10-Day Cambodia Highlights Tour

10-Day Cambodia Highlights Tour

Discover all 4 major tourism highlights of Cambodia; the charming capital city Phnom Penh, the Mekong eco-tourism Kratie, the stunning Angkor temples Siem Reap and the country’s prime beach of Sihanoukville. Get off the beaten track to uncluttered areas along the beautiful Mekong River, to remote villages, dolphin watching by boat trip in Kratie. Onto the pinnacle of the Khmer Empire at Angkor. A timeless testament to the ingenuity of the Khmer people, we immerse ourselves in the numerous stone monuments including Angkor Wat, the art of shadow puppetry and classical Khmer dance at its best. Fly to Sihanoukville for some relaxation downtime and sun worship at the country’s prime beach before back to Phnom Penh for your departure.

Itinerary

Day 1: Royal Palace and National Museum

Stop At: Royal Palace, Sothearos between Street 240 & 184, Phnom Penh Cambodia
In the afternoon, we explore the stunning Royal Palace complex, home to the Cambodian royal family. We begin at the Throne Hall and Napoleon III Pavilion, a gift from the French emperor in the 19th century. We continue to the Silver Pagoda, named after the 5000 silver tiles covering the floor, each weighing 1kg. Inside is a delicate emerald Buddha made of baccarat crystal, which gives the temple its Khmer name of Wat Preah Keo (Temple of the Emerald Buddha).
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: National Museum of Cambodia, Preah Ang Eng St. (13), Phnom Penh, Cambodia
We leave the Royal Palace and continue to the nearby National Museum, home to the world's finest collection of sculpture from the Angkor period. The exquisite building was completed in 1920 and features collections from the pre-Angkor, Angkor and post-Angkor periods. We concentrate on the incredible sandstone sculpture from Angkor, as well as the intricate bronzes.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Mekong River, Phnom Penh Cambodia
At 4:30 pm, we board our own private boat for a sunset cruise and on the Tonle Sap River, which famously reverses direction each year, acting as the world's largest natural flood barrier for the Mekong River. We cruise past the Royal Palace compound and around the Chrouy Changvar Peninsular onto the mighty Mekong River.
Duration: 1 hour

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Hotel in Phnom Penh

Day 2: Phnom Penh to Kratie

Stop At: Skun, Cambodia
8:00am-8:30 am hotel pick-up time depending on location. Your friendly English speaking and knowledgeable guide greet you with a traditional Khmer welcome. We hit the road to the bustling provincial city of Kompong Cham. En route, there is the chance to pause at Skuon, affectionately known as 'Spiderville', where it is possible to sample the local delicacy of deep-fried tarantula.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Kratie, Kratie, Kratie Province
We arrive in Kompong Cham and enjoy a local lunch in Kompong Cham. Our road journey continues on the eastern bank of the Mekong River towards Kratie for overnight.
Duration: 3 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Hotel in Kratie

Day 3: Kratie Rural Lifestyle & Dolphin Watching

Stop At: Kratie Province, Kratie Province
Today, we learn about local lifestyles of the Kratie as well as their local productions and witness the one of the most endangered wildlife that habitat upriver at Kampi. We start with a visit to a traditional cafe shop near the market. This is where you will learn about the lifestyle of Khmer men and women in which mostly men hang out at the cafe while women are working or doing shopping at the market nearby. Next, walk through the central Market of Kratie where you will see the local trades and see some of the old colonial building which remains from the French colony. Visit Wat Rokakandal which has a very unique wooden carving about 300 years of age. Afterward, we learn about local productions including a mushroom farm, rice wish key making, and brick factory.
Get back to town for lunch break and rest from the hit at your hotel for 1-2 hours.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Kampi, Cambodia
Later in the afternoon, we go to Kampi, one of the many deep pools where the rare freshwater Irrawaddy river dolphins gather to feed. We board a local boat and cruise out into the mighty Mekong for a chance to encounter with gentle creatures. Viewing is almost guaranteed, although it is easier to see the dolphins in the shallower waters of the dry season, than in the swollen river of the wet season. After enjoying an hour or more of dolphin viewing, we travel back to Kratie.
Duration: 2 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Hotel in Kratie

Day 4: Kratie to Siem Reap

Stop At: Chhlong, Cambodia
We drive to Wat Kor district to visit a local village and learn about rural life in Cambodia, rice harvest, fruit farming and how the sugar palm is used. Board the Bamboo train (locals call Nori). These ‘local trains’ are bamboo platforms with wheels and they fly along the rail tracks offering great views of the surrounding countryside.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Kampong Khleang, Cambodia
En route, we visit one of the largest and least-visited villages on the Tonle Sap Lake, Kompong Khleang, about 55km from Siem Reap. It’s a population of 10,000 all make a living from the fishing industry. We explore the canals (wet season) or streets (dry season) of this incredible town. In the wet season, the houses appear to be floating, as water laps at the verandas, but in the dry season towering stilts are revealed, the houses almost like wooden skyscrapers. We will take a boat and cruise into the open water of the great lake to see a small floating village and learn some more about this incredible natural flood barrier. Later we arrive at your Siem Reap and check into a comfortable hotel.
Duration: 2 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Hotel in Siem Reap

