Essential Cambodia Unique Tour 9 Nights / 10 Days

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 | Phnom Penh – Arrival

Meal: None
Upon your arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport, you will be greeted by our friendly escort guide and driver then transfers directly (approx. 45 minutes) to a booked hotel for check in and have your own free time.

Overnight in Phnom Penh

Day 2 | Phnom Penh Tour with Sunset Boat Cruise

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast is at hotel. Our experienced tour guide and driver will be greeting you at 8.00am from hotel then we drive to witness the tragic site of Choeung Ek – the killing field that proceeded more than 20 thousands of civilians and the site is connecting with Tuol Sleng Museum – was the former school that was transformed to Tortured Prison S21. Stroll around Russian market for shopping.

Enjoy tasty Khmer set lunch at Bopha Titanic Phnom Penh.

Afternoon, we go for a guided tour at the National Museum, the world’s most important collection of Cambodian antique sculptures and carvings. Next, continue to visit Wat Phnom with interesting legendary of founding place of Phnom Penh Capital. Return hotel refreshment and short break.

Evening, we head to Phnom Penh’s Riverside where get on board with a welcome cocktail while the boat cruise is slowly gliding along Mekong & Tonle Sap, watch the sunset fading at horizon, immerse yourself with golden color of Phnom Penh skyline. Disembark around 6.20pm and return hotel.

Overnight in Phnom Penh

Day 3 | Phnom Penh Tour By Cyclo, Drive to Kratie & Boat to Koh Trong

Meal: Breakfast

Breakfast is at hotel. We leave hotel at 8.30am by car to take a challenge of cyclo ride (rickshaw) along riverfront for fantastic morning highlight of Phnom Penh Capital toward Independent Monument where we stop to capture some beautiful photos before resuming the ride to stroll around Central Market to see bustling local trades. Finished the cyclo ride at Royal Palace, we walk to visit The Royal Palace – a complex of buildings which are served as the royal residence for the King of Cambodia, admired by impressive Silver Pagoda with over 5000 solid silver tiles and other Royal Stupas, shrines, monuments etc.

Return hotel for refreshment and check out then we drive with 5 hours to Kratie Province – a sleepy town and the great home for freshwater Irrawaddy Dolphins. On the way, we will have a few stops to enjoy the highlights of Cambodia and sample Cambodian snacks as well as deep fried crispy insects (spiders…).

Once we arrived in Kratie, we will catch a local boat to Koh Trong Island and check in at a booked hotel.

Overnight in Koh Trong Island

Day 4 | Koh Trong Exploration & Mekong Irrawaddy Dolphin

Meal: Breakfast

Breakfast is at hotel. We go to explore Koh Trong Island by push bike for the highlights of Koh Trong, interact local people as well as seeing rural life. Learn from your tour guide about their way of living, routine, culture especially the en-rooted superstitions. Passing traditional stilt houses and hear kids welcoming you by saying “Hello”, you’ll have a lot of chance to take interesting photos. Continue to see Vietnamese floating houses, make a friendly visit to grape farm (seasonal) and enjoy the taste of famous Koh Trong pomelo and fresh coconut juice before making our way back to the hotel.

Afternoon, embark a local boat to the mainland then heading to visit Wat Sasar Mouyrouy (100 column pagoda) with interesting history & legend, continue to Kampi pool where you take a small boat to capture the special glimpses of rare endangered freshwater Irrawaddy Dolphins and watch beautiful sunset over the Mekong River. Return and back to hotel in Koh Trong.

Overnight in Koh Trong Island

Day 5 | Kratie Highlights & Drive to Siem Reap Angkor

Meal: Breakfast

Breakfast is at hotel. Check out then take a local boat to the mainland, we’ll then go for the highlight of Kratie town included visiting local market with interesting activities of local trades. Continue driving (Approx. 6 hours) directly to Siem Reap – the most fascinating attractive region of Cambodia, also the gateway to discover magnificent Angkor Wat – the world’s most renowned heritage

On the way, we will stop for a short visit at Kampong Kdei bridge – one of the ancient Angkorian bridges which was built in the 12th century during the Khmer Empire Era.

Arrived at a booked hotel for check in and have free time in the evening.

*Note: Our Phnom Penh team will say goodbye to you and the rest of your trip will be taken care by our Siem Reap teams for the following days.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 6 | Fully Guided Angkor Discovery & Traditional Gondola Sunset

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast is at hotel. We’re journeying out (or tuk tuk) of hotel at 8.00am to the South Gate of Angkor Thom atop 4 giant faces that religiously represents compassion, sympathy, equanimity and charity. Stroll around Bayon temple consisting of more than 200 smiling faces in stone, admired by interesting temples including Baphuon, Phimeanakas, terrace of leper king and terrace of elephant. Resume the journey to visit Ta Prohm temple adorned with the stunning, amazing tree roots where Lara Croft Tomb Raider was filmed.

Enjoy Khmer set lunch at a selected local restaurant near temples.

