Cambodia Grand Tours

Upon arrival at Phnom Penh Airport, meets and transfers by the local guide to the hotel for check-in (early check-in is not included and is subject to the hotel’s availability). Free at leisure.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Set the tour to visit Wat Phnom, which is the center of Phnom Penh that gives the city its name. At 27 meters above sea level, it is the highest point in the area, and as a town gradually grew up around it, the settlement became known as Phnom Penh, the hill of Penh. It is the zero point of the city. Next, you will see Wat Ounalom (Buddhist Monastery), a pagoda that is the home of a highly respected Buddhist leader in Cambodia. In addition to the pagoda, there is a post-Angkorean stupa at this monastery. And continue to visit the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum, it was a high school prior to 1975, an interrogation prison known as S-21 during the Khmer Rouge era and today it is a genocide museum. It recounts the tragic history of the many Cambodian victims who suffered on its premises. Walking through the narrow corridors and former classrooms of the buildings will give you an eerie feeling of being part of Cambodia’s turbulent past. The stories of the victims are documented and some torture devices are on display for visitors to learn about the suffering the people endured. Photographs were taken of each prisoner passing through the prison and hundreds of the haunting black and white photos are now on display in the museum. While this experience may be depressing, it is recommended to visit in order to truly understand the cruel methods of control the Khmer Rouge implemented over the country. Lunch at the local restaurant (Khmer Sorin).

Afternoon, visit to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, two of the finest examples of Khmer architecture in the capital. The Royal Palace was built in 1866 by the French for King Norodom. The grounds of the palace are also home to the Silver Pagoda, which received its name because its floor is made up of 5,329 silver tiles. Except for the time when the extreme Khmer Rouge party seized power in 1975, kings have always lived in the palace. And visit the National Museum which houses Khmer art and sculptures from different periods of Cambodian history. Dinner at the local restaurant.

In the early morning, at around 6 am, your guide and the cyclo driver (a three-wheeled, often motor-driven taxi) will take you on a ride along Boulevard Norodom Sihanouk, and then continue to Orussey Market. Along the way, you will make a stop at one of the small valleys (Deourng Hem 7 Makara Guesthouse), which is renowned for serving the best local breakfast. Your guide will lead you on a walk through this valley, allowing you to sample local breakfast options such as noodles or steamed rice, accompanied by a cup of coffee or a soft drink, as well as other available snacks. After breakfast (if the local breakfast does not make you full, you still can take a proper breakfast from the hotel), we return to the hotel on a cyclo ride again and prepare to check out to get ready for a long drive to Kratie province.

We leave for Kratie at 08.30 am. Our first stop is Skuon, where we can use the restroom and see the spider market. There, you will find various insects like crickets, spiders, grasshoppers, scorpions, and water bugs that are fried and sold. Continue to drive to Kampong Cham City and visit the local village in Koh Pen (one of the islands in the Mekong River in Kampong Cham Province). The interesting of Koh Pen is the Bamboo Bridge, the longest bamboo bridge in Cambodia, it is built only in the dry season (lower water period from December to June). Our tour guide will walk you through this bamboo bridge to the island, visit the village, local farms, and Buddhist monastery, and drive back to have lunch in Kampong Cham town. After lunch, you will explore Kampong Cham Market and then travel along the Mekong River to Kratie. On arrival, check-in at the hotel and free at leisure. Later in the afternoon, the tour guide will arrange the tuk-tuk to ride you around the city and get to one of the local restaurants for dinner.

At 07.30 am in the morning, we travel upstream on the Mekong Riverside to Prek Kampi, where we can watch the dolphins. Enjoy the traditional wooden boat ride for 45-60 minutes to spot the Fresh Water Dolphins in the Mekong River (Irrawaddy Dolphins). And continue to drive to Stung Treng City for lunch, and proceed further north to Koh Han where you will take the boat ride to visit the most beautiful part of the flooded forest in Cambodia Mekong, we will stop at different small islands to swim, so don’t forget to bring the swimming suits with you. Dinner with the local community and overnight in a tent on the island of Koh Han (the tent will be very basic with a matt, pillow, and blanket).

Enjoy a tasty breakfast prepared by the Koh Han locals early in the morning, and then cruise upstream for two hours on the Mekong River to the Laos border, where the Preah Romkel community is located. The beauty of the flooded forest of the Mekong and the water birds will make your boat trip enjoyable and fun. Before having lunch in Preah Romkel, we will make a brief visit to Laos village, stroll around the village and taste a cup of Laos coffee.

