12 Days Cambodia Highlights Tour with Vietnam & Thailand

Tour Overview

Adventurous outdoor activities, diverse traditional cultures, and numerous natural wonders – Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand have everything for an unforgettable vacation. Travel northwest along Vietnam’s metropolis and cross the border to Phnom Penh to experience the vibrancy of Cambodia. Drive to the south of Cambodia, hike in the largest natural park, enjoy an authentic Khmer dinner, and watch a traditional dance performance; then head north to Siem Reap to uncover the mysteries of Angkor Wat, and hop on a private van in Thailand to experience the tropics.

Highlights of This Tour

• Explore the vibrant Ho Chi Minh city & the amazing landmarks.
• Have an early morning visit to capture the stunning sunrise at Angkor Wat and admire the ubiquitous megalithic carvings and intricate reliefs.
• Take a boat cruise on Kampot River to capture the spectacular sunset, with the beautiful sight of swarms of glowing fireflies.
• Take a cruise to Tonle Sap Lake, to enjoy the hustle and bustle of local life in floating villages.
• Relax with a Thai fish foot spa and enjoy a street food dinner in Chinatown.

Itinerary

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City Arrival

Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s metropolis, known as the “Paris of the East”! Once there, you can explore some of the landmarks on your own, such as the Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, Ben Thanh Market, and the City Post Office, all of which are great places to learn about Vietnam’s history.

Note: Make sure you are available for the welcome meeting at 6:00 pm when we will collect your information. If you are likely to be late, please ask your hotel for the meeting location.

Meal: N/A

Accommodation: Ho Chi Minh City

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City – Phnom Penh
A 1-hour Rooftop Bar Party

After breakfast, take a 10-hour bus journey (including a stop for lunch) across the border to Phnom Penh, the capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia. After check-in at the hotel, get some rest. If you’re interested, you can relax with a traditional Khmer massage at your own expense.

In the evening, join a 1-hour rooftop bar party where you can not only enjoy free drinks and snacks but also overlook the confluence of the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers.

Meal: N/A

Accommodation: Phnom Penh

Day 3: Siem Reap
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, National Museum of Cambodia

After a street food breakfast, take a guided tour of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek to get further insight into the brutal past of the Khmer Rouge.

Then move forward to Royal Palace, a complex of traditional Khmer architectural style and religious colors, completed with splendid minarets, and Silver Pagoda, named after the ground inlaid with 5,329 solid silver bricks.

Afterwards, pay a visit to the National Museum of Cambodia, where you can enjoy many artifacts from different periods of the Angkor dynasty, including stone, bronze, porcelain, and wood.

Optional:

In addition to walking, a cyclo tour takes you to Wat Phnom and Independence Monument.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Siem Reap

Day 4: Siem Reap – Kampot
Boat Cruise on the Kampot River

After breakfast, we travel 3.5 hours south to Kampot, the perfect getaway with its stunning tropical scenery.

After checking into the hotel, stroll around the town admiring the quaint French colonial architecture. In the evening, take a boat cruise on the Kampot River to capture the spectacular sunset. You’re also likely to see swarms of glowing fireflies that create a beautiful sight at night.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Kampot

Day 5: Kampot
Free Day

Today’s itinerary will be left to you to arrange freely! Your guide could give you some suggestions and guidance if you need it.

Kampot is a quieter city, far less crowded than Phnom Penh. You can do some simple exploration along the streets and stop at some great restaurants or bars for a comfortable time. If you want to get away from the town center, you can go hiking in the largest natural park in southern Cambodia – Bokor Mountain. Standing on the highest point of the park, you can overlook the seaside scenery of Sihanoukville& Kep, as well as the beautiful natural scenery of Kampot.

Or you can go on a snorkeling expedition to Rabbit Island or visit the pepper plantations in the mainland Kep province.

Meal: N/A

Accommodation: Kampot

Day 6: Kampot – Chambok
Hiking to A Waterfall, Watching Traditional Dances

A 3-hour private car tour will take you to Chambok, a peaceful resort village offering many attractions and activities for those with a keen interest in nature. It is famous for its three creeks, the largest of which has a beautiful waterfall over 40 meters high. We will spend 1-1.5 hours hiking to the stunning waterfall. Along the way, your guide will tell many stories about the animals in the forest and the plants that grow there.

