Embark on a 3-day cultural and adventure tour in Cambodia, exploring unseen temples and villages. Discover lost temples, visit a former capital, and experience the local lifestyle. Don’t miss the bamboo train ride and the stunning sunset in Siem Reap!
Arrival in Phnom Penh: Explore Royal Palace and Market
Phnom Penh International Airport - Welcome to Cambodia! A private car and driver will be ready to greet you and your family at Phnom Penh International Airport, holding a sign with your name, to escort you to your accommodations in Phnom Penh. After some rest, you’ll be ready to explore the city.
Phnom Penh City Center - As the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh is located at the confluence of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers. It was a significant center for both the Khmer Empire and French colonialists. Begin your tour by visiting some of Phnom Penh’s key sights, landmarks, and attractions.
Royal Palace - Visit the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, the official residence of the King of Cambodia. Here, you can admire beautiful wall paintings, charming buildings with diverse decorations, vibrant colors, and numerous beautiful plants.
Central Market - Next, explore the Central Market, a bright yellow building completed in 1937 during French Colonial rule. It features a 26-meter-high central dome with four tall arch-roofed arms extending diagonally, creating vast hallways filled with countless stalls and a variety of goods. When it opened in 1937, it was considered the largest market in Asia.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Discover Phnom Penh: Museums, Wat Phnom & Killing Fields
Wat Phnom - Visit Wat Phnom, the unique hillock in the city, crowned by an active Buddhist Wat, marking the legendary founding place of Phnom Penh.
National Museum of Cambodia - Your driver will take you to the National Museum, the most important repository of Khmer artifacts in the country. Over 5,000 objects are on display, including Angkorian era statues, lingas, and other artifacts, most notably the legendary statue of the ‘Leper King’ in Siem Reap and an enormous 11th-century bronze Vishnu. The museum also houses a good collection of pieces from later periods, including an exhibition of post-Angkorian Buddha figures.
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum - Visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a former high school converted into a detention and torture center by the Khmer Rouge when they came to power in 1975.
Russian Market - Explore the Russian Market, a notable street market in Phnom Penh. This intriguing market offers stalls selling wooden handicrafts, antiquities, miniature Buddhas, fruits and vegetables, jewelry, and more.
Choeung Ek Genocidal Center - Head to the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, a testament to Phnom Penh’s tragic modern history and the horrors of the Pol Pot era.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Journey to Siem Reap, Visit Spider Town and Floating Village on Tonle Sap Lake
Phnom Penh - Depart Phnom Penh after a delicious breakfast and travel to Siem Reap.
Skun Spider Sanctuary - Make a brief stop in Skuon, affectionately known as Spiderville Cambodia, a popular spot for both Cambodian and foreign travelers. Here, you can try the local delicacy of fried tarantulas and other fried insects. If you prefer not to taste spider, cricket, scorpion, grasshopper, or other insects, it’s still a great place for photos.
Kampong Kdei - Stop at Kampong Kdei, an ancient Angkor route, to see one of the 12th-century Angkor bridges. Known locally as Dragon Bridge, it boasts over 20 arches and is a spectacular sight, reinforcing the impression that the Khmers were like the Romans of Southeast Asia. The bridge is in excellent condition and looks impressive.
Kampong Phluk Floating Village - After lunch, explore the typical Khmer village of Kampong Phluk. Witness an incredible way of life on the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, Tonle Sap. Gain fascinating insights into local life as you explore stilted houses, the living style, and cruise around the flooded mangrove forest. This village is a highlight of any Cambodia trip.
Krong Siem Reap - Arrive in Siem Reap, check into your hotel, and spend the evening resting.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Angkor Wat Sunrise, Jungle Temple & Small Group Temples
Angkor Wat - Meet in the hotel lobby at 4:45 am to travel to Angkor Wat for sunrise. This temple is considered the largest religious building in the world and is truly one of the wonders of the world. Believed to have been built as a temple and mausoleum for King Suryavarman II during the height of the Khmer Empire in the first half of the 12th century, Angkor Wat is the best-preserved of the Angkorian temples. The central monument represents the mythical Mount Meru, the sacred mountain at the center of the universe, home to the Hindu god Vishnu. Return to the hotel for breakfast and rest to recharge for the next visit.
