Cambodia Holidays

Phnom Penh’s Highlights in a Day The best way to get to know a city is to immerse yourself in it, and this full-day sightseeing tour packs in all of Phnom Penh’s top attractions. Start off with a visit to the Royal Palace complex, which is a wonderful example of Khmer architecture. The stand-out feature here is the ornate Silver Pagoda, which gets its name from the five tonnes of glistening silver floor tiles – there are a whopping 5329 tiles in total. You’ll be introduced to the country's largest archaeological and cultural history collection on a trip to the National Museum, then see the ancient hilltop temple of Wat Phnom. We’ll take a break for lunch before a sobering but important visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, also known as S-21, which served as a prisoner camp during the Khmer Rouge regime, and the Killing Fields. To round off an insightful day, put your haggling skills to the test and barter for souvenirs at the Russian Market.

• Duration: full day
• Time: 8am to 6pm
• Departing daily from Phnom Penh
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
To visit the Royal Palace, you’ll be required to cover your shoulders and knees to show respect for the local culture. It’s also worth noting that the palace can be closed without prior notice if the King is in residence or an event is taking place.

Discover some of the best local food spots in town on this mouth-watering evening street food tour. Phnom Penh’s street food scene comes alive after dark, and you’ll zip around in a tuk tuk to indulge in traditional Cambodian cuisine. Ride across the city from Independence Monument to the buzzing Russian Market, where you can wander through a maze-like bazaar packed with colourful crafts and fragrant food. We’ll take you to family-run restaurants and stalls, so you can learn the story and culture behind each dish you taste, before washing it down with craft beer and cocktails at a local bar.

• Duration: evening
• Time: 6pm to 9.30pm
• Departing daily from Phnom Penh
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
Unfortunately, due to the nature of street food, this tour is not suitable for anyone with dietary requirements (including vegetarian and gluten-free diets).

Get a deeper understanding of Cambodian cuisine (and impress your friends back home) by learning to cook the Cambodian way. This immersive cooking class starts with a trip to the local market, where you’ll experience the hustle and bustle of a typical market – it’s a wonderful assault on the senses with vibrant colours, fragrant spices and the buzz of haggling. You’ll be introduced to classic Cambodian fruits, vegetables and herbs, then buy the freshest ingredients for the dishes you’ll whip up later. Back in the kitchen, an expert chef will guide you through tried-and-tested Khmer cooking techniques. With the chef's guidance, you’ll learn to prepare traditional dishes and tuck into your tasty creations for lunch.

• Duration: half day
• Time: 8am to midday
• Departing daily from Phnom Penh
• Operates year round
• Group experience

Good to know
The cooking class isn’t best suited to young children, but older children with an interest in cooking will enjoy it.

Spend a memorable evening soaking up the sunset as you cruise along the beautiful Tonlé Sap and Mekong rivers. Your journey begins at Phnom Penh’s floating pier, where you’ll set off on a gentle cruise along the Tonlé Sap and Mekong rivers. As you leave the capital behind, you’ll see people going about their daily lives, passing by fishermen who are finishing for the day and working boats cruising along the waterway. Tuck into a mouth-watering dinner on board as you drift peacefully along the water with the glistening lights of Phnom Penh in the distance. This is a special experience for couples in particular and a great addition to a honeymoon.

• Duration: evening
• Time: 5pm to 8.45pm
• Departing daily from Phnom Penh
• Operates year round
• Group experience

Good to know
Please let us know of any dietary requirements when you book.

There’s no better reason for an early start than getting to watch the sun rise over majestic Angkor Wat, and a bike tour means you’ll be able to whizz around peacefully between the incredible ancient sites of temple-studded Angkor Archaeological Park. We’ll arrive at the park at dawn, in time to watch the sun bathe Angkor Wat in golden light. The photo opportunities as the light changes are fantastic. Breakfast will give you the energy to explore Angkor Wat, jungle-clad Ta Prohm, the several sites at Angkor Thom and richly decorated Bayon Temple where 216 huge smiling faces are carved in stone.

• Duration: full day
• Time: 5am to 2pm
• Departing daily from Siem Reap
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
You’ll be required to cover your shoulders and knees at all sacred sites to show respect for the local culture. You'll have the support of a back-up vehicle during the experience and there’s the option to return to your hotel by vehicle instead of cycling.

The remarkable temples of Angkor are the ideal subjects for keen (or budding) photographers. A professional photographer will guide you around the awe-inspiring Angkor Archaeological Park and teach you the best ways to shoot the temples, using light and shadow to create beautiful images. Taking your time to capture these ancient temples means you’ll get to appreciate the ornate detail and understand the astounding amount of planning that went into creating them. Plus, you’ll have the perfect keepsakes of your time at this bucket-list location.

