Cambodia Adventure

Name: Cambodia Adventure
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.7 (24 reviews)

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13 Days from

15 Days from

USD 2,379

4.7/5 from

Culture

Ways to Travel :

Guided Group, Private Group Adventures

Activity :

Culture

Activity Levels :

2 out of 7 - Leisurely / Moderate

Group Size :

4 - 16

Ages :

16+

Trip Code :

AOA

Explore the Angkor temples, majestic Phnom Penh and rural countryside

Discover Cambodia, a diverse country with a captivating history. After arrival in bustling Phnom Penh, we head to picturesque Kampot, a land of paddy fields and pepper plantations. We pause for lunch at Kep Bay and enjoy views across the Gulf of Thailand before transferring to tropical Koh Rong island. Returning to Phnom Penh, we visit the Royal Palace and the sobering Killing Fields before departing for Battambang, a well-preserved colonial town. Finally, we explore the temple complex of Angkor with a sunset visit and a bike ride to the less visited temples.

Highlights

Visit the Kampot pepper plantations
Relax and unwind on tropical Koh Rong island
Board a bicycle rickshaw for a tour through Phnom Penh and along the banks of the Mekong River
Visit the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng Prison
Cycle through the countryside of Battambang
Spend two full days exploring the temples of Angkor including Ta Prohm

Key Information

10 nights in comfortable hotels and two nights in a resort
Travel by private minibus
Some activity in humid conditions
Rural locations and city days

Countries visited: Cambodia

What's Included

All breakfasts
All accommodation
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout
Free arrival and departure transfers for everyone

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request)
Visas or vaccinations

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that improve life for the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Find out more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here, and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

The use of a local guide means our customers will be well informed about local traditions, and cultural-social sensitivities.
This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels and restaurants, the emphasis on eating locally produced food and support of other local enterprise.
Throughout the trip, we stop at small factories producing rice paper, dried banana, prahoc fish paste, kraline and rice wine to further support small local businesses.
We also visit Angkor Silk Farm, where Artisans d’Angkor have helped rebuild Cambodia’s traditional art practices after the Khmer Rouge genocide and is now employing more than 900 artisans and 1,300 staff.
The trip includes a cycling tour of the local businesses around Battambang. This is run by a social enterprise called Soskabike, which provides employment and business opportunities for locals with our support.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

By travelling in a small group, led by a local guide, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment. On this trip, some parts of the itinerary stay in smaller towns using accommodation outside of busy cities.
Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices with regard to working animals and wildlife viewing. Our animal welfare policy can be found here.
We work with our partners on the ground to proactively eliminate or reduce waste, for example eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles and instead providing refills for reusable bottles.
We provide clients with a reusable cotton tote bag at the start of the tour, made in Cambodia by HUSK organisation, offering an alternative to single-use plastic bags and a souvenir to take home.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

Read about Exodus Travels’ Planet Promise here, including our rewilding and carbon compensation commitments for every customer who travels.
Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
Vegetarian and/or vegan options are available at majority of accommodation and restaurants.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish behind in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, we’d ask you to consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
Plastic waste reduction: Please bring your own reusable water bottle on this trip; filtered water will be provided where tap water is not drinkable.
Cultural respect:
- You will be expected to cover your legs and arms (to the elbow) during visits to temples and sacred sites so packing a sarong or other suitable clothing is recommended. Also remember to remove hats when visiting a sacred site.
- Do not rest your chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice as this symbolises the burning of incense, which is usually reserved for times of mourning.
- One should not show the soles of their feet or touch someone’s head, both are considered disrespectful.

Itinerary

Sousadei! Welcome to Cambodia. There will be a welcome briefing with your leader this evening followed by an optional group dinner at a local restaurant.

Accommodation: Ohana Hotel (or similar)

Leaving Phnom Penh, we travel into rural Cambodia to Kampot, which sits on a picturesque river. On the way, we stop at the 11^th-century Phnom Chisor mountain temple, which is set on a hill with a magnificent view.

Upon arrival, we check into our centrally located hotel, our base for the next two nights, before boarding a local boat for a sunset trip on the Kampot River. The waterway runs through the town centre and can flow in both directions as it is closely connected to the sea.

