Cambodia
Cambodia Highlights
This 2-week example holiday takes in all the main highlights in Cambodia, starting in Siem Reap and finishing in Phnom Penh. You will see the ancient ruins of Angkor Wat and kayak through the mangroves. You will laze around on a beautiful tropical beach and explore the picturesque seafront town of Kep.
There are a wide number of different accommodation types available including many hotels with pools. Also remember that the itinerary can be tweaked to ensure that this is suitable for the ages of your children.
Highlights
Explore Siem Reap & Angkor Wat
Bike ride into the countryside
Relax on a picture-perfect beach
Kayak along a lush, palm-fringed river
Sample Kampot’s famous pepper
Discover Phnom Penh by tuk tuk
15 days from £1,745 pp
Plus international flights starting at £1,100
A two-week holiday in Cambodia for a family of four usually costs from £6,980 plus flights.
Cambodia Highlights day-to-day itinerary
Day 1, Siem Reap
When you arrive in Siem Reap you will be met at the airport by a Stubborn Mule Travel representative, who will take you directly to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax. If your flight arrives early in the day we may suggest an optional visit this afternoon to learn about the life-saving rats helping to sniff out landmines.
Siem Reap is the gateway city to the Temples of Angkor. These are absolutely incredible and will be a highlight of your trip. Angkor Wat is the name of the largest and most famous temple but there are literally hundreds. Some of these have been fabulously preserved and restored. Others are almost completely over-run by the jungle and feel very remote.
Day 2, Siem Reap
A full day to explore the Angkor Temples. You will start at the magnificent ‘South Gate’ of Angkor Thom. Here there is a colonnade of colossal human faces, carved from stone. Continue on from here to see the extraordinary Bayon Temple as well as Angkor Wat itself.
If your children are old enough we can arrange bikes (or e-bikes) for you to use as this is a great way to get around. The countryside is flat and it can be fun to cycle along some of the quieter roads, stopping off at the less visited temples. Alternatively we can arrange for you to get around by tuk tuk as this is a fun mode of transport that the children will enjoy.
Day 3, Siem Reap
Setting off early, head out into the countryside by open-sided van. On quiet rural trails, mount your bikes and start your gentle ride, passing through small villages – wave hello to the locals as you go. Arriving at your destination, it’s time to meet the elephants!
Today will include preparing snacks for the elephants, walking alongside them through the forest as they forage freely, and observing the elephants as they bathe. An ethically-run and responsible experience, a highlight will no doubt be sitting back with a cool drink and simply watching the elephants’ natural behaviour. Afterwards, you can cycle back a different way to explore other villages. Or, if you’re already hot enough why not grab a ride in the support van and just relax all the way back to your hotel.
This evening, enjoy an exciting performance by a local acrobatics and dance circus group. An innovative social enterprise, profits generated help support education and arts training for young people. Highly recommended!
Day 4, Tonle Sap Lake
After breakfast you will drive to a ‘floating’ village built on 8-metre-high stilts over the vast waters of Tonle Sap, a freshwater lake that is home to traditional fishing communities. This is a world heritage site and is best explored by a small wooden boat which enables you to sail amongst the stilt houses and through the flooded mangrove forest.
This afternoon is free to enjoy Siem Reap, a very pleasant town with fantastic restaurants and shops as well as a fabulous night market. There are plenty of other activities that we can include this afternoon if you wish, such as visiting a remote ‘jungle’ temple, cookery classes, ziplines through the forest, jeep tours and so on. If not already included, going to see the elephants (outside of Siem Reap) or visiting the life-saving landmine rats are always a winner with children.
We would be happy to arrange any of these activities in advance, or you can speak to your guide locally if you prefer.
Day 5, Siem Reap – Beach
This morning you will be transferred to the airport for a short flight to Sihanoukhville on the coast. From here you’ll head to the nearby jetty and take the ferry over to an idyllic island (either Koh Russey, Koh Rong or Koh Rong Samloem depending on hotel choice). Here there are picture-perfect white sandy beaches backed by swaying palms. Bag a hammock or a beach lounger, find a quiet spot and soak up the views.
Read More Days 6-8, Beach Day 9, Beach – Kampot The twin towns of Kep and Kampot are very picturesque with lovely ocean and river views and distinctive crumbling French colonial architecture. They are a great base for a couple of days of gentle exploration of the surrounding countryside. This is a verdant landscape of emerald green paddy fields and pepper plantations, flocks of white egrets and small stilt villages. You can spend your time enjoying your surroundings, following quiet trails into the jungle, a haven for wildlife and many tropical birds. Alternatively consider borrowing one of the lodge kayaks and exploring from the water, checking out some of the local caves or taking a relaxing sunset cruise along the river at golden hour. Days 10-11, Kampot Other options include hiking in Kep National Park (stopping off at the famous market for some barbecued fish), island-hopping the Kep archipelago, visiting the abandoned Bokor Hill Station, discovering the caves at Kampong Trach, and taking a peek into the past with a visit to Kampot’s French-colonial town. The distinctive yellow colour and crumbling grandeur of some of the older buildings give the town a very atmospheric feel. It’s packed with shops, cafes and restaurants – perfect for wandering at will. Day 12, Kampot – Phnom Penh Day 13, Phnom Penh This evening perhaps check out one of the local restaurants for a final Cambodian ‘fish amok’ curry before your adventure comes to an end. Day 14, Phnom Penh
Three blissful days to relax and enjoy the beach. Perhaps head out for a day or snorkelling, take part in watersports, or simply kick back with an ice-cream and enjoy the stunning views.
This morning you will return to the mainland. From here, continue along the coast and slightly inland to Kampot, where you will stay in a riverside eco-lodge in a beautiful landscape of lush forest.
Two days to enjoy this tranquil area. Kampot is famous for its salt flats, spices and pepper farms; perhaps take a tour one of our favourite plantations, with a cookery class to learn about the local cuisine and a chance to sample the world-class pepper grown here (and, if you’re brave enough, durian!). Enjoy some downtime soaking up the riverside vibes by taking kayaks out and paddling through the forest near your lodge. Navigating along the tree-lined waterways, with butterflies flitting through the gnarled roots, you feel as though you have entered another world. Cool off with a dip in the river, keeping your eyes peeled for monkeys and brightly coloured birds.
This morning head north and transfer back to Phnom Penh. After a relaxing afternoon, take a picturesque sunset cruise along the Mekong, the best vantage point for a view of the city.
Phnom Penh is a small but attractive city that can be explored on foot or from the back of a tuk tuk. Your guide will take you to visit the Royal Palace, home to Cambodia’s Royal Family (and also to a small ice-cream shop if that proves necessary!). You will also stop at one of the many pleasant cafes that line the Mekong River in the centre of town. Depending on the age of your children, this afternoon you may also want to visit the Killing Fields or the site of Tuol Sleng. The latter is a museum on the site of a former Khmer Rouge prison; the exhibits are grisly but a visit can provide a fascinating insight into this traumatic period of Cambodia’s history.
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Cambodia in pictures
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