Discover the temples of Angkor Wat then relax on the sandy beaches of Cambodia's coastline

Personalised journeys from start to finish

Every trip helps support Conservation

Every detail taken care of

  • Personalised journeys from start to finish

  • Every trip helps support Conservation

  • Every detail taken care of

What's included

  • Luxury accommodation throughout
  • Private transfers and internal flights
  • Full support from your travel concierge before, during and after your trip
Use this itinerary to inspire your bespoke journey

At a glance

Cambodia is famous for its temples and no trip is complete without visiting the magnificent Angkor Wat complex. What most people don’t know about, however, is Cambodia’s beautiful coastline. A few hours south of Phnom Penh you’ll find pristine rainforest, laidback fishing villages and islands where turquoise waters lap against gorgeous white sand beaches.

This 16-day exploration really lets you get the most out of this incredible country. You’ll start with four days exploring Angkor Wat, visiting both the most famous temples as well as those that lay further off the beaten track. Sunset drinks at Angkor Thom and a sunrise visit to the temples allows you to see the area at is most magical with the ancient relics set against an ever-changing sky.

You’ll then spend two nights in Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital and a city known for its unsettled history. A visit to the Killing Fields and Genocide Museum are important, and sobering, experiences but there are also beautiful palaces and pagodas to discover in the city itself.

It’s then time to explore Cambodia’s wonderful southern coast, starting with three nights in Kep, a quaint seaside town and former French colonial retreat. You’ll visit hillside temples, explore hidden caves and lakes and try some of the delicious crab that this area is so famous for. You’ll then head to the area around the Cardamom Mountains – a wonderfully secluded and untouched part of the country. From here you can kayak through mangrove forests, swim in waterfalls, hike through the forest and enjoy soaking up the sights and sounds of the forest is relative isolation.

The final part of this trip sees you relaxing on Cambodia’s beautiful white sand beaches. Snorkel and swim through crystal clear waters and spend time unwinding at the gorgeous properties that allow you to enjoy this gorgeous part of the country in comfort and style.

Example trip itinerary

Days 1-4

Siem Reap and Angkor Wat

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel in Siem Reap

Accommodation in Siem Reap and Angkor Wat

Four nights in Siem Reap, exploring Angkor Wat Four nights in Siem Reap, exploring Angkor Wat

During your time in Siem Reap we can arrange privately guided specialist tours to show you the best of city, Angkor Wat and the Khmer temples in the region.

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Banteay Kdei Temple Banteay Kdei Temple

Today you will get your first taste of the Angkor temples. Explore the sprawling labyrinth of Banteay Kdei with its Hall of the Dancing Girls.

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Sunset drinks at Angkor Thom Sunset drinks at Angkor Thom

Enjoy sunset drinks at Angkor Thom whilst sailing on the complex's vast moat.

Tour of Ta Prohm and lesser known temples Tour of Ta Prohm and lesser known temples

Travel by road to Srah Srang and then continue to Ta Prohm, pausing to collect your entry passes at the Archaeological Park Entrance. Take your time to walk through the temple from the West entrance to the East entrance where you will rejoin our driver. From the Northwest of Ta Prohm, walk 15 minutes through the forest to the seldom visited temple of Ta Nei. There is a reasonable chance of having this beautiful Angkor temple all to yourself. Pause for a light breakfast around this peaceful area before exploring further. End the morning at Ta Keo temple, known as the 'mountain with bronze peaks', and admire its five-tiered pyramid structure.

Angkor Thom Angkor Thom

Travel by road to the Victory Gate of Angkor Thom. You have the choice of either walking along the path along the city wall to the Death Gate or continuing around by road. En route to the Terrace of the Leper King, you'll stop briefly to see an imposing statue found in Bayon which is now displayed at Vihear Prampeilveng. Begin again at the atmospheric Preah Palilay and walk through the shaded parkland behind the terraces, past Phimeanakas with its beautiful lakes, and the imposing Baphuon to finally reach Jayavarman’s state temple of Bayon at the centre of the city. Explore this important temple with its many captivating giant stone faces. Your guide will point out the most interesting of the detailed bas reliefs illustrating everyday life in the Angkorian era.