Accommodation: The Columns Hotel (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today, we venture into the countryside to discover the highlights of the Kampot province including salt fields, rice fields, fruit and pepper plantations, and the Phnom Chhnork caves. Kampot is also one of the largest producers of durian fruit; the durian, once opened, has a smell so pungent it is illegal to take it indoors in some Southeast Asian countries.

After exploring the countryside, we visit Kep ghost town. Once a popular seaside resort, Kep now houses old resort buildings marked with bullet holes from the Khmer Rouge period, a reminder of the not-so-distant past. It is regaining popularity with local tourists and you might like to join them in having lunch in the simple crab shacks that line the beach (the crab in Kampot pepper sauce is a must).

Accommodation: The Columns Hotel (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

After breakfast, we drive (approximately 2hr 30min to three hours) from Kampot to Sihanoukville, before taking a speed boat ferry transfer (approximately 45 minutes to one hour) across to beautiful Koh Rong island, our home for the next two nights. Upon arrival, we have free time to relax, refresh with a sea swim, or sip cocktails as the sun sets.

Accommodation: Sok San Resort (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Our resort is on one of the most mesmerising and secluded white-sand beaches on the island. Today, you have free time to relax on the beach and enjoy the crystal-clear ocean waters, try various optional activities such as snorkelling, kayaking, and other watersports, or just soak up the exotic surroundings. Your leader can advise of all options available.

Accommodation: Sok San Resort (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning, we transfer back to the mainland by speed boat (45 minutes to one hour) and drive on to Phnom Penh (approximate transfer time: five to six hours) with a stop for lunch.

Phnom Penh, on the banks of the Tonle Sap and the Mekong River, is home to 2.2m people. It's the capital city, but retains a laid-back, typically Cambodian feel where the pace is slower than one might expect.

We set out on a sunset cyclo (bicycle rickshaw) lap of the town giving us a unique view of this bustling city and providing us with an easy orientation. Stopping to see street food served by the waterfront, we have the chance to try local specialities. We finish at a restaurant serving tasty Khmer cuisine. There are also many waterfront bars worth a visit; the Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCC) overlooking the Tonle Sap river is recommended.

Accommodation: Ohana Hotel (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Enjoy a full day of sightseeing in the capital, which takes in the beautiful Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, so named for the solid-silver tiles that make up the floor. Thankfully, the complex escaped the Khmer Rouge regime. Similar in style and scale to the Grand Palace in Bangkok, the Royal Palace has significantly fewer visitors and there is plenty of time to wander among the traditional buildings. There is also time today to shop at either the impressive Central Market or the sprawling Russian Market, a souvenir hunter's paradise.

We visit Tuol Sleng museum or S21 (Museum of Genocide), which graphically displays the horrors of the four years when Pol Pot ordered the murder of between 2m and 3m Cambodians. Tuol Sleng was originally a school but was used as a torture and interrogation centre between 1976 and 1979. It is a sobering and disturbing place to visit. Please be aware, the images at the museum are very graphic. We complete our day with a moving late afternoon visit to the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. A football field-sized area surrounded by farmland, the Killing Fields contain mass graves for perhaps 20,000 Cambodians, many of whom were tortured before being killed.

Accommodation: Ohana Hotel (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Our destination today is Battambang (pronounced Battambong). The second-largest city in Cambodia, it is centred around an attractive riverside hub with traces of French elegance, friendly Khmer people and well-preserved colonial architecture. There are also striking examples of art deco architecture: central market, the Victory swimming pool and the train station to name a few. En route to Battambang, we can stop at a pottery village, a silversmith village and a marble handicraft workshop for an insight into local handcrafts and industry. In the evening, we enjoy an orientation walk alongside the Sangke River and observe daily life of the local people.

Accommodation: Classy Hotel (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today, we cycle through countryside to explore the local rural life. Stopping at villages to see cottage industries, traditional scarf weaving and farming, there will be countless opportunities to interact with the villagers who may be surprised to see us travelling, as they do, on a bicycle. We reward our morning’s efforts with fruit and a refreshing coconut. The cycle is easy riding on flat terrain with lots of stops along the way. If you would like to opt out of the cycling and hop on a tuk-tuk instead, let the leader know at the beginning of the trip so alternative arrangements can be made.

