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Highlights of Cambodia

Activity

Culture

Overview

Khmer history, temple artistry, and natural wonders: Discover authentic Cambodia with an expert local guide

Experience the very best of Cambodia, from Phnom Penh’s memorial sites to Battambang’s stirring bat exodus and the monumental temples of Angkor. Guided by a tour leader who brings every sacred ritual, every natural wonder, and every quiet encounter to life, we see how history, food, and belief shape daily life here, while our Superior-level accommodations allow you to relax in comfort, ready for the next day’s adventure.

Key Information

Trip Code: AOZ
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Cambodia

What's Included

All accommodation: 6 Superior nights (hotels), 1 Classic night (hotel)
All breakfasts, two lunches and one dinner
Immersive itinerary with all transport (private minibus) and listed activities
Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure
Arrival and departure transfers

Don't Forget To

Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations. Also, check out Vietnam Highlights, Discover Laos in Comfort, or Highlights of Northern Thailand, which you can combine with this adventure.

Highlights

Experience the best of Cambodia: Khmer culture, ancient ruins, and natural wonders
Marvel at the famed Angkor Wat temple in the glow of sunrise
Dive deep into Cambodia’s history at the most significant memorial sites in Phnom Penh
Master Khmer cooking with a market visit and chef-led class in Battambang
Receive a private blessing from Buddhist monks in Angkor Thom
Discover Phnom Kulen’s river carvings, reclining Buddha, and forest waterfalls

Itinerary

First Destination: Phnom Penh
Next Destination: Siem Reap

Accommodation:Aquarius Hotel & Urban Resort (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

Accommodation:Aquarius Hotel & Urban Resort (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Classy Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Daco Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:Daco Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Daco Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Daco Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Phnom Penh
Next Destination: Siem Reap

Begin your adventure in the riverside capital of Phnom Penh, where the Mekong and Tonlé Sap meet and the recent history of Cambodia is documented in compelling detail.

Around 6pm, say sousadei to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.

Your tour leader then ensures a warm Cambodian welcome by arranging a group dinner at Eleven One Kitchen, a restaurant known for its zero-plastic approach and fresh Khmer dishes (round-trip transfer approximately one hour).

Want more time in Phnom Penh? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Upgrade to a junior suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Aquarius Hotel & Urban Resort (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

To learn about Cambodia’s recent past, we join a specialist guide to tour the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21), once a secondary school and later a Khmer Rouge interrogation and detention centre. The visit continues at the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, where a memorial stupa containing more than 8,000 skulls stands as a record of the atrocities committed here.

We then turn to present-day city life with time at Central Market, an art deco landmark whose domed hall leads to aisles stacked with clothes, jewellery, and local snacks.

In the afternoon, moto-remorks (Cambodian tuk-tuks) take us through the city to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, home to a floor laid with more than 5,000 silver tiles and a collection of detailed Buddha images. The day ends at Preah Ang Dong Ker, a riverside shrine where local people gather before dusk, followed by a gentle walk along the waterfront, watching the city stir into action with food vendors and glowing lanterns.

Those who have prebooked the optional sunset river cruise on the Mekong will enjoy that this evening.

Upgrade to a junior suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Aquarius Hotel & Urban Resort (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Leave Phnom Penh and travel (five hours excluding stops) to Battambang. Along the way, we pause in the riverside pottery city of Kampong Chhnang, venturing into local workshops to meet the artisans and learn the clay-shaping techniques used here for generations.

Arriving in Battambang, we find a town of French elegance, friendly Khmer people, and beautifully preserved colonial-era architecture.

Late afternoon, drive to Phnom Sampeou (Ship Mountain) to experience one of Cambodia’s great natural spectacles. A gradual walk leads to shrines and small caves near the summit, where views stretch across the countryside. As the light fades, we return to the base of the mountain to watch the remarkable stream of bats leaving the cave system to feed in the fields − a magical phenomenon lasting several minutes.

Upgrade to a deluxe room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Classy Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Start today with a hands-on cooking class revealing the secrets and techniques behind traditional Khmer dishes. It begins with a guided walk through a local market, where your teacher-cook explains common herbs, pastes, and spices before helping you select ingredients for the session.

Back in the kitchen, you prepare and cook several dishes, then enjoy them for an early lunch.

In the afternoon, we drive to Siem Reap, the small city that serves as the base for visiting Angkor – a World Heritage site that’s generally considered the most important archaeological complex in Southeast Asia.

