This five-day Cambodian add-on itinerary is designed for first-time visitors who want to balance bustling city scenes with ancient sites. You’ll start in Phnom Penh with a private airport transfer straight to your hotel, with the rest of the day yours to unwind. On day two, meet your cyclo guide for an afternoon tour: glide past Wat Phnom and the Independence Monument before the evening is free for you to explore at leisure. On day three, set off for Siem Reap by road, pausing at the 12th century Kampong Kdei Bridge to see its stone naga guardians and appreciate a living example of Khmer engineering.
In Siem Reap, a shared tuk-tuk tour covers three key temples: Angkor Wat’s imposing tiers, Bayon’s trademark smiling faces and Ta Prohm’s iconic root-clad ruins. Your afternoons are free to reflect on the sites, browse local markets or relax at the resort. This add-on must be booked as part of a minimum 10-night itinerary; we suggest pairing it with our Luang Prabang Highlights or Vietnam Highlights itineraries. With all arranged transfers, guides and entry permits, you can focus on the experience without worrying about logistics.
Arrive in Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s energetic capital where French colonial buildings meet golden spires and buzzing street life. A private transfer takes you straight from the airport to your hotel, giving you a chance to settle in and get your bearings. This is your time to relax after the journey—perhaps with a swim or a cool drink by the pool. If you’re ready to explore, take a gentle walk along the riverside promenade or visit a local café for your first taste of Khmer cuisine.
Discover Phnom Penh from a different perspective as you travel by cyclo, a traditional three-wheeled bicycle taxi still used by locals today. This unhurried journey offers a closer look at the city’s mix of colonial architecture, leafy boulevards and vibrant street life.
Led by a local guide, you’ll pass landmarks such as Wat Phnom, the hilltop temple that gave the city its name, and the striking Independence Monument. Along the way, you’ll glimpse everyday life in local markets and lesser-known corners of the capital. This tour reveals both the highlights and the hidden layers of a city shaped by resilience, reinvention and cultural pride. (B)
Today’s journey takes you overland from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, offering a glimpse of Cambodia beyond the cities. Along the way, stop at the remarkable Kampong Kdei Bridge, also known as Spean Praptos, a 12th-century marvel from the Angkor era. Once part of the royal road connecting Angkor to the capital, this laterite and sandstone structure is one of the longest surviving bridges of its kind, guarded by a dramatic seven-headed naga balustrade. It’s a striking reminder of the Khmer Empire’s engineering brilliance.
After a break for lunch in the provincial town of Kampong Thom, continue to Siem Reap and check in at your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax, perhaps unwind by the pool as you prepare for your first encounter with the temples of Angkor. (B)
Travel by tuk tuk this morning to explore the iconic temples of Angkor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Southeast Asia’s most awe-inspiring destinations. Begin with Angkor Wat, a vast and intricate complex that stands as a symbol of Cambodia’s spiritual and architectural legacy. Its five lotus-shaped towers rise above sweeping galleries of intricate carvings, an enduring image of the Khmer Empire at its height.
Continue to Bayon, set at the heart of Angkor Thom, where over 200 serene stone faces gaze down from the temple’s towers. The carvings here reveal scenes of war, trade and everyday Khmer life. Finish at Ta Prohm, where ancient stonework is slowly being reclaimed by nature, giant roots winding through crumbling walls create one of the most atmospheric sites in the complex. The afternoon is free for you to enjoy at your own pace. (B)
Enjoy a final morning at your own pace in Siem Reap. You might choose to relax by the pool, take a final stroll through the town’s lively markets, or visit a nearby café for a last taste of Cambodian coffee. When it’s time, your transfer will take you to Siem Reap Angkor International Airport for your onward journey. (B)
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