Meals

1 breakfast, 1 dinner

Transport

Public bus , Private minibus , Boat , Train

Accommodation

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation. Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we’re arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn’t always possible which means we won’t be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available. HOTELS: Most of the accommodation on this trip is in hotels (mostly 2 to 3-star). Facilities are often basic, with some properties not having a continuous supply of hot water on occasion. All rooms are either fan cooled or with air conditioning and twin share with private facilities unless stated otherwise in the daily itinerary. Double beds are not widely available in South East Asia. WINDOWLESS ROOMS: Some hotels in South East Asia have windowless rooms, or windows that don’t necessarily have a view. This is often due to high population density in large cities, however local building standards also do not require rooms to have windows. We do request rooms with windows, however they aren’t always available. Guesthouse (4 nights), Homestay (1 night), Hotel (3 nights)

Others

Phnom Penh - Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) Phnom Penh - The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek Kampot - Sunset cruise (join-in) Kampot - Heritage walking tour Chambok - Traditional dancing Chambok - Waterfall hike Chambok - Homestay and activities Chambok - Khmer Dinner Siem Reap - One day Angkor Pass Siem Reap - Angkor Temples Guided Tour

Guide

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

Not included:

Optional

Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum - VND40000 Ho Chi Minh City - Reunification Palace - VND40000 Phnom Penh - Cyclo tour - USD4 Phnom Penh - Wat Phnom - USD2 Phnom Penh - National Museum - USD10 Kampot - Kayak rental fee - USD6 Kampot - Phnom Chhnork Entry Fee - USD1 Kampot - Salt Field - Free Siem Reap - Three day Angkor Pass - USD62 Siem Reap - Khmer Cooking Class - USD25 Siem Reap - Angkor Zipline Silver Tour (Gold Course) - USD87 Siem Reap - Angkor Zipline Silver Tour (Silver Course) - USD54

Insurance

Insurance is not included.

Flights

Flights are not included.

Others

Other activities and services are not included.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City

Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam. Your adventure begins with an important welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, get out and discover the city’s blend of old and new, East and West and sample a baguette or some of the excellent coffee on offer – both markers of the city’s strong French influence. Equally essential are visits to the Reunification Palace (the site of South Vietnam’s surrender in April 1975) and the War Remnants Museum. As there isn’t much time to explore Ho Chi Minh City on this tour, it’s highly recommended you spend a day or two extra to get a real taste of this busy city. After your meeting, why not get a taxi and head to the night markets at Ben Thanh – teeming with good food and local handicrafts, it’s a perfect start to your adventure.
Day 2 Day 2: Phnom Penh
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Phnom Penh

Travel by local bus through rural Vietnam and Cambodia this morning, making your way to Phnom Penh. With two border crossings and a stop for lunch, this is a long travel day, so maybe have a good book or a road trip game handy. Cambodia’s capital city is set on a major junction of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers and boasts some fine examples of French-inspired architecture. You may want to take a cyclo tour of the city’s sights when you arrive, which includes the central market, US Embassy, Wat Phnom, Mekong Riverfront, independence monument and Royal Palace. If you’re in the mood for shopping, stop in at the art deco Psar Thmei (Central Market) or travel out to Psar Tuol Tom Pong (the Russian Market) for the best range of local souvenirs.
Day 3 Day 3: Phnom Penh
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Phnom Penh

Take a day to explore the swirl and bustle of Phnom Penh. Visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. These serve as sobering reminders of the violent rule of the Khmer Rouge. Here you can learn more about this confronting but important chapter in history – if you’d rather not visit these sites, simply let your leader know. Otherwise, the rest of the day is free for you to explore. You could visit Wat Phnom – a Buddhist temple shrouded in myth – or the National Museum and its excellent Khmer collection. In the evening, maybe head out with your group for a drink overlooking the Tonle Sap River.
Day 4 Day 4: Kampot
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Kampot

