Best Cambodia Tour

Welcome to Siem Reap - the gateway to Angkor Wat! After clearing Customs and retrieving your luggage, you will find our guide is waiting for you in the Arrival Hall, holding a welcome board with your name on it. A comfortable drive will then take you to the hotel. To meet different needs, we have selected both 5-star luxury and 4-star comfort hotels listed below itinerary for you to choose from.

If time allows today, you will be escorted to visit the Angkor National Museum, which is an archaeological museum to help you better understand the Khmer history, culture and art. Most of the collections here are from the Angkor ruins. To visit Angkor Wat, this museum is a good start.

►  Nightlife in Siem Reap
Although Siem Reap is a relatively small city, it has a thriving nightlife as popular among travelers as Angkor Wat. To experience its unique nightlife, the Pub Street in Old Quarter is a must-go place. Unlike bars in traditional sense, the bars here also function as restaurants. During the daytime and before 10:00pm, most of the bars are dining places, and usually after 10:00pm, people start to drink and dance. Many travelers come here every night to experience it and relax. If you are interested, we could drive you there after the museum visit. When returning at night, you can take a Tuk Tuk, which is very convenient and cheap, about $2 to $3 for a ride. Following are recommended popular bars & restaurants:

The Red Piano: Great location on the corner of Pub Street. It is a typical French-style building with two floors, and the balcony on the second floor overlooks the lively bar street. Angelina Jolie once came here when she filmed the Tomb Raider in Ta Prohm Temple, which has brought the bar a great fame. It offers both Khmer and western dishes, and you can also try the signature cocktail "Tomb Raider".

Temple Club: It is the largest bar in Old Quarter. Prices here are reasonable and the atmosphere is quite good, which always attracts passing tourists. There are many dishes on the menu serving Khmer, Thai and western foods. Sitting on an open-air seat in cool breeze, looking at the bustling bar street, and drinking a glass of cold beer or fruit shake, the fatigue of the day will be swept away.

Tip: There are many good restaurants in Old Quarter area, if you prefer a quiet place to dine, our guide will be happy to recommend according to your preference and take you there.

Morning Activities:
Today, we will take you to visit the historical sites of the Angkor Ruins, which would be the most splendid part of your trip. First, we will proceed to Angkor Thom, the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer Empire, which is surrounded by a moat. There is a stone bridge standing on the moat out of its grand South Gate. The busts on one side of the bridge represent Gods while busts on the other side symbolize Demons. When you enter the South Gate, the Bayon Temple will come into your sight. This temple is well-known for its mysterious smiling faces, which were carved on four sides of the Buddhist towers. Altogether there are 54 towers and 216 gigantic faces. Next, we will accompany you to visit the Baphuon Temple, a pyramid temple-mountain, which is known as the world’s largest and most complex three-dimensional building. Not too many tourists in this site, but it is a place loved by photographers. The Terrace of the Elephants will be the last stop of this morning.

►  Who is the Owner of the Khmer Smile?
There is the famous Mona Lisa Smile in the West, but Cambodia also has its Khmer Smile, carved on Buddhist towers, which is even 320 years earlier than the Mona Lisa. No matter where you stand in Bayon Temple, you can always see the kind smiling faces of the Buddha statues, which seem to welcome you. Facing these smiling faces, many people have a question in mind: who was the owner of this smile when it was carved over one thousand years ago? Was it carved by a highly respected Bodhisattva image in Mahayana Buddhism? Or carved by the image of a special person in history? After comparison and demonstration by Cambodian and world archaeological experts, it was surprising to find that these smiling faces were carved according to the image of the King Jayavarman VII during the Angkor Dynasty.

So why did the statue use the image of Jayavarman VII? Surely, it attributed to his heroic deeds and contributions to the country. He once undertook the difficult task of saving the country when it was teetering on edge. He reorganized and commanded the national army, went through countless battles, then expelled foreign enemies and quelled the internal strife, which gave full play to his strategy of governing the country. Finally, he built a powerful empire that ruled 54 provinces. To commemorate him, people carved his great image into Bodhisattva statues in Angkor City, which were worshiped by Cambodians for generations.

