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IMPRESSIVE CAMBODIA
IMPRESSIVE CAMBODIA
Embark on the "Impressive Cambodia" 10-day tour and discover the heart and soul of Cambodia through its most awe-inspiring destinations. This journey will take you through the ancient wonders of Siem Reap, the bustling vibrancy of Phnom Penh, the charming allure of Battambang, and the serene beauty of Tonle Sap Lake.
Overview
Day 1: Welcome To Cambodia - Overnight in Phnom Penh
Day 2: Phnom Penh’s Past & Present - Overnight in Phnom Penh
Day 3: Phnom Penh – Kampong Chhnang - Overnight in Kampong Chhnang
Day 4: Kampong Chhnang – Battambang - Overnight in Battambang
Day 5: Visiting Battambang - - Overnight in Battambang
Day 6: Battambang – Banteay Chhmar – Siem Reap - Overnight in Siem Reap
Day 7: Grand Circuit & Banteay Srei - Overnight in Siem Reap
Day 8: Angkor Wat Complex Highlights - Overnight in Siem Reap
Day 9: Tonle Sap Lake Excursion - Overnight in Siem Reap
Day 10: Siem Reap Departure - Goodbye Cambodia
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DAY 1: WELCOME TO CAMBODIA
On arrival, get picked up and transferred to the city for hotel check-in.
It depends on your flight landing time, the remainder of your first day might be at leisure.
Phnom Penh was a hub for both the Khmer Empire and French colonialists. As the capital city, it's the largest and wealthiest city in Cambodia. It's also the cultural, commercial and political center of the country.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Meals
DAY 2: PHNOM PENH’S PAST & PRESENT
Begin your day with a visit to the Royal Palace, a magnificent complex built in 1866 by the predecessors of King Norodom. This stunning example of Khmer architecture is one of the most colorful and impressive landmarks in Phnom Penh. Adjacent to the Royal Palace is the Silver Pagoda (also known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha), home to a dazzling collection of Buddha statues adorned with diamonds, emeralds, gold, and silver.
Next, explore the National Museum, a distinctive red building showcasing beautiful Khmer architecture since 1917. Inside, you'll find over 5,000 art objects crafted from sandstone, bronze, silver, copper, wood, and more.
Proceed to the Independence Monument, constructed in 1954 to commemorate Cambodia's liberation from French colonial rule.
At noon, we'll visit Phsar Thmey, or the Central Market. Built in 1937, this large market features a striking dome with four arms extending into vast hallways filled with countless stalls. Here, you can find a variety of goods, including gold and silver jewelry, antique coins, money exchange services, books, flowers, food, fabrics, shoes, souvenirs, seafood, and much more.
Afterward, head to Wat Phnom, a Buddhist temple that symbolizes the city of Phnom Penh. Situated on a hill, this temple was originally erected in 1372 to house four Buddha statues discovered by Lady Penh in the Mekong River. Wat Phnom is a popular spot for locals to engage in sports, pray for good luck, and enjoy the sunset.
In the late afternoon, enjoy a sunset cruise on the Mekong River. As the sun sets, take in the stunning views of the Royal Palace and the river as it splits into four branches, creating a picturesque scene to end your day.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Breakfast/ Lunch/
DAY 3: PHNOM PENH – KAMPONG CHHNANG
Start your day with a visit to Choeung Ek, located 17km from Phnom Penh. Known from the movie "The Killing Fields," this memorial site commemorates the 17,000 victims of the Khmer Rouge. The mass graves and remnants within the memorial serve as a poignant reminder of Cambodia's tragic past under Pol Pot’s regime, highlighting the resilience and courage of the Cambodian people.
Next, visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21), a former school turned Khmer Rouge prison and torture center, located in a quiet Phnom Penh suburb. This museum offers a sobering insight into the atrocities committed during the Khmer Rouge era.
In the afternoon, depart for Phnom Udong, the ancient capital of Cambodia during the latter stages of the Khmer Empire and the coronation site of many past kings. Despite being bombed and desecrated by both the Americans and the Khmer Rouge, the hilltop stupas offer stunning views across the plains and retain a beauty untouched by war.
