As you arrive in Phnom Penh, tuk tuks weave past gilded roofs and you catch the broad sweep of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap meeting at Chaktomuk. Settle in, then wander towards Sisowath Quay, where palms line the promenade, families gather by the water and the scent of grilled skewers drifts from evening food stalls. Boats cross the river as lights begin to glimmer on the water, before you meet your Travel Director and fellow small group travelers.
At Phnom Penh’s Olympic Stadium, broad concrete terraces sweep around the arena as you take in Vann Molyvann’s bold geometry and the clean lines of Cambodia’s 1960s modernism. From concrete to gold, you pass beneath tiered roofs and slender spires of the Royal Palace before entering the Silver Pagoda, where thousands of silver floor tiles sparkle beneath painted Reamker murals. On Street 240, leafy branches shade old villas as you wander between independent boutiques and cafes, browsing Cambodian silks, handmade pieces and shelves of books. Pull up a chair for lort cha, Cambodia’s stir-fried rice noodles arriving hot from the wok. Afterwards, visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, the former S-21 detention and interrogation center, followed by Choeung Ek. These visits cover the Khmer Rouge period and its impact on Cambodia. This evening is free, or choose an Optional Experience and travel by tuk tuk between some of Phnom Penh’s bars.
Leaving Phnom Penh behind, you make for Koh Chen, where the river slides past low houses and small workshops known for generations of silver and copper craft. Step inside to watch local makers shape and engrave each piece by hand, then browse bowls, trays and keepsakes polished to a soft silver-white and warm copper glow before continuing west. In Battambang, pale ochre façades, deep green shutters and faded cream shopfronts line streets that stretch towards the river. After checking in, you can follow the old shophouses past galleries and creative spaces, with hand-painted signs, carved balconies and contemporary Cambodian art along the way.
At Phnom Banan, steep stone steps lead you through the greenery to weathered temple towers above the Battambang countryside. Pause among the ancient stonework, with rice fields, palms and villages stretching far beyond the hill, before returning to the plains below. Back in Battambang, stop at the Bamboo Train, its simple bamboo platform resting on steel rails once used to carry people and goods through the countryside. At Wat Kor Village, traditional Khmer houses stand high on timber stilts with broad verandas and shuttered windows. Visit Mrs Bun Roeung’s Ancient House, with its dark timber frame, tiled roof and broad wooden veranda. At Battambang Provincial Museum, explore sculpture and archaeological pieces from across the province before traveling to Phnom Sampeau. Near dusk, you may catch the extraordinary sight of bats streaming from the cave mouth in a dark ribbon across the sky. This evening, you may choose a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at Jaan Bai, where Khmer cuisine is prepared using local ingredients.
On the road to Siem Reap, you'll stop in Puok District at the National Silk Center to see the care and handwork behind Cambodia’s silk-making tradition. Then continue to Siem Reap, where Psar Chas spills into narrow aisles of colorful textiles, carved keepsakes and market stalls. Choose somewhere near Pub Street for dinner or follow the river through the city. You may also add an Optional Experience on Tonle Sap, cruising across the lake as the light softens over the water.
At Angkor Wat, you watch the black silhouette of its lotus-shaped towers cut into the dawn sky, the temple mirrored in the glistening water below. As daylight strengthens, the first light reaches the ancient sandstone. You’ll cross the causeway and enter galleries carved with apsaras, gods and warriors. Continue with your Local Specialist to Srah Srang and Ta Prohm, where enormous roots twist over doorways and stone walls disappear beneath the jungle. Inside Angkor Thom, walk through the former royal city to the Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King, following long rows of carved figures cut deep into the stone. This evening, choose dinner in Siem Reap or browse the Night Market. You can also add an Optional Experience at Phare Circus, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience where acrobatics, theater and live music tell Cambodian stories on stage.
Return to Angkor Wat for another look or spend the day exploring Siem Reap at your own pace. On an Optional Experience beyond the city, you’ll ride by water buffalo cart between green rice fields and slender palms, meeting local farmers and learning about silkworms before sharing tea and snacks. You can also join another Optional Experience at Artisans Angkor, watching craftspeople at work before receiving a Buddhist monk’s blessing at Wat Damnak. In Siem Reap’s old and new markets, you’ll browse stalls layered with patterned textiles, carved keepsakes and colorful souvenirs. After dark, another Optional Experience sees you traveling by tuk tuk between Cambodian tipples and food-stall favorites, finishing with local craft beers. Or choose dinner at Kanell Restaurant with an Apsara dance performance celebrating centuries of Cambodian dance and storytelling.
Your time in Cambodia comes to an end in Siem Reap. Say goodbye to your Travel Director and fellow small group travelers before making your onward journey.
