Classic Cambodia Tour, Southeast Asia

Arrive at Phnom Penh Airport, fast track and express visa services upon arrival and you will be welcomed by your local English speaking guide.

Transfer to Raffles Hotel Le Royal, where you will be staying in a State Garden View room for 2 nights.

Stay in the State Garden View room at The Raffles Hotel Le Royal

A luxury hotel fit for Royalty. Raffles Hotel Le Royal has, for nearly a century, been the premier hotel in Phnom Penh, blessed with history and style, atmosphere and aesthetics. First established in 1929, it welcomes as it has always done a diverse international clientele of entrepreneurs, writers, journalists, royalty and intrepid travellers of all stripes.

This morning you will visit the Royal Palace, that serving as residence to the King, a venue for court ceremony and as a symbol of the Kingdom.

Silver Pagoda is also located within the Royal Palace compound, the name is because the floor is made up of 5,000 silver tiles. The King meets here with monks for Royal ceremonies and it houses a collection of priceless Buddhist and historical objects including the ‘Emerald Buddha’ unlike other pagodas, no monks live here.

Please note that during the visit of the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, visitors are required to wear proper attire, covering shoulders and knees as this temple is still considered as a sacred site.

Then, visit the National Museum, which houses Khmer art especially sculptures from different periods of Cambodian history. There are over 5000 objects on display.

This afternoon visit Toul Sleng Genocide Museum. In 1975, Toul Svay Prey High School was taken over by Pot’s security forces and turned into a prison known as Security Prison 21 (S-21) and soon it became the largest centre of detention and torture in the country. The museum serves as a testament to the crimes of the Khmer Rouge.

You will take a transfer overland to Battambang which is about a 6-hour drive.

Along the way, you will stop in Kampong Chhnang Province to visit the pottery village.

Upon arrival in Pursat, stop for a bamboo train through Cambodian villages and rice fields. Then continue direct to Battambang.

When you arrive in Battambang you will have dinner at your hotel, The Maison Wat Kor where you will be staying in the Frangipane room.

Maison Wat Kor, Frangipane room

Located in the heart of a Khmer Village with beautifully preserved traditional wooden homes on stilts, adjacent to Battambang, this boutique hotel is set amid an authentic atmosphere in the Cambodian countryside.

Eco-friendly, Maisons Wat Kor features 10 guestrooms within 3 wooden houses, a restaurant-bar and saltwater swimming pool, replete with Khmer cooking classes and classic Khmer massage services.

This morning, you will be visiting a local village called One Village One Product where many families specialise and trade in individual products including dried banana and rice paper. (Take some time to have some samples.)

Also this morning, visit Wat Kandeng to see the monks having lunch (11:00am is the latest time monks eat lunch.)

This afternoon, it is off to Wat Kor a charming cultural village that is close to Battambang located in some of the most beautiful countryside in Cambodia. The heritage here comes from numerous old wooden houses with some being constructed in the early 20^th century. They offer an insight into the Khmer’s simplicity in housing design and to discover the traditional Cambodian way of living.

Then it is onto visiting Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPS) a non-profit Cambodian association working with vulnerable children, young adults and their families through arts schools, social support and educational programmes. Please note that this will be closed during public holidays and at weekends.

Phnom Sampov is the next stop, an important religious site known throughout the whole of Cambodia. Phnom Sampov is a striking limestone mountain located on the road to Pailin. On top of the hill is a Wat and many stupas with various shrines and grottos.

The views from the top are simply breathtaking and there are a variety of food and drink stalls at the base of the mountain. At nightfall here, thousands of bats make their way out of caves in the hill hillside to feed before returning at dawn. This natural phenomenon really is a must see for visitors.

After breakfast, take an overland transfer to Siem Reap. On route, you will stop and visit Banteay Chhmar which was constructed during the reign of Jayavarman VII in the 12^th and 13^th century.

After lunch you will continue onto Pouk Silk Farm at Pouk district, a picturesque village. All facets of Silk production from propagation of various mulberry trees, silk work reproduction, silk extraction from cocoons, cleaning, combing, dyeing and all the intricacies of Ikat weaving are explained and viewed. There is a display centre with items for sale.

After this, you will be driven direct to your hotel in Siem Reap, Phum Baitang Resort where you will be staying in a Terrace village room.

Phum Baitang Resort, Terrace Villa room

Phum Baitang, which means ‘Green Village’ in Khmer is one of Siem Reap’s most luxurious and elegant hideaways, with just 45 spacious stilted villas that are wrapped in luminous greenery and finished with high-quality interiors.

This morning you will visit the largest temple in the world, Angkor Wat. Please note that during the visit of Angkor Wat, visitors are required to wear proper attire, covering shoulders and knees as this temple is still considered as a sacred site.

This afternoon, you will visit Ta Prohm a temple that has been left largely in its natural state since it was rediscovered by French explorers.

A unique way of seeing the area is by Gondola, travel along the water from west gate to south gate and enjoy sunset at Prasat Chrung of Angkor Thom.

This morning you will take a boat trip to the floating village at Kampong Khleang located on the northern lake-edge. In high season these stilted houses rise to 10 metres in the air.

This afternoon you will be driven to Banteay Srei, a tiny and enchanting temple. It is built of red sandstone and is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Sunset at Pre Rup temple.

Please note that during the visit of Banteay Srei temple, visitors are required to wear proper attire, covering shoulders and knees as this temple is still considered as a sacred site.

Morning at your leisure and you will then take your transfer to Siem Reap Airport for domestic flight to Sihanoukville.

When arriving in Sihanoukville you will be welcomed by a local English speaking guide and transfer with you to Sihanoukville where you will go by boat to The Royal Sands Resort Koh Rong.

The Royal Sands Resort Koh Rong, Ocean View Villa room

The Royal Sands Resort is Luxury in Paradise, as is a stay in its magnificent Ocean Villa room. Experience the beauty and calm of an island in the most elegant of fashions… spanning a private 400-meter beach on the tropical island of Koh Rong, Cambodia.

The Royal Sands is a new 5-star resort offering an intimate glimpse of island life as it was meant to be. Relax on the white sandy beaches, swim in the crystal-clear ocean waters, admire the exotic wildlife, gaze at the mesmerising sunsets, enjoy the freshest foods.

The afternoon is for you to spend at your leisure.

Spend today recouping and relaxing after an activity-filled trip. Make the most of the white sand beaches and panoramic vistas across the ocean.

Dine in style at the hotel’s Ocean Restaurant, a chic yet relaxed dining area with foods to indulge your senses. Pamper yourself with a spa treatment or get your sweat on in their state of the art gym facilities.

Or, spend the day drinking cocktails and unwind at the Chill Beach Bar. The resort’s communal bar and restaurant located directly on the beach.

Depart with your guide from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh International Airport for your departure flight home.