Day 1: Arrival in Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh - Arrive in Phnom Penh, CAMBODIA

Meet & Greet: Welcome to Cambodia! Upon arrival in Phnom Penh, secure your Cambodia visa (please refer to your Special Program Note), and proceed through Immigration and Customs. After collecting your luggage, exit the airport to meet a local Guide from Global Travel & Tours, who will be holding a sign with your names. Please note that local guides are not permitted inside the airport.

Private transfer: From the airport, enjoy a private transfer to your charming boutique hotel. Once considered one of the most beautiful cities in the Orient, Phnom Penh retains its colonial charm despite its recent history.

Settle in and enjoy a relaxing evening at your leisure.

Day 2: Exploring Phnom Penh

Choeung Ek Genocidal Center - Today, meet your personal guide and driver to visit the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek (16 km south of Phnom Penh). Between 1975 and 1978, approximately 17,000 men, women, children, and infants (including nine Westerners) detained and tortured at S-21 prison were transported to Choeung Ek for execution. They were often bludgeoned to death to conserve bullets. Fragments of human bone and bits of cloth are scattered around the disinterred pits. Over 8,000 skulls, arranged by sex and age, are visible behind the clear glass panels of the Memorial Stupa, erected in 1988.

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum - Continue to the infamous Tuol Sleng Museum. In 1975, Tuol Svay Prey High School was converted by Pol Pot’s security forces into a prison known as Security Prison 21 (S-21). It became the largest detention and torture center in the country. More than 17,000 people held at S-21 were taken to Choeung Ek for execution; those who died during torture were buried in mass graves on the prison grounds. The museum displays photographs of men, women, and children covering the walls from floor to ceiling; nearly all were later killed.

Russian Market - Next, visit the Russian Market (Psah Tuol Thom Pong), a vibrant outdoor market offering antiquities, silver and gold jewelry, gems, silk, kramas, stone and wood carvings, as well as T-shirts, CDs, and other souvenirs.

Royal Palace - After lunch, explore the Royal Palace, built in 1866 by King Norodom. Discover the various structures of this pagoda-style compound and stroll through its beautiful garden. Visit the Silver Pagoda, named for its floor comprised of 5,000 silver tiles. A gold Buddha encrusted with 9,584 diamonds and a small 17th-century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha are also housed here.

National Museum - Next, visit the National Museum. Built in 1917, it is an exceptional example of traditional architecture, devoted to preserving and displaying Khmer art and sculptures. Hundreds of pieces are housed here, including both pre-and post-Angkorian pieces.

Wat Phnom - Conclude your tour at the city’s namesake, Wat Phnom. Founded in 1373, the pagoda was built to house Buddhist relics washed ashore by the river.

Mekong River - Later this afternoon, enjoy a one-hour sunset cruise on the Mekong and Tonle Sap Rivers. The boat will pass floating villages, offering great views of the city’s rapidly changing skyline.

Day 3: Phnom Penh to Battambang

Kompong Luong - Embark on a road journey from Phnom Penh to Battambang with sightseeing en route: Depart Phnom Penh for Battambang by overland transfer (290km, 4-5 hours’ drive). Stop at the busy riverside town of Kompong Chhnang to see the silversmith village and the pottery village. Continue to the small town of Krakor and turn off the main road to visit the incredible floating town of Kompong Luong. The largest floating community on Tonle Sap Lake, it is home to nearly 10,000 inhabitants. Everything floats on water, including schools, clinics, shops, and petrol stations. Explore by boat and experience life in a genuine floating community untouched by mass tourism.

Pursat - After lunch, drive to Pursat to visit the stone carving in Pursat.

Battambang - Continue to Battambang, Cambodia’s second-largest city. Located on a rich and fertile plain, it provides much of the rice and other important crops for the country. Check into your lovely hotel and enjoy the rest of the afternoon soaking up the atmosphere of this charming riverside town or explore its beautiful colonial architecture.

Day 4: Discovering Battambang

Wat Ek Phnom - Full day tour of Battambang: After breakfast, drive along the picturesque Sangker River to Wat Slaket pagoda, the residence of the provincial Buddhist patriarch. Visit a Khmer Ancient House and stop to see the production of rice paper used for making spring rolls. Continue to Wat Ek Phnom. Visit the Provincial Museum and the local market.

Battambang - Next, transfer to a local village for a ride on the Bamboo Train. The train consists of a simple bamboo platform on four wheels with a small motor, created by local villagers to facilitate the transportation of goods. Travel 8km on the train to the next village through beautiful landscapes and rice paddies. Upon arrival, visit a workshop specializing in wooden sculpture.

