Classic Cambodia Tour: From Siem Reap to Phnom Penh

Begin your classic Cambodian adventure by exploring the city of Siem Reap, the gateway to the magnificent Angkor complex. The first day begins with arrival at Siem Reap International Airport, greeted by a local guide, then on to your hotel in the city center. In the afternoon, you’ll visit Kompong Khleang floating village on the iconic Tonle Sap Lake, an authentic experience showcasing the lives of local people living in stilt houses and floating structures. On the second day, you’ll witness a mesmerizing sunrise at Angkor Wat, followed by a full tour of Angkor Thom, the mysterious Ta Prohm and the sunset panorama of Phnom Bakheng, a perfect way to absorb the rich architecture and spirituality of the ancient Khmer civilization.

The journey continues by road to Phnom Penh, stopping at Skuon Market to sample unique culinary delights such as fried spiders. In the capital city, you’ll dive into the splendor of Cambodian culture and history-visiting the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and National Museum before facing the dark history at S-21 Prison and the Killing Fields. The final day concludes with shopping at the Central Market and a sunset cruise on the Mekong River. This five-day tour presents the perfect blend of archaeological beauty, local cultural charm and in-depth historical narrative, making the “Classic Cambodia Tour” an unforgettable experience.

Day 1 Arrive in Siem Reap, Cambodia | Airport Pick-up, Floating Village, Tonle Sap Lake

Welcome to Siem Reap, your gateway for the Temples of Angkor. When you arrive at Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport (SAI), your tour guide and driver will meet you at the exit and then escort you to the hotel in downtown Siem Reap.

Siem Reap is a city in northwestern Cambodia, best known as the gateway to the Temples of Angkor, including the iconic Angkor Wat, which is just 6 kilometers away. The city has transformed into a major tourist hub, with a diverse range of accommodations, and bustling nightlife with numerous restaurants, bars, and night markets.

In the afternoon, you will travel to Tonle Sap Lake to visit the floating village of Kompong Khleang. Known as the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, Tonle Sap is home to numerous floating villages. These are unique for their stilted houses, which are built on platforms supported by wooden poles or tethered to boats, adjusting to the lake’s changing water levels. The villages also have floating schools, shops, and even churches.

Enjoy a boat ride (about 1.5 hours) to observe the residents’ unique lifestyle and the region’s rich biodiversity. If it happens to be dusk, you will appreciate the beautiful sunset on Tonle Sap Lake.

Optional Activity: In the evening, you can join an optional sumptuous welcome dinner buffet. While dining,you’ll be treated to a captivating hmer traditional dance performance, featuring elegant movements and vibrantcostumes set to melodious traditional music.

Arrival Ideas:

Siem Reap Airport: Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (REP) is the main airport in Siem Reap, located about 45 kilometers from downtown and approximately 50 kilometers from the Temples of Angkor.

Flights to Siem Reap: For internal flights, the most common routes are from Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, and occasionally from Sihanoukville, especially during the tourist season. For international flights, it is well connected with major cities in Asia, making it relatively easy to find direct flights from places like Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, and various cities in China.

Day 2 Angkor Archaeological Park | Sunrise, Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm, Angkor Wat, Phnom Bakheng

Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Angkor Archaeological Park is a vast and impressive complex. It spans an area of roughly 400 square kilometers and contains the magnificent remains of the various capitals of the Khmer Empire, which flourished from the 9th to the 15th centuries.

Today, we will guide you through an exploration of some of the most iconic temples and structures within the park, including the majestic Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom complexes, and the enchanting Ta Prohm.

Scenic Spots You will Pass:

Sunrise → Angkor Thom → Ta Prohm → Angkor Wat → Sunest at Phnom Bakheng  → Get back to your Hotel

Start your day early with a sunrise viewing at Angkor Wat. Arrive at Angkor Wat in time to find a good spot to watch the sunrise. Tips: The sun rises between 5:30 AM and 6:30 AM, depending on the time of year. The silhouette of Angkor Wat’s iconic spires stands sharply against the lightening backdrop, creating a stunning contrast that slowly fills with color. The temple’s vast moat reflects this magical scene, doubling the beauty in a perfect mirror image that enhances the surreal atmosphere. After the sunrise, head back to your hotel for breakfast and a short rest.

After breakfast, head to Angkor Thom, the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire. It was established in the late 12th century by King Jayavarman VII in the late twelfth century. Angkor Thom means “Great City” in Khmer. Set over 10 square kilometers, the aptly named last great capital of the Khmer empire took monumental to a whole new level.

Enter through the South Gate and proceed to the Bayon Temple at the city’s center. This temple is known for its numerous smiling faces carved into its towers. Each of its 54 Gothic towers is decorated with 216 gargantuan smiling faces of Avalokiteshvara. The temple also features 1.2km of extraordinary bas-reliefs, incorporating more than 11,000 figures. Take your time to marvel at these detailed bas-reliefs, which portray historical events and scenes from daily life in the empire. A short walk northwest from the Bayon will bring you to the Baphuon Temple. This temple, which predates Angkor Thom, was originally a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva.

Next, visit the Terrace of the Elephants. King Jayavarman VII used this terrace as a viewing platform to observe his victorious returning army. You’ll find it adorned with carvings of elephants and other animals, providing excellent photo opportunities. Continue to the nearby Terrace of the Leper King. This 7-meter high laterite platform features multiple tiers of meticulously carved walls depicting nagas (serpents), demons, and various mythical beings. Conclude your visit to Angkor Thom by exiting through the Victory Gate on the east side of the city.