Accommodation: Classy Hotel (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

After breakfast, we head to the town of Siem Reap with stops at the local market at Pouk. Cambodian markets tend to be fragrant affairs – on offer here is Cambodian ‘cheese’; one of the strongest smelling cheeses around, perhaps because it is made entirely of fish. The local market is nonetheless a great insight into the daily life of the Cambodian people. We also make a brief stop at the Angkor Silk Farm for an introduction into the life of a silkworm and the production process of this fine textile. This afternoon, we walk past the Royal Gardens and along the Siem Reap River to the Old Market, helping us get our bearings in this small town. You may like to finish with a visit to the Artisans DÁngkor workshop – a not-for-profit organisation that provides vocational training for young people in traditional Cambodian arts.

Accommodation: Angkor Holiday Hotel (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Our first full day of temple touring is by private bus so we can visit some of the outlying temples such as Banteay Srei. Known as the Women’s Citadel, this small temple complex with intricate carvings is devoted to Brahma. Particularly impressive are Banteay Kdei and Ta Prohm, still covered in jungle, similar to how it was when it first came to light.

Described as being 'grander than anything of Greece or Rome' by French explorer Henri Mouhot, this World Heritage site stands alongside the Pyramids and Machu Picchu as one of the most spectacular archaeological sites in the world.

Tonight is free to enjoy one of the many restaurants on the 'Bar Street' boulevard in central Siem Reap. You may also wish to marvel at the skills of the Phare Cambodian Circus troop or chose to watch traditional Apsara dancing.

Accommodation: Angkor Holiday Hotel (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning, we get set up on mountain bikes for an easy but active ride around the Angkorian ruins that are closer to town. On the bicycle, we can avoid some of the crowds and get a unique perspective on this amazing site. If you want to rise early, you can arrange with your leader to take in Angkor at sunrise prior to the day’s cycling.

We visit the incredible Angkor Wat, the many temples inside the Royal City of Angkor Thom, including the magnificent Bayon, which is comprised of 54 intricately carved towers in one single temple. The Bayon certainly left an impression on an early traveller in 1925 who stated 'we stand before it stunned. It is like nothing else in the land.'

Angkor is a truly magical experience and a photographer's paradise, one of the real highlights of our trip. The ride will be approximately 15.5mi (25km) with plenty of opportunities for refreshment stops and to take photos. If you would like to opt out of cycling and instead cool down in the support vehicle, please let your leader know who can arrange the logistics of this and the rest of the group.

Accommodation: Angkor Holiday Hotel (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

The tour ends this morning in Siem Reap after breakfast. If you’d like to spend a little more time to explore, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Visa

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

E-Visas

An electronic visa (e-Visa) is available for US$36 at www.evisa.gov.kh. Please note, e-Visas are not accepted at all border checkpoints when travelling overland. This applies to the following trips/borders:

Thai Indochina Explorer (Trip Code AOX): Tinh Bien, Vietnam/Phnom Den, Takeo, Cambodia
South East Asia Adventure (Trip Code FIJ): Xa Xia, Vietnam/Prek Chak, Cambodia (Ha Tien crossing)

You can only purchase a tourist visa on arrival at these borders; they cost US$30, although an additional express fee of US$5-US$6 may be incurred. You may also need passport photos. More information can be found at www.evisa.gov.kh.

Vaccination

Cambodia

There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include hepatitis A, tetanus, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, rabies and tuberculosis. You will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you're arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission or transiting for more than 12 hours through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Please confirm your vaccine recommendations and requirements with your doctor or travel clinic.

Dengue fever, a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes, is a known risk in places visited. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, so take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts are included.

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 men 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.

Weather

The weather will be 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.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Leisurely/Moderate).

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. We have kept travelling time to a minimum; however, a couple of days have approximately five hours’ transfer journeys. We use comfortable hotels throughout. It is important to understand that Cambodia is fairly underdeveloped for tourism outside of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Neil Thomas

Reviewed March 2023

Sunrise, sunsets, monks and monkeys

This was our ninth trip with Exodus and although Cambodia didn’t make it into my top three of countries visited, this tour was simply the best so far. This was as much due to sharing the trip with a lovely group of like-minded travellers and having an excellent leader as it was to the experiences we enjoyed together.

