Best of Cambodia





Experience an all-encompassing adventure through Cambodia
See the best of Cambodia on a comprehensive two-week journey right into the heart of the country. Get to know the people, landscape, customs and cuisine, from the capital city Phnom Penh to the rural village Sambor Prei Kuk. Experience the French elegance of Battambang and see the time-worn grandeur of Angkor Wat – a UNESCO World Heritage site – at sunrise. Visit the remote south and discover the country of the Khmers, before heading to Koh Rong Island for two days of blissful beach time. If you want to see all the best sights that Cambodia has to offer, with a local leader who knows all the secrets, this one’s for you.
5.0
157 reviewsStart: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
End: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Duration
- 14 days
- Group size
- 1 to 12
- 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
- Watch the sun rise over Angkor Wat just as it did over 800 years ago. Wander through the ancient temples of this UNESCO World Heritage site on a guided tour – with a three-day pass to cover your whole time in Siem Reap, you can explore this incredible complex as much and as often as you like!
- Discover the temple ruins at Sambor Prei Kuk and enjoy a village homestay to experience everyday life in rural Cambodia, with local food, local life and plenty to see.
- Get familiar with Khmer cuisine with an included visit to the acclaimed pepper plantations of Kampot, a cycling tour of local producers in Battambang and a local village dinner in Sambor Prei Kuk.
- Put your feet up and enjoy a well-deserved break on the white sand coasts of Koh Rong Island – home to one of the best beaches in Asia (and a few of the Survivor seasons).
- Enjoy an in-depth tour of Cambodia at an easy pace, mixed with insightful tours by local guides, plenty of chances to rub shoulders with the locals and free time to customise your adventure.
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2025 - 31 December 2025
Itinerary
Sua s'dei! Welcome to Cambodia. Your adventure begins in Phnom Penh with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe stroll the streets and explore the city, taking in the interesting French architecture. Visit The National Museum and discover its collection of classic Khmer craftsmanship, or head to Wat Phnom – a peaceful temple on a hill. According to legend, a 14th-century woman named Penh found sacred Buddhist objects in the nearby river and placed them here on the small hill. A great way to spend your first night is strolling along the famous Sisowath Quay and enjoying a coffee or cocktail at one of the many cafes while you watch the busy river traffic.
- Hotel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Phnom Penh - National Museum - USD10
- Phnom Penh - Wat Phnom - USD2
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.
Phnom Penh remains a living relic of the country’s past struggles and successes. Today you’ll visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, which tell the story of the tragic legacy of the Khmer Rouge. In the afternoon, maybe visit the Royal Palace. The private quarters of the Royal Palace are home to King Sihamoni and are closed to the public, but you can visit the Silver Pagoda that lies in the palace complex – the most sacred temple in the country. An ideal way to spend your second evening here is to relax in a cafe by the riverfront.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Phnom Penh - Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21)
- Phnom Penh - The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek
- Phnom Penh - Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda - USD10
The stories and history shared at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek 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. If you prefer not to join these activities, your leader can recommend some optional alternatives. Some further information on visiting the Killing Fields can be found here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/importance-visiting-cambodia-killing-fields/
Get an early start today and travel to Battambang via a local train – Cambodia's second-largest city. Battambang (pronounced Battambong), is a riverside town of French elegance, friendly Khmer people and beautifully preserved architecture. The city is famous for its many statues of animals and divinities that decorate the streets and buildings. The city lacks the traffic of Phnom Penh and the visitors of Siem Reap, so it’s a great place to get an authentic slice of Cambodia. With a free afternoon, you might like to visit the hilltop Wat Banan temple – offering 360-degree panoramic views over the Sang Ke River. There are also the Killing Caves of Phnom Sampeau, which are well-worth the sobering experience. In the evening, maybe walk along the riverfront where locals indulge in hobbies like yoga and folk dancing.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
This morning, take on a bike tour around rural Cambodia with the local social enterprise Soksabike – dedicated to responsible tourism, this organisation provides local university students with training and employment and scholarships for their staff’s language or vocational studies. Learn some basic Khmer phrases and then explore the countryside, stopping to visit local families who make things like rice paper, dried bananas and bamboo sticky rice. See the memorial site for the victims of Khmer Rouge and spend some time in a local’s house, refuelling with some local fruit. This afternoon, you’re free to explore how you wish. Maybe go and watch local students rehearsing in their circus and music schools and the young painters who work in visual arts. Maybe take an optional cooking class to learn the secrets of some delicious local dishes such as amok, Khmer curry and fried spicy chicken.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Battambang - Soksabike social enterprise countryside cycling & local snack tour
- Battambang - Phare Ponleu Selpak Centre - USD12
- Battambang - Cooking Class - USD12
Your cycling distance today will be approximately 24 kms.
If you prefer to avoid cycling, please let your leader know and they will arrange a remork (tuk-tuk) instead.
