Highlights of Cambodia
Itinerary
Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm in Ho Chi Minh City. If you arrive early, why not get out and discover the city's blend of East and West at your own pace. The Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum are great sites to learn more about Vietnam's history. If you have the time, the Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta also make for excellent and insightful daytrips.
After your meeting tonight, why not head out for dinner with your group.
Travel by public bus across the border, through rural Vietnam and Cambodia to Phnom Penh. Cambodia's capital city is set on a major junction of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers and boasts some fine examples of French-inspired architecture. If you're looking for a tasty beverage when you arrive, maybe head for a mojito on the rooftop. Or if you're in the mood for shopping, maybe stop in at the art-deco Psar Thmei (Central Market) or travel out to Psar Tuol Tom Pong (the Russian Market) for the best range of local souvenirs.
Today, you’ll join a guided tour of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) – a former school that served as a Khmer Rouge torture centre. It's estimated that more than 20,000 people were held and tortured here. You’ll also head out to the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, where a stupa made up of some 8000 human skulls marks the execution ground for the torture victims of Tuol Sleng. After, you may wish to learn about a brighter period in Cambodian history with an optional visit to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda. Wat Phnom, shrouded in myth, is equally worth a visit, as is the National Museum. Cyclo tours around the city are a great alternative to walking and generally include the Central Market, US Embassy, Wat Phnom, Mekong riverfront, the Independence Monument and Royal Palace.
Travel by private minibus to Battambang today. Break up an otherwise long trip with a visit to the pottery village in Kampong Chhnang and learn about the craft of pottery making at local workshops. Then continue to Cambodia's second-largest city – a pretty riverside town with French elegance, friendly Khmer people and beautifully preserved colonial architecture, this is a great place to explore on your own. Why not take part in an optional cooking class to learn the secrets of local dishes such as amok, Khmer curry and fried spicy chicken.
Spend a bit of time riding around the countryside by bike, travelling out to the rural villages around Battambang. This is a great opportunity to get a closer look at what rural life means in Cambodia. Visit local families who have been producing agricultural products the traditional way passed down through generations, like rice paper, dried bananas, and bamboo sticky rice and stop by a Khmer house and relax and enjoy some coconut water while chatting about their life. The Intrepid partner for this activity is a local social enterprise that support training of local youth for their future career.
In the afternoon continue by private minibus to Siem Reap, arriving in the evening, and relax as you prepare for your much-anticipated visit to Angkor tomorrow. Perhaps hit the markets for some delicious street food for dinner.
Make your way to Angkor Wat in the early hours this morning to watch the sunrise over this UNESO World Heritage site. Then, Temple-hop with your local guide through the world-famous complex. The temples, dating back as far as the ninth century, were believed to represent the cosmic world and were set in perfect balance, symmetry and composition. The intricately carved bas-reliefs and architectural designs are mind-blowing and there are spectacular photo opportunities at any time of day. The ruins are scattered over an area of some 160 square km, but the main cluster of temples is close to Siem Reap, so there will be plenty of time to fully appreciate the great archaeological sites of Angkor Wat, Bayon and the jungle-covered Ta Prohm.
Continue your explorations of the Angkor complex this morning.
In the afternoon, embark on a private local boat discover the floating villages and local daily lives at Chhong Kneas – a trading port of agricultural products on the edge of Tonle Sap Lake, also known as the Great Lake of Cambodia.
As there are no further activities planned today, your adventure comes to an end this morning. If you’d like to spend some more time in Siem Reap – and it’s recommended you do – just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.
Trip Inclusions
- Take a short but sweet adventure that’s packed full of experiences that will give you an insight into Cambodia's past and present, urbanscapes and rural life, iconic sites and hidden gems all at once.
- Watch the sun rising over Angkor Wat as it did over 800 years ago. With a three-day Angkor pass to cover your whole time in Siem Reap, you can explore this incredible temple complex as often as you like!
- Cycle the rural farms of the Battambang countryside and meet with local producers – an Intrepid partner and social enterprise that supports the local communities and provides training opportunities.
- Discover life on the water on a boat tour through the floating villages of Tonle Sap Lake and learn about the deep bond between the lake and the local communities.
- Join a guided tour through the Phnom Penh to The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and reflect on its devastating impact on the modern Cambodia.
- Hotel (7 nights)
- Private minibus, Public bus, Bicycle, Boat
- 7 Breakfasts included
- Accommodation, itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included
- Intrepid regularly update their itineraries throughout the year based on feedback and local conditions. Therefore the itinerary you see now may differ from when you booked. Global Journeys will provide you with detailed trip notes at the time of quoting, along with a finalised itinerary and trip notes before your trip departs.
Dates & Pricing
Flexible Deposit
GJ Loyalty Discount
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Enquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Intrepid. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
