Immerse in the God's Land with Awesome Cambodia Tours

Day 1: Arrival at Phnom Penh, the Capital City of Cambodia

Mostly the first day of the Itinerary would be arriving on the International Airport of Phnom Penh where most of the International tourists arrive. Phnom Penh was once called as ‘pearl of Asia’ due to its geographical location on the confluence of the Mekong River and Tonle Sap Lake. Because of it being a French Colony, you could still find French impacts on the city. The capital city is the heart of Cambodia as it is the power hub economically, politically and culturally as well.

It serves as a great base to start your campaign in this beautiful country. On the first day itself, you can wander out to see some great sites such as the Royal Palace Complex, the Silver Pagoda and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. But traveling in the summertime could be harsh and hence visit either in the morning or the evening times. One more important thing is to dress conservatively regardless of the weather. For both men and women, the dress should cover shoulders and knees. Take a stroll along the Sisowath Quay which is a boulevard along the banks of the Mekong River and Tonle Sap. You can stay overnight to enjoy the buzzing nightlife of Phnom Penh.

Day 2: City Stroll of Phnom Penh

Your Tour operator would plan for a second straight day at Phnom Penh which has a lot to offer you. On the second day, they would plan the visits to the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. If you don’t want to start your day with these sites of atrocity, you can simply deny such visits but visiting them would bring you closer to the historical challenges that  Cambodia once faced.

The tour would start with Tuol Sleng, a school which was converted into a prison during the reign of Pol Pot and Khmer Rouge. Choeung Ek is a deadly site where more than a million people were sent to die between 1975 and 1979. After having these visits, consider visiting the National Museum of Phnom Penh.

Day 3: A Visit to the Siem Reap

On the third day of the trip, your travel guide would arrange a transfer to Siem Reap which is also called the Tourist capital of Cambodia. You should stop on the way in the market village of Skuon or Spiderville as called by Europeans. Here the locals farm large spiders and serve them deep fried. You would reach Siem Reap by evening and which is a perfect timing to pick up a three-day pass to the Angkor Archaeological Park – a temple site. Watching the sunset from Phnom Bakheng is quite famous here and you should never miss that. Enjoy the nightlife of  Siem Reap which is not as vibrant as that of Phnom Penh.

Day 4: Exploring Angkor Archaeological Park, Siem Reap

The next day of the tour would primarily mean for exploring the Angkor Archaeological Park. Most people believe that Angkor Vat is a group of temples but it is actually just one temple. Angkor means city and wat mean temple. The whole area around this Reap temples and ruins which are spread about miles upon miles. Within this area, there are approximately 1000 temples of varying sizes, with some dedicated to Lord Shiva, an Indian God. This is why there is a three-day pass for the Archaeological Park. You can start your day with a view of the sunrise at Angkor Wat and that is an iconic and long cherishing thing to do. Afterward, head straight to the temple complex before the crowd pushes in.  From Angkor Wat, head over to Bayon, a slightly newer temple complex built in the late 12th or early 13th century by King Jayavarman VII within the ancient town of Angkor Thom.

Day 5: Exploring Ta Prohm, a Jungle Temple or Tomb Raider Temple

Don’t get perplexed if you are told to spend another day at Siem Reap as there are thousand many things left to show you. In the morning, get up early and head to Ta Prohm which is a jungle temple or Tomb Raider Temple as some scenes of the Angelina Jolie starrer film was shot here. Ta Prohm represents the less-restored, more wild type of Angkor temple. At this place, you will find tree roots curling around pillars and burst up through floors. This place is being reclaimed by the Jungle and hence has become a very popular temple.

In the afternoon, visit the guided tour to Banteay Srei which is located north of the Angkor Wat. This red temple is known for its intricate and well-preserved carvings. It is a bit far from Siem Reap than the main Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat areas. In the evening, return to Siem Reap and consider visiting another restaurant that contributes to social good.

Day 6: A Visit to the Battambang

Angkor Wat can take up to a month to explore but you should explore other parts of Cambodia as well and hence visiting Battambang is an important decision. It is Cambodia’s second most populous city and this is the place where you can get to see the actual culture of Cambodia. The city will boast of 20th century French Colonial buildings. Before dark, hire a tuk-tuk to take you to Wat Banan, the so-called mini-Angkor Wat. Just near the temple, you can find a huge cave which is home to thousands of bats. Many such movies have been shot here.

Day 7: Back to Phnom Penh and Departure

The last day would mean that you will receive an assisted transfer to Phnom Penh where the departure would be waiting for you. You must consider buying some souvenir from Cambodia as there would be many things to cherish about them when you look back at it.