Phnom Sampeau - Then, visit Phnom Sampeau, a small mountain 8km outside of Battambang. Its elongated form runs parallel to the road leading there, with dramatic limestone cliffs protruding from its forest cover. A charming village road leads to the base of the mountain, past a grand pagoda, a cave in the rock face, and a carved Buddha’s head built into the rock. Halfway up the winding road to the top is a cave used by the Khmer Rouge to deposit victims’ bodies. Bones remain today, serving as a harsh reminder of Cambodia’s recent history. Continue to the top for modern pagodas and stunning views across Cambodia’s sublime landscapes. Enjoy a magnificent view of the surrounding plains until sunset.

Day 5: Battambang to Banteay Chhmar to Siem Reap

Banteay Chhmar - Road journey to Banteay Chhmar: This morning, venture beyond Angkor to the exquisite 12th-century Temple complex of Banteay Chhmar, nestled peacefully in the forest. Explore the temple ruins on foot after visiting the local community. A picnic lunch will be served at the west gallery near one of the site’s most mesmerizing bas reliefs—an exquisite example of Khmer craftsmanship. Famous for its signature faces of Jayavarman VII, Banteay Chhmar is an atmospheric place to explore, home to magnificent carvings of Lokesvara with 32 arms, nicknamed lok sam-pee (Mr 32) by Khmers, and the beautiful Hall of Dancers, similar to the famous Preah Khan.

Puok - Continue to the district of Puok to the Silk Farm. Learn about the different stages of producing handmade silk, including growing mulberry trees, silk worm breeding, and training in the ancient craft of silk dyeing and weaving.

Siem Reap - From here, transfer to your hotel and enjoy the afternoon and evening at your leisure. Siem Reap is the base for exploring the fabled temples of Angkor, the ancient capital of the Khmer empire.

Settle in and enjoy the evening at your leisure.

Day 6: Exploring Siem Reap

Angkor Thom South Gate - Spend the early morning visiting the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century). This vast walled complex was the center of the world’s largest city in 1200. Following the occupation of Angkor by the Chams from 1177 to 1181, King Jayavarman VII built an impregnable fortress at the heart of his empire. The scale is staggering, and visitors are immediately overwhelmed by Jayavarman’s audacity upon arrival at the city’s gates. The causeway is lined by an intricate bridge depicting the Churning of the Ocean of Milk from Hindu mythology, where the devas (gods) and asuras (devils) play tug of war with a naga (seven-headed serpent) to obtain the elixir of immortality. Its vast walls, 6m wide, 8m high, and 13km long, contain many monuments.

Bayon Temple - Next, visit Bayon temple, surrounded by faces on all sides. Visitors never forget the enigmatic and enchanting Bayon. At the exact center of Angkor Thom, it is an eccentric expression of the creative genius and inflated ego of Cambodia’s most celebrated king. Its 54 towers are each topped with the four faces of Avalokiteshvara (Buddha of Compassion), resembling the king himself. These colossal heads stare down from every side, exuding power and control with a hint of compassion, just the mix required to maintain such a vast empire.

Unlike his predecessors who worshipped the Hindu deities of Shiva and Vishnu, Jayavarman VII adopted Mahayana Buddhism as the source of royal divinity. This sets the Bayon apart from many other Angkorian monuments. The bas-reliefs depict intricate scenes of ancient battles against the Chams and offer a wonderful snapshot of daily life during the Angkor period.

Baphuon Temple - Continue to Baphuon, located in Angkor Thom, northwest of the Bayon. Built in the mid-11th century, it is a three-tiered temple mountain dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva.

Terrace of the Elephants - Stroll to the Terrace of the Elephants, part of the walled city of Angkor Thom. The terrace was used by Angkor’s king Jayavarman VII as a platform to view his victorious returning army. It was attached to the palace of Phimeanakas, of which only a few ruins remain.

Terrace of the Leper King - Visit the Terrace of the Leper King, located in the northwest corner of the Royal Square of Angkor Thom. Built in the Bayon style under Jayavarman VII, its modern name derives from a 15th-century sculpture discovered at the site. The statue depicts the Hindu god Yama, the god of death.

Phimeanakas - Next, visit Phimeanakas, a Hindu temple in the Khleang style, built at the end of the 10th century during the reign of Rajendravarman, and completed by Suryavarman I in the shape of a three-tier pyramid as a Hindu temple.

Ta Prohm - Continue to Ta Prohm, perhaps the most atmospheric of all Angkor’s treasures. The temple was a monastery built by Jayavarman VII as a residence for his mother. Ta Prohm has been left to the power of nature by archaeologists to demonstrate nature’s awesome power.

It has been largely consumed by the jungle, and as you climb through the dilapidated stone structures, you see many giant trees growing out of the temple itself. At every turn, you expect to see Indiana Jones or Lara Croft step out from behind a fallen pillar. It is one of the most visited temples, with visitors often arriving during the middle of the day to take advantage of the protective forest canopy above the ruined temple. Ta Prohm looks as many of the monuments did when European explorers first laid eyes on them. This was one of the settings for Lara Croft’s adventures in “Tomb Raider”.

Afterwards, enjoy lunch at a delicious local restaurant.

