Cambodia Explorer Bespoke Holiday Itinerary / Experience Tour

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An alternative to our Classic Historic tour, this holiday offers the chance to explore a remote corner of the countryside in a little more depth and includes a stay at the unique Four Rivers Floating Lodge.

You'll begin with the essentials, visiting the magical Temples of Angkor (including the famous Angkor Wat) and Siem Reap. Our tours are carefully paced to steer away from the busiest times of day and show you the temples at their best. Then its off to Battambang to explore the markets and taste the street food. After a short visit to the capital Phnom Penh you'll travel out to the Cardomom Mountains, a little explored area with stunning scenery. The tour ends with some time on the atmospheric south coast where you can experience quiet beaches and colonial architecture at Kampot and Kep.

All with the guidance, freedom and flexibility provided by the Experience Travel Group guides.

Highlights include:

Exploring secret corners of the magnificent Angkor temple complex with your private expert guide.
Steering away from the main tourist route to discover local-life and colonial relics in Battambang and Kep.
Absorbing the atmosphere of the bustling capital Phnom Penh.
Staying in some very unique hotels such as art Deco Knai Bang Chatt and Four Rivers Floating Lodge.

As with all of our suggested itineraries, we can tailor-make your holiday to suit your budget, style and expectations. Find out about our exclusive ‘Journey Planner’ here.

DAY 1 – depart the uk

Depart the UK on an overnight flight to Cambodia.

DAY 2 – siem reap

You will be met by your guide when you arrive at the airport. The rest of the day can be spent at leisure, but if interested, you can begin your exploration of the temples of Angkor at Banteay Kdei followed by sunset at a crematorium temple surrounded by stunning countryside.

Day 3 – Siem Reap

Today you will start your exploration of the Temples of Angkor. Start the day early and visit Ta Prohm, built as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university by King Jayavarman VII and Banteay Srey where you can have a picnic-style breakfast before exploring the temple famous for the stunning pink hue of its red sandstone. If interested you can stop at the small but lovely Banteay Samre temple and a Land Mine Museum before heading back to your hotel to relax. In the afternoon visit Angkor Thom, which translates to "Great City" in Khmer.

Day 4 – Siem Reap

This morning you will have the option to visit the magnificent Angkor Wat for sunrise. The earlier you rise the better - the complex can get quite busy at sunrise so to arrive when the moon and the stars are still out is ideal, where you will essentially have the temples to yourselves in the most magical of settings. Return to your hotel to relax and have lunch. In the afternoon you will visit the Roluos temples, some of the earliest permanent structures built by the Khmer. In the afternoon take a boat ride out on the Tonle Sap lake to visit some undiscovered floating villages.

day 5 - BATTAMBANG

After lunch you will be transferred to Cambodia’s second city Battambang. Upon you arrival you will settle in to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

day 6 - battambang

Explore Battambang with your guide, awash with French era colonial villas and with the unmistakable buzz that only Cambodia can provide. Sample fresh and exciting street food at the local market and head out of the town to Phnom Banan, a small hill temple providing a wonderful vista of the plains below and still showing the scars from the civil war years. The tour will end with a sunset ride on the wonderfully imaginative and quirky bamboo train – unique to Battambang.

day 7 – phnom penh

Transfer by road to Phnom Penh, which will take about 4 hours. Check-in to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

day 8 – phnom penh

Enjoy a full day tour of Phnom Penh, starting at Security Prison 21 (Tuol Sleng), the former high school infamously used as an execution centre during the Khmer Rouge regime. A visit to Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields is disturbing and quite graphic and can be omitted from your tour if preferred. At The Killing Fields, if desired you can take an audio guide of the area with fascinating facts, personal accounts and true stories about the Cambodian genocide. After lunch head back to the city, stopping en route at the Russian market. In the downtown area, visit the National Museum, the Royal Palace and Noradom Boulevard followed by a cyclo tour of the busy central area. Finish the day with a drink at a stylish river-front bar.

DAY 9 – cardamom mountains

Your guide and driver will collect you from your hotel for the road journey into the Cardamom Mountains. You will then board a small boat and head to the 4 Rivers Floating Resort, where you will be based for the next 3 nights.

Days 10 & 11 – Cardamom Mountains

Spend two full days at leisure at the 4 Rivers Floating Resort. Simply relax by (or in!) the river or take time to explore the beautiful wildlife and scenery of the surrounding rainforest. The hotel provides a wide range of daily activities and experiences, these include boat trips to nearby waterfalls, a trek through the forest, a visit to local villages, a tour of a Mangrove forest and various nature trails.