Most Inspirational Moment

I suppose everyone expects the highlight to be the visit to Angkor Wat to see the sun rise over the temple, but for me the real wow moments came elsewhere. The cyclo ride around Phnom Penh was great fun, the bamboo train in Battambong an experience like no other. There were three boat trips to see the sunset, in Kampot, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, all of them memorable. And then there was the two-day stay at Koh Rong island, including a delightful group meal on the beach.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Chan Ly was exceptional. He was permanently available for help and advice - even sending a WhatsApp message at 3.45am to confirm our Angkor Wat trip would go ahead as planned. He did everything with a smile and bonded well with all members of the group. He was on hand to support when various members suffered stomach upsets. Most of all his knowledge of and pride in his country enabled us to see so much of Cambodian life.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Cambodia is a rapidly developing country. I was astonished at the number of high rise buildings, many still under construction, in Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville and Siem Reap, and some of the trunk roads are in the throes of an upgrade. And beware of the monkeys. My wife lost her camera case after an unequal struggle with an aggressive macaque at Angkor. We also spent much time before heading for Cambodia trying to find an appropriate plug adaptor. Don't worry. Almost all sockets accept UK plugs. Finally, consider adding a day or two to your holiday. There is more to do in and around Siem Reap than can be fitted into the Exodus itinerary.

Suggestions

The itinerary brought us so many experiences with rarely a dull moment. There were, inevitably, one or two long travel days but these were punctuated with regular stops to visit villages or artisan markets. The one disappointment for me was early in the trip with the afternoon in Kep. Frankly, there is nothing there worth seeing. The "ghost town" is a boarded up building site and the man-made beach is not a patch on those at Koh Rong. Cambodia also has a major problem with plastic waste. Admittedly, their priorities lie in earning enough money to fill their stomach, but Cambodians need to realise that leaving piles of plastic waste outside their homes is a disincentive to tourism.

Glenys Davies

Reviewed March 2023

Cambodia Adventure

A fantastic insight into this wonder country of vast contrasts. The people are warm and friendly. The towns and cities are vibrant while the countryside is quiet and tranquil – time for reflection and contemplation. The trip is extremely well organised and the staff we encountered were helpful, friendly and very supportive.

Most Inspirational Moment

it would be impossible to single out one moment. The visit to the Genocide Museum and subsequently the Killing Fields will stay with me for ever. The temples of Angkor Wat were astounding as was the history and stories behind them. Most warming for me were the people. Most have very little in life but they smile, cannot do enough to help you or tell you of their country - their pride and humanity is astounding. I loved Kampot, especially that lovely hotel (the Columns?) and the insights we had into the life, skills and crafts of the local people. The food was amazing throughout - I tried most things (avoided rat and frog) and loved all of it. The hospitality skills throughout were very generous at all levels of society. This was a trip that lifted me out of my own worries and those of the world - it was life affirming and I am so pleased to have been a part of it.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fila is quite a guy. He is warm, fun, a proud Cambodian and family man. He had such an excellent knowledge of all the places we visited and if he was unsure of any of our bizarre questions he went out of his way to find out what we want to know. He met all our requests, including Happy Hour at Raffles in Siem Reap, and guided us into a diverse array of restaurants and bars, from authentic tourist locations, to "local local" establishments, including a home dining experience which, without exception, we all loved. FIla's English is good and getting better as he is determined to learn. His pronunciation lead to some minor humorous misunderstandings at times, though overall it was excellent. At times Fila tended to over explain and illustrate his point, but I think this was to ensure that we understood his thinking. Overall, he was the best of excellent guides.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Dont hesitate to take this trip if you are curious. There is so much to see and do, lots to learn if you are that way inclined, and overall it offers a great range of activities and experiences. We found Cambodia to offer an insight into "old Asia" as well as the more modern aspects - a mid may between Thailand and Malaysia ,and northern Vietnam for example. The food is amazing, the landscapes are beautiful and the palaces and temples quite exquisite. The recent history of genocide in this country needs mentioning, as its echos are still heard in the country today. An extra day in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap would be a good idea at each end of the holiday.

