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Exploring Cambodia Holidays

Culture to Coast

This Culture to Coast tour takes in Cambodia’s cultural highlights including the bustling capital of Phnom Penh and the majestic temples of Angkor before heading to the coast to chill out. You will spend a few days relaxing on one of South-East Asia’s most beautiful and lesser-known islands before returning to the mainland to stay at one of our favourite boutique hotels on the coast. This is a nice relaxing tour – you have three nights in most places, not too many temples are squeezed into your time in Siem Reap – and we have planned nothing but relaxation for the last five days.

Your Itinerary

Day 1 - Welcome to the bustling capital of Cambodia

Welcome to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. Your private driver will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel, iRoHa Garden Hotel, a lovely boutique option with a swimming pool. Spend the evening at your leisure. We recommend visiting Phnom Penh’s charming riverside which is buzzing with activity and has many good restaurants. (Breakfast included).

Day 2 - Take a food and history tour of the capital

Today you will be introduced to the local cuisine with a half-day Khmer cookery course. It will begin with a tour around the local market where you will choose the local ingredients before making two or three dishes from scratch which you will enjoy after for lunch on a rooftop terrace. This afternoon take a more sombre but enlightening tour of Tuol Sleng Prison and the Killing Fields, to glimpse the devastating horrors that prevailed during the reign of the Khmer Rouge.

Day 3 - Take a road trip to Siem Reap

Today you will make your way to the spiritual home of Cambodia; Siem Reap. Your private transfer will take about six hours and there will be stops along the way including the ruins of Sambor Prei Kuk, which was the capital of the Chela Kingdom. Enjoy a picnic lunch at this lesser visited spot, which you are likely to have to yourself. Tonight you will check into Shinta Mani, a fabulous, funky boutique hotel in the centre. (Pool view room)

Day 4 - Exploring Angkor

This morning you have the opportunity to rise early to see sunrise over the largest temple in the whole complex; Angkor Wat. After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, you will visit the temple of Ta Prohm, which boasts atmospheric dark towers and courtyards, and is best known at the Tomb Raider film set. Finish your day tour with the sunset at Pre Rup Temple, The beautiful rusty-red bricks are accentuated during sunset and stands in brilliant contrast to the lush green of the jungle in the distance.

Day 5 - Under the skin of Angkor

Take a second day to explore more temples, including Bayon, which has more than 200 carved faces, and Bantrey Srei, which for many years was off limits due to its remote location and Khmer Rouge activity. There will also be time to visit the Cambodian Landmine Museum before a delicious lunch at Viroth’s. Finish the day by visiting Artisans D’Angkor, a handicraft centre, which train locals in traditional techniques such as silk weaving, and stone and wood carving.

Day 6 - Live the castaway island dream

This morning enjoy a private excursion to Mechrey Village on Tonle Sap Lake (about one hour’s drive), stopping at the traditional village of Ampil Peam. You can explore the lake’s floating village and flooded forests on a local boat – it is a fascinating lake that has been declared a Unesco listed biosphere. Later, fly to Cambodia’s coastal town of Sihanoukville and check into the lovely boutique Tamu Hotel on the quieter Otres 2 Beach (superior room).

Day 7 - Relax on the beach

We’ve planned nothing for you today so you can relax at leisure at the lovely Tamu Hotel, which is just a stone throw from the very relaxed Otres Beach. The small hotel has a lovely swimming pool and the sea is calm and perfect for swimming. At night there are quite a few relaxed lantern-lit restaurants down the beach that you can choose from.

Days 8 & 9 - Relax on your Paradise island

On Day 8 you will take a speedboat to Koh Rong Samloem, where you will spend two days relaxing on this idyllic, rustic island. Accommodation is basic and it might be one of the last places in the world without wi-fi (true at the time of writing, anyway!) but it has some of the best beaches in South-East Asia and is completely unspoilt. We adored waking up to the sound of the crashing waves and birds singing. (Saracen Bay, bungalow)

Day 10 - Return to the mainland coast.