Take a local train to Kampot this morning – one of Cambodia’s most attractive old towns. Famous for its pepper, Kampot supplied most French restaurants with this vital spice for many years during colonial rule. Today, the region is more renowned for its plantations of durian – a spiky, pungent fruit that you’ll either love or hate – try it and see! Follow your leader for a stroll along the riverside and observe the French architecture, learn about the local heritage buildings and maybe have a cup of coffee on the veranda of one of the riverside restaurants to admire the view of the Bokor Mountain Range. A traditional massage is also highly recommended here from the local enterprise Seeing Hands – one of the most enjoyable ways of supporting a local charity, you’ll change into loose cotton pyjamas and then put yourself in the capable hands of one of the blind masseurs. In a country with no social security, the training and support provided by the centres allow blind Cambodians to support themselves. This afternoon, head to the dock at the Kampong Bay River and board a local boat for a serene cruise with a stunning view of the sun setting over Bokor Mountain.
Day 5 Day 5: Kampot
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Kampot

Enjoy a free day in the chilled-out town of Kampot today. For a unique photo opportunity, head to the centre of the town, where a giant durian statue sits smack in the middle of a roundabout. Maybe browse for some goodies to take home at the covered market. The nearby countryside is also a delight to explore – among fields of Kampot pepper and rice, there’s a salt field and limestone cave. Inside the cave sits the small 7th-century brick temple Phnom Chhnork.
Day 6 Day 6: Chambok
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Chambok

This morning, take a private vehicle into rural Cambodia to the village of Chambok in the Kampong Speu region. There’s a lot of natural beauty to discover here and the Chambok community is renowned for its ecotourism. A member of the Chambok community will take you on a village walk when you arrive and will be happy to chat about their community’s history, lifestyle and local ecotourism projects. Meet the families you’ll spend the night with and settle into your homestay before walking around the village and exploring at your own pace. Maybe head to a nearby waterfall – if it’s warm enough, you may even opt for a swim! Tonight, head to the community centre to enjoy a traditional Khmer dinner prepared by women from the community. You’ll also be treated to a traditional dance performance – tonight is an unforgettable local experience!
Day 7 Day 7: Siem Reap
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Siem Reap

Today, take a private transfer to Siem Reap – this small but expanding town is the gateway to the famed Angkor archaeological site. This is the most popular destination for travellers in all of Cambodia (maybe even all of Southeast Asia!). When you arrive, maybe explore the markets – a great place to shop or try some cheap, delicious street food. Tonight, you’re free to fine the best spot for a local feed – your leader is always on hand with great recommendations.
Day 8 Day 8: Siem Reap
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Siem Reap

Today, you’ll visit the world-famous Angkor complex with your local guide. These temples were built between the 9th and 13th centuries when the Khmer Empire was the pre-eminent influence in Southeast Asia. The temples were believed to represent the cosmic world and were set in perfect balance, symmetry and composition. The intricately carved bas-reliefs and architectural designs are mind-blowing, and there are some spectacular photo opportunities at any time of day! The ruins are scattered over some 160 square km, but the main cluster of temples are close to Siem Reap. You’ll have plenty of time to fully appreciate the great archaeological sites of Angkor Wat, the Bayon and the jungle-covered Ta Prohm, among others.
Day 9 Day 9: Siem Reap
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Siem Reap

With no activities planned for today, you can depart the accommodation at any time. That doesn’t mean your adventure has to end! If you wish to spend some extra time in Siem Reap, just speak to your booking agent.

9 days tour

Cambodia Discovery (From Ho Chi Minh City To Siem Reap)

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Cambodia Discovery (From Ho Chi Minh City To Siem Reap)

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City

Day 2: Phnom Penh

Day 3: Phnom Penh

Day 4: Kampot

Day 5: Kampot

Day 6: Chambok

Day 7: Siem Reap

Day 8: Siem Reap

Day 9: Siem Reap

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