Phnom Penh & Siem Reap Independent Tour

Phnom Penh International Airport is small but still with a few duty-free shops, exchange offices and telephone services. The distance from the airport to downtown area is 5.6 miles. Upon arrival, you can take a Tuk-Tuk to the recommended 3-star Cardamom Hotel in around 40 minutes at a cost of $7. Or take a taxi in 20-30 minutes to reach there at a cost of $ 10. 

After checking in and having a rest, your independent Cambodia tour stars. Walk for 500 yards north to the first destination, Central Market. The small retailers sell all kinds of handcrafts and specialties as well as local snacks in the market. If you want to get more fun, Night Market is a good choice. 

Tip: Remember to ask for a hotel business card when you check in and carry it when you go outside. 

Accommodation: Cardamom Hotel & Apartment (3 stars)

Today, your independent Phnom Penh tour begins with the Royal Palace. You can hail a taxi to reach there. The Royal Palace was built in 1866 by the French. The palace is a traditional Khmer architecture with steeples which stand for prosperity. The most famous attraction in the Royal Palace is Silver Pagoda. It was built in 1892 - 1920. The floor was paved with 5,329 silver tiles weighing 1.125 kilogram each, hence its name. You're suggested to notice the opening time, 8:00 - 10:00 and 14:00 - 16:00. 

Afterwards, walk northwards for 500 yards to the National Museum, built in 1913. At present, the museum has a collection of 15,000 objects and about 2,000 pieces are on display, including relics from different historical periods like the prehistoric time and different stages of Khmer Empire. So you will have good understanding of Angkor Wat by viewing a lot of photos and sculptures. 

After a short break, head for the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum by taxi. It used to be a high school and was converted into a prison from 1975 to 1979 during the Khmer Rouge (1968 - 1999). It is a hard and shocking experience to see the torture devices, prison rooms, photographs and descriptions of what those innocent victims had gone through. 

Then walk northwards for 2 minutes to the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, a concentration camp of the Khmer Rouge period. There dug out more than 9,000 bodies and shows all kinds of torture devices of the Khmer Rouge period. 

Accommodation: Cardamom Hotel & Apartment (3 stars)

In the morning, you are suggested to take a Tuk-Tuk or taxi to the airport and take the morning flight to Siem Reap. The Siem Reap Airport is located in the northwest of the city. It will take 15-20 minutes from the airport to the recommended 3-star Central Boutique Angkor Hotel. The cost of taxi is $7-9 and the Tuk-Tuk is $ 5-7. 

After a short break in the hotel, you can start your independent Siem Reap tour with Angkor National Museum by Tuk-Tuk in 15 minutes. You could buy the tickets in advance on the museum's official website. We suggest you rent an audio guide player before you come in. The eight exhibition halls of the museum collect a variety of architecture and art treasures of Khmer Empire. The multimedia of the museum shows history, culture and true life of different Angkor periods from every angle. 

Tips: It is suggested that you may reach the ticket office of Angkor Archaeological Park before 16:30. You can buy 3-day tickets. There are three regular routes: small circuit, big circuit and outside circuit. Every route will take a whole day to visit. With the ticket, you could visit all Angkor monuments in Siem Reap, except the Beng Mealea, Phnom Kulen and the Tonle Sap Lake. 

Accommodation: Central Boutique Angkor Hotel (3 stars)

Today's travel route following the small circuit will show you the essence of this Cambodia independent tour. You can take a Tuk-Tuk in around 20-30 minutes to the Angkor Thom, the "Great City" of ancient Khmer Empire and a must-see to all going to Cambodia. The recommended route is South Gate - Bayon Temple - Baphuon Temple - Terrace of the Elephant - Phimeanakas - Royal Palace - Terrace of the Leper King - Prasat Sour Prat Temple. The most worth mentioning temple in Angkor Thom is Bayon. It is located at the heart of Angkor Thom. The temple has 54 pagodas. Each pagoda has four sides and each side has a different expression. These expressions are known as the Khmer Smiles. 

We suggest you get out from the Victory Gate where filmed the movie Tomb Raider and then walk eastwards to two Hindu temples: Thommanom and Chau Say Thevoda. The two temples are built in the same period and have same architectural style and structure. Next walk eastwards for 5 minutes to climb the milestone in Cambodian building history, Ta Kao Temple. Later, head southeastward for Prasat Krava Temple. You will be deeply impressed by its magnificent reliefs. 

Afterward, walk westwards to Angkor Wat, the largest and the best preserved architecture in Angkor Archaeological Park. You can admire not only the majestic buildings, but also the exquisite reliefs. 

If the weather permits, you can climb Baken Mountain to watch the sunset. We suggest you reach there at around 16:00. If not, you may line up and wait for a while. 

Accommodation: Central Boutique Angkor Hotel (3 stars)

If it is sunny, you may get up early this morning to see the sunrise. Set off before 5:00 from the hotel to enable you a favorable position in Agnkor Wat, which is one of the best places to watch sunrise in Cambodia. The time for sunrise is about 6:00 to 6:20. After breakfast, take a Tuk-Tuk to visit the big circuit of Angkor. Firstly, go to Preah Kahn Temple. It used to be a residence for king. You will be attracted by the legend of sword, jewelry inlaid tower and the fairy sculptures. 

Afterwards, continue your temple trip to visit Buddhist Tasom Temple, Pre Rup for cremation ceremony, and then head to Banteay Kdei which is a place for King and Queen to rest after swimming. Afterwards, set out to one of the movie sites of Tomb Raider, Ta Prohm. En route, you can stop at Neak Pean and Srah Srang for a rest. Neak Pean was a kurhaus and big hospital at that time. Srah Srang is a pool for ritual ablution. It is also one of the best places to watch sunrise in Siem Reap. 

Accommodation: Central Boutique Angkor Hotel (3 stars)

Today you may have a short break from the temples. You can set out to Tonle Sap Lake, the largest fresh water lake in Southeast Asia. There are some floating villages where locals live and build houses, schools and churches on the water. The recommended floating village is Kompong Khleang, the most primary and simplest one. The entrance ticket is $20 and excludes a boat ticket to the sunken forest, which requires an extra charge of USD5. 

On the way back to the hotel, you can hang out in the Old Market. Here you may buy some satisfactory souvenirs and enjoy bargaining with the sellers. 

Accommodation: Central Boutique Angkor Hotel  (3 stars)

After breakfast, you need to hail a taxi to visit the outside circuit. The first destination is Banteay Samre, a Hindu temple with a main shrine, four side halls, a corridor and two libraries. Then you may set out to the diamond of Angkor art, Banteay Srei Temple. It is famous for bright-colors architectures and exquisite reliefs. The best visiting time is around 10:00. 

After a short break, a visit to Beng Mealea follows. It is a Hindu temple with Angkor Wat style. The meaning of its name is lotus pond. Then head for the last spot, Roluos Group. It is the opening of Angkor architectural art and includes three temples like Lolei, Preah Ko and Bakong. 

Accommodation: Central Boutique Angkor Hotel  (3 stars)

Your backpacking Cambodia tour comes to an end today. You should take your entire belongings and hail a taxi to the airport in around 20 minutes. You are suggested to reach here 2 hours in advance for your leaving flight. Have a good time.