Highlights of Cambodia

Arrive in Phnom Penh, once celebrated as one of the most beautiful cities in the Orient. Meet your private guide and driver for a transfer to your hotel and check in. The rest of the day is free to relax or explore the city at your own pace.

Set out on a traditional cyclo ride through central Phnom Penh. Visit Wat Phnom, the city’s spiritual landmark, where a 14th-century stupa and small pagoda crown the tallest religious structure in town. Ride along the riverside promenade and explore the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, where Khmer artistry shines in gold, silver, and intricate design. Continue to the National Museum to examine a vast collection of Angkor-era sculptures and cultural treasures.

In the afternoon, visit Tuol Sleng Prison, a former school turned into a haunting Khmer Rouge detention center. Then travel to Choeng Ek, the infamous "killing fields," to gain insight into Cambodia’s tragic history. Return to the hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure.

*Please know: Visitors to the Royal Palace must wear clothing that covers the knees and shoulders.

Set out early today to first visit Wat Botum, one of Phnom Penh's five original wats founded in 1422. The compound here displays many decorated stupas some of which contain the ashes of their royalty. This temple is the seat of the Thammayut (royalist) Buddhist sect, the smaller of the two main Buddhist sects in Cambodia. Here monks perform a private blessing ceremony for you, wishing you health and a safe journey in a special experience. Later this morning set out to learn about the art of Khmer cuisine with a hands-on cooking course. Accompany your chef through the local market first to learn about the various fruits, vegetables, and spices used in traditional cuisine. Learn about the vast array of colors, smells, and tastes and return to the school where you prepare your own traditional dish for lunch under the guidance of the chef.

Travel by private vehicle over scenic back roads to Cambodia’s former capital, Oudong, about 39km from Phnom Penh. You will pass rural villages, local pagodas, and scenic rice paddies before reaching the main hill of Oudong. Visit a family that is producing palm sugar at their house. Later on, climb to the top of the stupa-filled hill of Oudong for great views over the rural plains. Visit as well the Vipassana Dhura Buddhist Meditation Center where you learn more about the school of Vipassana (or Insight Meditation). See as well the jade Buddha, mummified monk, and brightly painted walls here that tell the epic Sanskrit story of the Ramayana.

Return to Phnom Penh this evening.

Enjoy a leisurely morning before you transfer to your hotel for your flight on to Siem Reap, the country's base for exploring the fabled temples of Angkor, the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire. Arrive here where you are met and transfer to your hotel for check in early afternoon.

Begin the day at Angkor Thom, the last great capital of the Khmer Empire. Enter through the dramatic South Gate lined with rows of carved gods and demons, then continue to the striking Bayon Temple, famous for its 54 towers topped with serene stone faces. Walk along the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King, both adorned with intricate bas-reliefs.

In the afternoon, step into the atmospheric ruins of Ta Prohm, where massive tree roots twist around crumbling stone walls and create one of Angkor’s most iconic sights.

End the day at the magnificent Angkor Wat, exploring its grand courtyards and galleries as the crowds thin before sunset. Admire the detailed carvings of Hindu epics, battle scenes, and more than 2,000 celestial Apsara dancers that decorate the temple.

Return to your hotel in the evening.

*Note: When visiting temples, modest dress is required. Shoulders and knees must be covered.

Today, travel 75 miles into the jungle to Koh Ker, a remote archaeological site rarely visited by travelers. Explore the striking pyramid temple and some of the few accessible monuments within this vast complex of more than 180 sanctuaries. The site’s isolated location creates a true sense of discovery far from the main Angkor sites.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to Banteay Srei, the beautifully preserved “Citadel of Women.” Built between the 11th and 13th centuries, this temple is celebrated for its fine bas-reliefs and distinctive pink sandstone carvings, regarded as masterpieces of classical Khmer art.

On the return journey to Siem Reap, stop in local villages to meet families and learn about rural traditions. Watch how palm wine, palm sugar, and palm cakes are made, and taste these local specialties if you wish.

Depart Siem Reap mid-morning and drive to Kampong Kleang, a stilted village on the edge of Tonle Sap Lake. Along the way, pass wooden houses, traditional fishing gear, and children greeting travelers with cheerful waves.

On arrival, meet a local family at their stilt house and share tea or coffee before walking through the village. Learn about inventive fishing techniques, visit the local school, watch how catfish are smoked, and speak with fishermen repairing their nets. This immersive experience offers a close look at daily life along Cambodia’s great lake.

Return to Siem Reap for lunch at a local restaurant. The afternoon is free to relax or explore at your own pace.

*Note: From mid-February to mid-July, when water levels are low, Kampong Kleang can be muddy and have a strong smell, but it also allows deeper exploration of the local community.

Make the most of your final morning by relaxing at your hotel or taking a last stroll through Siem Reap before checkout. Your guide and driver transfer you to the airport for your onward flight.