After lunch, we drive to visit Sopheak Mitt Waterfall, which is one of the biggest waterfalls in the world located on the border of Laos and Cambodia. We will stop by Laos village for a short while, walk through the village and try a cup of Laos coffee before launching in Preah Romkel. Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Koh Ker.

The Koh Ker temples are peaceful and jungle-like at 6.30 am, when we get there earlier than the rest of the visitors. Koh Ker was built in the 10th century and functioned briefly as the Khmer Empire’s capital between 928 and 944 A.D. Unlike any other Cambodian temple, the Koh Ker temple looks more like the old pyramids of Egypt. The temple and its surroundings are amazing, as they are partly covered by the forest and home to many birds. Then continue to drive to have lunch at the local restaurant in Saem before we ride the 4WD up to the top of Phnom Danret to visit Preah Vihear temple. Preah Vihear was built in the beginning of the 11th century. It dominates the plain from its prominent position in the Dangrek Mountains at an altitude of over 700m. The Thais used to occupy the temple, which is close to the Thai border. It has recently been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status. Explore this historic temple and take in the sweeping views from the summit over Thailand and Cambodia.

And then, we drive to Siem Reap, and if time permits, we can take a quick stop to visit Ta Mok’s house in Anlong Veng.

Arrive in Siem Reap in the late afternoon, check in at the hotel, dinner on your own.

Breakfast at the hotel. Free at your own leisure.

Breakfast at the hotel at 6 AM.

At 7.30 AM, our guide and driver pick you up from the hotel for the full day to visit the main temples (Angkor Wat – Bayon – Banteay Srei – Ta Prohm temples) in Angkor Archeological Park.

We start the visit with Angkor Wat temple another way opposite to others by entering from the East Gate and exiting at the west gate. We walk further to visit Angkor Wat Temple at level 1, level 2, and level 3, an architectural marvel, one of the world’s most impressive ruins to understand in depth Khmer Culture and Civilization. The temple features fine stone carvings of Apsaras that date back to the Angkor period. Continue to explore the mysterious Royal city of Angkor Thom. Its 50-tower temple is an awesome sight. It looks like a stone mass with no shape, but as you look closer, you see a face, and then more and more, until you are surrounded by the silent, heavy, mysterious, silent look through half-shut eyes, coming from a distant and ancient time. Start from South Gate and further visit Bayon, Baphuon, Royal Enclosure, and Terrace of Elephant. Experience a delightful home-cooked lunch at the residence of Mr. Peout and his wife, Mrs. Gin, who live in a charming house with a serene atmosphere and lush green garden. They will graciously serve you a delicious meal and share their personal stories, including their experiences during the Khmer Rouge era up to the present day. Following our meal, we will venture to the exquisite Banteay Srei temple, often referred to as the jewel of Khmer art. Situated an hour away from Siem Reap, this red sandstone temple is renowned for its intricate carvings adorning the walls, which are remarkably well-preserved.

En route back to Siem Reap, we will make a stop at the iconic Ta Prohm temple, made famous by its appearance in the film "Tomb Raider." This temple, which had become engulfed by the surrounding jungle, presents a haunting and exotic sight with its overgrown ruins. The majestic roots of trees entwined with the temple's stone blocks create a mesmerizing and unforgettable scene, allowing you to appreciate the harmonious blend of human architecture and natural elements without the usual crowds of tourists. Drive back to Siem Reap, get an hour of Foot Khmer Traditional Massage before we get back to the hotel, and have dinner on your own.

In the morning, we wake up early and head to Phnom Krom (13 km south of Siem Reap), where we ascend the hill to see the sunrise over the rice paddies and the floating village of Tonle Sap Lake and enjoy a picnic breakfast on the edge of Phnom Krom. Return to the hotel for breakfast, check out, and drive to Battambang within 2 hours and 30 minutes. Visit the ancient Khmer Traditional House upon arrival, Battambang is the second biggest city in Cambodia, lunch at the local restaurant and check in at the hotel.

Afternoon, drive around the premises with your guide and walk through the village on the banks of the Sangker River, which is home to many well-preserved traditional Khmer wooden stilted homes and tropical fruit farms. This is a great opportunity to taste juicy oranges, sweet pineapples, and many other fruits available in the region as much as the activities of the villagers making rice paper, and the process of brewing Rice Whiskey. Continue to visit the striking hilltop pagoda of Phnom Sampeau. This large limestone structure is split by several caves, some of which contain unexpected evidence of Cambodia’s turbulent history. On the top of the hill, we can view the surrounding countryside, small villages are dotted in and around the endless rice paddies, punctuated with sugar palm trees. Walk downhill back to the foot of the mountain to wait to see the bats flying out of the cave when the sky gets dark – enjoy a bottle of cold beer or one soft drink before we get back to the hotel in Battambang, and dinner at the local restaurant.