If time allows, we stop at the Angkor Silk Farm, where staff walk us through the full process from mulberry cultivation and silkworm raising to dyeing and weaving.

Upgrade to a deluxe pool-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Daco Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Wake before dawn for an extra-special first taste of the Angkor complex, visiting Angkor Wat, the most famous temple, for sunrise. Its western orientation makes it a rewarding place to watch the sky brighten and a magnificent way to begin our exploration, while the cooler early morning period, before the large crowds, provides the best conditions for visiting this iconic structure.

After, we continue our journey of discovery, heading through the South Gate of Angkor Thom, framed by giant carved faces and lined with figures holding the semi-divine Nāga serpent.

Around 9am, we head back to the hotel for breakfast. Refuelled, return to the site and step inside Angkor Thom, the Great Royal City, we visit the Bayon temple, famous for its towers topped with serene stone faces, before walking through Ta Prohm, where tree roots weave through towers and galleries in remarkable shapes.

A short visit to a local pagoda concludes the day. Here, Buddhist monks lead a private blessing ceremony, gently tying red strings around our wrists: a gesture of goodwill for the journey ahead.

We finish with sunset at a viewpoint recommended by our tour leader, who chooses the best location depending on the season.

Upgrade to a deluxe pool-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Daco Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

An extra morning to explore Angkor allows us more time to venture even deeper into this vast, magnificent complex. We transfer one hour from our hotel to Banteay Srei, a temple often admired for its fine, deeply carved pink sandstone, work so detailed that archaeologists believe highly skilled craft specialists were involved.

On our return transfer (one hour) to Siem Reap, we stop after about 20 minutes to visit the Cambodia Landmine Museum, founded by Aki Ra, who has spent decades clearing landmines across the country. Exhibits provide vital context for Cambodia’s post-conflict recovery, and the museum also supports children affected by past ordnance.

Back in Siem Reap, and after time for lunch, we browse the Made in Cambodia Market, where artists and craftspeople sell responsibly produced textiles, ceramics, and artwork – the perfect spot to pick up authentic souvenirs made by local people. After, you’re free to further explore the shops and markets of Siem Reap or head back to the hotel for an afternoon pool dip.

Upgrade to a deluxe pool-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Daco Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Take an early breakfast and leave the hotel around 8am for our scenic two-hour drive through the beautiful Cambodian countryside to Phnom Kulen, a mountainous national park important to Khmer spiritual history, arriving ahead of the crowds.

We start at the River of a Thousand Lingas, where carvings in the sandstone riverbed symbolise blessings for the waters flowing toward Angkor.

The route continues to a reclining Buddha carved directly from the summit rock, before reaching the waterfalls, an inviting place to cool off (bring swimwear if you plan to swim).

A picnic lunch is served in a riverside hut, giving us time to take in the forest surroundings before returning to Siem Reap for a relaxed afternoon.

Upgrade to a deluxe pool-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Daco Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

You’ve watched sunrise at Angkor Wat, witnessed the magnificent bat exodus in Battambang, and stood beside ancient carvings in Phnom Kulen National Park, but now it’s time to begin your return journey home.

Alternatively, if you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss our range of extensions, including a relaxing stay on Koh Rong Island.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, dates that suit you, 24-hour support, loyalty discounts, and peace of mind for delays or disruption.

Call us on 1 844 260 1517

Book Your Flights With Us

Window or aisle? Premium seat with extra legroom? Adding a stopover en route? We’ll sort the flights that fit your plans. With access to thousands of routes - major airlines and regional gems alike, we’ll help you fly from your preferred airport, at times that suit you. Secure your flights and trip together and enjoy peace of mind knowing everything's organized with one team here to help if plans change.

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Accommodation

A showcase of modern and traditional Cambodian hospitality

We aim to secure locally owned accommodation that is well located, offers good value for money, and plenty of comfort. To help you find your ideal adventure, each trip is given a Comfort Level rating, which indicates the overall standard of accommodation. For more on our ratings, see our Comfort Level guidelines.

Upgrade to a junior suite on days 1-2, a deluxe room on Day 3, and a deluxe pool-view room on days 4-7 – speak to your sales representative for more details.

Phnom Penh: Aquarius Hotel & Urban Resort (nights 1-2)

Begin the adventure at the Aquarius, an urban retreat surrounded by the landmarks of Phnom Penh. We stay in the contemporary superior rooms, which come with complimentary toiletries and plenty of space. During your stay, carve out time for a dip in the rooftop pool: an L-shaped glass-walled infinity pool filled with saltwater and offering magnificent views over the city. There’s also an open-air sky bar serving house-made cocktails and, if you really want to treat yourself, a blissful spa offering Khmer massages.

