Essential Cambodia

Visit Toul Sleng, a high school prior to 1975, an interrogation prison known as S-21 during the Khmer rouge era and today it as a museum. It tells the sad story of the thousands of innocent Cambodian people who were tortured on its grounds. Spend a half day visiting the site with your local guide, and learn about the prison itself, as well as the greater genocide that occured throughout Cambodia. In the afternoon you will travel outside of town to the Killing Fields Museum. Continue onward to see the Independence Monument and take a stroll along the Mekong River. Afterwards, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

You will be picked up from your hotel by an English speaking guide by private vehicle and transferred to visit Wat Phnom (Mountain in the middle of the City). Next, you will continue on to the river bank for an excursion onboard a boat on the Mekong River. Enjoy the beauty of these majestic rivers and experience the charm of local villages. Stop in at the island and visit a traditional Silk Weaving Village while enjoying the sunset.

Transfer by road to Siem Reap in a private car and your English speaking guide (approximately 5 hours).

You will be picked up at the hotel by your tour guide and transferred to the Military Apron, Siem Reap International Airport. This flight will show you the enormous scale of the world-famous heritage site, Angkor Wat. Fly alongside the magnificent Angkor Wat temple and appreciate the spectacular expanse the grand moat encloses. See a completely different perspective of Angkor Wat and marvel at the size and design of a structure built some 900 years ago. A must see for any visitor to Angkor Wat. Afterwards, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Meet your private guide at your hotel and set off for a day of memorable Cambodian sightseeing. Visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom, the Bayon temple complex, as well as Takeo and Ta Prohm temples. Travel from the South Gate of Angkor Thom to Bayon temple by elephant.The walled and moated city of Angkor Thom was the last capital of the Angkorian empire. It was built to protect against invaders in the 12th century. The Bayon is a state temple, erected in the center of the city. In the afternoon enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Continue with a visit to Angkor Wat temple complex and  watch the sunset from Phnom Bakheng. Afterwards you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Today, you will get up at 4 AM to head to the temples and enjoy Sunrise at Angkor Wat, then return back to your hotel for breakfast. After breakfast you will transfer about half an hour outside the city to visit one of the more remote temples, Banteay Srei. After touring around this temple with your guide, you will head back towards Siem Reap, and en route you will stop for a quick visit to the Landmine Museum. This museum was opened in 1997 by Aki Ra, a former child soldier, and proceeds go toward clearing landmines across Cambodia. It is a safe and educational place to learn about the impact that these devices have had on Cambodia, and what is being done to rid the country of their threat. Transfer back to the city for lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch, head to one of Siem Reap's lively local markets where you can buy small gifts to bring along on your next visit, to one of the schools for local orphaned children near Wat Bo. Play with the children, tour the facilities, sit in on a lesson, and interact with the local community here along with your guide, in an experience that is sure to offer some inspiring insight into the Khmer people. In the later afternoon transfer back to your hotel in Siem Reap. ***A portion of the tour cost will be donated to both the Landmine Museum and Orphanage, of course, further donations are welcome!

Transfer between the airport and your hotel by private vehicle with an English-speaking guide.