Afternoon Activities:
In the afternoon, we will visit the Ta Prohm Temple, the shooting site of the movie Tomb Raider. This distinctive temple standing among the towering green trees brims with the breath of life. Afterwards, we will come to the Temple of Angkor Wat, the best-preserved temple in Angkor complex. This typical Khmer building is known for its exquisite bas-reliefs and the Indian mythology is expressed vividly and fully here.

►  What Is the Function of the Moat Surrounding Angkor Wat?
Angkor Wat covers an area of more than 300 hectares and was built on a large swamp. In order to firm the foundation, ancient craftsmen dug the land a few meters deep, took out the soil and replaced them with sand, and then they paved small stones and soil on the surface. Also they dug a 190-meter-wide moat, which formed a huge rectangle around Angkor Wat, 1500 meters long from east to west and 1300 meters wide from north to south, just like a barrier blocking the surrounding forests. In rainy season, the moat forms a huge reservoir to store the rainwater, while in dry season, the water stored can maintain the stability of the groundwater level under the foundation, which has kept Angkor Wat standing still for over one thousand years. Seeing this amazing project, we really should appreciate and salute the ancient Khmer craftsmen for their superb wisdom.

Weather permitting, we will take you to enjoy an amazing sunset on top of the Bakheng hill. You may get a full view of the golden Angkor Ruins under sunset. Since you have admired the bas-reliefs of the Apsara dancing in the daytime, tonight, we will arrange for you to watch a high-quality Khmer classical Apsara Dance Show,, which will make your trip more perfect. Dinner will served on show. After that, we will drive you back to hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Apsara Dinner Show

Watching sunrise over Angkor Wat is a must-do experience while in Siem Reap, so we schedule it for you this morning. You need to get up earlier and your guide will take you to the best place to get quintessential shots of Angkor Wat at sunrise. Afterwards, you will be driven back to hotel for breakfast as well as taking a break.

►  Sunrise Wonder at the Spire of Angkor Wat: Twice a Year!
Sunrise over Angkor Wat can be viewed on any clear days in a year, but there is also a sunrise wonder at the spire of Angkor Wat, which only occurs twice a year, at the Spring Equinox in March and the Autumnal Equinox in September. That is when the sun rises, it just faces the top of the spire at Angkor, which is very spectacular. This is not accidental. The Khmer ancestors who built Angkor Wat had great wisdom. They studied the principles of the astronomy and geography, carefully arranged the construction site of the temple, which combined Angkor Wat with nature ingeniously, making sunrise just appear at the tip of the tower. Want to see this unique wonder? Just plan your trip during that special period.

Next, we will transfer you out of town to Banteay Srei. Along the way, you can experience authentic rural life when you pass by local villages. Banteay Srei is one of the most elaborate temples at Angkor, which was built with the particular red clay and pinkish bricks of Cambodia and is known for its delicate bas-reliefs and bright colors. After that, we will head to visit a less touristy temple of Beng Mealea, a hidden treasure of Angkor, which is swallowed by lush jungle.

►  Why was Banteay Srei Called the Citadel of Women?

There are two versions about the origin of the name of Banteay Srei. One is that it was built by women, because each stone is carved with exquisite and various patterns, and each stone statue is ingenious and lifelike. People believed that these intricate carvings could have been done only by women. Another version is that it was a palace where concubines lived. During the Angkor Dynasty, Cambodia often had wars with its neighboring countries, so palaces were built far away from the Angkor City to hide the harem concubines. In fact, neither of these statements is true. This temple was built by a Brahmin of royal descent who was the spiritual teacher of the King Jayavarman V. and dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. When traveling through this temple, you will find all the gates are very small, about 120-130cm in height, which was because the person who built it believed this place was for worshiping the God. He hoped all people passing through the gates could bow their heads, bend their waists and walk humbly. 

Late in the afternoon, we will drive to Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, where you will take a boat trip to explore the floating village of Kampong Phluk. People have lived here for generations, so it could be quite a special experience to see their floating houses, churches and schools, as well as to witness their real life on the lake. In addition, you could also enjoy a breathtaking sunset view over the lake.