Later, proceed to Ta Prohm (Jungle Temple). Its appeal lies in the fact that, unlike the other monuments of Angkor, it has been swallowed by the jungle, and looks very much the way most of the monuments of Angkor appeared when European explorers first stumbled upon them. It was also featured in the movies “Tomb Raider” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, which adds to its popularity. After exploring Ta Prohm, enjoy a relaxing lunch at one of the local restaurants nearby.

In the afternoon, return to Angkor Wat for a more detailed tour of this iconic temple. Uniquely designed with a westward orientation, Angkor Wat is best viewed in the afternoon light. Angkor Wat, the largest monument of the Angkor group and the best preserved, is an architectural masterpiece. Its perfection in composition, balance, proportions, relief, and sculpture make it one of the finest monuments in the world.

Angkor Wat is surrounded by a vast moat, 190 meters wide, forming a rectangle of 1.5 by 1.3 kilometers, which symbolizes the mythical oceans surrounding Mount Meru, the center of the universe in Hindu cosmology. Visitors can enter through the west-facing main gate, which leads directly into a long causeway lined with naga balustrades. Spend time in the galleries which feature extensive bas-reliefs depicting epic stories such as the Battle of Kurukshetra from the Mahabharata, the Judgment by Yama, the Hindu god of death, and scenes of heavenly nymphs (Apsaras) and everyday life in the Khmer Empire. At the heart of the temple complex is the central sanctuary surrounded by four smaller towers, forming a quincunx. The central sanctuary, rising majestically above the forested landscape, symbolizes the mythical Mount Meru and offers a unique perspective on the temple’s layout and the geometric precision with which it was built. Climb up to the central tower, a privilege that offers not only a closer view of the intricate lintel carvings and sculpted friezes but also panoramic views of the entire complex and its surroundings.

Note:

• To visit the Bakan tower of Angkor Wat temple, visitors are required to wear proper attire, covering shoulders and knees to show their cultural respect, as this temple is still considered as a sacrificial site for the Khmer people (no short miniskirt nor short trousers).
• Children under twelve years old are restricted not to climb up the tower. The tower will be closed on the Buddhist Sabbath Days, the Buddhist religious days and four days a month in accordance with Lunar Calendar.

If you have enough energy, consider climbing up to Phnom Bakheng to enjoy the sunset view. The climb takes about 15-20 minutes. Arrive early as this popular spot can get crowded at sunset. From here, watch the sky change colors over the main temples of Angkor and the surrounding forests – a perfect end to a day of exploration.

After the tour, drive back to your hotel. Stay overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 3 Siem Reap to Phnom Penh ( about 6 hour’s drive) | Skuon Market

After breakfast, it’s time to depart from Siem Reap and journey towards Phnom Penh, the capital city. This drive spans approximately 381 kilometers and will take around 6 hours. The drive through the Cambodian countryside offers beautiful scenery, with rice paddies, traditional wooden houses, and the occasional water buffalo.

En route, you’ll stop at the Skuon Market. Locally known as “Spiderville,” Skuon is renowned for its market where fried spiders are a delicacy. This unique stop offers a chance to stretch your legs and sample local cuisine. If spiders don’t appeal to you, other snacks and local fruits are also available.

Once you arrive in Phnom Penh, check into your hotel and take some time to rest after the long drive.

Free Time Idea:

Take a leisurely walk along the Riverside (Sisowath Quay). This area is lively in the evening and is lined with cafes, bars, and restaurants.

Day 4 Phnom Penh | Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, National Museum, S-21 Prison, The Killing Fields, Central Market, Boat Trip on Mekong River

Start your day at the Royal Palace, where the King of Cambodia resides. The palace is a stunning example of Khmer architecture, featuring its classic Khmer roofs and ornate gilding. It’s a striking structure near the riverfront, bearing a remarkable likeness to its counterpart in Bangkok. Visit the Silver Pagoda, located within the palace grounds. It’s named for its floor, which is made up of 5,000 silver tiles. Here you’ll find many national treasures including gold and jeweled Buddha statues. One of the most notable is the “Emerald Buddha.”

A short walk from the Royal Palace is the National Museum of Cambodia. This museum is home to the world’s largest collection of Khmer art, including sculptures, ceramics, and ethnographic objects. The beautiful terracotta structure itself is worth visiting, and it offers a serene courtyard. Enjoy lunch at one of local restaurants nearby.

In the afternoon, confront Cambodia’s tragic recent history at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a former high school that was converted into a brutal detention center (S-21) by the Khmer Rouge. Later, a short drive will take you to the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center, also known as the Killing Fields, where a memorial stupa filled with skulls commemorates the victims of this dark period.

Later in the afternoon, explore the Central Market (Psar Thmei), an Art Deco landmark in the heart of Phnom Penh. This market is an excellent place for shopping offering clothes, jewelry, souvenirs, and electronics, and for trying local snacks while observing everyday Cambodian life.

Conclude your day with a sunset cruise along the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. With views of the popular Phnom Penh riverside and the Phnom Penh skyline, this is the chance to relax at the end of the day and enjoy a unique view of the beautiful city.

Day 5 Phnom Penh Departure | Hotel Check-out and Airport see-off

It is time to end your 5-day Classic Cambodia tour. Today, you’ll driven to Phnom Penh International Airport for your departure. The drive takes approximately 40 mins.