Day 5: Angkor Small Circuit

Stop At: Angkor Wat, Sangkat Nokor Thum, Siem Reap Cambodia
We start our Angkor adventure with a visit to Angkor Wat temple easily the most famous and best-preserved of all temples within the Angkor complex.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Angkor Thom, Angkor Wat, Siem Reap 17259 Cambodia
We then move on to Angkor Thom visiting Bayon, with its 54 towers decorated with more than 200 enigmatic smiling faces, Phimeanakas, Baphoun, Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. We finish the morning with a stop at the very photogenic South Gate of Angkor Thom City where the gods and demons line the road leading to the gate struggling in a cosmic tug-of-war. The Gate itself is crowned with four large faces facing in the cardinal directions.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Srah Srang, Siem Reap Cambodia
Lunch is a Khmer style in a local restaurant. Regain your energy enjoying a sumptuous Khmer feast near Srah Srang, the Royal Pool of Ablutions, originally reserved for the King and his consorts. Enjoy a spread of great local food followed by a nap lazing in a hammock, or explore to see the traditional way of life and say hello to the Cambodians near here.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Ta Prohm, National Road #6 Angkor Archaeological Park, Siem Reap 17252 Cambodia
After lunch, we continue our day tour by visiting the beautiful Ta Prohm (Tomb Raider) temple which was made famous by Angelina Jolie. Feel like one of the early explorers as you visit this temple which has been left to be reclaimed by the jungle. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.
Duration: 1 hour

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Hotel in Siem Reap

Day 6: Angkor Wat Sunrise, Big Circuit & Banteay Srei

Stop At: Angkor Wat, Sangkat Nokor Thum, Siem Reap Cambodia
Rise early for sunrise over the Mother of all temples, Angkor Wat which is believed to be the world’s largest religious building.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Pre Rup, Siem Reap Cambodia
Then, we head to the temple mountain of Pre Rup, before driving further north to Banteay Srei, Angkor’s ultimate art gallery.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Banteay Srei, Siem Reap Cambodia
This petite pink temple is the jewel in the crown of Angkor-era sculpture. The elaborate carvings here are the finest found in Cambodia and the name translates as ‘Fortress of the Women’, thanks to the intricate detail here, considered too fine for the hands of a man.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Banteay Samre, Banteay Srei Angkor, Siem Reap Cambodia
On the way back to Siem Reap we make a detour to the less frequently visited Banteay Samre. Built by King King Suryavarman II, the same king who built Angkor Wat, the structure with its high temple tower has undergone extensive restoration.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Neak Pean, Angkor Wat, Siem Reap Cambodia
In the afternoon we visit Neak Pean, a small island temple situated in the middle of an artificial pool, which translates as “intertwined serpents” due to the coiled serpents encircling the base of the structure.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Preah Khan, Angkor Wat, Siem Reap Cambodia
We then continue on to Preah Khan or “sacred sword”, a huge monastic complex which features elaborate carvings. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Phare, The Cambodian Circus, Intersection of Ring Road and Sok San Road South of intersection with Sok San Road, Siem Reap 17253 Cambodia
This is an additional activity after temple tour. Phare Ponleu Selpak the Cambodia circus evening show. 8:00pm-9:30pm. $18 - $36 USD
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Hotel in Siem Reap

Day 7: Koh Rong

Stop At: Koh Rong, Koh Rong, Koh Kong Province
We transfer you to Siem Reap airport for your flight to Sihanoukville. Upon your arrival to Sihanoukville we transfer you by private car to the dock where you will take the speed ferry to Koh Rong. After checking in hotel and relaxing on the beach to take a swim in the warm water.
Duration: 3 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Stay in a Guesthouse or Bungalow

Day 8: Relax on Koh Rong Beach

Stop At: Koh Rong, Koh Rong, Koh Kong Province
Days free at your own leisure. You may want to relax on one of the beaches or use your time to go on a day trip, for example to one of the unspoiled islands off the coast
Duration: 8 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Guesthouse or Bungalow on Koh Rong

Day 9: Koh Rong & Sihanoukville.

Stop At: Sihanoukville, Sihanoukville, Sihanoukville Province
Days free at your own leisure until 3:00 PM, take the speed ferry back to Sihanoukville. Spend a night in Sihanoukville.

Because the next day, we want to make sure you don’t miss your flight in Phnom Penh. So, you will need to be in Sihanoukville and be picked by a private diver at 9:00 AM.

Duration: 3 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Guesthouse or Bungalow

Day 10: Back to Phnom Penh

Stop At: Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh
Today, we will transfer you back to Cambodia capital city of Phnom Penh and drop you at the airport for your flight.

Contact us if you want to spend another night in Phnom Penh.

Duration: 4 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.