Suggestions

We loved the variety of activities. The cruises,the cycling and the Rickshaw rides were so memorable. The TukTuks and road crossing experiences were quite something as well as the markets and the opportunity to try local simple foods such as Palm Cakes, Coconut Rice Cake and the BBQ'd meats. IT was a busy itinerary, with little down time. Thats not a complaint - just an observation. Several of the optional activities promised by the itinerary were not available eg the cooking class, the jungle and zip wire option and the silk factory. I was disappointed to miss all three, though I'm not sure when and how we could have fitted them in.

alan kerr

Reviewed February 2023

Amazing Trip.Don't hesitate

This was probably one of the best trips l have ever done.Eight of us became the Fila Family and we were all Seniors!! As the trip went on we became experts in spotting a Happy Hour 2 for 1 in any town we stayed in.The proposal to remove the water bowser for a beer barrel however fell on deaf ears…………not that seniors can drink……………. This was very much an up and at it tour so no lie ins. Food was really good and great value.Fila was always available to give us advice.Insects for dinner? No problem for these Seniors!!! After dinner we went dancing with the locals.Sorry the men watched on and the girls danced.What a moment.So many great times. Fila kept us in order and always had the hand sanitizer on tap………………..(in house joke) He was a mind of information and was very proud to show us his home town of Siem Reap and of course Angkor Wat. Seniors get up and go!We were all 60-70 and we completed the tour of Cambodia on the bikes……….(There’s a joke there) Go now.This country will change dramatically in the next couple of years. The Cambodians are a lovely people considering the pain and suffering they have had to endure.(Killing fields) So what is stopping you???

Most Inspirational Moment

1.5 course fish lunch in Kep Fish Market for peanuts,but superb.Straight from the sea. 2.The two night stay on the lsland. 3.The salt fields. 4.Guests and eating with a Cambodian family.(A must) 5.All the markets.Arriving on bikes and trying to speak ANY Cambodian was appreciated and great fun.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fila is probably one of the best tour guides l have had the pleasure to be with.His English was superb,and his knowledge of his country outstanding.Throw the guide books away!! He went out of his way to help us. We became his family and he always made sure we sanitzed our hands............ Found out a lot about him and his family. When we did have an issue on ironically the last day he was very professional in dealing with the bike accident in a calm and safe manner. You need to look after him............

Advice for Potential Travellers

Cambodia has sold it's soul to China who are pouring money into the country to develop the infrastructure and tourism. IF you want to see a mess look at Shihanouk. THe beauty of this country will be gone in the next couple of years and replaced with highrise hotels aka Benidorm So the moral of the story is GO.You will not regret it.

Suggestions

Off to Vietnam next

Jackie Blastland

Reviewed January 2023

Fabulous !

Fabulous well organised trip – saw more of Cambodia in the 12 days than we could have ever have organised ourselves. our guide made the trip memorable with his vast knowledge and passion for his country, he went above and beyond his duties. Some of the days are long and hot but he crammed in as much as he could into the days of travelling stopping at small villages along the way. Thank you Fila and Exodus for a memorable time

Most Inspirational Moment

Genocide Museum and Killing Fields will be etched in my brain forever (not inspirational but memorable) Evening dinner at a family home with a great host who made us most welcome Days cycling around Battambang and Angkor Wat Sunrise at Angkor Wat and cycling round the outlying temples

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fabulous leader who spoke great English and became a friend of the group, he looked after us with great care and made sure everything was very well organised Fila made the holiday and we will never forget him

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for some long hot days - most days we set off at 8am so don't expect a lie in bed!

Suggestions

looking forward to our next Exodus trip

Naomi Schwarzbaum

Reviewed November 2022

Not your typical Angkor hopping

13 days in a small country, not too full of attractions, enables one to delve deeper into this fascinating yet troubled destination. Personally, I found the tour enjoyable and fascinating (not boring for even a minute). If you’re lucky enough to have Bun for your guide, than you hit the jackpot!

Thoughts on Group Leader

They don't come any better - knowledge, responsibility and professionalism.

