Welcome to Phnom Penh - the capital of enchanting Cambodia. Upon arrival, collect your luggage and meet our local guide, transferring to your hotel for a short rest. The afternoon will commence with a delightful discovery of “the Pearl of Asia”, as it was called in the early 1900s during its French colonial period. 

No trip to Phnom Penh is complete without a complete tour of the Royal Palace, one of the city’s most iconic landmarks and primary residence of the Cambodian Royal Family. Set upon the bank of the Tonlé Sap River, the golden structure’s construction began in 1886 and was completed shortly before the start of World War I. Within the Palace’s walls you will also find the Silver Pagoda (Temple of the Emerald Buddha). This extraordinary structure gets its name from its floor, covered by 5,000 silver tiles weighing around 1kg. The pagoda houses an extraordinary collection of Buddhas made from gold, silver, crystal, and bronze.

Continue onwards to the National Museum of Cambodia, just north of the Royal Place. Built in a traditional Khmer style, the museum is home to the world’s finest collection of Khmer sculptures from the 4^th to 13^th centuries. Over 5,000 pieces are on display, constituting the repository of the Kingdom's cultural wealth. 

If time permits and you’re not too tired, finish the day with a short walk up Phnom Penh’s only hill to Wat Phnom, a Buddhist temple serving as a religious sanctuary for the people’s prayers and offerings since 1373.  

Overnight in Phnom Penh. 

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before a somber visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a former S-21 interrogation and detention center turned memorial site to those who were killed during the Khmer Rouge regime. Located in the heart of Phnom Penh, it preserves a tragic period in history with the aim to encourage visitors to be messengers of peace.  

Your last stop in Phnom Penh is the Toul Tompoung Market. Also known as the Russian market due to its popularity with Russian expats during the 1980s, it’s now one of the best places in town for tourists to pick up souvenirs within the walls of the fortifying Stalinist architecture. 

After lunch at a local restaurant, head to Phnom Penh Airport for a short flight to legendary Siem Reap. Once you reach your hotel, the rest of the day is free at leisure. 

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Don’t skip breakfast this morning as you’ll need all your energy for a full day of exploring the most fabled temples in Angkor Archaeological Park’s short circuit. 

First on the list is the impressive ancient fortress city of Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII in the late 12^th century. Built in an almost-exact square layout and surrounded by an 8-meter high 12 kilometer long stonewall with five entrance gates, the impressive gates are carved with three giant faces, while the causeways are flanked by sculptures of 54 gods on the left and 54 demons on the right.  

Continue to the Bayon Temple, the centerpiece of the Angkor Thom complex, renowned for its 54 towers decorated with 216 mysterious stone faces. Proceed to Baphuon Temple nearby. This 11^th century pyramid–style temple was probably amongst the most impressive of the Angkor temples in its day. Climb its steep stairs to the upper terrace of the temple, taking in the great views from there, ending the morning part of the tour with visits to the Elephant’s Terrace and the Leper King’s Terrace, both known for their intricate bas-reliefs.

Rest during a delicious Khmer-style local lunch before the moment you have been waiting for, magnificent Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious monument. The 12^th century architectural masterpiece took 30 years to complete and represents the Khmer civilization at its grandest. Crowned by five towers with elaborate bas-reliefs and detailed statues, let yourself be enthralled by this world wonder and national symbol of Cambodia. 

Journey to Ta Prohm, often called the 'Tomb Raider temple' because it featured in the film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider which starred Angelina Jolie. The temple is famous for its dense jungle surroundings, where fig trees and vines have intertwined with the structure, creating a captivating, lost-world atmosphere. Built in the Bayon style in the late 12th century and early 13th century, Ta Prohm offers a fascinating glimpse into history and stands as a testament to a bygone era.

Return to your hotel for a much-deserved rest.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Free at leisure before transferring to Siem Reap International airport for your upcoming travel arrangements. 

Optional: You’ll have the opportunity to visit the floating village of Kampong Phluk, home to approximately 3000 residents along the shores of Tonle Sap Lake and its surrounding mangrove forest. Let us know if you'd like to add this to your itinerary.

SERVICES INCLUDED

+ 3-night hotel accommodation in twin/double share room (see Accommodation section for details)

+ Meals as mentioned in the itinerary (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner)

+ Service of an English-speaking local guide (please enquire for other languages)

+ Tours and transfers as mentioned by private air-conditioned vehicle unless stated otherwise

+ Entrance fees for Angkor Archaeological Park (1 day pass), and all other mentioned activities and tours

+ Taxes and service charges. 

SERVICES EXCLUDED

+ International and domestic flights (quoted separately)

+ Visa fees, travel insurances

+ Meals other than mentioned above

+ Early check-in or late check-out fees

+ Camera/video entrance fees (if any)

+ Personal expenses (drinks, laundry, telephone, tips etc.)

+ Peak season surcharge and compulsory gala dinners on 24^th Dec and 31^st Dec

+ Other services not clearly indicated in the package inclusions above.

PAYMENT 

A non-refundable deposit of 10% of the total booking is required within three (3) days from the date of confirmation. The balance payment is due 45 days prior to the tour commencement date. For bookings made less than 45 days, full payment is required. Bookings will be cancelled if payments are not received by the due date(s).

Payment can be made via bank transfer or credit cards. In addition to the total payable amount, credit card payments will incur a merchant fee of 1.6% for MasterCard and Visa, 2% for American Express. Any bank charges and merchant fees must be covered by the customer.

CANCELLATION

Confirmed bookings must be cancelled by the party leader in writing (by email) and this will only be effective once the written cancellation is confirmed by ATA Holidays. Cancellation will be subject to the following cancellation fees from the date the written cancellation is received:

• more than 45 days prior to the tour commencement date - 10% of total cost

• between 31 and 45 days prior to the tour commencement date - 25% of total cost

• between 16 and 30 days prior to the tour commencement date - 50% of total cost

• within 15 days prior to the tour commencement date or “no show” - 100% of total cost.

AMENDMENT

Requests for amendments to confirmed bookings must be submitted in writing via email by the party leader. While ATA Holidays will endeavor to accommodate all reasonable amendment requests, we cannot guarantee that such requests can always be fulfilled. If the requested amendments are possible, a revised quotation will be provided, which may include additional charges arising from the amendment itself, fees imposed by Third-Party Travel Providers, or administrative fees applied by ATA Holiday. In all cases, the following amendment fees shall apply:

• For amendments made more than 45 days prior to the tour commencement date: a charge of $100 per amendment for itineraries of less than seven (7) nights, or $200 per amendment for itineraries of seven (7) nights or longer.

• For amendments made within 45 days of the tour commencement date: the standard cancellation fees outlined above shall apply, and new arrangements will be charged at the prevailing rates.

No cancellation or amendment fees shall be applied in cases where changes arise due to a breach of contractual obligations or an error on the part of ATA Holidays, or when such changes are made by a Third-Party Travel Provider through no fault of the customer.