Family Tour: Angkor Temples to the Beaches

Day 3: Tonle Sap – Explore the Floating Village by boat

After having breakfast at your hotel, we will go and see the great landscape of Tonle Sap lake. This is a unique experience offering a great outdoor adventure into Siem Reap’s countryside by exploring a floating village and seeing first hand the livelihoods of the Cambodian people.
We will take you out to the Siem Reap countryside in order to explore the local ways of life in Siem Reap. You will be greeted by friendly locals and get a deeper understanding of their lives and traditions. The journey will end at the Tonle Sap lake, where you will experience the lifestyle of Cambodian people living in the floating villages, offering you the opportunity to see how families adapt their life to be able to live on the water.

Return to the hotel in the afternoon. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure on your own.

Khmer treats at night

At 17:00 hop into a tuk-tuk in Siem Reap and discover the famous Khmer food! In the early evening, your guide will pick you up from your hotel in a tuk-tuk and take you to various street stalls around the city for delicious local dishes. Stroll through the narrow streets around the old market square and stop here and there to try the tempting delicacies. One or two delicious regional beers are ideal for this.
Then, take your tuk-tuk to Angkor Kyung Yu Road (Road 60), which is one after the other. Enjoy the vibrant ambience of tourists and local families who gather for dinner in the early evening. Enjoy a selection of exotic fruits, grilled meats and, if you’re feeling adventurous, fried insects! End your evening with a traditional Cambodia cocktail and return to your hotel blissfully.

Day 4: Drive to Battambang, visit the sunset & bat caves

After having breakfast, depart for Battambang and be escorted by English speaking guide. Battambang is the second largest city in Cambodia, it is located on both the highway and railroad linking Phnom Penh with Thailand. On arrival, check-in at the hotel and relax at the pool at your own leisure.

In the afternoon, we will depart to Sampov Mountain in time for you to catch the sunset and take in spectacular views of Battambang. Sampov Mountain is a truly special and spectacular place for locals and visitors alike; bask in the tranquility and the cool mountain breeze of beautiful Sampov. The mountain contains numerous killing caves. The caves are now home to thousands of bats and a group of macaques that feed on bananas left by pilgrims beside the cave’s shrines. If you wish, stay until dusk when you can witness the bats pouring out of the caves and heading out across the surrounding paddy fields in search of food.

Day 5: Explore Battambang livelihoods by bike

Today, we explore Battambang on a mountain bike. In the early morning, we’ll cycle pass Neo-Khmer buildings as well as colonial structures, including the Sala Khaet (the governor’s residence).
Stop on a bridge over the Sanger River and admire the architectural remains of old shops, colonial mansions, and crumbling pagodas lining the banks. You see children on their way to school and boats gliding down the river. Enjoy the scenic surroundings with palm-lined country roads and lush rice fields. Learn some Cambodian words from your guide. Meet families whose generations work together to make prahok (Fermented Fish Paste), rice paper, rice noodles, banana chips, dried fruit, rice wine and the famous Battambang rice cake.

You will continue on to enjoy a delicious Cambodian lunch at a family home. Then visit a Buddhist Temple to gain an understanding of the principles and practices of a religion that is central to Cambodian life.

Day 6: Drive from Battambang to Kampong Chhnang

Today, depart Battambang and head into the rural heart of Cambodia. Make a stop at the Pottery village which is famous for producing undecorated items such as pots, vases, and other types of ceramics for the Cambodian home.

Then we head to Farmhouse Smiling Gecko, in time for lunch. Set up in 2015 by local NGO, Smiling Gecko Cambodia, the Farmhouse was established to offer disadvantaged local people a training opportunity to acquire skills that will enable them to earn a living, without leaving the countryside. In the afternoon, a member of the Smiling Gecko team will give you an overview of their other inspirational projects that focus on education, supporting local employment initiatives and promoting self-help among the rural population. By staying here you’re directly contributing to the livelihood of the local people.

Day 7: Kampong Chhnang to Phnom Penh

This morning, we depart Kampong Chhnang to Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia. On the way, we’ll make a stop at the former of Cambodian capital of Oudong. We explore the sacred hills there, which include historic pagodas and several stupas containing the remains of Cambodia’s former kings. After an extensive visit to this historic place, we continue to the capital of Phnom Penh. Check in your hotel upon arrival, then you’re free on your own.

Day 8: Tour of the Killing Fields

After having a great breakfast and coffee at your hotel, we’ll take an excursion to Killing Fields, about 17 km from Phnom Penh is Cheung Ek, which is notorious for the film The Killing fields. A huge memorial is intended to commemorate the 17,000 victims who lost their lives under the regime of the leader of the Khmer Rouge, Pol Pot. The mass graves and human remains in the memorial take you on a journey through Cambodia’s years of suffering under the cruelty of the Khmer Rouge.

Afterwards, visit the impressive Royal Palace with the adjoining Silver Pagoda on the banks of the Tonle Sap and Mekong. Also worth seeing is Wat Phnom, located on an artificial hill. Then you can visit the Genocide Museum of the Khmer Rouge. Later, stroll through the colorful markets and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere on the riverside.

Day 9: Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, take a ferry to Koh Rong

Today we depart from the hotel in the southern direction for Sihanoukville. We head on the road with the buzz of day to day life in Cambodia from the view of the coastline. The blue of the Gulf of Thailand at your left always wake you up from the hot weather of today as the road is a bit wide open from the shade of the tree. We’ll have lunch at the local hut to the sleepy houses along the way as your lunch will be offered a very tasty Khmer food.

After lunch, you will be transferred to Sihanoukville to catch up to the speed boat to the Koh Rong Island. For the rest of the day, enjoy at your own leisure at the beach.

Day 10: Free Day on the island

Today, you can take the boat to explore life underneath the water and relax at the beach with your family at your own leisure.

Day 11: Transfer to Phnom Penh & Tour Concludes

After breakfast, use your last morning in Koh Rong for a leisurely stroll on the beaches, a morning swim, or a trip to the beach. Your guides will then transfer you back to Phnom Penh and followed by goodbyes with your guides. Take the day to reflect upon the rewarding vacations, beautiful coastal views, and cultural immersion this tour has provided!