Mark Riley

Reviewed January 2020

Amazing tour of Cambodia

This trip was amazing. It was such a mix of different parts of the country
From the bustling capital of Phnom Penh to relaxing beaches in the south then cycling around Battenbang visiting different local industries and finishing up with the awe inspiring temples of Siem Reep
With our most incredible guide “Bun” who worked tirelessly to make sure everyone of us had an enjoyable time.

Most Inspirational Moment

I would have to say that the most inspiring thing about this trip was “Bun” a truly amazing young man.

Thoughts on Group Leader

“Bun” was caring,funny,enthusiastic,helpful,knowledgable,friendly and very passionate about his wonderful country... He is a credit to Exodus

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go and immerse yourself in this wonderful country, yes it’s poor but the people are delightful and the countryside is stunning.... This trip gives you a snippet of so many different parts of Cambodia. We could easily have spent a week in every town.

Clive Marks

Reviewed January 2020

Breathtaking and dumbfounding

The variety of experiences on this trip is among the highest that I have got from any trip, from the serenity of seeing over a million bats streaming out of their roost cave at dusk to the horrors of a killing field and its torture prison, between which are the mystical majesty of the temples of Angkor. are the grand finale to the trip. Along the way were many encounters of real life in this beautiful country as well as snorkelling in the sea.

Most Inspirational Moment

Inspirational is a difficult word to asses for this trip, so let me try some others for you: Horrifying - the sheer inhumanity of what went on in the torture prison and the killing field (I just had to go and find a quiet corner with my own thoughts - our tour leader, Bun, whose parents had been Khmer Rouge child soldiers, came to my rescue as he was the only person to know so intimately what went on here; Humbling - meeting two survivors of the torture camp (I was left dumbstruck); Magnificent - seeing over a million bats suddenly start to stream out of their roost cave and head out to eat enough paddy field pest to save 20,000 tonnes of rice per year (nature at its most beautiful, so shortly after the horrors above); Majestic - the whole temple complex of the Angkor area (some are beautifully carved, some are vast, others are simply serene in their simplicity and tranquility, Ta Prohm not being among the tranquil ones since the Tomb Raider film. Crazy - the traffic in every town and city but this was contrasted by the ability of everyone to get through crowded junctions with in calm chaos. Walking out into the road, in the assured belief that you would not get run over, is a habit that one will have to rapidly get out of back in the UK! Tranquility - so many places were blissfully quiet, even at the fabulous hotel near Sihanoukville, where one had just gone through a vast building site, was so gloriously located on the beach near a fabulous choice of bars and restaurants. This was the first trip over the New Year when I have been able to get to sleep early due to the quiet in our Siem Reap hotel.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Bun was a star so let me tell you why: he always gave us fabulously accurate and informative briefings about the following day (when we needed to be anywhere; what we would be doing; what we should be wearing; what we should bring with us) as well as updates throughout the day; he was always able to find suitable restaurants for group dinners and coped well with the assorted dietary requirements of some guests. Finding a restaurant for 17 people at short notice is very difficult in any location at any time of year, let alone over the New Year period. Some evenings, when no group dinner was needed, we would find him joining us for dinner and fabulous conversations always resulted; his charm was endless, even when some guests were less than polite or helpful; we always knew where he was as we could always hear his delightful giggle; when one of the guests developed medical complications from sand fly bites, he was fabulous about ensuring that she got the appropriate medical treatment in the right facility and kept the rest of us informed of her progress; when another was taken ill during a bus trip, he dealt with it so discretely that most people had no idea that there had been any problem; his knowledge of his country is amazing; with his parents having been child-soldiers for the Khmer Rouge we knew that he had a very close connection with that dark phase of his country's recent history - he was amazingly frank about some aspects of his parents' lives and of his own extraordinary upbringing; he is a great testament as to what someone can achieve in their own life through sheer determination and hard work, making us feel very humble at having had the privilege of meeting him (woe betide any snivelling brat who whinges about not having the latest gadget, just because they "want" it!) with my husband having broken five vertebrae and twice having had his pelvis crushed, he is a self-confessed "princess and the pea" when it comes to bed mattresses. Bun phoned ahead to ensure that our last hotel had extra facilities in the room when we arrived, helping to ensure some 3 good nights' sleep.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Suggestions

