TOUR OVERVIEW

You will arrive in Phnompenh. After getting your visa upon arrival, you will be met by our tour guide and driver who will take you to the hotel (check-in time at 2 pm).

Phnom Penh, the vibrant and rapidly changing capital of Cambodia, is a fascinating city rooted in a turbulent past but now transforming into a vibrant economic and cultural center of Southeast Asia.

Strategically located along the Mekong River, Phnom Penh still retains some of its French colonial charm, with elegant buildings and tree-lined streets. At the same time, the city is rapidly modernizing, with skyscrapers rising alongside golden pagodas and traditional markets.

Breakfast is served at the hotel. The day begins with a visit to the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda, the country’s most important holy site. You will continue with a rickshaw tour to visit other sites, including the famous Wat Phnom temple, which will help you better understand the history of Phnom Penh. Lunch is not included.

Next, you will visit the National Museum, which is dedicated exclusively to displaying Khmer art and sculptures. Most of the exhibits date from the Angkor period (9th-15th centuries), while some date from the 4th century. You will continue with a visit to the Tuol Sleng Museum, which used to be a high school called Tuol Svay Pray, but was converted by the Khmer Rouge into a prison used for torture and executions. This prison, also known as “Prison S21,” imprisoned about 17,000 Cambodians and only seven of them survived after the fall of the regime. You will have free time for shopping at the Russian Market.

Dinner will be free and we will spend the night in Phnom Penh.

You will begin the morning with an exciting drive to Battambang along a lovely tree-lined highway that passes through lush rice paddies and undulating corn fields. Along the way, you will stop for a typical lunch at a local restaurant, soaking in the authentic atmosphere of the Cambodian province.

In the afternoon, you will take part in a short but fascinating exploratory walk through the colonial heart of Battambang, before heading to the station of the legendary Bamboo Train. This means of transportation, set up by creative villagers, will provide you with a truly unique experience: sitting on a simple four-wheeled bamboo platform, powered by a small engine, you will traverse breathtaking landscapes of rice paddies and rolling hills (depending on the season) for 8 km.

The day will culminate with a visit to Phnom Sampeau, the striking “Ship’s Hill” that rises majestically over the surrounding plain. From the top of the small temple, you will enjoy incredible views of the expanses of rice paddies and picturesque sugar palms. But Phnom Sampeau also holds a dark and dramatic history: here are the infamous “Killing Caves,” cruel reminders of Cambodia’s stormy past. The coexistence of serenity and horror in this place makes the visit a profound and unforgettable experience.

The day will end at dusk, when thousands of bats begin to emerge from the cave, creating fascinating dances in the sky – a truly breathtaking natural spectacle!

Overnight stay in Battambang.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Half-day bicycle tour of about 25 km, suitable for people of all ages (with English-speaking tour guide). Join you to discover the cultural traditions and livelihoods of the local people of Battambang. This is your most popular half-day tour and is a perfect way to fully experience Battambang.

In the afternoon, you will take a bus to Phnom Penh. Free dinner and overnight stay. Please note that we do not have Italian-speaking tour guides in Battambang. If you would like to use an Italian tour guide, we can send one from Siem Reap at an additional charge for the escort service: $170/guide.

Lunch of your choice at a local restaurant.

Afterwards, depart with the driver only to the Battambang bus station to catch the bus to Siem Reap. Reach Siem Reap via highway 6. Arrive at Siem Reap bus station in the late afternoon, where you will be met by the driver and taken to the hotel. Dinner of your choice and overnight stay at the hotel in Siem Reap.

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:30: Start the day with a visit to the Angkor area, where you will spend the entire day exploring the wonderful ancient ruins. Sights not to be missed include the South Gate of Angkor Thom, famous for its colossal human faces carved in stone, the imposing Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, the Leper King’s Terrace, and the majestic Angkor Wat Temple, the largest and most complete of all. This architectural masterpiece dates back to the 12th century and covers an area of about 210 hectares.

You will have free lunch at a local restaurant.

You will explore this impressive structure, admiring the many columned galleries, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and water-filled ponds that reflect the majestic Ta Prohm temple in the jungle, a spectacle of rare beauty. The huge fig trees and giant vines that wrap around the structure’s stone foundation give the impression that human creation is claimed by the powerful forces of nature. We will end our day admiring an enchanting sunset over Ta Prohm Temple.

Optional Option: You will take a short Tuk Tuk ride and have the opportunity to participate in the Buddhist ceremony, where you will be blessed by monks wishing you happiness and prosperity for your vacation, at an additional charge of US$10 per person.

For dinner, you will be free to choose from local restaurants. We will stay overnight in Siem Reap.

Breakfast at the hotel.

At 08:30, the tour guide will go to the hotel to meet you. Get up early in the morning to head to the floating village of Kompong Khleang, which is about an hour away from Siem Reap and is visited by thousands of tourists every year. Kompong Khleang is one of the most impressive villages because of the height and size of its houses on stilts. You will perform a walk through the village to get to know the villagers and visit a house where a family that breeds crocodiles lives. Afterwards, you will board a local boat that will take us through all the canals to the large lake, where the inhabitants move their houses according to the season.

Free lunch at the local restaurant.

Next, visit the temple of Banteay Srei (10th century), considered the treasure trove of classical Khmer art. After that, continue your visit to the Banteay Samre, built in the third quarter of the 12th century. This complex consists of a central temple with four wings, preceded by a hall and accompanied by two libraries, which is extremely well preserved. Continue the visit to Preah Khan, Kravan and Neak Pean. Overnight at a hotel in Siem Reap.

Breakfast at the hotel.

You will have free time in Siem Reap until your transfer to the airport without a guide present. Please note that the room will be available until 12 noon. Please inform us in advance if you wish to extend your stay in the room beyond your departure time. We wish you a safe journey back!