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Essential Cambodia 8 days

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Hanoi Voyages > Panorama > Essential Cambodia 8 days
HIGHLIGHTS

Admire the grandeur of Khmer culture
Get up close to the Khmer Empire in Siem Reap, and explore the dramatic and sensuously beautiful Angkor Wat, lauded as the world’s largest religious structure

Be stunned by beautiful landscape
Get enchanted by a completely aquatic landscape in Tonle Sap and experience the Cambodian life, tied closely to this water area

Unwind yourself at the Sihanoukville beach
End up on the coast in the city of Sihanoukville. Relax and enjoy the boat tours available to the golden sand and crystal blue water of the islands around

ITINERARY

Day 1Siem Reap - Arrival

  • A Hanoi Voyages representative will welcome you when you arrive at the airport and transfer you to your arranged accommodation where check-in time is 2:00 pm
  • Let the excitement commence!

Highlight experience: Traditional Cambodian food

Day 2Siem Reap - Angkor Thom - Angkor Wat

An early start as we head to the hill of Phnom Bakheng to see the sunrise. After arriving in Angkor Wat, you’ll be among the ruins of the world’s most famous Hindu temple complex.

  • Visit the three-tiered Baphuon (a temple in honour of another Hindu deity, Shiva) with its spectacular layered structure.
  • See the Terrace of the Leper King with its beautiful carvings of gods, nagas, and dancers.
  • Marvel at the Royal Enclosure and its small temple, Phimeanakas. These ruins are particularly significant as they date from the 10th century
  • Attend either an outstanding Apsara dance show or an old-style leather puppet show

Overnight in Siem Reap
Highlight experience: Traditional Apsara dance parformances

Day 3Siem Reap - Banteay Srei - Banteay Samre - 3 Buddhist Temples

Drive an hour away from Angkor Wat, uncovering restored temples.

  • Be dazzled by Banteay Srei, a Hindu temple dating back to the 10th century. Called “the citadel of women”, its stone has a marvellous pink hue and is very well preserved.
  • Come face to face with the meticulously restored enclosed temple of Banteay Samre, complete with carvings of lions and nagas.

Later, we head to meet the Roluos Group, with its three main temples, dedicated to Shiva.

  • Visualise the first Angkorian capital city, by gazing at the remains of Bakong Temple, which was the city’s focal point for worship and rituals.
  • Prepare to be dumbfounded by incredibly intricate sandstone carvings at Temple Lolei.
  • Witness the beginnings of Khmer architecture in the 9th-century temple of Preah Ko.

Overnight in Siem Reap
Highlight experience: “The citadel of women” Banteay Srei

Day 4Siem Reap - Tonle Sap - FLY - Phnom Penh

Finding yourself surrounded by a completely aquatic landscape, see how everyday life is transformed by its proximity to, and dependence on water.

  • Cruise past floating villages and note the bamboo houses on stilts, specially designed to avoid flooding.
  • Try your hand at fishing using local techniques!
  • Witness the production of fine Cambodian silk, from silkworm to finished product!
  • Learn about traditional Khmer handicrafts at Chantiers Ecoles, a vocational training centre for young people.
  • Stroll through the old market in Siem Reap, then enjoy a relaxing Khmer massage.
  • Settle into an evening flight from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. Arrive and be welcomed by our guide and be transferred to your arranged accommodation

Overnight in Phnom Penh
Highlight experience: Making your own traditional handicrafts at Chantiers Ecoles

Day 5Phnom Penh - Highlights

Make the most of your first full day in the country and view some of the city’s most fascinating sites.

  • Enter a world of visual wonder, starting with the National Museum of Fine Arts’ sculpture collection, before heading to the resplendent Royal Palace, admiring its striking Khmer architecture. Then, take a moment to survey the serene Silver Pagoda and its magnificent Emerald Buddha
  • Next, meander through the Central Market, famous for its Art Deco architecture. Later, explore Wat Phnom, the oldest of the temples the city, and see the statue of Madam Penh, the capital’s namesake

Overnight in Phnom Penh
Highlight experience: The serene Silver Pagoda and its magnificent Emerald Buddha
 

Day 6Phnom Penh - FLY - Sihanoukville

Settle into a morning flight from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville. Arrive and be welcomed by our guide and be transferred to your arranged accommodation.

