Highlights of Cambodia
Discover the highlights of Cambodia from its bustling back streets to its ancient temples
Starting in the chaotic streets of Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, this eight-day adventure takes you through Cambodia and all the way to Siem Reap. Visit the ancient temples of Angkor Wat, reflect on Cambodia's tragic history at the sobering sites of Phnom Penh and explore Battambang's countryside. Learn the secrets of Khmer cuisine with local families while watching the sun rise over the ruins of the ancient Ankor Wat and experiencing the floating villages of Tonle Sap Lake.
Start: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
End: Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Duration
- 8 days
- Group size
- 1 to 16
- Minimum age
- 15 years old
- Style
Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time
Original: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time
Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities
Premium: Our best accommodation, exclusive inclusions and our most experienced leaders
- Original
- Theme
Our themes categorise trips based on a common interest or activity, while showcasing the highlights of a destination.
- Explorer
- Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Why you'll love this trip
- Take a short but sweet adventure that’s packed full of experiences that will give you an insight into Cambodia's past and present, urbanscapes and rural life, iconic sites and hidden gems all at once.
- Watch the sun rising over Angkor Wat as it did over 800 years ago. With a three-day Angkor pass to cover your whole time in Siem Reap, you can explore this incredible temple complex as often as you like!
- Cycle the rural farms of the Battambang countryside and meet with local producers – an Intrepid partner and social enterprise that supports the local communities and provides training opportunities.
- Discover life on the water on a boat tour through the floating villages of Tonle Sap Lake and learn about the deep bond between the lake and the local communities.
- Join a guided tour through the Phnom Penh to The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and reflect on its devastating impact on the modern Cambodia.
Itinerary
Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm in Ho Chi Minh City. If you arrive early, why not get out and discover the city's blend of East and West at your own pace. The Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum are great sites to learn more about Vietnam's history. If you have the time, the Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta also make for excellent and insightful daytrips. After your meeting tonight, why not head out for dinner with your group.
- Hotel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Ho Chi Minh City - Reunification Palace - VND40000
- Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum - VND40000
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
Travel by public bus across the border, through rural Vietnam and Cambodia to Phnom Penh. Cambodia's capital city is set on a major junction of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers and boasts some fine examples of French-inspired architecture. If you're looking for a tasty beverage when you arrive, maybe head for a mojito on the rooftop. Or if you're in the mood for shopping, maybe stop in at the art-deco Psar Thmei (Central Market) or travel out to Psar Tuol Tom Pong (the Russian Market) for the best range of local souvenirs.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
Your travel time today will be approximately 10 hours including the border crossing and a lunch stop.
On the bus journey across the border, you’ll exit Vietnam at Moc Bai and enter Cambodia at Ba Vet. Your leader will assist you with border crossing procedures. You’ll also have the comfort of being on the same bus throughout the journey with less hassle at the border crossing by changing vehicles.
If you’d prefer not to travel by bus today, you are welcome to book a flight instead (at your own expense).
Today, you’ll join a guided tour of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) – a former school that served as a Khmer Rouge torture centre. It's estimated that more than 20,000 people were held and tortured here. You’ll also head out to the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, where a stupa made up of some 8000 human skulls marks the execution ground for the torture victims of Tuol Sleng. After, you may wish to learn about a brighter period in Cambodian history with an optional visit to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda. Wat Phnom, shrouded in myth, is equally worth a visit, as is the National Museum. Cyclo tours around the city are a great alternative to walking and generally include the Central Market, US Embassy, Wat Phnom, Mekong riverfront, the Independence Monument and Royal Palace.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Phnom Penh - The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek
- Phnom Penh - Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21)
- Phnom Penh - Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda - USD10
- Phnom Penh - Wat Phnom - USD2
- Phnom Penh - National Museum - USD10
- Phnom Penh - Cyclo tour - USD4
- Phnom Penh - Khmer massage - USD8
The stories and history shared at the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) are confronting and many travellers will find them upsetting. This is an important part of Cambodia’s recent history that we feel is important for travellers to know. If you would prefer not to join these activities, your leader can recommend some optional alternatives. Some further information on visiting these sites can be found here: intrepidtravel.com/adventures/importance-visiting-cambodia-killing-fields
Today is a bit of a long travel day to Battambang, so it's a good idea to get stuck into your book or favourite podcasts. Along the way, visit Kampong Chhnang and learn about the craft of pottery making at local workshops. Then, continue to Cambodia's second-largest city – a riverside town with French elegance, friendly Khmer people and beautifully preserved architecture. The afternoon is free for you to explore at your own pace. Why not take part in an optional cooking class to learn the secrets of local dishes like amok, Khmer curry and fried spicy chicken.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Kampong Chhnang - Pottery village visit
- Battambang - Cooking Class - USD12
- Battambang - Phnom Sampov bat caves - USD15
Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.
Spend some time riding around the rural villages and countryside of Battambang this morning. This is a great opportunity to get a closer look at what rural life means in Cambodia. Visit local families who have been producing agricultural products the traditional way, passed down through generations, like rice paper, dried bananas and bamboo sticky rice. Then, stop by a Khmer house and try some coconut water while chatting about their life. The Intrepid partner for this activity is a local social enterprise that supports the training of local youth for their future careers. This afternoon, continue by private minibus to Siem Reap. When you arrive, maybe hit the markets for some delicious street food.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Battambang - Soksabike social enterprise countryside cycling & local snack tour
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours. Your cycling distance will be approximately 24 kms.