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Kulen Mountain Adventure Hike Kulen Mountain Adventure Hike

Approximately 50km (31 miles) north of Siem Reap lies the sacred Phnom Kulen, the ‘Mountain of Lychees', the birthplace of the Angkorian Empire under the reign of King Jayavarman II. The area is now a small national park, rising 488m (1,600 feet) above the surrounding plains. The plateau boasts fine carvings of a thousand Shiva’s Lingas under the riverbed, temple ruins and Cambodia’s largest reclining Buddha.

Explore Phnom Kulen, ‘Mountain of the Lychees’, with a full day adventure tour. This trip is considered a greater difficulty level, requiring good fitness for a 17km hike.

You'll start the 17km hike from Kulen’s 1000 lingas, walking along jungle trails through unique landscapes: rocky outcrops, dry and tropical forests, across streams and through rural fields. Learn about the daily activities of these rural communities, their living conditions, the natural environment and ancient and recent history of the low-lying mountain plateau. This trek takes in pre-Angkorian animist statues that are slowly being reclaimed by the forest. A 20-minute motodop tour will complete your loop.

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Sunrise Tour of Angkor Wat Sunrise Tour of Angkor Wat

Visit Angkor Wat, one of the modern wonders of the world, and watch the sun rise behind this ornate temple. Be amazed by the sheer size of the temple and learn how the Khmer Empire prospered between the 9th and 13th centuries, around the time when Angkor Wat was built. Stroll through the intricately carved hallways that show hundreds of fine carvings and discover small shrines still in use today by the local people.

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Sambor Prei Kuk Sambor Prei Kuk

Head to Sambor Prei Kuk and visit the ruins of the 6th-century temples - some of Cambodia's oldest. Three groups of temples here are from the pre-Angkorian period and are collectively known as Ishanapura.

Learn how, as the Funan delta state declined due to changes in trading patterns with Rome and China, a new power grew inland called Chenla. This was to be the civilization controlling much of South East Asia.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel in Phnom Penh

Days 4-6

Phnom Penh

Accommodation in Phnom Penh

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Two nights in Phnom Penh Two nights in Phnom Penh

Discover this charming city with a wealth of history and unique architecture. We will arrange specialist guides and unique excursions so you see the best of Phnom Penh.

Islands of the Mekong bike ride Islands of the Mekong bike ride

Escape the hustle and bustle of Phnom Penh and venture into the capital’s surrounding countryside with a relaxing half-day rural cycle tour of the Islands of the Mekong. Cycling around 25km on flat and small dirt roads, as well as a quick ferry crossing, enjoy the quiet back roads to reach the Mekong Islands, passing through local Cham Muslim communities. On the islands, pedal through orchards and market gardens learning more of local life before returning to Phnom Penh.

Visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum Visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

Today you will visit the infamous Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. The museum, formerly also known as S-21 was originally a high school that the Khmer Rouge converted to an interrogation centre and prison in 1975 during the genocide. More than 17,000 people were tortured there before being murdered at the killing fields outside of the city. Pol Pot’s brutal attempt to create a society without class resulted in nearly 2 million people dying from execution, starvation, or disease. Your visit may be difficult and at times harrowing, but confronting this dark chapter of the country's past is essential to understanding modern Cambodia and its people.

Tour of the Killing Fields Tour of the Killing Fields

The peaceful stretch of green fields of Cheung Ek, known as 'The Killing Fields', 17km (11 miles) from Phnom Penh, may not indicate what kinds of horrors have taken place there. A large memorial has been built to commemorate the 17,000 victims who died here under the reign of Khmer Rouge leader, Pol Pot. The remnants inside the memorial and the mass graves that dot the area remind you of the suffering of the victims. It will give an appreciation of the struggle that Cambodian people have faced and their tremendous courage to move on and rebuild their nation.

