hill where we can observe the sacred stupas that house Buddha relics and from which we can take in a breathtaking view.

Have a traditional Cambodian light lunch upon arrival in Oudong.

Afternoon

Continue traveling to Phnom Penh. Take a moment to admire the magnificent Vipassana Dhura Buddhist Meditation Institute. When you explore the institution, your guide will elaborate on the Vipassana (Insight Meditation) school. Don't miss the spectacular jade Buddha, the mummified monk, and the colorfully painted walls depicting the narrative of the Ramayana, the ancient Sanskrit poem that adorns many of the country's pagodas.

Check into your hotel upon late afternoon arrival in Phnom Penh. The remainder of the day is then at your leisure.

Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, is a dynamic, busy metropolis. Located at the junction of three rivers, the huge Mekong, the Bassac, and the enormous Tonle Sap, this city was once known as the "Jewel" of Indochina. The capital city retains a substantial amount of charm and offers numerous attractions. With French colonial homes and tree-lined boulevards among enormous Angkorian buildings, the city emanates a sort of provincial beauty and tranquility.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.

Morning

After breakfast, the tour guide picks you up with a Cyclo, a three-wheeled bicycle taxi, to see the most interesting places in Phnom Penh. The Cyclo is a Phnom Penh original transport and a fun way to see this busy city.

Start by going to the Royal Palace Compound, which was built in 1866 by the kings who came before King Norodom. It is the most famous part of the city and one of the most beautiful and colorful Khmer-style palaces. The Silver Pagoda also called "The Emerald Buddha Temple" is close to the Royal Palace. It has a lot of Buddha statues made of diamond, emerald, gold, and silver.

Next, go see the Independence Monument, which was built in 1954 after Cambodians took their country back from the French. Continue to visit the National Museum. It was built in 1917 and is a beautiful red building with Khmer architecture. It has more than 5,000 works of art made of sandstone, bronze, silver, copper, wood, and other materials. Pass through the River Front Park, which has a lot of beautiful scenery.

Lunch will be served at the restaurant.

Afternoon

Visit the infamous Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (also called Prison S21) and listen to English commentary on the way there to learn about Cambodia's recent dark history. The prison is made up of four buildings with exhibits in many of the rooms. Almost everyone you meet during your visit will have lost a family member during these years, but they are all willing to talk openly with you about it. So that it doesn't happen again, they want you to know about it and see the places where it happened.

After spending an hour and 15 minutes at the museum, drive 40 minutes to the Killing Fields and watch a film about the Khmer Rouge regime. More than two million people died because of what Pol Pot and his government did. The site will be open for about an hour and 15 minutes. Along with a map of the fields, you can get an audio guide in 15 different languages.

Keep going to the interesting local market, where you'll have plenty of chances to buy some souvenirs. You can end your day trip at Wat Phnom, the oldest building in Phnom Penh. It is on a small hilltop that is the highest point in the city. Come back to the hotel and spend your time.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.

After breakfast and check out your hotel. you'll be driven to Sihanoukville Pier. It takes 4 hours for transferring by car from Phnom Penh to Pier plus a 40-minute ferry ride to Koh Rong.

Spend the rest of the day relaxing on the island's beautiful white beaches and going on your own adventures around the island.

Overnight in Koh Rong.

Meals included: Breakfast.

Have a day of pure leisure in the tropical paradise of Koh Rong Samloem. The beaches on the island are pristine since it is so underdeveloped; they have powdery white sand, crystal clear water, and plenty of trees for shade.

Overnight in Koh Rong Island

Meals included: Breakfast.

After breakfast and checking out your hotel in Koh Rong, get a speed boat back to Sihanoukville, where your private driver will be waiting to take you back to Phnom Penh International Airport for your flight home or to your next destination. We'll help you plan your trip.