  • Enjoy free time to leisurely lounge on the beach
  • Relax and rejuvenate

Overnight in Sihanoukville
Highlight experience: Pristine and aquamarine water of Sihanoukville

Day 7Sihanoukville

Enjoy free time to leisurely lounge on the beach

Overnight in Sihanoukville

Day 8Sihanoukville - FLY - Phnom Penh - Departure

Free time until your transfer to the airport for your departure flight

What makes our tailor-made holidays different?

  • Unique activities and places
  • Itinerary crafted by you, and us, local experts
  • Hand-picked authentic experiences
  • Well-selected accommodation with spirit
  • Adjusted to your budget and your time
  • Private assistant and English speaking guides

Entrust us with your dream

Together we will create it

  info@hanoivoyage.com
  + 84 98 30 33 966 

Feeling inspired from this journey?

Enquire now and get your free quotation!

EXTENSION

MEKONG RIVER CRUISE - 4 DAYS
BEACH BREAK - 4 DAYS - SIHANOUKVILLE
BANGKOK DISCOVERY - 3 DAYS - THAILAND

MEKONG RIVER CRUISE – PHNOM PENH TO SAIGON 4 day/3 nights

A lower Mekong cruise that modules the diversity of the rich, local and evergreen life of the Mekong Delta.

Day 1 – PHNOMPENH – VIETNAM Board a grand, yet homely cruiseliner and embark on a leisurely four-day cruise. Depart Phnom Penh and head for the rich, fertile lands of the Mekong Delta region.

Day 2 – PHNOM PENH – BORDER CROSSING – TAN CHAU Embark on your journey to Tan Chau on the way. Dawdle in the slow-paced town of Tan Chau, with its Chinese, Khmer, and Kinh ethnic minority populations. 

Day 3 – TAN CHAU – SA DEC – CAI BE Arrive in Sa Dec, where you will take a traditional sampan tour. Wander villages occupied by craftwork industry, and have a go at weaving yourself! Catch your first sight of Cai Be, a quaint town famed for its French Catholic Church and the production of food products, especially rice.

Day 4 – CAI BE – MY THO – SAIGON Pass by the floating market of Cai Be, and to the central markets. Observe pastoral scenes of My Tho from your cabin’s balcony while having tea on deck. Return to Saigon and bid farewell to the cruise.

 

Lounge on the beach and let the sand kiss your toes!

Sure, Sihanoukville (ក្រុងព្រះសីហនុ) would never win first prize in a pretty-town competition. But despite the rapid and mostly unwanted development, it has remained the jumping-off point for the best of Cambodia’s white-sand beaches and castaway-cool southern islands!

Day 1 – ARRIVE IN SIHANOUKVILLE Ready your senses for something truly exceptional? Sihanoukville is worth the wait. This destination is the perfect tropical paradise for your getaway. Wide boulevards and white sandy beaches signal relaxation and happiness, the Ochheuteal and Serendipity beach is an attractive seaside stopover.

Day 2 – TREKKING – WATERFALLS The Kbal Chhay Waterfalls are a tiered, 14-metre drop in the middle of extensive forests, with loads of food stalls, picnic spots, hammocks and local shops selling all manner of useless stuff to help you while away a very relaxing few hours in between splashes.

Day 3 – DIVING OR SNORKELLING The best time of year to go diving or snorkelling in and around Sihanoukville is December to April when the dry season and currents mean that visibility is at its best. On the other hand, while conditions might be less ideal in quiet months you’ll get more of that ocean all to yourself. Cambodia does offer some of the cheapest scuba-diving in the region in some of the least crowded waters.

 

BANGKOK – A vibrant city / 3 days 2 nights
Spice your holidays by stepping in a vibrant city, mixing modernity and spirituality. Stroll around golden temples and palaces. Get a shopping session through all of the markets of the city, and end your trip experiencing the Thai lifestyle for three days.

Day 1 – BANGKOK – ARRIVAL Spice your holidays and step into the vibrant city of Bangkok. After a short flight from Phnom Penh, settle in your hotel and start your Thai adventure. Relax and enjoy the amenities of your hotel before having dinner on the rooftop of one of Bangkok’s skyscrapers.