The Silver Pagoda or Wat Preah Keo, Wat Ubosoth Ratanaram or Preah Vihear Preah Keo Morakot is located on the south side of the Royal Palace, Phnom Penh. Silver Pagoda, Royal Palace, Phnom Penh, Attractions in Cambodia.
Phnom Penh city tour Phnom Penh city tour

Visit the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, two of the most striking buildings in the capital and considered as some of the finest examples of Khmer architecture. They were initially constructed in 1866 by the French. The Royal Palace is home to the current King Sihamoni. The neighboring Silver Pagoda stands out in its own distinctive way. The floor consists of 5,329 solid silver tiles to which the building owes its name. Next head to the National Museum, which houses the world's foremost collection of Khmer art. You can then opt to explore the shops and boutiques in Street 240 area or visit the small hill within the city, Wat Phnom and learn how the city got its name.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel in Kep

Days 6-9

Kep

Accommodation in Kep

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Three nights in Kep Three nights in Kep

Kep is a quaint seaside town and former French colonial retreat, known in the 50s as Kep-sur-Mer. In the 70s much of the city had fallen into disrepair under the influence of Khmer Rouge forces and evidence of this period can still be seen scattered around the area. People visit Kep for its laidback atmosphere and food - it is the centre of the Cambodian crab fishing industry. You can also enjoy trips to offshore islands and explore the lush Kep National Park.

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Kep tour Kep tour

This sleepy seaside former French colonial retreat continues to inspire with its rustic charm of abandoned crumbling villas set in the lush hillside overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. Famous for its fresh seafood, in particular the delectable crabs cooked with Kampot pepper, today you will get a glimpse of the former glory of Kep-sur-mer, visiting the former residence of King Father Norodom Sihanouk, the unlikely looking yet delightful rickety crab shacks on the seafront, and travel along coastal roads visiting a hillside temple and the iconic statue of the sea overlooking Kep Beach.

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Secret lake and hidden caves Secret lake and hidden caves

The landscape between Kep and Kampot is studded with limestone mountains, hiding caves and Buddhist shrines. Visit the cave complex of Phnom Chhnork, located just outside Kampot, known for its impressive formations of stalagmites and stalagtites and well preserved 7th-century brick temple shrine to Shiva in the main chamber.

The beautiful Cambodian countryside leads you to the next stop, the so-called 'secret lake', created through hard labour under the Khmer Rouge as an irrigation dam. It now serves as a scenic location for a picnic or a swim. This tour can be taken by tuk-tuk, but due to the road conditions it is recommended you take the adventurous option of a motorbike.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to your lodge

Days 9-12

Wild Cambodia

Accommodation in Wild Cambodia

Three nights in Cambodia's mountains Three nights in Cambodia's mountains

This is a beautiful untouched part of the country, and there are ample opportunities for hiking, kayaking, heading out with wildlife rangers and of course just kicking back and relaxing.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel

Days 12-16

Coastal Cambodia

Accommodation in Coastal Cambodia

song-saa-pool-sea-cambodia
Four nights relaxing on Cambodia's coast Four nights relaxing on Cambodia's coast

Neighbouring Thailand may have received all the press when it comes to idyllic beaches, but the south of Cambodia has its own beautiful coastline well worth exploring. You’ll find pristine rainforest, white sandy beaches and sleepy fishing villages that combine to make a wonderfully relaxing destination.

Spend your days snorkelling and diving in warm waters teeming with vibrant underwater life, including seahorses, parrotfish and turtles. Kayak the surrounding archipelago and discover secluded beaches and unspoiled coves. Experienced guides can also take guests into the rainforest to meet the species that live in this unique ecosystem too.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to Phnom Penh airport

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Angkor Wat and the Idyllic Coast

16-Day Example Trip
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