If you prefer not to cycle, please let your leader know and they will arrange remork (tuk tuk) transportation (cost included).
Make your way to Angkor Wat in the early hours this morning to watch the sunrise over this UNESO World Heritage site. Then, temple-hop with your local leader through the marvelous complex. The temples, dating back as far as the ninth century, were believed to represent the cosmic world and were set in perfect balance, symmetry and composition. The intricately carved bas-reliefs and architectural designs are mind-blowing and there are spectacular photo opportunities at any time of day. The ruins are scattered over an area of some 160 square km, but the main cluster of temples is close to Siem Reap, so there will be plenty of time to fully appreciate the great archaeological sites of Angkor Wat, Bayon and the jungle-covered Ta Prohm.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Siem Reap - Three day Angkor Pass
- Siem Reap - Angkor Temples Guided Tour
- Siem Reap - Sunrise at Angkor Wat
Temperatures and humidity can be high in Cambodia, especially walking around sites like the Angkor complex where there may be little shade. Be prepared by taking plenty of drink breaks and wearing appropriate skin protection. Some travellers find an umbrella handy to keep the sun off.
This morning is free for you to explore at your own pace. Maybe visit the Landmine Museum or join the Angkor Zipline Gold Tour. This afternoon, take a private boat around the floating villages and discover the local daily lives at Chhong Kneas – a trading port of agricultural products on the edge of Tonle Sap Lake, also known as the Great Lake of Cambodia. Tonight, maybe head out for dinner and toast to a trip well-travelled.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Siem Reap - Angkor Temples Guided Tour
- Chong Kneas - Tonle Sap floating village visit
- Siem Reap - Angkor Zipline Silver Tour - USD54
- Siem Reap - Landmine Museum - USD5
- Siem Reap - Phare Circus Ticket - USD18
- Siem Reap - Angkor Zipline Gold Tour - USD87
As there are no further activities planned today, your adventure comes to an end this morning. If you’d like to spend some more time in Siem Reap – and it’s recommended you do – just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
Inclusions and activities
7 breakfasts
Private minibus, Public bus, Bicycle, Boat
Hotel (7 nights)
- Phnom Penh - The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek
- Phnom Penh - Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21)
- Kampong Chhnang - Pottery village visit
- Battambang - Soksabike social enterprise countryside cycling & local snack tour
- Siem Reap - Three day Angkor Pass
- Siem Reap - Angkor Temples Guided Tour
- Siem Reap - Sunrise at Angkor Wat
- Chong Kneas - Tonle Sap floating village visit
- Ho Chi Minh City - Reunification Palace - VND40000
- Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum - VND40000
- Phnom Penh - Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda - USD10
- Phnom Penh - Wat Phnom - USD2
- Phnom Penh - National Museum - USD10
- Phnom Penh - Cyclo tour - USD4
- Phnom Penh - Khmer massage - USD8
- Battambang - Cooking Class - USD12
- Battambang - Phnom Sampov bat caves - USD15
- Siem Reap - Angkor Zipline Silver Tour - USD54
- Siem Reap - Landmine Museum - USD5
- Siem Reap - Phare Circus Ticket - USD18
- Siem Reap - Angkor Zipline Gold Tour - USD87
This trip generates 37 kg of CO2-e per person per day
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We keep our group sizes small and our experiences big, so you can get more out of your travels.
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Before you book you should know
- If you’d like to spend more time in Southeast Asia, have a look at the combos that include this trip’s itinerary – Vietnam and Cambodia Highlights (TVSPC), and South East Asia Adventure (TTSAC)
HOTELS:
Most of the accommodation on this trip is in hotels (mostly 2 to 3-star). Facilities are often basic, with some properties not having a continuous supply of hot water on occasion. All rooms are either fan cooled or with air conditioning and twin share with private facilities unless stated otherwise in the daily itinerary. Double beds are not widely available in South East Asia.
WINDOWLESS ROOMS:
Some hotels in South East Asia have windowless rooms, or windows that don't necessarily have a view. This is often due to high population density in large cities, however local building standards also do not require rooms to have windows. We do request rooms with windows, however they aren't always available.
Queen Ann Hotel
86-88 Bui Thi Xuan Ben Thanh
District 1
Ho Chi Minh City
VIETNAM
Phone: +84 839254444
Fax: +84 839259007
Description
Located in Ho Chi Minh City Centre and District 1, Queen Ann Hotel is a 10-minute walk from Ben Thanh Market. Tan Son Nhat International Airport is a 20-minute drive away.
Queen Ann Hotel features rooms with flat-screen TV and free Wi-Fi.
http://www.queenannhotelvn.com/en/
Instructions
Intrepid can assist with pre-booking an arrival transfer from the airport - enquire with your agent. Please advise your flight arrival details at least 14 days prior to your departure.
If you have pre-booked an arrival transfer you will be met on as you exit the Customs Hall by a transfer representative holding an Intrepid sign with your name on it.
If you cannot find your transfer representative, or if your flight is delayed, please call our hotline at +84 903 117 770. Additionally proceed to Column 12 outside the International Arrival terminal. Your driver will wait here if you do not meet upon arrival.
Please note that neither the driver nor any representative should ask you for additional payment.
Metered taxis are readily available and cost approx $10 USD (220,000 VND). Please avoid taxi touts who tell you that they have a metered taxi parked outside the airport.
Normal check in time at the hotel is after 14:00.
Dates and prices
Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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