Angkor Wat - In the late afternoon and sunset hours, explore Angkor Wat, the largest and most breathtaking monument at Angkor. Built as the funeral temple for King Suryavarman II, who ruled from 1112 to 1152, Angkor Wat never fails to reward first-time or repeat visitors with its grand scale, surreal bas reliefs, and unbelievable attention to detail. There are several great spots to watch the sunset, and your guide will discuss the options with you.

Day 7: Siem Reap to Beng Mealea to Koh Ker to Siem Reap

Beng Mealea - Full day tour of Beng Mealea and Koh Ker: Today, meet your personal guide and driver to travel to the lost temple of Beng Mealea, the titanic of temples, a slumbering giant lost for centuries in Cambodia’s forests. It is the most accessible of Angkor’s lost temples, a mirror image of Angkor Wat, but utterly consumed by nature. Constructed by Suryavarman II (1113-1150), the builder of Angkor Wat, the forest has run riot here, making it hard to discern the monument’s shape amid the daunting ruins. Enjoy an Indiana Jones experience clambering about the vast ruin, or take a more gentle adventure on a sturdy wooden walkway running into the heart of the temple. It is also possible to visit a nearby Angkor-era quarry where stone was cut to build these massive monuments.

Koh Ker Temple - Head into the bush to the remote Angkor capital of Koh Ker, an Angkorian site in northern Cambodia, 70 miles northeast of Siem Reap. It was briefly the capital of the Khmer empire between 928 and 944 under King Jayavarman IV and his son Hasavarman II. After the Khmer empire was established in the Angkor area (Roluos), Jayavarman IV moved the capital in 928 to Koh Ker. Here, a vast number of temples were built under his reign until his successor returned to the Angkor area about twenty years later. The Koh Ker site is dominated by Prasat Thom, a 30-meter-tall temple-mountain rising high above the plain and surrounding forest. Great views await visitors at the end of an adventurous climb. The area was only recently de-mined and the road improved, making Koh Ker very attractive for anyone who wants to experience what Angkor must have been like half a century ago. Enjoy a picnic lunch at Koh Ker.

Return to your hotel in Siem Reap late this afternoon.

Day 8: Departure from Siem Reap

Banteay Srei - This morning, journey north to visit Banteay Srei. This jewel of Angkor was built by a Brahman in the 10th Century and dedicated to Shiva. The famous pink sandstone structure features exquisite sculptures, lintels, and friezes. These, it is said, must have been carved by women as the detail is too fine for the hands of a man, giving rise to the Khmer name, Fortress of the Women. While it may be a small temple complex, Banteay Srei’s beauty lies in its detail. Many believe the intricate carving is the best example of Khmer classical art in existence. Stop at a local village to visit families producing palm sugar.

Cambodia Landmine Museum - Make a short stop at the Land Mine Museum, offering a humble look at the land mine problem, past and present, in Cambodia.

Kompong Phluk - Continue for a tour of the surrounding countryside and take an ox-cart ride through the villages and rice fields. At the end of your ride, enjoy a fresh coconut drink with the family and engage with the local people to learn more about their lives. Then drive to the fishing village of Kompong Pluk near Siem Reap and board a private boat. Visit Kompong Pluk village with its houses on stilts and board a pirogue to discover the seasonally flooded forest. Visit the floating village and discover the centuries-old lifestyle of the lake’s inhabitants.

Enjoy free time in the afternoon until your transfer to the airport for your flight to the next destination. Wishing you a safe and pleasant journey.

• 3 nights at the Golden Temple Hotel (Deluxe room) or similar
• 2 nights at the iRoHa Garden Hotel in Phnom Penh
• 2 nights at the Maisons Wat Kor in Battambang
• Breakfast and lunch included
• 02 bottles of mineral water per person while sightseeing and transfers
• Private transportation by modern air-conditioned vehicle
• Professional Licensed English Speaking guide
• Admission fee to visit the temples in Angkor Archaeological Park (three-day ticket $62.00)
• Admission fee to visit the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center ($5.00 per person)
• Admission fee to visit the National Museum ($10.00 per person)
• Admission fee to visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum ($5.00 per person)
• Admission fee to visit the Wat Phnom Temple ($1.00 per person)
• Admission fee to visit the Royal Palace ($10.00 per person)
• Sightseeing as specified in the itinerary including entrance fees
• Boat cruise as specified in the program
• VAT and all taxes and service charges

• Personal, travel and health insurance
• Drinks during meals
• Meals that are not specified

Explore our carefully selected highlights of Cambodia on this short but compelling tour of the Khmer Kingdom, whilst staying in charming boutique hotels. After checking out the cosmopolitan capital Phnom Penh travel overland to the provincial town of Battambang to see local lifestyles and explore the surrounding countryside. Continue your journey to the lively city of Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor. Spend the first day at Angkor visiting the most significant temples close to the city, then head off piste with a trip to the remote temples of Beng Mealea and Koh Ker.
All our tours are exclusive private tours, so you will not be put together with other guests

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.