850 ReviewsRustic luxury in the rice fields – Phum Baitang is Siem Reap’s most serene and stylish retreat.
Depart your home country on your flight to Siem Reap.
Most suited for
Couples
Ideal time to visit
October - March
This memorable journey through Cambodia provides a feeling of adventure with accommodation in the best and most characterful hotels.
You’ll discover Cambodian culture, roam the ancient wonders of Angkor in Siem Reap and learn about the past and thriving present in Phnom Penh.
Get immersed in natural beauty at a unique luxury ‘camp’ in the jungle and at a tranquil, top-notch island resort. You’ll travel with a knowledgeable local guide to ensure that your experience is enriching and comfortable. In between, you’ll have to relax and enjoy each special hotel.
Luxury Cambodia Adventure
As with all our holidays, this itinerary is just a starting point. We will create a bespoke package which will be completely unique for you.
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Day 1
Your adventure begins
Days 2 - 5
Siem Reap
You will be welcomed at Siem Reap airport by your local guide and transferred to Phum Baitang where you will stay for four nights. This hotel is comprised of luxurious Khmer-style houses set amongst lush gardens and sprawling rice paddy fields.
There is much to experience here and your time here will be planned to ensure the pace is right for you and you don’t get “templed out”. Some people wish to explore the Temples of Angkor in-depth and others prefer just an hour or two here and there. A visit to Angkor Wat is, of course, a must and the temples of Ta Prohm, with tree trunks snaking through its ruins will impress all ages. Banteay Srei and Angkor Thom are adorned with intricate carvings that are wonderful too.
Beyond the Temples, a great way to start the day is watching the sun rise over the Tonle Sap lake from a private boat, weaving through floating villages as they come to life. The Phare Circus tells stories of Cambodian life through a mix of traditional and modern theatre – it’s a tremendous all-around initiative and an evening that is impossible not to enjoy. Other options in and around Siem Reap include quad biking in the paddy fields, walking with elephants in the forest or just enjoying the local food.
Days 6 - 8
Phnom Penh
The journey from Phum Baitang to Phnom Penh will take around five hours by road, travelling in the company of your guide (there is a quick flight if you’d prefer but we recommend travelling by car so you can take in the country from the ground).
Your two full days in Phnom Penh will be spent getting to grips with Cambodia’s past, while also exploring beyond the city’s main sites. Visit the S21 detention centre and the ‘Killing Field’ of Choeung Ek to gain an insight into the atrocities that took place during the civil war. Later, visit markets, art galleries and tour the streets on a cyclo.
The sleepy island of Koh Dach can be explored by bike, this is an area few tourists venture out to. In the evening, embark on a tuk-tuk tour or food tour of the city, stopping for dinner and snacks.
Days 9 - 11
Shinta Mani Wild
Transfer from Phnom Penh to the incredible Shinta Mani Wil for a three-night stay. This luxury ‘camp’ sits in the heart of the Cambodian jungle, with custom-designed tents perched over a flowing river and waterfalls.
You have the option to arrive via zip line as you fly over a waterfall and land in the bar! During your stay, you will be able to enjoy an incredible array of customised experiences. Head out on patrol with rangers from the Wildlife Alliance who are dedicated to stopping and catching poachers and illegal loggers in the area. Perhaps spend an afternoon cruising in one of the expedition boats, kayak along the river, head out foraging with the chef before taking a cooking class or embark on a hike with a naturalist. The experiences provided here are incredibly unique and memorable. If you’re looking to unwind, the spa provides a range of treatments, or have a soak in your private outdoor bathtub facing out over the river.
Days 12 - 16
Song Saa Private Island
The journey to Song Saa begins with a drive to Sihanoukville in Cambodia’s south before boarding a speedboat and taking you directly to this island paradise. You’ll spend five nights totally relaxing on the remote Song Saa Private Island, one of the country’s finest luxury destinations. Villas here are absolutely beautiful, and all have their own private pool with views out to the ocean. With plenty of activities and facilities, you can snorkel or scuba dive, kayak or paddleboard, enjoy yoga at sunrise or a rejuvenating spa treatment. Song Saa, with its ‘castaway’ style, offers a truly peaceful island retreat.
Day 17
Fly home
Take a 45-minute speed boat ride back to the mainland before a four-hour drive to Phnom Penh airport for your flight home.
Extremely well organised Cambodia holiday
We flew to Siem Reap. Lucky enough to have Visal Phok there who was a superb tour guide. So many varied experiences there including Angkor Wat and sunrise on Tonle Sap Lake. Cardomom mountains - what a great place to chill but also to experience great value local trips such as sunset and a brilliant trip to the local village.
