Tour Essential Cambodia | Visit Thailand, Viet Nam

Transport

Private minibus , Public bus , Remork (Tuk-tuk)

Guide

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

Meals

2 breakfasts, 2 dinners

Accommodation

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation. Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we’re arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn’t always possible which means we won’t be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available. HOTELS: Most of the accommodation on this trip is in hotels (mostly 2 to 3-star). Facilities are often basic, with some properties not having a continuous supply of hot water on occasion. All rooms are either fan cooled or with air conditioning and twin share with private facilities unless stated otherwise in the daily itinerary. Double beds are not widely available in South East Asia. WINDOWLESS ROOMS: Some hotels in South East Asia have windowless rooms, or windows that don’t necessarily have a view. This is often due to high population density in large cities, however local building standards also do not require rooms to have windows. We do request rooms with windows, however they aren’t always available. Hotel (3 nights), Hostel (4 nights), Homestay (1 night)

Others

Banteay Chmar - Village Walk Banteay Chhmar - Homestay Banteay Chhmar - Banteay Chhmar Temple visit Siem Reap - One day Angkor Pass Siem Reap - Home cooked dinner Siem Reap - Angkor Wat Sunrise Siem Reap - Angkor Temples Guided Tour by TukTuk Siem Reap - Street food breakfast Phnom Penh - Sunset River Cruise Phnom Penh - Killing Fields of Choeung Ek Phnom Penh - Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21)

Not included:

Others

Other activities and services not included.

Optional

Bangkok - Grand Palace - THB500 Bangkok - Wat Pho - THB300 Bangkok - Tuk Tuk Experience Urban Adventure - THB2500 Bangkok - Temple & River of Kings Urban Adventure - THB2900 Bangkok - Chinatown Sights and Bites Urban Adventure - THB1960 Siem Reap - Phare Circus Ticket - USD18 Siem Reap - Three day Angkor Pass - USD62 Siem Reap - Angkor Zipline Silver Tour - USD54 Siem Reap - Landmine Museum - USD5 Siem Reap - Full day remork transport to Angkor complex - USD20 Siem Reap - Angkor Zipline Gold Tour - USD87 Phnom Penh - Wat Phnom - USD2 Phnom Penh - National Museum - USD10 Phnom Penh - Khmer massage - USD8 Phnom Penh - Cyclo Tour - USD4 Ho Chi Minh City - Saigon Street Food by Night Urban Adventure - USD36 Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Discovery Urban Adventure - USD73 Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnel Experience Urban Adventure - USD45 Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum - VND40000 Ho Chi Minh City - Reunification Palace - VND40000

Insurance

Insurance is not included. Travel insurance is required for this tour. Please make sure you are adequately covered. If you require travel insurance, TourRadar has partnered up with World Nomads to provide a hassle-free experience. More information can be found here (https://www.tourradar.com/travel-insurance).

Flights

International flights not included.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Bangkok
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Bangkok

Sawasdee! Welcome to Thailand. Your adventure begins in Bangkok with an important welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. Bangkok has so much going on, so if you’ve got time to explore this Southeast Asian hub, why not hit the canals for a riverboat trip to Chinatown? Maybe visit the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha or indulge in a pre-adventure massage. Tonight, maybe opt to get together with your new fellow travellers and head out for a green curry or tom yum goong (spicy seafood soup) for dinner.
Day 2 Day 2: Banteay Chhmar
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Banteay Chhmar

Rise ’n’ shine early this morning to leave Thailand and head into Cambodia! Your first destination on your Cambodian journey is Banteay Chhmar, which translates as Citadel of the Cat. This charming little village is far off the tourist trail and dotted with several temples. Take the chance to stretch your legs as you leader takes you on a walk to explore the village. Tonight, you’ll experience traditional hospitality from a local family in a Khmer house set on wooden stilts – this homestay experience is the perfect way to get to know the locals and immerse yourself in their culture. As the day comes to an end, sit down to a delicious Khmer dinner by torchlight in the grounds of the temple or at a local community centre (depending on the weather).
Day 3 Day 3: Siem Reap
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Siem Reap

