Overview
Cambodia is a very affordable longhaul destination with an embarrassment of riches. This holiday brings together 3 essential elements that most visitors have at the top of their list: the Angkor Temples, Phnom Penh (the Capital) and a choice of beautiful beaches.
The holiday starts with a bang, discovering the awe inspiring ancient temples of Angkor Archaeological Park and visiting the stilted villages on Tonle Sap Lake, the largest in South East Asia From here it's a short flight to Phnom Penh, the evocative capital, where you explore Cambodia’s bloody history whilst raising a toast to an optimistic rebirth. Conclude the holiday on the coast, soaking up the sun at a choice of beach resorts.
Day 1: Depart on a choice of flights to Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Day 2: On arrival private transfer to your choice of hotel for 3 nights in Siem Reap
Day 3: Full day private guided tour of the highlights of Angkor Archaeological Park with lunch
Day 4: Morning private guided tour to Tonle Sap Lake and stilted villages with boat ride.
Day 5: Fly to Phnom Penh for 3 nights
Day 6: Full day private guided Phnom Penh City Tour with Killing Fields. Lunch included.
Day 7: Free day to take a break from touring and explore the city under your own steam
Day 8: Private transfer to Kep, Sihanoukville or one of outlying islands for 6 nights on the beach
Days 9-13: 5 days to relax and enjoy your seaside setting
Day 14: Private transfer back up to Phnom Penh in time for your flight home.
Day 15: Arrive home.
Full Itinerary
Day 1: UK Airport / Siem Reap
Depart on a choice of overnight flights to Siem Reap. As there are no direct flights this is a chance to add on an extra destination such as Bangkok, Hong Kong or Singapore or just book a through flight.
Day 2: Arrive Siem Reap
On arrival you’ll be met by your private guide and transferred to the city centre where you check in to your choice of hotel for 3 nights. This evening you might like to visit the circus that performs nightly in the centre of town. We can
arrange tickets.
Day 3: Siem Reap - Private Angkor Temples Tour (B / L)
This morning your private guide will pick you up for a private guided tour of the iconic Angkor Archaeological Park. Start off at Angkor Thom, the last great capital of the Khmer Empire. Highlights include the magnificent Bayon, one of the most recognisable sites because of the 54 towers adorned with 216 enigmatically smiling stone faces, the Terrace of Elephants, a giant viewing stand for public ceremonies and the Terrace of Leper Kings, whose walls boast beautifully carved nagas, demons and other mythological beings. In the low morning sun the carvings really stand out and as you stand on the Terrace of Elephants you get a great view across a parkland scene interspersed with giant trees protected in the National Park.
Then move onto the temple of Ta Phrom, jungle covered and pretty much left as originally found by European explorers to create a mystical atmosphere.
Back to Siem Reap (15 minutes away) for lunch and a rest in the hot midday. This afternoon return to explore Angkor Wat, the most famous and best preserved of all the Angkor temples. You’ll have time for a thorough exploration before climbing to the top of Pre Rup temple to watch the sunsetover the jungle. Back to the hotel by early evening.
Extra…The great thing about having your own specialist guide is that the itinerary can be tailored to you and be adapted on the ground to take advantage of local knowledge and keep ahead of the crowds. Angkor represents the universe in miniature and you could spend weeks touring round the thousand or so temples, so on this tour we focus on the highlights, but we can easily extend your stay.
Day 4: Siem Reap (B) - Private guided morning Tonle Sap Lake Tour
This morning you’ll be collected by your guide and transferred 45 minutes through the Cambodia countryside to Tonle Sap Lake where you board a longtail boat to explore the lake and visit Kompong Phluk, an isolated community of three villages built on stilts. These scenic villages are flooded for around half the year and you will board a local boat, rowed by a villager, to explore the local community. You will also be taken through the flooded mangrove forests that are the main building block of this valuable ecosystem that supports a variety of wildlife. Back in Siem Reap in time for a late lunch.
Day 5: Siem Reap (B) - Fly to Phnom Penh
Morning airport transfer and short flight to Phnom Penh. On arrival met and transferred to your choice of hotel for 3 nights. Evening free.
Phnom Penh is a traditional Far East city, full of energy and still tatty around the edges. A great place to start in the early evening is to take a tuk tuk to the riverside promenade. As you walk along the Mekong look across to the French colonial buildings that are interspersed with the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and National Museum. Evening is the time everyone congregates along the wide promenade with impromptu aerobics, football matches and time to catch up with friends. There are plenty of restaurants and bars along the way.
Day 6: Phnom Penh - Private City Tour with Killing Field (B / L)
After breakfast your guide will pick you up for a half day city tour of the fascinating Khmer Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda. After lunch in a local restaurant you visit the sobering and poignant Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a testament to Cambodia’s bloody past. Then you can explore the colourful stalls of the vast Central Market. The tour ends at the Choeung Ek Killing Fields just outside the city. This is now a Buddhist memorial park that has been constructed around the mass graves of the thousands of victims. Dozens of mass graves are visible above ground, several which have not yet been excavated. The field is marked by a Buddhist stupa that has glass walls and is filled with over 5,000 skulls. You’ll be back at the hotel by the late afternoon.
Day 7: Phnom Penh (B) - Free Day Or Add Exta Tour
A free day to take a break from touring and explore the city under your own steam, take a short cruise along the Mekong, a cyclng tour on one of the river's many islands or perhaps an informal cooking experience.
Day 8: Phnom Penh (B) - Transfer to Your Choice of Beach Resort
This morning your private driver will transfer you down to the coast for 6 nights (or more / less) at your choice of resort.
The best beaches are to be found on the outlying islands such as Koh Rong, but if you'd rather keep the travelling to a minimum then Sihanoukville offers a limited number of resort style hotels. Just a little further down the coast you'll find Kep; no beach but a wonderfully atmospheric town by the sea, with authentically renovated hotels lining the shore and nestling in the hills that create a special feel. Except for a crab market and some simple restaurants there is little else here, but this is what adds to its allure.
Days 9-13: Kep, Sihanoukville or Koh Rong Island (B) - Beach Days
5 full days to relax on the beach, swim, learn to dive and / or take a snorkelling tour.
Day 14: Beach (B) / Flight Home
Morning free then afternoon airport transfer back to Phnom Penh in time for your overnight flight home.
Day 15: Arrive home
Inclusions
What's Included:
Each featured itinerary is really a starting point from which to create your ideal holiday.
We can include as much or as little as you like, mix and match hotels, excursions and experiences, add extra nights and change the destinations you'd like to visit.
The common thread is that each is a privately guided holiday, allowing you to travel where and when you want, with your own private transport and dedicated guide.
General Inclusions:
- Return scheduled international flights (optional if you would like to arrange your own)
- English speaking, local guide & driver
- Choice of hotel accommodation
- Transport in private air-conditioned vehicles
- Domestic flights detailed in itinerary
- Admission fees to all attractions, temples and activities as mentioned in the itinerary
- All meals as detailed (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner)
General Exclusions:
- Entry visas International airport departure taxes if payable locally
- Optional Tours / Excursions
- Any meals not listed in the itinerary
- Drinks
- Personal expenses
- Tips for Guides / Drivers (discretionary)
- Travel insurance
- Any camera or video fees charged at sites
Where You'll Stay
Hotels
The hotels below are there as examples, designed to act as a starting point from which to create your holiday. There are plenty of alternatives to choose from and when we quote we will include other suggestions so we get to understand your likes and dislikes. Quite often clients mix and match hotel categories throughout their holiday.
Cambodia