Today you will leave the paradise of Koh Rong Samloem and head back to the mainland. Your private chauffeur will meet you off the boat and drive you two hours to the coastal town of Kep, which is often referred to as the French Riviera of Cambodia. Here, you can relax at one of our favourite hotels, Knai Bang Chatt, a selection of beautiful converted villas from the 1960s. (Garden view room).

Days 11 - 13 - Relax on the coast

Spend three full days relaxing in the beautiful and serene surroundings of Knai Bang Chatt, which is Cambodia’s best sunset spot. Local excursions can be organised into Kep National Park and Kampot town, or you may prefer to indulge in the hotel’s spa treatments and private yoga and meditation sessions. Bliss.

Day 14 - Bon voyage!

This morning you will be picked up and driven to Phnom Penh in a private vehicle, which takes about four hours. Along the way you will have a short stop at the abandoned ‘ghost houses’ in Pich Nil, which are maintained for Lady Mao, the deity who oversees the southern coastal region of Cambodia. You will arrive back to Phnom Penh in time to catch your international flight home. Bon voyage!

DETAILS: -

This itinerary costs from £2,160 per person B&B based on 2 sharing and including all private transfers but not international flights.

You can get flights from as little as £500 per person return and do ask us for advice. Alternatively we can book the flights for you but a booking fee may apply.

What's included?

INCLUDED:
  • Prices start from £2,160 per person
  • Accommodation on B&B basis
  • Private transfers (air-conditioned vehicle)
  • All entrance fees with service of English speaking guide for excursions
  • Lunch on Days 2, 3 & 5
  • 1 internal flight
  • Local taxes
  • All trips are ATOL protected or ABTA bonded to ensure you are fully covered
Make a booking
Siem Reap
This lively, bustling town has the ancient kingdom of Angkor on its doorstep, making it the perfect place to base your temple adventures. A point of pilgrimage, pride and inspiration for Cambodians, the Hindu temples of Angkor should not be missed.
Phnom Penh
Although often by-passed by many tourists, Phnom Penh offers a fascinating insight into the past, present and future of Cambodia. Tuk-tuk across the busy streets, get to grips with the country's harrowing history of genocide at the Killing Fields or watch the sunset from a riverside bar; there's something for everyone. What's more, we've discovered a handful of fabulous little boutique hotels.
Kampot & Kep
Escape the crowds and enjoy the rural beauty of the south-west. Kampot is famed for its rich, spicy pepper, restful river and jungle terrain while Kep offers the best sunset spots over the ocean in all of Cambodia. Not to mention the delicious crab on offer. This is the place to relax in Cambodia and we've found the best places for you to do just that.
Battambang
Arguably the most charming of Cambodia's larger urban centres, Battambang has a small-town friendly vibe with the bustle of a city. It is home to some of the best preserved French architecture in Cambodia, glorious rice paddies and provincial villages that offer a real insight into Cambodian life.
Sihanoukville
Cambodia’s prime beach destination - Sihanoukville is surrounded by sandy beaches and tropical islands. We know how to steer you away from the crowds here and have discovered a handful of northern beaches with the perfect chill out vibe.
Koh Kong
If you are looking for a jungle escape with thundering waterfalls surrounded by luscious greenery then look no further than Koh Kong. It’s a gem of a find. Off the tourist trail enough to make you feel like you have discovered a slice of hidden Cambodia. We recommend staying on a floating tent or hut over the river (surprisingly more luxurious than it sounds). Trust us on this one...
Kratie
One of the nicest spots to enjoy the natural beauty of the mighty Mekong River is at Kratie, which offers stunning sunsets and is home to the rare fresh-water Irrawaddy dolphins that can be seen all year round. The nearby island of Koh Trong is an ideal place to relax for a day and north of Kratie you can find peaceful fishing communities and rural scenery that is ideal for cycling or trekking.
Ratanakiri Province
This diverse region of natural beauty in the north-east is harder to get to but all the more beautiful for it. Here you will find virtually untouched forested mountains, ethnic minority groups with their own languages and traditions, volcanic lakes and thundering waterfalls. The main activity on offer here is trekking and there is plenty of wildlife to be seen in their natural habitats, including gibbons and elephants.

Your adventure starts here!

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