12-day Cambodia Highlights Tour

Day 1Arrival/Phnom Penh

Meet upon arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport and transfer to the hotel.

Visit National Museum, over 5000 objects are on display including Angkorian era statu, lingas and other artifacts. Visit Royal Palace is a royal residence now where His Majesty, the King of Cambodia, and the royal families live. it is like a small town of royal dynasties. Continue to Silver Pagoda, serves less as a functioning temple than a repository for cultural treasures such as 90 kg golden Buddha encrusted with 2086 diamonds. Finally visit Wat Phnom Temple is one of the most important pagodas in Phnom Penh. Built in 1373 on an artificial hill by the wealthy widow Daun Chi Penh.

Day 2Phnom Penh

Visit Tuol Sleng Museum (S-21 prison). This former school was used as a prison by Pol Pot’s security forces. More than 17,000 people held at S-21 were taken to the extermination camp at Choeng Ek to be executed. Then drive to visit the “Killing Fields” of Choeng Ek (15 km south of Phnom Penh). Between 1975 and 1978 about 17,000 men, women, children and infants (including nine westerners) were detained and tortured at the S-21 prison and transported to extermination camp of Choeng Ek.

Visit Russian Market (Toul Tumpong Market), the Market has gained reputation for cheap clothing, a large selection of Buddha images and woodcarvings, betel-nut boxes, silk, silver jewelry, and classic music instrument. Enjoy Sunset Cruise on the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers in Phnom Penh, it bursts into 4 branches.

Day 3Phnom Penh/Takeo/Kampot

This morning you will leave Phnom Penh and head south to visit Tonle Bati where you can explore the small yet picturesque Angkorian temple of Ta Prohm. On the banks of the nearby river are a line of bamboo shacks with hammocks, a great place for a relaxing drink. We will get on our car to the quiet town of Takeo before taking a short boat trip to Angkor BoreiTown, located just a few kilometer navigation from the Vietnam border. There is a small museum which displays several reproductions of sculptures from the nearby ruins and few artifacts dating as far back as the 4^th century. After this, we continue our boat trip to visit a pre-Angkorian style temple of Phnom Da and a nearby temple of Asram Maharosei. The steepy path over some big rocks makes Asram Maharosei different from other temples in Cambodia, definitely a piece of unusual memory for your Cambodia tours. You then continue southwards following the picturesque drive to Kampot. The southern coast of Cambodia, edging the border with Vietnam, once served as a glamorous seaside resort for the French in the early 1900s.Check in upon arrival and free exploration afterwards.

Day 4Kampot

It's Bokor Mountain that makes this small town of Kampot so famous among those Cambodia tours buffs. Today, we will sense its magic in person.A drive of 35KM leads us into the lush jungle scenery to the cooler summit hill station. The Bokor Hill Station was originally developed as a playground for the colonials and Khmer elites in the early 20th century. However, as with much of Cambodia, Bokor's destiny was changed by the rise of the Khmer Rouge, the area has seen too many severe battles and today people can still smell the gunfire in the pock-marked and shattered building remains. On our way back to Kampot, you will visit a durian plantation, which might not be friendly to your nose but definitely pretty to your eyes. Have lunch in a local restaurant.
We will be back in Kampot in the afternoon, free exploration on your own.

Day 5Kampot/Sihanoukville

Free at leisure in the morning. Kampot's greenery and idyllic landscape will capture your heart in no time.
In the afternoon, we will head to Sihanoukville, a famed beach destination for all Cambodia tours.Check in upon arrival.

Day 6Sihanoukville/Phnom Penh

Today we have a half day free for relaxation. Off the beach you can rent a boat to explore the nearby coastal islands or the Ream National Park which is well known for the mangrove forest and the eco-system.
In the early afternoon we depart Sihanoukville for Phnom Penh and traverse the spectacular rural landscape. Free and leisure after check in at your hotel.

Day 7Phnom Penh/Battambang

Morning we will drive northwest to Battambang with some stops en route. Our first stop is Kompong Loung,where we will visit the village of goldsmiths along the Tonle Sap Lake, manufacturing souvenir center stopping. Second stop takes us to Phnom Oudong, the ancient Cambodian capital during the latter stages of the Khmer Empire and crowning site of many past kings. Consisting of a series of stupas atop a mountain, there are outstanding views across the surrounding plains below. Later, we will continue to Kompong Chhnang, taking the time to stop at a pottery village before continuing further north to Pursat Province, famous for its marble stone carvings.Have lunch en route.
After lunch, our drive goes on towards Battambang. Until recently Battambang was very much off the map for visitors as it was a Khmer Rouge stronghold. A riverside town and home to some of the best-preserved colonial architecture in all Cambodia, Battambang is now making something of a comeback, with improved tourist facilities and roads allowing Cambodia tour visitors to explore in comfort.

Day 8Battambang

Discover the city of Battambang, a charming big city where you can watch the elegant houses in the French colonial style along the river. You then visit theProvincial Museum and the pagoda before heading to the 11th century temple of Wat Ek Phnom. You pass through traditional villages along the route where you can attend the manufacture of family rice cakes and contacting people about their daily lives.
Afternoon, we drive an hour's ride to the hill of Phnom Bannon (337 steps) and its temple, Prasat Bannon, 7th century, which stands atop mountain that reach by a long staircase. From there, you can also admire the beautiful scenic landscape of villages, plains, pagodas. We drive to the Bamboo Railway Station. The Bamboo Train has been set up by the villagers to facilitate the transportation of goods and people.We will go back to Battambang before sunset.

Day 9Battambang/Siem Reap

Boat trip from Battambang to Siem Reap boasts for the picturesque view along theStung Sangker River. This morning after breakfast, we will get onboard and sail to Siem Reap.After 7 hours, we will arrive in Siem Reap, check in upon arrival. Free time on your own.

Day 10Siem Reap

After breakfast, we will drive out of town to visit to the ancient capital of Angkor Thom dating back to 12th century. In Angkor Thom, we will visit the South Gate, the Bayon Temple, thePhimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, theElephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Have lunch in a nearby restaurant.
In the afternoon, we will visit Angkor Wat, famous for its beauty and splendor to all the Cambodia tour makers. Later, we will visit Bakheng Temple enjoying a romantic sun set view form Bakheng Hill. And then we will drive back to Siem Reap before dusk.

Day 11Siem Reap

This morning, we will visit Banteay Srei, aka Queen City and Banteay Samre, putting a perfect ending to your Cambodia tours. Have lunch in a local restaurant.
In the late afternoon, our steps reach out to Ta Prohm, one of the area's most beautiful temples. Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool, Ta Som, built in late 12th century C.E. the most distant temple on the grand circuit, small but classic. Preah Khan Temple, Built by the King Jayavarman VII. Visit the unique interior brick sculptures of Prasat Kravan,Srah Srang, Banteay Kdei (surrounded by 4 concentric walls) and Ta Keo, constructed in late 10th early 11th century. Touring about in this amazing Cambodia tour hotspot and we will go back to Siem Reap, just in time for an Apsara show, a lovely treat to all your senses in this special Cambodia holiday.

Day 12Siem Reap

Free at leisure till transfer to Siem Reap International airport for flight to the next destination.