Cambodia Unveiled – 6 Days

After your arrival in Phnom Penh, a local guide will escort you to your hotel before embarking on a tour of the capital city. First, we'll visit Wat Phnom, the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum, where you’ll find an impressive collection of pre and post Angkor artifacts. For lunch, we'll dine at Friends the Restaurant - a "kindness restaurant" where former street children are trained in hospitality and restaurant skills to help them transition away from life on the streets.
In the afternoon, we'll delve into Cambodia's dark history by visiting sites related to the Khmer regime. Our first stop is the Tuol Sleng Museum. This former school was used as a prison by Pol Pot's security forces and became the largest center for detention and torture during the Khmer Rouge era. Afterwards, we'll have some free time to explore the Russian Market.
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Accommodation:
3-Star Hotel

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before embarking on a unique local experience. Hop onto a Motoremork, or Tuk Tuk, and head to Koh Darchh Island to witness and experience life on the river as the locals do. Take a leisurely stroll through the village and visit a community craft workshop where you will see and learn about their traditional skills in arts and crafts. The products they create are sold in the local markets and renowned for their high quality. After browsing their fine items, relax on a hammock under the thatched roof of a water bungalow. Dinner is not included, and you'll stay overnight at the hotel in Phnom Penh.
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Accommodation:
3-Star Hotel

Indulge in a delicious breakfast at your hotel before embarking on a comfortable and convenient transfer to Siem Reap via the Giant Bus, which operates between 8:45am to 2:00pm. You will be warmly welcomed by a local driver upon arrival and escorted to your hotel for check-in. Take some leisure time to explore the charming city of Siem Reap at your own pace. In the afternoon, we'll visit the Angkor Silk Farm and Artisan D'angkor, a school that trains young people in handicraft work, established in partnership with the Provincial Office of Education, Youth, and Sport. We'll also explore Western Baray, an ancient man-made lake built in the 11th century for irrigation purposes then transformed into a popular spot for Cambodian family picnics. We'll conclude the day with a visit to Old Market, where you can find unique souvenirs to take home. Return to your hotel and enjoy an overnight stay in Siem Reap.
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Accommodation:
3-Star Hotel

Start your day with a scrumptious breakfast at the hotel before embarking on a full-day excursion to discover the wonders of Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat temples. Begin with a visit to the magnificent Angkor Thom, also known as the Great City, and explore its Southern Gate, famous Bayon temple, and Baphuon temple- a pyramidal representation of mythical Mont Meru. Next, see the Terrace of Elephants, which was used as a giant reviewing stand for public ceremonies, and the Terrace of the Leper King- a platform 7 meters high, with statues and temple walls covered in emerald-green moss intertwined with roots, deemed by many as the most charming of all. Finally, visit Ta Prohm, a temple that has been left in its natural state with fig trees and jungle vines growing out of the ruins.
Take a Khmer-style lunch break at a local restaurant near Sras Srang, the Royal Pool of Ablutions originally reserved for the king and his consorts. Afterward, you can either indulge in a sumptuous Khmer feast or take a nap in a hammock while soaking up the tranquil atmosphere.
In the afternoon, be awed by the splendor of Angkor Wat, one of the seven greatest architectural wonders of the world and a temple and mausoleum for King Suryavarman II at the peak of the Khmer empire in the first half of the 12th century. The whole complex covers 81 hectares with a central tower surrounded by four smaller towers that represent the mythical Mount Meru, the holy mountain at the center of the universe, which was home to the Hindu God Vishnu. The temple's greatest sculptural treasure is its 2 km-long bas-reliefs around the walls.
To cap off an amazing day, visit Phnom Bakheng temple, the first temple in the Angkor region built by the Yacovarman I King in the first of the 9th century, located on a gently sloping hill where thousands of tourists gather on the hilltop to catch a memorable sunset view of the distant Angkor Wat. In the evening, enjoy a buffet local dinner with Cambodian Cultural Performance including Apsara Show.
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Accommodation:
3-Star Hotel

After enjoying a delicious breakfast, we'll drive two hours northeast to our first stop - the 10th-century capital of Koh Ker. While over 200 temples are believed to exist within the city's boundaries, only 96 have been unearthed so far. Most of your morning will be devoted to exploring one significant temple known as Prasat Thom, which is partially buried and remarkably attracts few visitors. In fact, it's not uncommon for you to have the entire site to yourself! At the far end of Prasat Thom stands a towering pyramid that evokes memories of Mayan or Inca architecture.

After visiting other surrounding temples, we'll head back towards Siem Reap, making a stop at another lesser-known temple called Beng Mealea. Built by Suryavarman II, just like Angkor Wat, Beng Mealea shares a similar size but has minimal restoration and is entirely engulfed by the jungle. It's easy to imagine the thrill early explorers felt when discovering these temples for the first time. We'll return to Siem Reap in the late afternoon.
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Accommodation:
3-Star Hotel

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and spend the rest of the time to explore or shopping for souvenirs in Siem Reap before departing for the airport for your international flight home or your next destination. We hope that you had an amazing time with us and have created unforgettable memories. Thank you for choosing Bestour for your journey and we look forward to embarking on new adventures with you in the future!