Chris
21 January 2024Excellent
850 Reviews
What’s included:
With ETG, what’s included goes well beyond the basics. From the moment your trip begins to your final farewell, the essentials are already taken care of, leaving you free to immerse, explore and enjoy without the hassle of hidden extras.
Here’s what comes as standard in all of our holidays:
All flights (unless you’ve booked your own!)
Expert guides and drivers
All accommodation
Many meals and snacks
Immersive experiences throughout
All regional transfers
Tips
24/7 In-Country support
Personal travel consultant throughout
Pricing:
As every holiday is bespoke, prices vary depending on destination, flights, hotel choices, inclusions and travel dates. We aim to include as much as possible upfront, so you know exactly where you are. As an approximate guide:
Bespoke Holidays £4,500 - £8,500pp
Bespoke Luxury Holidays £8,500 - £14,500pp
Bespoke Family Holidays from £4,000 - £7,500pp
Meet Our Cambodia Experts
Ella loves all things Cambodia. She’s explored beyond Angkor Wat and knows how to mix the big sights with those offbeat moments that make a holiday sing. With a knack for finding hotels with real soul (and dodging the overhyped ones), Ella designs trips that show you Cambodia at its most authentic and unexpected.
“Angkor’s ancient wonders, the rolling grasslands of Mondulkiri and the coastal calm of Kep are combined with exceptional stays like The Farmhouse, where luxury meets a strong social purpose. This route offers an extraordinary way to experience the country’s culture and natural beauty.”
Ella
Regional Expert
Explore Our Hotels & Villas
Wherever you go, and whatever you do, at the end of every day you can always be sure of a comfortable rest. Every location on our list of hotels is handpicked, and in its own way, shares the history, the hospitality, and the soul of the destination. Below are some examples of the different hotels we use.
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Siem Reap, Cambodia
Phum Baitang
Highlights
Highlights
Private stilted villas
Infinity pool with rice field views,
Peaceful, authentic setting
Best for
Couples,
Families
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Koh Rong Archipelago, Cambodia,
Song Saa Private Island
Tucked within the Koh Rong archipelago, Song Saa Private Island spans two jungle-clad isles linked by a footbridge, ringed by coral reefs and golden sand.
Highlights
Highlights
Overwater villas,
Sustainable island luxury
Best for
Couples,
Honeymooners
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Cardamom Mountains, Cambodia
Shinta Mani Wild
Truly extraordinary. A unique tented safari camp, Shinta Mani Wild offers outdoor experiences as incredible as its dining and accommodation.
Highlights
Highlights
Atmospheric setting,
Bill Bensley design
Best for
Families with teens,
Couples
Friends
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The ETG Guarantee
We guarantee you an experience no one else has ever had.
The travel magic you’ll remember won’t be found on a well-trodden – or over-Instagrammed – itinerary. It will be the surprises, discoveries and secrets that you’ll uncover along the way with us.
Do you ever feel like people aren’t listening to you?
We get it. And we will – that’s a promise. Your holiday starts with with a proper, no-pressure call to understand what you want, what you don’t want, and what matters to you. From there, we create a completely unique adventure, inspired by our conversation together.
And because of our long-standing relationships with trusted partners across Asia, you’ll have access to experiences you can’t find on Google. The kind of special experiences that are literally impossible to find on your own.
Experiences in Cambodia
Crafting bespoke packages is the heart of what we do. Each holiday is specially designed to confound preconceptions and share magical, memorable, and truly exceptional experiences.
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Siem Reap, Cambodia
The Magnificent Angkor Wat
The jewel in the Angkor crown, Angkor Wat is inevitably at the top of every visitor’s wishlist. As one of Southeast Asia’s most recognisable sights, it can feel crowded at times – but with the help of our in-the-know guides and carefully curated Signature Angkor Experience, it can still feel magical.
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Siem Reap, Cambodia
Ancient City of Angkor Thom and Bayon
More than just another temple, the great Angkor Thom is in fact an ancient city, dating back to the 12th century, that was once the capital of the whole Khmer Empire. The city itself, its Bayon temple and Terrace of Elephants are a must-see when travelling to the region.
On our Signature Angkor Tour, you’ll explore the vast city walls with your guide, accessing intricate canals and dusty corners of the complex via avenues of stone gods and demons.
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Siem Reap, Cambodia
Tonle Sap Floating Villages
Just a short drive south of Siem Reap, you’ll reach the northern tip of Tonle Sap Lake – the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia.