• Duration: half day
• Time: 8am to 2pm or 2pm to 6pm
• Departing daily from Siem Reap
• Operates year round
• Private experience\

Top off a day exploring the largest temple complex in the world with a stunning sunset cruise, complete with Champagne and canapés. We’ll take you to all the highlights of the Angkor Archaeological Park, including the iconic Bayon Temple with its 216 smiling faces, the temple of Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of Leper King. Tuck into a much-needed lunch to refuel before the main attraction: Angkor Wat, followed by a calm sunset cruise across the Tonlé Sap lake. This is the beating heart of Cambodia and you can watch local life unfold with a glass of Champagne in hand as you pass fishermen, working boats and floating villages. It’s the perfect end to a day of discovery.

• Duration: full day
• Time: 8am to 6pm
• Departing daily from Siem Reap
• Operates from mid-July to end of February
• Private experience

Good to know
You’ll be required to cover your shoulders and knees at all sacred sites to show respect for the local culture. The upper level of Bayon Temple is closed for renovation, but guests can still visit the lower level. Young children might find this full-day experience a little long.

Get a better understanding of Cambodian cuisine and learn to cook like a local in a gorgeous setting. The cooking class takes place in Mahob Farm’s tranquil garden, surrounded by trees, flowers and a lotus pond, just five minutes away from Angkor Wat. The farm specialises in heirloom varieties of seasonal fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, cucumber, squash, eggplant and local lettuce. There’s a natural approach here – fresh and flavourful ingredients are grown without any synthetic fertilisers or pesticides. You’ll get to pick your own ingredients straight from the garden, before learning how to prepare some traditional dishes with your friendly expert teacher. The best bit? Tucking into your tasty creations for lunch in the farm gardens.

• Duration: 2½ hours
• Time: 10am to 12.30pm
• Departing daily from Siem Reap
• Operates year round
• Private experience

If you’re looking for something a little different from your time in Cambodia, watching the hugely successful Phare Cambodian Circus might be just the ticket. If that’s not enough, how about taking part in a pre-performance acrobat tutorial? Phare’s talented young artists are full of energy and they use theatre, music, dance and modern circus acts to tell historical, folk and modern Cambodian stories. We've included the best seats in the house, so you'll be as close to the action as it gets. If you dare, you can arrive before the performance to take part in your own acrobatic tutorial and try out some of the basic moves that make up this unique circus! Kids will be amazed by what they’re watching, so this is a firm family favourite.

• Duration: evening
• Time: 6.30pm to 9.15pm
• Departs Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from Siem Reap
• Operates year round
• Group experience

Good to know
If you’re planning to take part in the workshop, we recommend wearing comfortable loose-fitting clothes.

If you prefer to set your own sightseeing agenda, this ‘your way’ experience is the perfect choice. You’ll have the services of an English-speaking guide who will take you around the city to the places within the city limits that interest you the most. The city’s main spots are definitely worth a visit, but you could also head off the beaten track a little with help from your knowledgeable guide.

• Duration: half day
• Time: 8am to midday or 1pm to 5pm
• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Good to know
The tour does not include tips, personal expenses and entrance fees/permits.

Supporting the communities we visit is an important part of travelling. In Cambodia, the Smiling Gecko project aims to improve the lives of people in rural regions by providing training and creating local jobs for young Cambodians in industries such as agriculture, education and hospitality. On this full-day trip out of town you’ll visit the Smiling Gecko Farmhouse and learn more about the valuable work they do on a project tour with a local guide. The tour is followed by a lunch that’s packed with traditional Khmer specialities and before returning to the city, there’ll be some time to relax by the pool and take in the calm countryside atmosphere.

• £10 of each excursion sale goes towards the foundation
• Duration: full day
• Time: 8am to 4pm
• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Good to know
The tour does not include tips, personal expenses and drinks.

City rooftop bars are often the best address in town for an evening out. The Rosewood Hotel is the setting of Sora, Phnom Penh’s highest sky bar, which has unbeatable views of the urban skyline and the streets below as the sun dips towards the horizon. This is the perfect spot for a special occasion whether it’s a honeymoon treat, an engagement or a birthday celebration. Or just because.

• Duration: evening
• Time: 6pm to 9pm
• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Good to know
Transport is available until 9pm; if you wish to stay at the SkyBar later than 9pm, an extra charge will be payable to the driver locally or you can use local transportation to return to your hotel. For guests over 18 years. Smart casual dress code including shoes that cover your toes.

The temples of Angkor are a of course a must-visit while in Siem Reap but there are plenty to pack in. To start, we’ll take you to the highlight spots such as the South Gate of Angkor Thom, where the entrance is watched over by the statues of Hindu Gods and Goddesses, Banyon Temple which is adorned seemingly countless carved faces, and the relatively modest Phimeanakas. Some parts of the vast temple complex have been reclaimed by nature such as the Terrace of Elephants and the iconic Ta Prohm with its moss-cloaked stonework and towering trees growing from the walls.