In the evening, enjoy an authentic Cambodian dinner and watch the traditional dances. Stay overnight in a homestay.

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Chambok

Day 7: Chambok – Kampong Cham
Wat Nokor Temple

After breakfast, drive for 4 hours to Kampong Cham, a slow-paced city, ideal for stopping and resting during the journey.

Cycle the wide boulevards packed with colonial-era buildings. Continue your journey to Wat Nokor Temple, a modern Theravada Buddhist pagoda squeezed into the walls of a 12th-century Mahayana Buddhist shrine.

You can also take part in optional activities to see Phnom Srey and Phnom Pros Temples on the mountain. Standing on the top, you can see a beautiful view of Kampong Cham province.

Note: If bicycles are not enough, we will arrange tuk-tuks as your means of exploration.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Kampong Cham

Day 8: Siem Reap
A Local Market

Take a 5-hour bus ride to Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor Wat. Your guide will take you on a city tour to help you get to know the city better.

Afterwards, you will be guided to the local market or specialty restaurants to taste local delicacies, such as Num Pang (similar to the Vietnamese Baguette), Lort Cha (fried egg noodles), and Bamboo Sticky Rice.

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Siem Reap

Day 9: Siem Reap
Angkor Wat, Bayon Temple, Ta Prohm Temple

Looking forward to good weather. Wake up early to capture the magnificent sunrise view of Angkor Wat.

Known as one of the four wonders of the Ancient East, Angkor Wat was once the capital of the ancient Khmer Kingdom and is now preserved with more than 600 historic sites. Ubiquitous megalithic carvings and intricate reliefs will fill your camera. The tour guide will arrange the temple tour for you according to your preferences. The following famous attractions are not to be missed:

Bayon Temple, the center of the Angkor Thom, where you can admire the reliefs of many smiling faces and nearly 40 Gothic stupas.

Ta Prohm Temple offers a spectacle of huge tree roots entwining the temple building.

Meal: N/A

Accommodation: Siem Reap

Day 10: Siem Reap – Tonle Sap Lake
A Ziplining Course, Cambodia Landmine Museum, Tonle Sap Lake

Today, you can enjoy whatever you want in Siem Reap. You can experience a ziplining course in Angkor, which will let you soar through the rainforest like an eagle. Your professional guide will also recommend some city adventures.

If you’re interested, grab a tuk-tuk to Cambodia Landmine Museum, where you can see thousands of war remains such as landmines and grenades, and learn the story of a boy born in war who dedicated his life to keeping his country safe.

Take a cruise to Tonle Sap Lake, to enjoy the hustle and bustle of local life in floating villages. Like a giant emerald inlaid in the heart of Cambodia, it is the “lake of life” for the Cambodian people.

Note: Pay an extra USD 129 for Zipline Tour in Angkor; USD 5 for Cambodia Landmine Museum; USD 45 for a boat cruise on Tonle Sap Lake.

Meal: N/A

Accommodation: Siem Reap

Day 11: Siem Reap – Bangkok
Chinatown, A Relaxing Thai Massage

Say goodbye to Cambodia and take a 10-hour private van to Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. Make stops along the way for some fresh air and lunch. Upon arrival in Bangkok, check in at the hotel.

Bangkok, a bustling international metropolis, with the alias of “City of Angels”, is a trading center for precious metals and precious stones. Start your Bangkok tour with a boat trip to Chinatown for a tasty street food dinner.

In addition to partying in some nightclubs and rooftop bars in the evening, you can also go for a relaxing Thai massage.

Note: If you prefer not to travel by van, you can book the flight between the two cities by yourself (at your own expense). We will be glad to assist you.

Meal: N/A

Accommodation: Bangkok

Day 12: Bangkok Departure
Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew, Jim Thompson House Museum

We are not planning any events for you today. You can choose to visit some free landmarks and set off straight away or try some one-of-a-kind experiences: Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew, and the Jim Thompson House Museum.

That’s it for your 12-day Cambodia itinerary. The driver will transfer you to the airport for your return flight.

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: N/A