Day 2 – BANGKOK – HIGHLIGHTS
After breakfast, visit the highlights of the city such as the Grand Royal Palace complex which includes the Royal Palace and the magnificent Wat Phra Kaew (known for the Statue of the Emerald Buddha), Wat Pho, a giant house of the lying Buddha or the Beautiful part of the Khlong with a mix of old wooden houses and new modern mansion. In the evening enjoy a drink on the rooftop of a bar and have a taste of Bangkok’s nightlife.

Day 3 – BANGKOK – MARKETS
After breakfast, relish the taste of the local snack and photograph the Maeklong railway market, slow down on the waterway to the picturesque floating market of Damnoen Saduak and experience the vibrancy of Bangkok daily routine.


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Handpicking tea in Vietnam

TRAVEL NOTE

TIME TO VISIT CAMBODIA

DRY SEASON

Dec - Feb
Dec - Feb
Feb - Apr
The weather is cooler and much more pleasant to visit
the coastal area and Angkor site.
Average temperature 21°C–30°C (70=86°F)
The weather gets dry and characterized by dust
and heat.
Average temperature 24°C–34°C (75-93°F)

WET SEASON

May - Jul
May - Jul
Jul - Oct
Rainy, monsoon season. Fewer tourists, lower price.
Best for visiting Angkor Wat with its green vegetation.
Average temperature 24°C-33°C (76°F-91°F)
Cooler period, with chances of a lightning storm. Ideal for
Siem Reap trip.
Average temperature 23°C-30°C (74°F-87°F)


Check out our full guide for the best time to visit Cambodia here.

PHYSICAL LEVEL

Cycling Tour:
Level:
This is a middle-level Cycling Tour, appropriate for kids over 6 years old
Kayaking Tour:

Level:
This is a low-level Kayaking Tour, appropriate for kids over 6 years old

PASSPORT AND VISA

Your passport must be valid 6 months after the expected date of your departure from the country.
We can help with your Cambodian visa once you arrive will in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh. Just bring with you a valid passport, 2 passport-sized photos and 35 USD per visa.

  1. You will get a single entry tourist visa which allows a stay up to 30 days
  2. A 6-month valid passport after the expected date of your departure from the country is required
  3. Visa exemption up to 30 days for the following countries: Brunei (14 days), Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines (21 days), Seychelles (14 days), Singapore, Thailand (14 days)

WHAT TO PACK

To make sure you will enjoy all of the activities included in this trip without missing of anything, here is a short list of what you should bring with you:
– Trekking shoes (or running shoes)
– Sunscreen
– Sunglasses
– A raincoat
– Insect repellant
Check out some more practical information for Cambodia travel here.

In the words of our customers...

Amazing experience! Thanks to this company we were able to explore the beauties of Viet Nam. Personnel of the company, who we met in person in their office, was very kind and polite. We didn’t have any problems during our trip. Thank you for everything.

Trip to Viet Nam
Katarina B

Everything ran smoothly. Hanoi Voyages treated us to a meal in a lovely restaurant in Hanoi and presented us with gifts to each one of us. I cannot understand why they do not appear at the top of the TripAdvisor list of agents in Vietnam.

Personalised trip for 4
DenisDesollies

Our two weeks in North and Central Vietnam ran like clockwork. The customer service and the level of engagement that the team offered was 5 star. So much so that there is no doubt we will use Hanoi Voyages again for our next trip.

Highly recommended
Avixlee

Thanks to Hanoi Voyages and especially to Mrs Thuy who was so kind with my group of 10 people. I organized the route and they prepared and contracted everything for us. If I ever come back to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar or Thailand I’ll deal with them again.

A very professional agency
Andreu R

What makes Hanoi Voyages so different?

Authentic

Being born and raised across this continent, we are seasoned local experts with more than a decade of experience, who know how to capture and show you the real Southeast Asia.

Inspiring

With our unique tailor-made tours, our desire is to capture you by our passion for each destination, so together we can create your dream holiday.

Flexible

We listen to you and keep altering the proposal until it fits your idea and we adapt your trip depending on your desires and any circumstances to ensure your smooth and memorable journey.

Attentive

Being responsive and permanently available is what we commit to. From making a perfect plan to ensuring everything goes smoothly throughout your holiday to listening to your feedback, we are here for you.

Dedicated

Customer and community satisfaction is a number one priority for Hanoi Voyages. We are dedicated to providing outstanding service, partnering with local suppliers and being reachable at all times.

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