Afternoon, continue to witness the marvelous Angkor Wat – the world’s heritage listed by UNESCO in 1992 and the largest unrivaled monument in the world. Built by Suryavarman II in 12th Century, Angkor Wat is considered as one of the top destinations in Asia and is a must-see in your lifetime. Learning from your tour guide the amazing history, its ancestral incredible, architectural masterpieces and the finest carvings dates back to the Khmer Empire when it dominated the largest parts of Southeast Asia.

Next, we’re heading to Angkor Thom where we will embark a traditional gondola which slowly glides along the moat (Tonle Om) and enjoy finger canapé, immerse yourselves with the serenity among the stunning nature of Angkor which the moment seems date back to the old time of Angkor Kingdom while the picturesque sunset with golden color fading at horizon.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 7 | Angkor Balloon Sunrise & Phnom Kulen Waterfalls

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

We start a bit early at 5.15am through the cool morning of Angkor jungle to Angkor Balloon site where we process to embark Angkor balloon (share balloon) for the spectacular sunrise over the stunning scenery of Angkor while you’re enjoying taking the photos of the sun rising up at the gold-red sky. The balloon generally takes 10 minutes for the sightseeing soaring over the sky about 200 meter high and descent slowly down to the ground.

We leave again and drive to Phnom Kulen where you see the famous beautiful waterfalls. Phnom Kulen is regarded as the holy mountain for religious significance to Hindus and Buddhists and was the significant home of the ancient Khmer Empire when King Jayavarma II proclaimed independence from Java in 804 CE. The journey provides nice views of rice paddies, countryside dotting with palm trees and cattle.

Enjoy the walking tour to see the giant reclining Buddha statue on the hilltop along with breathtaking, spectacular views and learn from your tour guide about historical site. Resume walking within the jungle to witness religious Hindu of the riverbed of 1000 linga carvings, next we move to observe the sacred ground-pool before we head to relax near the waterfall. From then, it is your own free time for cooling down, swimming and enjoying local lunch followed by fresh coconut juice.

Late afternoon, we drive back to hotel and have free leisure. On the way back, we can stop at Preah Dak village to observe local people making the famous steaming-rice cake which hides coconut milk inside that you have a chance to grab a few bites.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 8 | Tonle Sap Lake, City Tour & Traditional Apsara Show

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast is at hotel. Today we set off hotel at 8.30am for countryside sightseeing along with a visit at local market to see interesting trades before resuming our journey to Kompong Phluk village of Tonle Sap Lake. We process to take a boat trip along canal toward the centre of Kompong Phluk then the boat slows down to let you enjoy the surrounding admired by amazing houses atop high poles, come across the highlight of fishing activities as well as see people selling fruits/vegetable/meats on their boats, you sometimes see kids in their student uniforms coming back from their classes. Witness how life works on the water and how people make the lake as home then we embark on a canoe to explore the pleasant mangroves, enjoy the serenity while taking picturesque photos and you may see a few waterbirds. Continue by our main boat to see the great lake of Tonle Sap, learn from your tour guide about Tonle Sap ecosystem and its rich biosphere reserve.

Return Siem Reap city to enjoy tasty Khmer set lunch at Khmer wooden house restaurant.

Afternoon, we go for guided orientation at the finest Artisan Angkor wood/stone carving center which displays various defined handicrafts and silk products, continue to stroll around old market to see interesting daily trade as well as bargaining for local handmade products, paintings, lacquers, carvings, clothes, traditional crafts and so on, and you can also go to Royal Residence Garden for walking and breathtaking.

Evening, we leave to enjoy tasty dinner followed by traditional Apsara dance performance at a selected local restaurant.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 9 | Unique Village Experience & Cambodia Water Blessing

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast is at hotel. We start the tour at 8.30am to a remote countryside village, the journey passes interesting city highlight and huge beautiful rice paddies dotting with palm trees and cattle in the fields. We will visit a local market to observe interesting trade exchanges before arriving in the village, next have some fun on the oxcart ride through the village to get interaction along with “Hello” from friendly kids. Disembark the cart, you’ll be greeted by a host family then we get involved with rural activities such as rice planting or harvesting or growing vegetables or making roof of palm leaves depending on the season of the year. These rural village activities are most unique, memorable experience in your trip to Cambodia. Return to the family’s house, stroll round to see the surrounding which admired by routine, lifestyle, culture, customs and superstitions, enjoy lunch followed by tropical fruits and get refreshed by coconut juice.

Afternoon, we say goodbye to the host then we make our way to a Buddhist pagoda in a village where you stroll around to learn from your guide about Pagoda and Buddhism as well as daily life of saffron monks. By the following time, you will prepare to receive special water blessing which is ritually practiced from the ancient time and it is religiously believed to bring good fortune to life as well as getting rid out of bad evil while you’re being poured holy water with chanting sacred words from monk and it is fully accomplished by a wishing red tie at the end.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 10 | Siem Reap – Departure

Meal: Breakfast

Breakfast is at hotel. Simply enjoy the rest of free time in Siem Reap before our team picks you up from hotel’s lobby and transfers to Siem Reap Angkor International Airport for your flight to the next destination.

Thank You and Goodbye to Beautiful Cambodia