Travel by private vehicle to Siem Reap today – this small but expanding town is the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Angkor complex. This is the most popular destination for travellers in all of Cambodia (maybe even in Southeast Asia!). You'll probably notice a change of pace here, so maybe take a walk and enjoy the atmosphere when you arrive. A visit to the old market is a must, even if you're not looking for souvenirs – wandering through the stalls and surrounding shops, you’ll find silks, cotton, sarongs, silver and statues among a flurry of colour. There's also a long tradition of shadow puppetry in the region, so if you're lucky, you might even catch a show at one of the local restaurants tonight.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Siem Reap - Phare Circus Ticket - USD18
Your travel time today will be approximately 3.5 hours.
Spend a full day temple-hopping in the Angkor complex today. Hop on a remork-moto (Cambodian tuk-tuk) with an all-female crew from Drivers Srey, whose mission is to support local women with sustainable income to support their families. With a knowledgeable local guide at your side, you’ll be able to make the most of your visit to the world-famous complex, built between the 9th and 13th centuries when the Khmer Empire was the pre-eminent influence in Southeast Asia. The temples were believed to represent the cosmic world and were set in perfect balance, symmetry and composition and the ruins are scattered over some 160 square km. See Angkor Wat – the largest and most complete structure and the only one of Angkor's temples with a west-facing entrance, the Bayon and the jungle-covered Ta Prohm. There are spectacular photo opportunities at any time of day.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Siem Reap - Three day Angkor Pass
- Siem Reap - Angkor Temples Guided Tour
Rise nice and early this morning to see the mighty Angkor Wat at sunrise (weather permitting). Then, continue your exploration of the complex on a day tour in a private van to experience the rest of the highlights at the Angkor complex. The rest of the day is free to recharge. Maybe get adventurous with the Angkor zip-line course, which gives you a birds-eye view of the beautiful rainforest. Or you can get to the heart of Cambodia (through its food, of course) with a cooking class.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Siem Reap - Angkor Temples Guided Tour
- Siem Reap - Sunrise at Angkor Wat
- Siem Reap - Landmine Museum - USD5
- Siem Reap - Angkor Zipline Silver Tour - USD54
- Siem Reap - Angkor Zipline Gold Tour - USD87
- Siem Reap - Khmer Cooking Class - USD25
This morning, drive to Sambor Prei Kuk – your homestay for tonight. When you arrive, take a tour of the village with your local guide who will introduce you to the way of life for the local people, as well as your homestay facilities and your hosts. The temple ruins nearby are some of the oldest in the country (dating back to the 6th century) and are well worth a visit during your free time this afternoon. If you prefer, you can cycle the village on a bike and see the villagers working the rice fields and making handicrafts. Tonight, sit down for a traditional Khmer dinner with your host family.
- Homestay (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Sambor Prei Kuk - Village Tour with local guide
- Sambor Prei Kuk - Traditional Khmer Dinner
- Kampong Thom - Sambor Prei Kuk Temple - USD10
- Kampong Thom - Bike rental fee - USD3
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.
You’ll stay in one room in multi-share accommodation at your homestay. Depending on the group size, you may use two homestays close to each other. There will be a thin mattress on the floor, with a pillow and a mosquito net. The bathroom facilities will be shared and will often consist of a squat-style toilet and a washing area. Towels will be provided for you to use. For passengers wanting a little more comfort, it is recommended to bring your own towel and extra pillow.
Today, take a private transfer to Kampot – one of Cambodia's most attractive old towns. Famous for its pepper, Kampot supplied most French restaurants with this vital spice for many years during colonial rule. Today, the region is more renowned for its plantations of durian – a spiky, pungent fruit that you’ll either love or hate (try it and see for yourself). When you arrive, stroll along the riverside and admire the French architecture, learning about its history from your leader. Then, maybe have a cup of coffee in the riverside restaurants and admire the view of Bokor Mountain Range. A traditional massage is also highly recommended here, from social enterprise Seeing Hands – the best way to support a local charity, is in loose cotton pyjamas, put in the capable hands of one of the blind masseurs or masseuses. In a country with no social security, the training and support provided by the centres allow blind Cambodians to support themselves.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Kampot - Heritage walking tour
- Kampot - Khmer massage - USD5
- Kampot - Sunset cruise (join-in) - USD5
Your travel time today will be approximately 7 hours.