Day 12 – Kep

After breakfast take a small boat to the jetty, where your guide will meet you and take you to the seaside town of Kep. Upon arrival, check-in to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 13, 14 & 15 – Kep

Enjoy three full days at leisure in the charming colonial seaside town of Kep. Explore the local crab market, walk along the waterfront amidst colonial buildings, visit nearby Kampot or simply relax at your stylish seafront hotel – Knai Bang Chatt.

Day 16 – Fly home

Transfer by road to Phnom Penh airport to catch your flight home.

As every holiday is unique to you, prices vary. To give you an indication, two-week holidays range from roughly £2,500 to £8,000 per adult, with an average price of £3,300. We also offer substantial child and seasonal discounts.

Fill in our Quote Request form to get your quick, no-obligations proposal.

As every holiday is unique - Call our experts on 1-888-577-8452 for an inclusive, personalised quotation for your preferred dates or use the quote request form below...

Inclusions

Your personalised quotation with Experience Travel Group will include.

International Flights (which can be omitted from your quotation if you prefer)
Accommodation as described
Privately guided tours and transfers
Original Experience Travel Group "Signature" experiences
Full financial protection (full ABTA and ATOL bonding)
Meals as described
24 hour in-country backup whilst away
Your own dedicated travel expert in the UK

For more on our pricing policy read here.

You can book this holiday tour on its own, with flights or it can be tailored for you.

Here are the hotels and villas within this holiday as standard...

4 Rivers Floating Lodge, Tatai

A totally unique floating lodge close to the Thai border yet so far away from it all. A unique place.

Knai Bang Chatt, Kep

Wonderfully restored 1960's villas, set in a beautiful garden looking out to sea.

La Villa, Battambang

Atmospheric and historic hotel by the river in Battambang. Small, personal and friendly with a great atmosphere.

Pavillon D'Orient, Siem Reap

A superb small property set amongst lush gardens providing great service and value.

White Mansion, Phnom Penh

Modern hotel in a beautiful building with excellent facilities in the heart of Phnom Penh.

You can book this holiday tour on its own, with flights or it can be tailored for you.

Here are the experiences & activities within this holiday as standard...

Ancient city of Angkor Thom and Bayon , Siem Reap

Explore Angkor Thom the 'Great City' of the Khmer Empire.

Angkor Temples by bike, Siem Reap

Explore the temples of angkor on two wheels, cycling your way through the mysterious ruins by bike.

Bamboo Train Battambang, Battambang

Experience one of the world's most unusual rail journeys from Battambang's old French colonial bridge to a nearby town through stunning scenery.

Evening boat ride in Battambang , Battambang

Explore this sleepy market town with an evening boat ride along the Sangker River.

Explore the magnificent Angkor Wat, Siem Reap

Carefully crafted experience to ensure you get the most out of this iconic temple away from the crowds.

Kep Tuk Tuk Tour, Kep

Explore the picturesque coastline and intriguing town of Kep.

Overgrown Ta Prohm Temple, Siem Reap

Made famous by the Tomb Raider film, Ta Prohm has an incredibly mysterious atmosphere and is a must see whilst in Angkor.

Phnom Penh Day Tour, Phnom Penh

Take in some of the sights, sounds and smells of Cambodias bustling and capital city

Southern Seafood, Kep

The sleepy south coast of Cambodia is renowned for its excellent seafood.

Sunset Quad Bike Ride in Rural Siem Reap, Siem Reap

Take a sunset quad bike ride through paddy fields and beautiful rural countryside at sunset in rural Cambodia.

Tonle Sap Floating Villages, Siem Reap

Visit the floating villages of the Tonle Sap lake, the largest in South East Asia and home to these unusual dwellings.

Tuol Sleng & Chueng Ek Tour, Phnom Penh

A thought provoking trip to areas that document the Khmer Rouge period in Cambodias history

Customer Feedback

Both our guides, in Cambodia were excellent. However, I would like to nominate Channak for an award because we felt he gave an outstanding level of service, showing us things that weren't on the itinerary which we would never have found by ourselves and going out of his way to do so. His general sociability and ability to talk to local people, including more reserved tribal people, meant that we had a much greater insight into the community than we expected and we felt privileged to be there with him. He also has personal experience (from childhood) of the Khmer Rouge regime which made our visits to Toul Sleng and Choeung Ek in particular even more poignant than they would have been otherwise.

- Susan

Customer Protection

The air holiday packages shown are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 9324. Please see our booking conditions for more information.

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