Highlights of Cambodia

On arrival at Siem Reap international airport, you will be warmly greeted and transferred to your hotel. The beautiful small city of Siem Reap will be your base to explore the monumental temple complex of Angkor, one of the wonders of the ancient world. Take a guided tour through the vibrant city and visit Angkor National Museum for an introduction to the history of ancient Khmer civilization. End your day with a walk through the lively Old Market.

Journey back in time to the former Khmer Empire as you discover the immense temple complex of Angkor, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the largest temple ruins on Earth. First, visit the magnificent Angkor Wat temple. Built between AD 1113 and 1150, it is a masterpiece of Khmer architecture.

After exploring the temple, discover the great city of Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Khmer Empire. The afternoon tour begins at the South Gate of Angkor Thom and continues to the impressive Bayon Temple. Next, stop at the Elephant Terrace and Terrace of the Leper King, known for their intricate bas-reliefs. The tour finishes at the photogenic Ta Prohm jungle temple.

This tour takes you far away from the usual tourist spots around Siem Reap. Drive through small villages and gorgeous countryside to reach the hidden temple of Beng Mealea. This shady, moss covered temple complex is a quiet refuge from the crowds at the main Angkor temples. After taking in this huge site, continue to Kompong Phluk, where you will board a boat to see Cambodian stilt houses, the flooded forest and Tonle Sap Lake. Return to your hotel and enjoy an evening at your leisure.

Please note: The flooded forest is excluded from the tour from April to September, Cambodia’s dry season.

A morning flight will take you to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. On arrival in Phnom Penh you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Situated at the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap Rivers, Phnom Penh was once one of the most beautiful cities in the Orient and, despite its recent traumatic history, it retains its colonial charm.

Take a guided tour of the capital to learn about Cambodia’s tragic recent past, at the Toul Sleng Museum of Genocide. Formerly the Tuol Svay Prey High School, in 1975 this place became the interrogation and torture facility for the Khmer Rouge regime, known as Security Prison 21, or S-21. Kept largely unchanged, the prison now displays photographs and exhibits about the thousands of victims who passed through these doors – only seven of whom came out alive. Later, enjoy a drink at the FCC Phnom Penh (Foreign Correspondent Club) with a view of the Mekong River and the bustling waterfront.

Visit the Royal Palace – official residence of King Norodom Sihamoni – and the nearby Silver Pagoda, also known as the Pagoda of the Emerald Buddha. After exploring these beautiful buildings, go on to the elegant National Museum, which displays a comprehensive collection of Khmer art.

Witness Cambodia’s recent history by visiting the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, 15km outside Phnom Penh. Choeung Ek is one of thousands of sites around the country where the Khmer Rouge committed genocide during the late 1970s. A stupa has been constructed in which more than 8,000 skulls of victims are displayed. Mass graves and pits from which bodies have been exhumed are still visible, and bones of victims still litter the site. This site may be distressing, but it offers valuable insight into Cambodia’s past.

Spend the morning at your leisure. You will be driven to the Phnom Penh airport for your onward flight.