The mix of locations and experiences gave us such a broad insight into this amazing country within a really short period. Thank you for creating such a fabulous itinerary (we had looked at many but yours came out as the best and, despite a false start, we are pleased that we came with you. The mix-up over our premium economy seats for the return flight was resolved before we left, thank you. As soon as we got on the plane, there was someone in one of our seats and then another person came along claiming that he had just been moved, from economy, into the other seat. That gave us a bit of a surprise but we rapidly clarified to the staff and passengers that we were in our correctly allocated seats and that the first of other two passengers had simply decided to choose his own seat and that the other had been misinformed. It all ended smoothly and we appreciated the window seats so that we could keep an eye out for the aurora borealis. The aurora did not appear but that is the nature of the phenomenon.

Roger Frith

Reviewed April 2019

Cambodian adventure AOA190310

An excellent trip. the guide Buntheun was first class, the variation from Ko kong to the Naia hotel in the south was on reflection a very good idea. overall very good value for the money

Most Inspirational Moment

Angkor Wat, the silk farm , the beach at Naia hotel

Thoughts on Group Leader

A truly excellent guide

Mark Crooke

Reviewed April 2019

Cooking in Cambodia..............it was 38C

Loved the trip, Great food, great hospitality and our Guide was outstanding !
Some long days, but you will get a great deal out of a packed itinerary.
Hotels are pretty good, and you’ll appreciate the ones that have swimming pools even more !
The French influence has ensured that the coffee is great just about everywhere, apart maybe from breakfast 🙂

Most Inspirational Moment

Probably the People, their welcome, the warmth & hospitality. You can only admire the way they have come through the last couple of generations. Cambodia is a young, vibrant country which seems to be a good place to be right now

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sokkim was an inspiration in himself. I don't think I have ever met someone quite like him. He couldn't have done more for the group as far as organisation went. He was always on hand with a resolution when anyone had an issue, and was always mindful of what was happening within the group, and our surroundings. Great sense of humour, vast knowledge of all the itinerary items and extremely good with his fellow Cambodians. He had time for everyone, and would put himself out for anyone. Fantastic recommendations for evening meals Couldn't have asked for a better leader ! :-)

Advice for Potential Travellers

In 38C and 90% Humidity - Drink, drink, drink and drink some more, whatever it is ! Make sure you have a water bottle, hat, sunglasses and plenty of lightweight clothes. Don't worry about bringing too much, as the local laundries are great. The food is great, so don't hold back ! The default currency is US Dollars, but don't worry too much, as all the ATM's in the big cities have Dollars in them. Don't both with the Foreign Correspondents Club, as Ibiza is right next door. You can't hear yourself think !

Suggestions

Enjoy before mass tourism really gets there ! Outside of Siem Reap, you'll be in the real Cambodia, so soak it and it's people up. You'll love it :-)

Nikki Daly

Reviewed March 2019

Interesting and fun

Ankor Wat is obviously a must-see. Cyclying along the city walls without tourists, just water and people fishing on one side and the jungle on the other to the sound of cicadas made it even more magical. Our guide Soukimm was brilliant throughout and fascinating on the stone friezes in the Bayon temple. See 13th century life with noodle making, healthcare and every day life. All the temples are truly awesome.

S-21 and the Killing Fields in Phnom Pehn are a reminder of how important peace is and the dangers of extremism. The cyclo ride throught the traffic at sunset really gave you a different view of this rapidly changing city. Battambang was a cool place and it was salutary to see how hard ordinary people have to work to survive. Eating bbq barracudas on the deserted island was also a highlight although thankfully they now avoid Koh Kong.

This is a poor country undergoing huge changes, only 5% of the population are over 60 following the Pol Pot massacres and as such fascinating. The crab/sea food markets of Kampor are wonderful and if you fancy snacking on crunchy crickets or ants then do try them.

Our group and guide Soukimm was amazing and we had such fun all the time. However, be aware you are off out at 8am nearly every day and do travel in a bus on dodgy part-made roads for about 5 hours a day.

I recommend taking a gel seat for the bikes!

So if you don’t just want to tick off key wonders of the world but want to explore and see a country then choose this trip – you won’t regret it.

Most Inspirational Moment

Already detailed above

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