Highlight - Siem Reap

Starting in Siem Reap, and finishing in Phnom Penh, we take in much that the Kingdom of Wonder has to offer on this ten day private tour. We visit the cities of Siem Reap, Battambang, Kampot, and Phnom Penh as well as the surrounding countryside, and the beaches of Kep. Along the way we will see Angkor Wat, Floating Villages, and Colonial Buildings, ride the Bamboo Train, and visit Pepper Plantations, see the Killing Fields, and the Tomb Raider Temple. There is a lot that is packed into this tour without leaving you feeling like you are rushing from one place to the next, for example, we use only a few hotels as bases then travel from there. Other tours have you running from one hotel to another every day.

Duration 10 Days
Experiences Tour Guide English
Instant Confirmation
No Deposit Required
Free Cancellation 48 hours before
Mobile Voucher Accepted

10 Day Private Tour of Siem Reap, Battambang, Phnom Penh, Kampot, and Kep

Day 1) Siem Reap

After breakfast at your hotel we go to the splendid main complex of Angkor Wat. Crossing the moat, then entering through the outer walls we come into the sanctum, then continue on a stone causeway to the central temple. Though you have seen the photos, this is one place that you really need to experience in person. Next we are headed to Angkor Thom, but don't worry we'll be back to Angor Wat tomorrow for the sunrise. Known for its many stone towers with carved smiling faces, the whole temple is richly decorated with figures, filigree, and scenes from history. We will also visit a few of the other sites in the area, the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King before we move through the Majestic South Gate. Lunch will be at a local restaurant where you can eat Khmer Style, sitting on a raised wooden platform. Afterwards you can lie in a hammock for a short rest, then we are off to Ta Prohm. This temple was made famous by its appearance in the film Tomb Raider with Angelina Jolie. A beautiful temple that has been partially restored, while leaving many of the trees in place that are slowly bringing it down. Wooden walkways have been placed on the site which allow a better view and most importantly protect the stonework from wear. After this full day your guide will return you to your hotel.

Day 2) Siem Reap

An early start today as we want to see the sunrise over Angkor Wat, this really is not to be missed. From there we go to Banteay Srei, this is an unusual complex in that it is constructed on a miniature scale compared to many other sites. The buildings themselves are small, but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in exquisite detail in its carvings. The soft red sandstone used to build it is easily worked and this was taken advantage of in multiple wall carvings. Lunch again will be Cambodian style, then onwards to Neak Pean. This is a temple built on an artificial island in a series of constucted lakes. It takes its name from the serpernts at the base of the temple. Close by is our next stop at Preah Khan, this very large complex once employed almost 100,000 people from teachers and coutesans, to clerics and farmers. The number of buildings and contructed watercourses are quite impressive. From there your guide will again return you to your hotel.

Day 3) Siem Reap

Breakfast at the hotel, then we take an hour drive outside town to the Floating Village of Kompong Khleang. People here make their living as Fishermen or in the small businesses they support. During the Wet Season the houses appear to float on the water, in Dry Season the stilts they rest upon are revealed. There are some small buildings that do float and are moored as the level of the lake fluctuates greatly. We will explore the village by small boat, navigating through the channels between houses. We will have lunch in a local restaurant, then set out for the ruins of Beng Mealea. This interesting temple contains both Hindu and Buddhist sculptures. Dating from probably the 12th century, its exact history is unknown however it is in the same style as Angkor Wat. The temple is largely unrestored with tumbledown walls and covered in vegetation. The quality of the stonework, both in the buildings themselves and in the decorative carvings are excellent. This is a less visited site, and you may have it much to yourself. From there you will return to your hotel for your last night in Siem Reap.