Battambang: Classy Hotel (night 3)

A visit to witness the bat exodus is an essential part of a Cambodia itinerary, and this Classic-rated hotel is in the perfect location to witness one of nature’s great spectacles. It’s a welcoming retreat in the heart of Battambang, across from Stung Sangke River and within walking distance to a traditional market.

Siem Reap: Daco Hotel (nights 4-7)

The adventure ends at the Daco, a modern Cambodian retreat ideally placed for our exploration of Angkor, allowing us to get into the site early to witness sunrise at Angkor Wat. The hotel itself has a saltwater pool and modern rooms, while the delights of Siem Reap are nearby for when you wish to explore.

Worth knowing

Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary. Speak to your sales representative to book.
Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we room solo passengers together. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s normally possible to do this for a supplement. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Essential Information

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

Schedule: This is a busy itinerary that visits the main highlights of Cambodia. We travel by private minibus to cover much of this beautiful country in a short time, spending time in both rural locations and cities.

Journeys: We have kept travelling time to a minimum; however, one day has a five-hour transfers.

Optional activities: On Day 2, there’s an optional sunset cruise on the Mekong. This should be prebooked before departure to guarantee availability. However, you can also book it through your tour leader on Day 1.

Tourism: It is important to understand that Cambodia is fairly underdeveloped for tourism outside of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

E-cigarettes and vapes: These are banned in Cambodia with strict penalties, including large fines and imprisonment – we strongly recommend you do not bring these with you.

Extend your adventure: Want to explore more of Southeast Asia? You can easily combine this trip with: Vietnam Highlights, Discover Laos in Comfort, or Highlights of Northern Thailand. Speak to your sales representative to secure your spot.

Key information

Start hotel: Aquarius Hotel & Urban Resort, Preah Ang Phanavong St. (240), Phnom Penh
Phone: +855 23 972 089
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time. There will be a welcome briefing around 6pm.
Airport: Techo International Airport (KTI)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately 45 minutes’ drive from the airport. We provide free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for everyone. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

Catching your return flight

We provide free departure transfers for everyone to Siem Reap Airport (SAI) from the end hotel.

Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and from the end (or post-tour) hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.

Cambodia

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally need a visa to enter Cambodia. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/cambodia
Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/cambodia
United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cambodia/entry-requirements
USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Cambodia.html

Find more information at:

Important information: Cambodia e-Arrival Card (CeA)

All travellers arriving in Cambodia (via air only) are required to submit a Cambodia e-Arrival Card within seven days before their arrival. The Cambodia e-Arrival Card (CeA) is free and is replacing the requirement to complete paper forms when arriving at Cambodia Airports. The e-Arrival card is separate from visa/e-visa requirements.

How to fill out the e-Arrival card online:

Visit the official website https://arrival.gov.kh/
Fill out the form online or download the app, available or iOS and Android devices.
Once the form is completed, you will receive a confirmation email with QR code.
Take a screenshot, download or print the QR code.
Present the QR code to the immigration upon arrival.

Food is cheap in Cambodia and you can generally avoid the spicier dishes if you wish. Cambodian food is all about contrasts: sweet and bitter, salty and sour, fresh and cooked. It shares many dishes with its neighbours, and you’ll find noodle soup similar to Vietnamese pho, the refreshing salads and sour soups of Thailand, Indian-inspired curries, and noodles and stir fries handed down from years of Chinese migration.

From Cambodia’s days as a French Indochina colony, there’s a national love of coffee, pâté, and good bread. Baguettes are served with soup, made into sandwiches, and sold by vendors riding bicycles carrying baskets of long loaves. Western food is also available in most of the places visited.

Vegetarian food is widely available; however, the offering will be fairly similar in most places. Please advise at time of booking if you have any dietary requirements.

The climate is hot and humid throughout with daytime temperatures usually 28C-34C (82F-93F). It is only a little cooler at nights. The dry season is late October to May and the monsoon is normally between May and October; though there is an obvious transitional time between those settled periods.

The dry season has hot days and generally clear skies, though you can expect the odd shower. The monsoon is characterised by short, sharp bursts of rain and is generally overcast all day though this does not detract from the enjoyment of the place; you just need to take an umbrella or buy a cheap poncho locally.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.