Get back to Siem Reap, we could drive you directly to hotel, or drop you off at the lively Old Quarter as you wish. It is not only a place to explore nightlife of Siem Reap, but also to find interesting handicrafts, especially the wood carvings.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

►  Enjoying a Spa in Siem Reap will Make Your Trip More Perfect!
When traveling in Siem Reap, you will spend most of the time walking through the stone temples, up and down, so after the trip it is good to enjoy a spa to relieve the fatigue. The hotels we arrange for you all have a spa center. You can choose to enjoy a spa in the hotel, or at the Old Quarter area. They have different spa packages to choose from, among which the traditional Khmer massage and the aromatherapy oil massage are more recommended. Their essential oils are generally local natural materials, which have many benefits to health. There are many spa studios available in Old Quarter. Among them, Samathi, Sokkhak and Bodia with elegant environment are more popular. 

After three days traveling in Siem Reap, you must have tried some typical Khmer dishes. Are there any dishes that interest you most? This morning, you will have a chance to participate in a cooking class to discover the secrets of authentic Khmer cuisines at a local home, which is also a good opportunity for you to interact with the locals and get close to their life. Following are the detailed arrangements:

►  Time schedule: 08:30 to 13:00/ 13:30, with private transfers.
►  Activities: Learn to cook famous Khmer dishes like Fish Amok, Grilled Chicken, Mango Sticky Rice in a relaxing and friendly environment.
►  Your cooking class will be arranged in Preh Dak Village, which includes:

- Visit to a local market and learn about local vegetables, meats, fruits, spices and other ingredients. You will be surprised to find many fried foods like spiders, crickets, scorpions and frogs are sold in the market and loved by local people. Market is always a great place to see the real life scene of a country.
- Refreshments and hands-on preparation of the cooking ingredients with instructions by the cooking class team.
- Learning and cooking the dishes under the demonstration of the chef.
- Enjoying your freshly prepared dishes for lunch. Also the chef will specially prepare one more dish for you.

In the afternoon, we will transfer you to the airport for flight to the capital city of Phnom Penh. One hour later, our guide and driver in Phnom Penh will greet you in the Arrival Hall and take you to check into the hotel in downtown area.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today, we will have a full day Phnom Penh tour. First, we will transfer you to visit the Royal Palace, which is still a current living place for the King of Cambodia. The must-sees are the Throne Hall, the Silver Pagoda and the murals in the corridor of the palace. The Silver Pagoda is the place for the kings to worship the Buddha, named for about 5,000 silver bricks paved on the floor, each weighing 1.125 kilograms. Next, we will take you to visit the National Museum of Cambodia. Built between 1917 and 1924, this museum currently houses a large collection of Khmer art and sculptures from the 4th to 10th centuries and the Angkor Dynasty.

►  Bronze Statue of Reclining Vishnu - One of the Greatest Treasures in the Museum

Vishnu is one of the three Gods in Hinduism, as well as the God of Maintenance. He has a gentle personality, bestows kindness to devout believers and often incarnates into various images to save people from distress. This half reclining bronze statue of Vishnu in the museum is an 11th century artwork in the style of Baphuon Temple. It depicts Vishnu in his cosmic sleep while floating in the sea. Although it is only a fragment, his smiling face allows people to easily imagine his 6-meter-high physique. In the 11th century, gemstone setting was very popular in Southeast Asia, which could make eyes and expressions more vivid, so from the statue we can see his eyebrows and beard have left obvious grooves, which indicates that his gorgeous appearance was ever inlaid with gemstones. Our expert guide will take you to admire it when you are here. 

In the afternoon, you will follow the guide to visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21 Prison) and the Killing Field of Choeung EK to get to know about Cambodia’s history ruled by a brutal regime, the Khmer Rouge from 1975 to 1979. Both sites were concentration camps of that time. Tuol Sleng was originally a high school and later used to hold prisoners. More than 17,000 intellectuals, civilians, women and children were imprisoned here, suffered from severe tortures and finally were sent to the Killing Fields. This period of history has left indelible pains to Cambodians. But how is Cambodia healing from this? How do they teach their young generations about this? Your professional guide will explain you more while you are visiting. Finally, we will transfer you back to hotel.

►  Meet and Talk with a Survivor

While visiting the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, we can arrange for you to meet a survivor inside the compound if you wish. You could talk with him and listen to his life story. Your guide will act as a translator. However, it is good to know that since he is old now, whether he can be there or not depends on his heath condition.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Your one week Cambodia tour will come to the end today. Our guide and driver will pick you up from hotel at the appointed time and then escort you to the airport for your homeward flight. May you have a pleasant journey!

Meals: Breakfast