Day 4) Siem Reap- Battambang

Following breakfast at the hotel we depart for Battambang. If the boat is running, generally from September- January depending on weather, that will be our mode of transport. It is an interesting trip starting out on the Tonle Sap Lake, then up the winding Sangker river. If the water level is too high or low your guide will drive you. Before we leave we will visit Artisans D'Angkor to see their traditional Silk Weaving, Stone, and Wood Carving. Once in Battambang we'll tour the campus of the Phare Circus School. Here they do training in Circus Arts, as well as providing local schooling, and social services. Your guide will then get you to your hotel in Battambang for the next two nights.

Day 5) Battambang

Breakfast at the hotel then a tour of the Colonial Buildings and the 1930's Art Deco Market in the center of town. Following that we move a short distance outside the city to ride the Bamboo Train, this was a method of transport that developed when the local railway ceased operation. A simple platform made from Bamboo was fitted with a small engine and used to ferry goods and people, especially in Rain Season when roads could be impassable. Next we're off to Wat Sampov, a Buddhist Temple on a mountain. There is a cave there with a skylight, during the Khmer Rouge era people were thrown to their death from the top. Today there is a memorial and a large contingent of resident Bats who all leave the cave at sunset. It is a sight to behold. Again, you are returned to you hotel.

Day 6) Battambang- Phnom Penh

Once again your guide will pick you up after breakfast as you say goodbye to Battambang. On our way to Phnom Penh we will visit the Floating Village of Krakor, this side of the lake is different than the area near Siem Reap. It is a lot flatter and as a consequence the shoreline moves quite a lot between seasons. The villages here are truly floating, we will take a short tour by boat, then back on the road to Kampong Chhnang. This riverport is noted for its high quality clay and hence its pottery, and has been an important production since at least the time of Angkor. Its clay vessels are still used today, and many find their route to market by river. We will have lunch here then get back onto the road to Phnom Penh, with one more stop just outside the city at Kampong Luong, known for its fine silverwork. Most work here is in filigree, with small boxes often in the form of animals being quite popular. And, arrival in the capital, where your guide will get you into your hotel and bid adieu until the morning.

Day 7) Phnom Penh

Our day starts with a visit to the Royal Palace to see the Silver Pagoda decorated with thousands of beaten silver tiles. Then off to the National Musem whose collection spans from prehistory to the present. Many statues and reliefs from Angkor are housed here. Following along to the Russian Market, this is a popular place to shop with often unusual articles for sale. In the late afternoon we will board a boat for a private sunset cruise along the riverpassing by the Royal Palace your visited earlier today. It is beautifully lit at night. Then back to your hotel.

Day 8) Phnom Penh- Kampot

Out of the hotel and into a Bicycle Rickshaw for a tour around the Capital. This is a relaxing way to move around the city at a pace that lets you enjoy the sights, you sit higher than in a car and your view isn't obstructed. We will circle around the Art Deco Central Market (Psar Thmei) where you can grab a cold drink and a snack if you wish. Then you will be dropped back at your hotel for a brief break to freshen up and checkout. Then we will visit the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields. Continuing on we move through the countryside south to Kampot where you will be checked in to your hotel for the next two nights.

Day 9) Kampot

Breakfast at your hotel, then out into the countryside to visit a Pepper Plantation. Depending on the season you can see it growing and being harvested and processed. The area around Kampot is known for its distinctive and high quality Black Pepper, the Terroir is perfect for its growth. From there we move on to Kep where we will have lunch on the pier. The Pepper Crab is especially popular utilizing two local ingredients. After lunch we can walk along the beach and see some of the abandoned French villas. We will finish our day (January to the start of May) with a visit to the Salt Fields, here Sea Salt has been harvested for millenia. The sunset here is particularly nice. Then back to your hotel.

Day 10) Kampot- Phnom Penh

You can either wake up early to see the fishing boats bring in their catch, or have a leisurely morning perhaps with coffee and baguette. Your guide will coordinate with you about the appropriate time to leave for Phnom Penh Airport, depending on your schedule you may have time to take a stroll around the Old Market. If you are staying on in Cambodia (perhaps to visit the islands off Sihanoukville) your may leave us here, otherwise your guide will return you to Phnom Penh.

Included