Tonle Sap is Cambodia’s lifeline, providing food, transport, and homes for millions of people. Although the water levels rise and fall dramatically throughout the year, you can visit the lake in any season (ask us for the most magical times to visit).
Hop aboard a wooden motorised boat and cruise across the open water to take in the lake’s sheer scale. Countless floating villages scatter the surface, where nomadic fishing families live in stilted houses and boats. They grow vegetables in floating garden plots and pots set on rafts, while dogs and pigs (somehow) roam this buoyant environment. This experience offers a rare, eye-opening look into a way of life few outsiders ever see.
You can visit the floating villages on our half-day tour from Siem Reap, either in the morning or afternoon (though the cooler morning hours are your best bet). Your driver will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the quay to step aboard the boat.
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Siem Reap, Cambodia
Phare Circus
This is a fun evening with impressive performances that all ages will enjoy, but importantly – it supports a fantastic initiative for young people in nearby Battambang.
At the circus, a traditional folk tale is told through modern theatre, acrobatics, contemporary dance, and live music. It all takes place in a high-top tent where the audience watches in the round while enjoying popcorn, drinks, and beer.
All profits from the circus support the Phare Ponleu Selpak school, set up in 1994 by nine returning refugees from the Khmer Rouge era. Inspired by an art teacher who had helped them through drawing therapy, they decided to found the school to offer other disadvantaged children a similar experience. Phare thus began as an art school before expanding to cover music, theatre, and eventually the circus school. Students can hone their skills at the school and earn a good wage – many go on to perform around the world.
The young performers you see will have been taught at the school, and profits are fed back in to support its current pupils.
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Phnomn Penh and The South, Cambodia
Cooking with Chef Nak
Just a short distance from the lively city of Phnom Penh, you cross the Mekong River and arrive at the garden oasis that local celebrity Chef Nak calls home. She will welcome you into her charming antique wooden house and let you in on the secrets of Cambodian cuisine.
Chatting with her as you wander her beautiful home and gardens is an eye-opening experience. We won’t spoil it for you, but the story of how she has researched old recipes is a fascinating one and is about much more than just food.
After settling in, you will either take a gentle walk or hop in a tuk-tuk to the nearby market, where you’ll see where the ingredients come from and how they’re chosen. Then, back in the kitchen, you will cook side by side with Chef Nak as she guides you through dishes like fish amok, traditional beef salad, and crispy fried river prawns.
If you’re even slightly interested in food, this experience is a must. Whether you stay overnight at the homestay or simply join the cooking class, you gain special insights into Cambodian culture, meet brilliant people, and dig into mouthwatering meals in a simply beautiful setting.
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Battambang, Cambodia
Battambang Bamboo Train
The bamboo train in Battambang is a unique, clickety-clackety rail journey that’s listed by Lonely Planet as one of the top things to do in Cambodia. As you may derive from the name, the train (which the locals refer to as ‘norry’) consists of a bamboo platform powered by a small motor. The train operates on a bumpy track and is held in place by gravity alone.
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Important FAQs about Cambodia
Cambodia is far more than the iconic Angkor temples. Travelling with ETG means exploring the country in a way that feels personal, thoughtful, and enriching.
We’ll show you life beyond the ruins: serene riverside towns, thriving local markets, and countryside where time slows down. Our itineraries are designed for a deeper connection, whether that’s dining with local families, gliding along the Tonle Sap in a traditional boat, or unwinding at hand-picked boutique stays. With expert guides and 24/7 in-country support, we make sure you see Cambodia in a way that’s inspiring, seamless, and uniquely yours.
Cambodia’s dry season runs from November to April, when clear skies and warm, sunny days make temple visits and countryside explorations most enjoyable. For fewer crowds, the shoulder months of May and October can be ideal, offering greener landscapes and quieter moments. The wet season (June to September) brings short, refreshing showers and vibrant scenery, and it’s a great time for photographers or those seeking a more tranquil experience.
Every ETG holiday to Cambodia is designed to feel seamless, immersive and stress free. We’ll arrange international flights (if you’d like us to), your drivers and guides, and stays in characterful hotels we know and trust.
You’ll experience Cambodia in a way that’s completely bespoke to you – from quiet moments to big adventures – all planned by our India specialists. And while you’re away, our local team is on hand 24/7, so you’ll always feel well looked after.
The Curious Traveller’s Guide to Cambodia
Cambodia is a truly fascinating country. Get our experts’ tips and tricks in a handy 10 minute read.
