Cambodia holidays, Phnom Penh & Angkor
(boutique-style 3*) & meals; Bx9, Lx4, Dx5.
(Visas & local tips not included.) Return UK flights from £800, optional single room supplement £295 (Fully licensed, ATOL protected.)
Description of Cambodia holidays, Phnom Penh & Angkor
Our Cambodia Overland tour will show you the fabulous, World Heritage jungle ruins of Angkor as well as revealing more recent tragic history at Phnom Penh’s infamous Killing Fields but there’s much, much more to experience on our fascinating and varied 10-day tour of this still little-known nation.
You’ll also experience the bustling street-life and vibrant local markets of Cambodia’s hectic, chaotic, but fun capital Phnom Penh; have time to check out the cafes and handicrafts of charming Siem Reap and travel by boat across the vast Tonle Sap Lake and past the unique floating villages of the Sangkar River on route to the provincial town of Battambang. There we’ll meet the local residents and discover the still very traditional cottage industries and everyday life of the surrounding villages before completing our overland loop with a return by road to Phnom Penh.
Our Angkor itinerary – carefully timed and fine-tuned after 20 years of experience – optimizes your visit to this magnificent site which, with its creeper-clad ruins and mysterious carvings surrounded by steamy tropical jungle, is certainly one of the World’s most evocative destinations. We’ll take you on a comprehensive tour of the main sites, as well as some of the hidden ones, at a leisurely pace designed to avoid both the crowds, the midday heat and any ‘temple fatigue’ with plenty of free time to wander the town, perhaps try out the in-house spa treatment or just sit back by the pool with a cold drink.
A fascinating, varied and unforgettable 10-day Cambodia tour.
Features:
1. Phnom Penh with it's French Quarter and lively waterfront - one of Asia's friendliest capitals
2. Explore Angkor - certainly one of Southeast Asia's most evocative and exotic destinations
3. Travel by boat up the Sangkar River - floating villages, bird-life, unique scenery
4. Discover the timeless and picturesque Cambodian countryside
5. Tuk-tuk tour of cottage industries and traditional livelihoods in Battambang's villages
6. Experience dawn at Angkor Wat - watch the sunrise over the iconic silhouette of the world's largest religious building
Optional extensions
1. Explore the south of the country with our 4-day Kep and Kampot mini-tour
2. Add on a beach extension to jungle-covered Koh Chang, Thailand
3. Break up your return journey with a 2-day guided exploration of Thailand’s vibrant capital, Bangkok
Note; groups sizes are 2 to maximum 12 persons with most meals (local-style) included and accommodation in boutique-style 3* hotels.
Map
Price information
(boutique-style 3*) & meals; Bx9, Lx4, Dx5.
(Visas & local tips not included.) Return UK flights from £800, optional single room supplement £295 (Fully licensed, ATOL protected.)
Check dates, prices & availability
Travel guides
Holiday information
Reviews
8 Reviews of Cambodia holidays, Phnom Penh & Angkor
Reviewed on 14 Jan 2024 by Richard Dean
The temples around Angkor Wat are amazing. The food in Saigon was amazing, but we did seek out the best Pho and Bahn Mi. Had great guides for both countries. Read full reviewReviewed on 09 Mar 2023 by Jane Pendock
Very good. The hotels were all good with amazing swimming pools . Many meals are included and varied in style. The balance of touring the Angkor temples was excellent with early starts and then time to recover before an afternoon visit, the guide was very good at ensuring we were at the correct place to make most use of the best light. Read full reviewReviewed on 04 Mar 2020 by Hilary Bourne
It was an interesting trip. Excellent local guides Read full reviewReviewed on 28 Oct 2018 by Alison Fernandes
The entire trip was unforgettable. The openness and friendliness of the Cambodian people was heart warming and this was evident in every exchange...I would rate the holiday as superb. Read full reviewReviewed on 05 May 2018 by Chris Harnby
The whole immersion in another culture was educational and we loved it all. A thoroughly wonderful holiday though we were lucky to be the only three on the trip which gave us comfortable journeys. Read full reviewReviewed on 05 Jan 2018 by Vivian Munn
The S-21 site in Phnomh Penh, all the temples at Siem Reap and the boat journey between Siem Reap and Battambang. Read full reviewReviewed on 08 Dec 2016 by Thamar Smit
Because we were a small group, we were able to change the itinerary and instead of visiting one of the main temples, we went 'off the beaten track' and travelled to a temple way out of Siem Reap without any tourists there. It really felt like we made our own discovery! Read full reviewResponsible Travel
Planet
CARBON REDUCTIONWe keep a careful eye on our carbon footprint, so this tour (as with all our tours) is offered as a genuinely small group experience. By limiting the maximum group size to 12, we can reduce our impact on local communities and on the environment. It also makes for a more personal and rewarding tour for our guests.