Enjoy a day out in the countryside today and discover the jewels of the Kampot Province. Visit the Pepper Project and learn why Kampot pepper has been acknowledged by international chefs as the world’s best. Then, visit the Kampot salt field – the only salt field in Cambodia. A short walk through the rice fields and a climb provide a lovely outlook over the countryside. A few steps later and you enter the mouth of the Phnom Chhnork limestone cave that features a small 7th-century brick temple inside! Explore the old buildings near the Kep oceanfront – this town was the most popular and prestigious beach town from the early 1900s until the 1960s. During the Khmer Rouge years, many of Kep's mansions and villas were destroyed, but the ghostly remains of many still stand as a silent reminder.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Lunch
- Kampot - Countryside tour
- Kampot - Pepper farm visit (Pepper Project)
- Kampot - Salt field visit
- Kampot - Phnom Chhnork limestone cave
Take a private bus to Sihanoukville, then continue by speedboat to Koh Rong Island – a Cambodian paradise perfect for relaxing on the white sands, blissing out in the cool ocean waters or jungle trekking the day away. Koh Rong is said to boast the best white sand beach in the country (a few seasons of the popular reality TV show Survivor were filmed here!). Enjoy the serenity and peace of this island with accommodation away from the chaos of tourists and over the next two days, enjoy free time and multiple opportunities for swimming, snorkelling, kayaking and chilling on the beach. Your leader will always be around for the best hot tips on what to do and where to eat.
- Bunglow (2 nights)
There are no meals included on this day.
Your travel time on Day 11 will be approximately 3 hours.
Your hotel is located in the quieter side of the island, so the rooms are not equipped with aircon or hot showers, due to the lack of proper infrastructure. This is a great opportunity to take a break from the outside world and soak in the tropical sun away from tourist crowds.
This morning, after you’re well-rested and refreshed from an island paradise, you’ll take a private vehicle back to Phnom Penh. When you arrive, the rest of the afternoon is free to explore or get in some last-minute shopping. Maybe take a walk on the riverfront at the Chatomok, where the Tonle Bassac, Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers meet. Maybe get your group together and end your Cambodian journey with a celebratory farewell dinner – in the early evening, market stalls sell some delicious local specialties.
- Hotel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Phnom Penh - Mekong Sunset & drink - USD15
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.
There are no activities planned today and your trip comes to an end. If you’d like to stay in Cambodia for longer, just speak to your booking agent.
- Breakfast
Inclusions and activities
9 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
Private minibus, Speed Boat, Bicycle, Train, Remork-Moto (Tuk-tuk)
Homestay (1 night), Bungalow (2 nights), Hotel (10 nights)
- Phnom Penh - Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21)
- Phnom Penh - The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek
- 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
- Sambor Prei Kuk - Village Tour with local guide
- Sambor Prei Kuk - Traditional Khmer Dinner
- Kampot - Heritage walking tour
- Kampot - Countryside tour
- Kampot - Pepper farm visit (Pepper Project)
- Kampot - Salt field visit
- Kampot - Phnom Chhnork limestone cave
- Phnom Penh - National Museum - USD10
- Phnom Penh - Wat Phnom - USD2
- Phnom Penh - Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda - USD10
- Battambang - Phare Ponleu Selpak Centre - USD12
- Battambang - Cooking Class - USD12
- Siem Reap - Phare Circus Ticket - USD18
- Siem Reap - Landmine Museum - USD5
- Siem Reap - Angkor Zipline Silver Tour - USD54
- Siem Reap - Angkor Zipline Gold Tour - USD87
- Siem Reap - Khmer Cooking Class - USD25
- Kampong Thom - Sambor Prei Kuk Temple - USD10
- Kampong Thom - Bike rental fee - USD3
- Kampot - Khmer massage - USD5
- Kampot - Sunset cruise (join-in) - USD5
- Phnom Penh - Mekong Sunset & drink - USD15
This trip generates 38 kg of CO2-e per person per day
Learn more about our climate commitment.
When you travel with us, The Intrepid Foundation gives you more opportunities to support important causes in destinations you visit.
Before you book you should know
- You'll be spending a night with a local family on this trip. While the accommodation is shared and basic, this is a great opportunity to connect with the local people (and enjoy delicious home-cooked meals!). Read more about the experience here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/cambodia-homestay-experience
- This trip uses a mixture of public and private transport for moving around in the country and has some long days of driving, so some patience will go a long way towards your enjoyment.
- At times your accommodation may not have continuous hot water. Most travellers don't find this a problem and are often keen to cool down from the heat with a refreshing cold shower!
- You will visit a number of temples on this trip, and this requires a level of modesty. Be sure to bring clothes that cover the arms and pants or skirts that go past the knees. A light scarf is also a good idea for covering shoulders and arms when it’s hot.
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.
Home Chic Hotel
Sangkat BKKI, Khan Chamkarmon 17 Samdach Louis Em St. (282)
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Phone: +855 11 846 484
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 as you exit the Terminal Hall by a transfer representative holding an Intrepid sign. If you cannot find your transfer representative, or if your flight is delayed, please call our hotline on +855 92 555 969. Please note that neither the driver nor any representative should ask you for additional payment.
Pre-paid taxis are available from the airport. There is a taxi stand where you will advise your destination and pay the fare. Taxi fare to your hotel in town will cost approx. US$7-15. Exact price will depend on your final destination. Please avoid taxi touts who tell you that they have a metered taxi parked outside the airport.
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 excludes Day 8 (Homestay) where you will be in shared accommodation 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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