Visit the Vipassana Dhura Buddhist meditation center in Udong. Your guide will explain the principles of Vipassana (Insight Meditation) as you explore the center. Be sure to see the impressive jade Buddha, the mummified monk, and the colorful murals depicting the Ramayana. Continue to Kampong Chhnang province for hotel accommodation.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Breakfast/ Lunch/
DAY 4: KAMPONG CHHNANG – BATTAMBANG
After breakfast, visit the Smiling Gecko project. This innovative social enterprise has been transforming rural Cambodian society since 2014 through sustainable development in agriculture, tourism, and crafts. Smiling Gecko has created hundreds of jobs and apprenticeships, with a school providing quality education to over 300 children. The tour includes visits to the farms and the carpentry workshop, offering insights into the project’s impact and history.
In the afternoon, travel through the scenic Cambodian countryside to Battambang, the country's second-largest city. Known for its beautiful French colonial architecture and vibrant agriculture industry, Battambang offers a glimpse into Cambodia’s historical and agricultural heritage.
This evening, visit Phare Ponleu Selpak, the Battambang Circus, located in Anh Chanh Village. This school is Cambodia's leading arts education association and showcases contemporary Cambodian culture through its performances. Stops at local villages and schools along the way provide additional cultural insights.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner
DAY 5: VISITING BATTAMBANG
After breakfast, visit Wat Ta Mem to learn about daily life in a Cambodian pagoda. Then, drive to the Bamboo Railway Station. Experience the unique Bamboo Train, a simple platform on wheels powered by a small motor. Travel 8km through beautiful landscapes and rice paddies to the next station.
Continue to the well-preserved 11th-century mountaintop Angkorian temple of Phnom Banan. Climb over 350 steps to reach a peaceful setting with superb views of the countryside, dotted with villages and sugar palm trees—a perfect spot for sunset.
Head to Phnom Sampeu Mountain to witness the spectacular sight of thousands of bats emerging from caves at dusk. Capture this incredible moment as they form dark, swirling clouds in the sky.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Breakfast/ Lunch/
DAY 6: BATTAMBANG – BANTEAY CHHMAR – SIEM REAP
Bid farewell to Battambang and head to Banteay Chhmar, a small town in northwest Cambodia. Visit the magnificent Banteay Chhmar Temple, the main site in a 10-temple complex built by Jayavarman VII. Marvel at the intricate bas-reliefs and towers adorned with four-faced Avalokiteshvara deities, representing Buddhist compassion with their enigmatic smiles.
Next, visit Phnom Srok Silk Farm to learn about silk production. Continue your journey to Siem Reap, check in to your hotel, and stay overnight.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Breakfast/ Lunch/
DAY 7: GRAND CIRCUIT & BANTEAY SREI
After breakfast, head to Preah Khan Temple northeast of Angkor Thom, known for its association with Jayatataka baray. Next, visit Neak Poan, a small temple on an island in the dry Jayatataka baray. Then, explore Tasom, offering picturesque photo spots, especially at the rear entrance adorned with tree roots.
Drive 35km to the rural outskirts to see Banteay Srei, the smallest yet magnificent temple dedicated to Shiva, showcasing Khmer classical art. Visit the Landmine Museum founded by Mr. Aki Ra, a former child soldier turned landmine clearer.
On the way back, stop at Pradark Village to witness villagers making palm sugar and handicrafts. Finally, don't miss Banteay Samre, known for its rose-colored sandstone walls adorned with intricate carvings and bas-reliefs.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Breakfast/ Lunch/
DAY 8: ANGKOR WAT COMPLEX HIGHLIGHTS
We set out early to capture the iconic pre-dawn view of Angkor Wat temple. Sunrise here can be bustling, especially from December to March.
After sunrise, we delve into the vast and intricate Angkor Wat temple complex, capturing its beauty from various angles and playing with light and shadows.
Our next stop is Ta Prohm, renowned for its appearance in "Tomb Raider." Abandoned to nature's whims, it's a poignant reminder of the unstoppable force of time and nature.
As the day progresses, we visit the impressive Bayon temple during the Golden Hour, with its 54 towers and 216 faces. Our final stop is at one of Angkor Thom's gates, capturing the sunset over the moat.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Breakfast/ Lunch/
DAY 9: TONLE SAP LAKE EXCURSION
Depart for Tonlé Sap, where you'll enjoy a boat ride on Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake. Witness the unique "floating village" with its floating schools, police station, and more, resembling a large village adrift on the water, moving with the currents.
Visit a local pagoda to change into appropriate clothes for the "Srouch Teok" ceremony, where a monk will bless us with water, symbolically washing away sins and bad luck.