We call this tour Cambodia Overland and the clue is in the title: we avoid taking internal flights. Instead, you will find yourself travelling by road and river; not forgetting the extraordinary Bamboo Train in Battambang. There are plenty of opportunities for walking too, on the introductory exploration of Phnom Penh and at the magnificent Angkor complex, for example.
The cuisine is a central to any memorable Southeast Asian experience. Where meals are included on the itinerary, we will take you to restaurants and cafes which use locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients. The superb Khmer Kitchen in Siem Reap springs to mind – the owners of this family-run restaurant take full advantage of the their location next to the Old Market to purchase fresh local produce. Vegetarian and vegan options are widely available at all destinations.
ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE
The varied nature of this tour is one reason for its popularity, covering the ancient Khmer empire, the turbulent more recent past and modern day Cambodian life. We use experienced local guides to share their expertise on each of these themes in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Battambang. Perhaps most importantly, an Angkor specialist will lead you through the wonders of this awe-inspiring site. The significant entry fee is included in the cost of the tour and your visit will help to support and sustain the temples and infrastructure for future generations.
Land mines remain a physical and environmental threat in some areas of Cambodia, which makes the optional visit to the Apopo Centre a must-do. You will not only learn how highly- trained giant rats are humanely deployed in the ongoing process of mine clearance, but your entrance fee will also contribute to the financial costs of continuing this important work for the foreseeable future.
People
LOCAL ECONOMYAside from Apopo and visits to locally-owned restaurants and cafes, you will have several other opportunities to make a positive economic contribution at the local level; for example, the Saray Water Hyacinth Handicraft CBT (Community Based Tourism) Project at the floating village of Prek Toal, a laudable community eco-tourism initiative (at certain times of the year you cannot move for water hyacinth on the Sangkar River!).
Perhaps most significant from both a cultural and economic perspective is the morning tour of Battambang and its environs, taking in a truly local market and then some of the traditional cottage industries and handicrafts. We think the dried bananas are to die for and the sheer variety of banana on offer is an eye-opener!
You will be staying in locally-owned and independently-operated accommodation throughout. A notable mention for Moloppor Villa in Battambang, which is family-run as you are likely to find out - the owners live on site.
Our itineraries include sites and places that other operators rarely visit. This has numerous advantages: it provides a unique point of interest for our clients, it adds cultural value and experience and, importantly for a responsible approach to travel, it ensures that the economic benefits of tourism are more widely spread. This tour visits Prasat Kok Rocha and Kampong Preah, for example.
EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY
As is implied from the observations above, we work with locals who are steeped in the communities to which they belong, from guides to drivers to boatmen to (Bamboo) train operators. In keeping with the ethos of our family-run business and having operated in the region for over 25 years, we view all those we work with as friends/family and not just employees. All are paid at least the minimum wage.
Popular similar holidays
Cambodia tailor made tour, nature & heritage
From US $1765 10 days excluding flights
Cambodian Heritage: culture, nature and off-the-beaten track
Cambodia holiday, beyond Angkor
From £1710 - £1750 12 days including domestic flights only
World Heritage Sites plus off the beaten track Cambodia
Cambodia six day tour
From £623 - £1050 6 days excluding flights
A comfortable introduction to Cambodia
