From Angkor Wat to Koh Rong island in 9 interesting days

Watch the sunrise over the massive Angkor temple complex with a guided tour. Return to the hotel for a full-energy breakfast, and be ready for another full-day tour to immerse yourself in Khmer culture.

This morning, you will visit the ancient capital city of Angkor Thom. First on the agenda is Ta Prohm, a ruined and mysterious temple with its own story about giant tree roots and strange shapes. This mystery attracts both domestic tourists and overseas explorers to set foot in Cambodia. Continue to Banteay Kdei (the citadel of Chambers), the Victory Gate, the Terrace of the Leper King, the Royal Palace, Baphuon, and Bayon.

Bayon Temple is considered the heart of the Angkor Thom Complex. It is a massive temple, built in the 12th century, and played an important role in the Khmer’s spiritual life. One of the most curious things at Bayon Temple is the almost 200 smiling faces carved into the walls. Some of the carving details on the temple have been damaged by time and climate. However, the soul of this ancient Khmer architecture remains.

Say Soo-a sdei to Angkor Wat!

The afternoon tour gives you time to explore Angkor Wat, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The temple architecture is modeled after the great Meru Mountain of India. The highest central tower is 65m, representing the legendary Mount Meru, and its five towers correspond to the peaks of Meru. The entire structure has been built from sandstone and honeycomb. The magic is that the giant blocks of stone are stacked on top of each other without any binders or reinforced concrete.

After touring, you get dropped off at your hotel.

Stay overnight in Siem Reap.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Siem Reap Victory Gate

Following breakfast, you drive out of Siem Reap to visit Koh Ker. Like many other monuments of Cambodia, Koh Ker has been hidden in the deep forest for thousands of years. Although the temple has been ravaged by time and war, every remaining detail still shows the splendor of an empire. The first temple you’ll see on this day tour is Prasat Pram, with its five towers, some of which are draped in tree roots. Prasat Chin, or the Chinese temple, is in a state of ruin, and its blackened laterite tower is open to the sky. Visit the sacred oil well of Andong Preng at the 37-meter-high Prasat Thom pyramid, with numerous thousand-year-old brick temples and shrines.

Head out on the eastern part of the circuit, admire some of the largest temple lingas of the Khmer Empire: Prasat Krachap and Banteay Pichean are surrounded by forest, and you may see eagles circling overhead. The tour now moves south to the jungle temple of Beng Mealea, situated behind large walls and dripping with vegetation. Marvel at the huge trees growing out of the ruins. This temple was built 30 years before Angkor Wat, with a similar style and layout. You have time for an in-depth exploration of this temple by scrambling over tumbled blocks and traversing high walls. After doing the tour, you are driven back to Siem Reap.

Stay overnight in Siem Reap. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Transfer to the airport (time to be confirmed the day before) for your flight to Sihanouk Ville, which has long been a place of relaxation for Cambodians. Upon arrival in Sihanouk Ville, we take the fast boat to Koh Rong, “Paradise island”.

Overnight in Koh Rong.

Meals: Breakfast.

Enjoy two full days of sun or swim in the warm coastal waters. This is the moment when the dream of going on vacation to an exotic land becomes reality.

Overnight in Koh Rong.

Meals: Breakfast.

Sihanoukville beaches

Enjoy two full days of sun or swim in the warm coastal waters. This is the moment when the dream of going on vacation to an exotic land becomes reality.

Overnight in Koh Rong.

Meals: Breakfast.

Sihanoukville beaches

We say farewell to the island and take an express boat back to Sihanouk Ville. Upon arrival at Sihanouk Ville port, meet your driver (without a guide) and drive back to Phnom Penh. Arrive in Phnom Penh and transfer to a downtown hotel.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Meals: Breakfast.

Phnom Penh at night

This morning, gain insight into Cambodia’s recent dark history on a visit to the remarkable Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, housed in the former school that was taken over by the Khmer Rouge and used as its main detention and torture center, named “S-21.” Also, visit the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. A moving but important visit that will allow you to dig below the surface and understand Cambodia better. After learning about some of Cambodia’s tragic past, it is time to put a smile back on your face and experience modern Khmer life.

Return to central Phnom Penh for lunch at Le Lotus Blanc, a training restaurant for the humanitarian organization Pour un Sourire d’Enfant (for the smile of a child) that provides education and job training to street children that used to be scavenging the municipal dump, and gives them skills and hope for a brighter future. Your visit helps support the training of these kids by being their guests. (Note: Lotus Blanc closes on Sunday.)

In the afternoon, head to Wat Phnom temple, the founding place of the city on a small hilltop. Then continue along the riverfront to the Royal Palace. This palace dates back to 1866 and houses the Silver Pagoda, named for the over 5000 heavy silver tiles that cover its floors. Its original name is Wat Prakeo, meaning the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. In this temple, you will see a collection of Buddhas in gold, silver, crystal, and bronze.

Your next stop is the National Museum, built in the traditional Khmer style. It houses the world’s foremost collection of ancient Khmer artistic, archaeological, and religious artifacts from the 4th to the 13th centuries. Over 5,000 pieces are on display, constituting the repository of the Kingdom’s cultural wealth. In addition, the roof space is home to a large bat colony!

In the late afternoon, enjoy an atmospheric sunset river cruise and watch how Phnom Penh’s popular riverfront comes to life in the early evening, with a coconut juice degustation on board.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Phnom Penh Killing Field

Today is at your leisure. Breakfast is still included, and check-out is at mid-day. Depending on your departure time, a private driver will pick you up from the hotel (3 hours before your flight departure time), transfer you back to the airport for your departure flight.

Meals: Breakfast.

Phnom Penh daily life