Next, visit Apopo, the HeroRat Visitor Center, to learn about humanitarian demining efforts. Experience the mine clearance process, watch informative videos, and discover Cambodia's history as one of the most mine-affected countries.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Breakfast/ Lunch/
DAY 10: SIEM REAP DEPARTURE
Today is your last day! It's up to the time of your departure flight, you may have time to do some last shopping or just enjoy the hotel facilities for the whole morning. Check-out before noon and get picked up for the airport transfer around 3 hours prior to your departure time).
End of service.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Breakfast/
How did people say about us!
Our Traveler's Beloved Programs
Traveler Reviews
Jay M
Date of Experience: Mar 2023
We highly recommend Custom Asia Travel for your trip to Southeast Asia! They provided a great combination of visiting historical and religious sites, temples, and also cultural connections in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia that we could have never made on our own. Our local guides were informative, and shared personal experiences that made our journey meaningful. We asked for an active trip, and Custom Asia Travel tailored our request with biking, kayaking and hiking. We enjoyed local cuisine in Laos, and were amazed by the history and significance of the temples in Cambodia, experienced via a beautiful bike tour.
Date of Experience: Mar 2023
We did a day trip in a Jeep in Ninh Binh with Thu, which included Trang An, Hang Mua, Bich Dong and Tam Coc. Thu was an amazing tour guide and was extremely helpful throughout the whole day, organising everything from start to finish and giving us insightful information about the things we saw, as well as life in Vietnam and it’s history more generally! The lunch was also great and the day turned out to be one of the best days of our trip! Couldn’t recommend Thu enough 😊
Nadine
Date of Experience: Mar 2023
We had an amazing time! Me and my friends visited the Halong/Lan Ha Bay and the Dry Halong Bay. Everything was perfectly organized & all the pick-ups were punctual. The guide and driver were very nice. The cruise ship and the eco lodge, in which we stayed, were great. The staff was very friendly and everything was clean. We can definitely recommend booking a trip with Custom Asia Travel! The organisation and contact with the company was great before, during and after the trip.
Whitney B
Date of Experience: Dec 2022
I cannot say enough positives about Custom Asia Travel! We visited Vietnam in December/January 2023 and had an amazing trip with our 3 teens. The itinerary exceeded our expectations! We travelled to Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, and Nha Trang. We had no issues with any of our transportation around the country - our drivers and guides were always there on time (early, actually), friendly and helpful. The accommodations were excellent and our guides were fantastic (Tanh, Tanh, and Viet - they were awesome!). Every place we stayed put our rooms right next to each other, often adjoining, and the kids’ room always had two twin beds and a cot, while my husband and I had a king bed. This was perfect as our teenagers did not want to share beds, lol! The activities were super fun and appealed to all of us. So many highlights - the kids loved the rice farm tour (riding the water Buffalo elicited the biggest smile we’ve ever seen from our 16 year old!), seeing the caves in Ninh Binh, the cooking class in Hoi An, and Ha Long Bay. I really appreciated that some of our itinerary was focused on less crowded activities - a couple of the temples we saw were practically empty, allowing us to enjoy and experience these beautiful sites on our own. We did a couple of bike rides which were also highlights, such a great way to explore and see the area! Minh was available and responsive while planning the trip and while we were there. I agree with others reviews about whether she ever sleeps! She was able to coordinate our luggage getting dropped off as it did not arrive with us, and contacted one of the hotels about a ring that had been left, and arranged for us to pick it up. She was warm, friendly, knowledgeable, and so helpful. We truly had a relaxing and stress free trip because of the excellent customer service from Minh and our guides. With only having 12 days to visit we were so grateful to be able to enjoy the travel and know that Minh and her team were there if and when needed. I highly recommend using this company, you will not regret it! Now I am dreaming of how quickly we can make it back!! Thank you thank you to Minh and the team, our trip was unforgettable!
Date of Experience: Feb 2022
We are over 60 yers old and for eficiency we decided to organise our trips in Vietnam with a local agency. Custom Asia Travel is the wright agency. We decided to visit Hanoi, Tam Coc, Ha Long, Da Nang, Hoi An, My son Sanctuary and Ho Chi Minh City with help of this agency. The organisation and planing of the tours, the selection of the places to visit, hotels, restaurants,cars ( clean and comfortable), drivers and guides was perfect. The drivers and guides where friendly and polite. The guides ( Cường Xi,in Hanoi and Tam Coc, Tran Thanh Binh in Ho Chi Minh as also the guide in Da Nang area) where perfect. They gave us many interesting information about the visited places, organized perfect the details of the trips. The boat arrangement done by Custom Asia Travel in Ha Long Bay - Peony 1 was perfect. The prices for the offered services are fair. We kindly recommend this agency for tailor made trips.
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