Cambodia is all-too-often treated as a bolt-on to its neighbours. Give it the time it deserves and you’ll find a country full of life, warmth and wild places you never expected.
Rather than cramming everything in at Angkor and leaving you ‘templed out’, we space your visits across several days in short bursts. And instead of jostling for space at Angkor Wat for sunrise, watch Ta Prohm catch the first rays of light.
The ancient ruins may draw you here, but it’s the people we know that bring Siem Reap’s story to life. Meet people like Noo, whose morning market tour looks simple on paper, until she stops at a medicinal herb hidden in plain sight and tells you exactly what it cures, right before you sit down to share a meal made together.
You’ll also feel the light and shade of Phnom Penh; getting a sense of how its history is offset by a surprisingly strong creative pulse. Relax in between in sleepy riverside Kampot, venture into the jungle of the Cardamom Mountains, or settle into island time at Song Saa.
We’ve worked with our partners on the ground since 2006, alongside the guides and hosts we’ve met along the way. Together, we can open a version of Cambodia that hardly anyone else can show you.
That’s how we design trips you wouldn’t have known to ask us for.
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In Our Travellers’ Words
Cultural Discovery from Vietnam to Cambodia
Extremely well organised Cambodia holiday
ETG perfectly arranged a complicated itinerary taking the stress away
Our Unique Holidays in Cambodia
Relaxing, immersive, life-affirming adventures that show you the best of the destination. Packed with experiences that connect you to the country and are kind to its people and environment. Your holiday can be as adventurous or as luxurious as you choose, as every trip will be turned into your own bespoke package.
Here are some ideas to spark your curiosity…
How We Plan Cambodia
Cambodia rewards time and intention. Arrive with a checklist and you’ll miss what makes it special. The country opens up when you slow down:
Siem Reap: rather than rushing Angkor Wat in a day, we deliberately plan multiple visits: sundowners and time to absorb it. We go beyond the busiest temples, from jungle-tangled Ta Prohm to crowd-free Beng Mealea and Koh Ker. And out to the floating villages on Tonlé Sap, Khmer cooking classes, and the Phare Circus.
Phnom Penh deserves more than a stopover. We give its complex, profound history proper context, balanced with the city’s uplifting creative energy and its lovely rural surrounds.
The Coast: Kep, Kampot and the islands rival Thailand’s turquoise waters but have few fewer crowds. Unhurried, full of faded French villas, pepper farms and the sensational Song Saa.
The Northeast for adventure. Mondulkiri‘s remote jungles, the Irrawaddy dolphins of Kratie, the ethical Elephant Valley Project. Or head west to more wild pockets like the Cardamom Mountains.
For a journey that does Cambodia justice, explore our Classic Holidays.
Explore Experiences in Cambodia
Immersive experiences sit at the heart of ETG. Each one is specially designed to confound preconceptions and share magical, memorable, and truly exceptional moments.
Meet Our Experts
“It’s true. Angkor Wat is amazing (especially exploring with our great guides). But it’s only one of an almost infinite number of once-in-a-lifetime experiences in Cambodia. One of my favourites is also in Siem Reap: a sunrise boat ride on Tonle Sap. It’s a peaceful and eye-opening glimpse of life on the river.”
Ella
Cambodia Specialist
Cambodia's Hotels, Chosen In-House
Plenty of polished, highly rated hotels in Cambodia don’t make the cut for our collection. The ones that do have something special: a proper sense of place, a distinct atmosphere, and hosts who are genuinely glad you came. Some are grand, some are simple, but they all have enough character to stick in your memory. Here are the hotels we keep coming back to, alongside a few off-the-beaten-path finds you’d be hard-pressed to find by yourself.
The Curious Traveller’s Expert Guide to Cambodia
Curious to find out more? The Curious Traveller’s Guide to Cambodia is our experts’ edit of hotels, experiences and holiday tips. Get your complimentary copy today.
You’ll receive five emails from us as well as the guide you requested. They will be inspiring, helpful content about this country. You’ll then be added to our weekly newsletter list, but you can always unsubscribe using the link in any of our emails.
Important FAQs about Cambodia
November to February is the peak season: cooler, drier, and the most comfortable time to be in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. March to May is hot before the rains arrive. The wet season from June to October turns the countryside green and fills the Tonle Sap lake, which affects boat access to some areas but adds a different kind of atmosphere. The temples are best visited early morning year-round, before the heat and the crowds.
Ten days to two weeks to see it properly. Angkor alone warrants several days if you approach it right, and there’s a different city waiting beyond the temples. Cambodia is frequently treated as a brief add-on to Thailand or Vietnam; that does it a disservice. If you want to reach the Cardamom Mountains, Kampot, or Song Saa on the coast, build in more time.
In its own right, without question. Cambodia is too often treated as a bolt-on to its neighbours, which means most visitors give Angkor a day trip and leave. The country deserves proper exploration: the ruins, the people who bring Siem Reap’s story to life, the light and shade of Phnom Penh, and the wild south. We’d recommend Cambodia as a destination first. If you want to combine it with Vietnam or Thailand, we can design that sequence so both countries benefit.
Not in the usual sense. Every Experience Travel Group trip to Cambodia is private and designed for the person taking it, but we don’t do “tailor-made”, and that’s deliberate. Because “tailor-made” assembles a trip around what you asked for, from hotels and tours anyone can book. We design around why you’re travelling, using experiences we’ve built ourselves, boutique hotels we’ve scouted out and matched to you, and trusted guides and drivers we’ve worked with for years. That lets us reach parts of the country you wouldn’t have known to ask for.
- All your accommodation in hand-picked, characterful hotels
- Private drivers throughout
- Carefully chosen local guides
- All activities and experiences (some secret!)
- Entrance fees to national parks and cultural sites
- Many meals and snacks throughout
- All regional transport
- International flights on request
- 24/7 in-country support
With ETG, Cambodia is far more than just Angkor Wat. We’ll guide you to hidden temples, floating villages along Tonlé Sap, and vibrant local markets, creating moments that feel personal and genuine. Our close local connections, hand-picked boutique hotels, and carefully crafted experiences mean you’ll discover the real Cambodia.