Uncover Cambodia’s capital beyond the normal sightseeing temples and monuments (of which you will also see) to really discover authentic Phnom Penh. Check out the rural villages, meet the locals and discover their way of life. Discover all facets of the city in our Fascinating Phnom Penh tour.
Phnom Penh has been dubbed the Pearl of the Orient, and it is quite easy to see why. The city has her fair share of glittering temples, pagodas and towering monuments that can rival any capital in Southeast Asia. The city’s proximity on the banks of the Tonle Sap, Mekong and Bassac Rivers adds even more to the city’s charm. See it all on a cyclo, one of the city’s more traditional means of transportation.
You first visit is to Wat Phnom. Legend has it that an old woman named Penh found several Buddha statues in a tree. She then built a hillside temple to house these images. Phnom means hill in Khmer and Penh is the woman’s name which literally makes Phnom Penh Penh’s (the woman) hill.
Next up is the Royal Palace which dates back to 1866 and houses the Silver Pagoda. Your virtual Cambodian history lesson continues at the National Museum. If you are looking for the best collection of Khmer artifacts then you have come to the right place. To top it all off, the roof space is home to a large bat colony!
Now really feel the capital with an atmospheric river cruise. See how the riverfront wakes up to life in the evening. Cap off your first night with an enjoyable Khmer dinner in town, set within a restored colonial building.
Your second day takes you to Cambodia’s sad recent history. Stops to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek bring a grim reminder of how brutal and tragic things were just 30 years ago. Next visit Stung Meanchey, a humanitarian organization that provides education and job training to street children.
How about some shopping? Stroll around the colorful markets of Phnom Penh and make your way to Central Market, the largest of its kind in Phnom Penh. Then spend the evening indulging in some culture with a fine shadow puppet and classical dance performance.
Time to get your hands dirty! Well, not literally, but in any case participate in several cultural endeavors on the third day of this trip. A visit to Wat Botum allows you to be the center of a blessing ceremony, which will be performed by the resident monks. After that, it is time to cook Khmer food! After learning about the ingredients from the head chef and instructor, create your delicious dish and savor it for lunch!
It’s time to see Cambodia’s former capital of Oudong. Discover its scenic back roads and pass rural villages, local pagodas and picturesque rice paddies. Then climb up Oudong hill. You will also get a chance to meet a family who produces palm sugar at their home.
Whether it is Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, the temples of Angkor, the beaches of Sihanoukville or a complete tour of Kampuchea, we got it all in our Cambodia tours page. You can also fully customize your own tour with us. It is simple. Just fill out our tailormade contact form and click the send button.
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
