Siem Reap & Phnom Penh (6D/5N)

Welcome to the Kingdom of Cambodia!

Arrival in Siem Reap and transfer by air conditioned vehicle to the hotel.

Cambodia is much more than temples. The history of Cambodia is both inspiring and sobering, uplifting and heartbreaking. Visit Siem Reap’s magnificent temples, abandoned centuries ago by the Khmer kingdom and now surrounded by its lush forests. In Phnom Penh, witness stark reminders of the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Be prepared to be overwhelmed as today is all about Angkor. No doubt you've seen photos of the epic Angkor Wat, the largest and most important of the Angkor Temples, full of courtyards and carvings. Then there's the mysterious Bayon Temple with its giant smiling stone faces. And let's not forget the haunting beauty of Ta Phrom - left to the clutches of the jungle, bound by the roots of massive trees. But nothing can prepare you for the sheer scale and the spiritual atmosphere that you will experience when seeing these ancient monuments in real life. We will of course, visit all the above, plus many more renowned and lesser known temples.
To end a perfect day, we'll climb to the upper terraces of one of the ancient temples to view the sunset.

Overnight in Siem Reap.
Meals: Breakfast.

All you need to do today is sit back on a boat, relax and enjoy the views of Kampong Kleang, a fishing community on the edge of the Tonle Sap Lake. We'll cruise past wooden houses built on towering stilts, submerged forests and fish farms.

Afternoon at leisure.

Overnight in Siem Reap.
Meals: Breakfast.

Check-out after breakfast and transfer by vehicle from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. Depending on the route and traffic, this trip may take between six to eight hours.

On the way, we will have a stop in Skuon. Internationally known as Spiderville, the Cambodian town of Skuon hosts one of the most unusual markets in the world. At first sight, it looks like any

other market in Asia, but it does focus on a product you won't find in many other places. Skuon market has become world famous, due to the fried spider snacks that are so popular here. Among all the fruit and vegetable stands, you'll see women carrying large trays, full of fried and spiced spiders, some the size of a grown man's palm.

Free leisure in Phnom Penh in the evening.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Meals: Breakfast.

Let's see what Cambodia's capital city has to offer! The riverfront promenade that lines the mighty Mekong is a hive of activity, from the chaotic traffic to busy pavements full of street-side vendors and pedestrians. We'll visit the National Museum and the Silver Pagoda, and then rub shoulders with the royals in the Royal Palace, where King Norodom Sihamoi still lives today. And of course, there's time for shopping for exotic souvenirs in one of the city's fabulous markets. We'll either visit the art-deco Central Market or the sprawling Russian Market to barter for locally made silk, crafts, jewellery and lots more. Let us know if you have a preference!

Enjoy a cyclo ride around Phnom Penh during the sunset.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Meals: Breakfast.

The city still bears the scars left by the Khmer Rouge. In particular the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum. Formerly the high school, it became the main interrogation and torture facility. Largely unchanged, it bears witness to the thousands of victims that passed through the doors - only seven of whom survived.
Just outside the city, in a peaceful rural setting, we find the Killing Fields. Thousands of people were killed here between the years of 1975 and 1978 and buried in mass graves. These are distressing places to visit, but it's necessary to get a clearer idea of how Cambodians have suffered and how they have survived.

Transfer to the airport by air conditioned vehicle for your departure from Cambodia.

Meals: Breakfast.