Ta Prohm Temple - Visit Ta Prohm, unique for being overgrown by jungle trees and vines, with many parts of the temple crumbling to the ground. This makes the ‘Tomb Raider Temple’ one of the most picturesque and memorable of the Angkor temples.
Ta Keo - Discover the Giant Pyramid of Ta Keo, one of the highest temples in the Angkor area.
Ta Nei Temple - Take a short jungle trek to Ta Nei, a temple hidden in the forest, left in its original state and partly overgrown with trees.
Chau Say Tevoda - Continue to Chau Say Tevoda and Thommanon temples.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
The Great City of Angkor Thom, Lady Temple, Grand Circuit Temples
Angkor Thom South Gate - Head to Angkor Thom, the ancient city and last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. This city is surrounded by an 8-meter-high wall forming a perfect square. Enter the city through the ancient South Gate, an impressive stone gate carved with elephants and four giant faces.
Bayon Temple - The highlight is the enigmatic and enchanting Bayon Temple. The 54 towers are each crowned with the four faces of Avalokiteshvara (Buddha of Compassion), which bear a striking resemblance to the king himself.
Terrace of the Elephants - The Terrace of the Elephants is part of the walled city of Angkor Thom. It was used by Angkor’s king Jayavarman VII as a platform to view his victorious returning army.
Banteay Srei - Visit Banteay Srei, Angkor’s ultimate art gallery. 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 to Fortress of the Women, with intricate details considered too fine for men’s hands.
Preah Khan - Explore Preah Khan temple, a ruined but atmospheric blend of tree roots and crumbling stone structures. Commissioned by the great ‘temple builder’ Jayavarman VII in honor of his father, this site offers an interesting contrast to the more imposing Angkor Wat.
Neak Pean - Visit Neak Pean temples, an artificial island with a Buddhist temple on a circular island in Jayatataka Baray, and other beautiful temples outside the Great City of Angkor. Ta Som is a small temple at Angkor, Cambodia, built at the end of the 12th century for King Jayavarman VII. The King dedicated the temple to his father Dharanindravarman, who was King of the Khmer Empire from 1150 to 1160. The temple consists of a single shrine located on one level and surrounded by enclosure laterite walls.
Phnom Bakheng - (Optional) Visit Bakheng Mountain for sunset or, after a wonderful day of excursions, return to your hotel or a location of your choice. If there’s a temple you wish to see that isn’t listed here, let us know, and we can organize it for you!
Transfer to Siem Reap Angkor International Airport - Departure
Siem Reap Angkor International Airport - Today marks your last day in Cambodia. Your driver will pick you up for a transfer to Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, where you’ll catch your flight to your next destination. The journey to the airport takes approximately 1 hour. We look forward to seeing you again on your next trip!
- Airport Pickup and Drop-off
- Private air-conditioned vehicle and fuel
- Professional English-speaking driver
- Driver’s expenses, foods & accommodations
- Your accommodations, food and beverages
- Your personal insurance
- All entrance fees
On this 4-day adventure trip, you will explore a unique country, learn about the people and culture, and admire the beautiful nature in the rural village, including a visit to ancient temples. Our professional driver will take you from Siem Reap to the ancient temples of Banteay Chhmar, one of the most impressive temple complexes outside the Angkor region. The trip offers you the opportunity to experience local life here in a rural village. Next, explore Battambang, home to some of Indochina’s best-preserved colonial-era architecture and a rice bowl province of the country. When you arrive in Phnom Penh, discover the country’s past struggles and triumphs, as well as the horrific crimes of the Khmer Rouge
We are experienced and careful drivers with many years of professional experience and precise knowledge of road conditions. We are committed to providing our customers with exquisite service and ensuring that every aspect of their travel experience is enjoyable and stress-free.
- This is a brief itinerary written base on my personal preference only. However, yours can be flexible and adjusted due to weather terrain conditions depending on the season, the crowd and your requests.
If you cancel at least 3 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
