What this trip covers
Flip our other 6-night Cambodia route and you get this order instead — Siem Reap first, for three nights that take in the whole Angkor circuit plus a Phnom Kulen mountain trip, and only then an overland transfer on to Phnom Penh, where the trip's final two nights are spent.
Arrival in the capital brings a sunset cruise on the Mekong, with Diamond Island and the Royal Palace both visible from the water, and the day after works through Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, the Silver Pagoda and the Royal Palace grounds before your flight out — closing the trip on history, once the temples are already behind you.
Highlights
- Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, then Bayon and Ta Prohm, closing with sunset at Pre Rup
- Phnom Kulen — River of a Thousand Lingas and reclining Buddha
- Overland transfer from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh
- Sunset cruise on the Mekong River past the Royal Palace
- Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda in Phnom Penh
- Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21)
Day by day
Day 1: Arrival in Siem Reap, city tour
Once you land in Siem Reap, a transfer takes you to the hotel, followed by a brief orientation drive to get your bearings ahead of the days built around Angkor and Phnom Kulen. Evenings are left open.
Day 2: Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm
Angkor Wat, built for King Suryavarman II in the early 1100s, is where the circuit begins, continuing through the South Gate into the Khmer empire's final walled capital, Angkor Thom, and on to Bayon Temple with its stone faces carved in relief.
The Elephants' Terrace and the Leper King's terrace come next, then Ta Prohm, where banyan roots still grip walls recognised the world over because of the Tomb Raider film — the day winds down with the sun setting over Pre Rup temple.
Day 3: Phnom Kulen mountain excursion
North of Siem Reap by roughly 58km lies Phnom Kulen, a mountain held sacred by Hindus and Buddhists and known as the place where King Jayavarman II declared Khmer independence in the year 804 CE. The visit takes in stone carvings of a thousand lingas set into the riverbed, along with a reclining Buddha cut from a single boulder.
A shaded picnic stop comes courtesy of a waterfall in Kulen National Park, and on the way back you stop at Banteay Srey village to watch traditional palm sugar being made, before returning to Siem Reap.
Day 4: Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, Mekong sunset cruise
After checkout, a public bus carries you overland to Phnom Penh, roughly six hours on the road. There's free time once you check into the hotel, and later an hour-long sunset cruise on the Mekong passes the Royal Palace, glides along a riverside quarter of homes built over the water, and takes in the more recently developed Diamond Island.
Day 5: Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and Tuol Sleng
Morning touring takes in the Royal Palace compound, home to Cambodia's monarchy since 1866, and next to it the Silver Pagoda, its floor laid with around 5,000 silver tiles and its interior home to a crystal Buddha figure as well as one cast in gold. Wat Ounalom, long regarded as the centre of Cambodian Buddhism, completes the morning.
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum — better known by its wartime code, S-21 — takes up the afternoon. Once a school, it became a Khmer Rouge site for interrogation, and a guide leads you through that history before the return to the hotel.
Day 6: Departure from Phnom Penh
Nothing is planned for the morning until a private car has you at Phnom Penh International Airport, in time for your onward flight or the flight home — no sightseeing on the departure day.
What's included
- Accommodation with twin/ double/ triple sharing room basis with daily breakfast in the category chosen or similar (subject to availability).
- Meals as mentioned in the Tour Itinerary.
- Sightseeing & Transfers according to the above Tour Itinerary Details only.
- Transportation by vehicle with A/C
- Local English-speaking guide’s assistance.
- All Entrance fees for attractions included in the program
- All activities and cruises clearly mentioned in the program
- Government taxes & service charge
- Air Fare / Train fare.
- Personal Expenses such as Laundry, telephone calls, tips & gratuity, mineral water, soft & hard drinks, porterage, water sports.
- Early check-in, late check-out
- Additional sightseeing or extra usage of vehicle, other than mentioned in the itinerary.
- Room Up gradation Charges.
- Any cost arising due to natural calamities like, landslides, road blockage, political disturbances (strikes), etc (to be borne by the client, which is directly payable on the spot).
- Travel Insurance.
- Bank Charges
- Tip to Driver & Guide
- Airport Taxes
- Visa and Visa arrangement
- Anything which is not included in the inclusion.
Not included
- Air Fare / Train fare.
- Personal Expenses such as Laundry, telephone calls, tips & gratuity, mineral water, soft & hard drinks, porterage, water sports.
- Early check-in, late check-out
- Additional sightseeing or extra usage of vehicle, other than mentioned in the itinerary.
- Room Up gradation Charges.
- Any cost arising due to natural calamities like, landslides, road blockage, political disturbances (strikes), etc (to be borne by the client, which is directly payable on the spot).
- Travel Insurance.
- Bank Charges
- Tip to Driver & Guide
- Airport Taxes
- Visa and Visa arrangement
- Anything which is not included in the inclusion.
Book this trip
- Days
- 5 nights / 6 days
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