After a peaceful night, you’ll visit the temple in the middle of Banteay Chhmar this morning. Similar to many Khmer temples in Cambodia, this temple is surrounded by water, which often represents the ocean surrounding the Temple Mountain (an architectural representation of the Hindu god’s home Mount Meru). After, you’ll take a private vehicle to Siem Reap – a popular city where you’ll spend the next couple of days. When you arrive, maybe spend some time looking around the central markets and pick up some delicious food for dinner.
Day 4 Day 4: Siem Reap – Angkor Wat Sunrise
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Siem Reap – Angkor Wat Sunrise

Early this morning, you’ll visit the mighty Angkor complex at sunrise – this is the largest religious structure in the world, and it’s pretty special to see the dawn rise over the temples. Get the camera ready because these 400 acres are full of picturesque settings. You’ll take a guided tour of the complex on a Tuk-tuk with a local social enterprise that focuses on providing employment opportunities for women in the community – and see the larger-than-life Angkor Wat, the grand Bayon and the jungle-covered Ta Prohm. Some buildings are over a thousand years old from the Khmer Empire – these beauties were known to represent the cosmic world and were set in perfect balance, symmetry and composition. If you like, try to catch the majesty of the temples at sunset, too – you can even head back to your accommodation after your guided tour for a nap and then re-enter the site in the late afternoon. Tonight, enjoy a traditional homemade dinner in a local family’s home.
Day 5 Day 5: Siem Reap
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Siem Reap

This morning, you can take up an awesome street food breakfast in Siem Reap’s local market. Then, today is free for you to experience the city however you want. If you’re all templed out, you can opt for an Angkor zip-line course, which will have you soaring like an eagle over the rainforest. Your leader will know all the best things to do, so ask them if you’re stuck.
Day 6 Day 6: Phnom Penh
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Phnom Penh

Time to head to Cambodia’s capital – Phnom Penh. Take a public bus through the Cambodian countryside until you reach the bustling city. Phnom Penh sits at the junction of the Mekong, Bassac and Tonle Sap rivers and used to be known as Krong Chaktomuk (the City of Four Faces) – this river junction forms an X crossing, representing four geographic ‘faces’ of the city and surrounding area. The main centre of the city sits on the Western bank of the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers. In the evening, you’ll head out with your group for a sunset river cruise and enjoy an included drink as you sail along the water and see the city from a different perspective. Then, you might like to hit up a rooftop bar with some amazing views of the city – there are tonnes of options to choose from, so just ask your leader and they’ll point you in the right direction!
Day 7 Day 7: Phnom Penh
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Phnom Penh

Today, you’ll have the chance to learn more about the country’s sobering history and the Khmer Rouge atrocities at the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek and the infamous Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. The rest of the day is free to explore the city. If you’re in the mood for some shopping, maybe check out the Psar Thmei (Central Market), located in an old French colonial building. Maybe stop by the temple of Wat Phnom, the National Museum or the French Quarter. A popular activity here is to jump in a cyclo with a local – sunset is the best time to explore the busy streets, in search of some beautiful scenery and pretty incredible views.
Day 8 Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City

Travel by public bus to Ho Chi Minh City this morning – this is a long drive but there will be stops for lunch and to stretch your legs. Your leader knows the drill, so they’ll assist you with border crossing procedures. Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City and get your first taste of this fast-paced, fun city. Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is quite the hub of markets, stalls and Vietnamese history, and much of city life happens on the streets. You’ll see it’s a combo of all kinds of flavours, old and new, East and West. Try a French baguette, get your pho fix and caffeine hit with some Vietnamese coffee, best shared with the locals.
Day 9 Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City

As there are no activities planned for today, you can leave your accommodation at any time. If you’re staying longer, you might want to go on one of the Urban Adventures offered in Ho Chi Minh city. Your leader can help you book the tour of your choice. If you would like to spend some more time in Ho Chi Minh City, just speak to your booking agent.

9 days tour

Essential Cambodia

This tour includes:

Not included:

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Itinerary of your trip Essential Cambodia

Day 1: Bangkok

Day 2: Banteay Chhmar

Day 3: Siem Reap

Day 4: Siem Reap – Angkor Wat Sunrise

Day 5: Siem Reap

Day 6: Phnom Penh

Day 7: Phnom Penh

Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City

Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City

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