To avoid the hit of hot weather, and also to get on time to see the activities of the villagers working in the field, we will wake up early today and at 6.00 am to drive to Bamboo Train Station. Experience the thrill of riding the Bamboo Train as it winds through picturesque villages and lush rice paddies. This unique mode of transportation, featuring a motor-engine attached to a bamboo platform, offers a delightful journey along the train rails, allowing you to soak in the stunning landscape and breathe in the fresh air while having an absolute blast.

Afterward, return to the hotel for a leisurely late breakfast before checking out and embarking on a drive to Kampong Luong in Pursat Province. This area is home to one of the largest floating villages on Tonle Sap Lake. Hop on a boat to explore this remarkable village, where you'll have the opportunity to witness the everyday life of Cambodian families living on the water. Both the Cambodian and the Vietnamese community live in the same floating village. After going back to the mainland, we have lunch at a local restaurant in Pursat.

Then we proceed to Kampong Chhnang, a small town by the river, known for its scenic views and pottery-making villages among the rice fields. Visit this pottery village and learn how the community makes pottery the traditional way and observe how sugar is collected from the sugar palm trees. Let your guide assist you with translating if you are interested to learn more about village life. We dine at a local restaurant and then overnight at a hotel in Kampong Chhnang.

Breakfast at the hotel.

We journey through the rural landscape to reach the Chambok Eco-tourism community in Kampong Speu Province, surrounded by picturesque rice fields, palm trees, and sugar cane plantations. Along the way, we make a stop to explore the Natural Hot Spring in Oral District, known as Te Teuk Pus. This expansive hot spring spans 100 meters in diameter and is fed by six sources, emitting a distinct scent of sulfur or limestone. The water's surface covers an area of 80 square meters, with a temperature of 70 degrees Celsius.

Encompassing 5 hectares, the site is adorned with tall grass, Kok (a type of reed), and striking red rock formations. And continue to drive to the Chambok Eco-tourism community for lunch, and take a short trek to visit the Chambok Waterfall, it is a natural waterfall from the Kirirom National Park and only 2 km trekking away from the community office. Continue to drive up to the top of Kirirom National Park, check in at Vkirirom National Park, and get refreshments. Then, our guide will get the local motorcycle taxi to take you through the pine jungle to the Thmor Loy, where you can see the green forest from the hilltop. Return to the resort for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast at the resort.

We drive around on the top of Kirirom Mountain Range, and visit the old silver houseware and the former King Residence before heading out to Sihanouk Ville. Lunch at the local restaurant in Sihanouk Ville, and then we drive around just to figure out how the city is before riding the speed board to Koh Rong Sanloem. The team from Eden Resort will come to welcome us at the boat pier upon arrival and assist us with check-in. Free at leisure.

Dinner on your own.

Breakfast at the resort.

Free at your own leisure.

Any activities such as diving, boat trips, and hiking can be arranged on spot with the resort (on your own account).

Breakfast at the resort.

Ride the speed boat back to Sihanouk Ville, have lunch at the local restaurant, and drive to Phnom Penh. On arrival, check-in at the hotel. Free at leisure.

*Option: Tour cost = US$ 65 per person (Minimum of 2 persons).

At about 6 pm, our guide and tuk-tur driver pick you up from the hotel and enjoy the tuk-tuk ride for the food tours through the city via the riverfront, and get the first stop at one of the lovely bars on the riverside where you get a briefing and tour presentation by the tour guide along with one class of cocktails or one drink. Then, we take a thorough tour of a lively local night market before sitting down with the locals at a popular local street food spot. Savor the flavors of Cambodian-style fresh seafood, a special recipe Saba (mackerel) fish dish, and squid with world-renowned Kampot pepper. Next, we go through the city lights to a cool place with live music and try some delicious local dishes. Afterward, ride to the much-celebrated Independence Monument for a quick insight into the city’s history and a fantastic photo opportunity. At one of the city’s coolest bar areas, we end the evening on the top roof with a panoramic view of the center of Phnom Penh City, where we each have one soft drink or one local beer before going back to the hotel. This tour includes a tour guide, and a tuk-tuk ride, free of soft drinks, and food.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to the airport for departure.