Classic Cambodia: From Siem Reap to Phnom Penh

Your two-hour flight from Singapore will have you touching down in Siem Reap bright and early. But don’t worry, you’ll have a local driver who will be on hand to transport you from the airport to a centrally located hotel, which you’ll call home for the next four nights. Spend the day adjusting to Indochina Time with relaxing spa treatments, long sauna soaks and a selection of local dishes at the hotel’s restaurant.

Cambodia’s Angkor complex need no introduction. The abode of ancient gods, these temples are an earthly representation of religious and spiritual devotion and creative ambition, which is why we’ll waste no time introducing you to them. Start your first full day armed with your Angkor pass (that’ll get you into all the main sights) and head out on a private tuk-tuk tour of the great Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat. Stretching across 402 acres, Angkor Wat is believed to be one of world’s largest religious buildings with over 2,000 apsaras (heavenly nymphs) and a moat more than three miles long. For lunch, you’ll stop by a private home in Srah Srang for a traditional Khmer picnic lunch. Admire the tropical flora and views over the nearby reservoir as you sample local specialties before continuing your day-long temple tour.

To make the most of your Angkor pass, you’ll spend this morning temple hopping from the small but mighty Banteay Srei to the so-called ‘Tomb Raider Temple’ Ta Prohm. The first, which means ‘Citadel of the Women’ is aptly dedicated to the goddess Shiva. Here you’ll find intricate stone carvings recreating scenes from the epic Ramayana as well as classic decorations of women holding lotus flowers that were judged too fine to have been created by man. At Ta Prohm, it’s all about the jungle that is slowly trying to swallow its temple of towers, closed courtyards and narrow corridors. After lunch and an afternoon at your leisure, it’ll be time to be amazed at the Circus Phare Ponleu Selpak. Watch in awe as tightrope walkers, contortionists and acrobats take to the stage in a spellbinding display of modern dance and classic circus skills.

Cambodia’s countryside deserves to be seen in the best possible way, which is why we’re suggesting a private Vespa tour. Not only can you take in the sights of rich-green rice paddies, lush forest and the odd ancient temple, you can even stop en route at craft workshops and bustling markets as well as quaint farmland where you’ll stop for a well-deserved picnic lunch. The afternoon and evening will be yours to spend how you wish.

Today you will leave your Siem Reap hotel and head southeast to your next property in Kompong Thom. But before dropping your bags down again, you’ll take a slight detour to the floating village of Kompong Kleang, on Tonle Sap. Renowned for its gravity-defying clusters of stilt houses, this relatively off-the-beaten-track village is perfect if you want to see Cambodia totally unfiltered – especially as you’ll have the chance to meet local residents, fishermen and learn about their way of life. From there, you’ll carry on to the archaeological site of Sambor Prei Kuk (the former pre-Angkorian capital) and Kompong Kdei, a grand laterite bridge measuring 282ft long, before arriving at your next hotel on the banks of the Strung Sen river.

This morning it’s time to pack up your bags again and head onward to Kratie (pronounced kra-cheh) in the heart of Cambodia. A 120-mile stretch, it’ll take approximately four hours to get there, but it’s worth it – we promise. For here is a land of swoon-worthy sunsets, French-era architecture and Irrawaddy dolphins. From Kratie, you’ll head straight out on the water across the Mekong River to your next plush resort on the island of Koh Trong, where you’ll spend the next two nights.

After a good night’s sleep and hearty breakfast, we’re sure you’ll be ready and raring to go for a nine-mile bike ride round the island. A chance to really get off the beaten track, you’ll be cycling next to traditional oxcarts ferrying freshly picked apples, pausing to meet friendly locals and taking a longer stop for a scrumptious lunch. Re-fuelled, there is the opportunity to take part in a replantation project if you wish. Take the late afternoon and evening at your own leisure, meandering through quaint villages or relaxing by your hotel’s pool.

Ready for another road trip? We thought so too. Today it’s all about Phnom Penh, which you’ll make your way to in approximately four-and-a-half hours. On the way you’ll make pit stops at Phnom Srey ‘The Hill of Women’ and Phnom Pros ‘The Hill of Men’, which is known for its modern pagodas and monuments dedicated to victims of the Khmer Rouge regime, as well as Wat Nokor Bachey and the busy market town of Skun. Arachnophobes, beware though. As a result of the village’s spider infestation, it decided that if you can’t beat them, eat them. So, expect to see lots of market stalls selling the deep fried creepy crawly. You will arrive in Phnom Penh in the late afternoon where you will check into your final hotel and resort for the next three nights.

Home to soaring spires, impressive Khmer architecture, colourful markets and the confluence of three great rivers (the mighty Mekong, the Tonle Sap and Bassac), Phnom Penh is the Asia that many dream about. Spend your first day getting to know its history, people and hidden treasures on a private half day tour. With a local guide at your disposal, you’ll get the inside scoop at The National Museum and the famed Royal Palace. Make sure to have your camera at the ready for its Silver Pagoda and its 5,000-strong silver tiled floor. On your penultimate day you’ll leave the city for Koh Dach, or ‘the island of silk’ as it’s more commonly known. Spend the day soaking in its verdant landscape of mango orchards, papaya trees and vast rice fields by bike, and getting to know its famed weaving and silk spinning processes before heading back to the city by boat.