What Makes it Special?
- Walk with rescued elephants through Kulen’s forest and farmland.
- Spend a day exploring the ancient temples of Angkor, seeking out hidden spots and secret temples.
- Try deep-fried tarantulas at Skoun’s famous roadside snack stop.
- Ride the quirky bamboo train through Cambodia’s quiet countryside.
- Stay at Canvas & Orchids Retreat, a unique floating ecolodge on the Tatai River.
- Escape to the tropical island of Koh Rong for a relaxing beach escape to end your holiday.
Your tailor-made holiday will be as unique as you are. These itineraries are just a starting point – a bit of inspiration to show what’s possible. Your own trip all starts with a conversation with one of our Cambodia experts, who’ll take the time to understand what matters most to you and design the perfect Cambodia holiday to match.
This 12-night journey through Cambodia is all about slowing down, stepping into nature, and discovering a wilder side of the country. It’s a brilliant mix of immersive experiences, meaningful wildlife encounters, and time to relax in peaceful, scenic settings, perfect if you're after something a little more off the tourist trail.
You’ll start in Siem Reap, where iconic temples and jungle-covered ruins still hold the magic of ancient Angkor. After a day exploring Ta Prohm, Bayon, and Angkor Wat, it’s time for a real holiday highlight. You’ll spend time at Kulen Elephant Forest, where retired working elephants now roam freely, a holiday highlight for sure.
Next up, you’ll travel south to Phnom Penh to explore more of Cambodia’s complex past, before heading deep into the lush landscapes of the Cardamom Mountains. In Koh Kong, you’ll stay in floating tented villas surrounded by rainforest and river, ideal for switching off and soaking up the sounds of the wild. Then it’s on to the coast for a few nights of beach time on Koh Rong, where your days are completely your own. Snorkel, swim, kayak – or do absolutely nothing at all, there’s no judgment here!
If you’re looking to experience Cambodia’s natural beauty and wildlife without too much moving around, we've designed this itinerary to be a lovely balance of activity, culture and downtime.
14 hours from London
When to go
- Dry season: November to March
- Green season: April to October
Average temperature
- 27°C
Average rainfall
- 19mm/month (dry season)
Itinerary at a Glance
Day by Day
Here's a summary of what you might get up to day-to-day on this Cambodia holiday. As always, this is just an idea. Every single day of your holiday will be tailored to suit you.
Expand All
You'll depart the UK today on your overnight flight to Cambodia. If you're travelling from somewhere else or planning to book your own flights, just let us know – we can tailor the arrangements to suit (as always!)
Welcome to Cambodia! You'll be met at the airport for a private transfer to your hotel in Siem Reap. Depending on your arrival time, settle in and relax or take a gentle stroll to soak up your first taste of this friendly and fascinating town.
This morning, you’ll head off early to meet the team at Kulen Elephant Forest. After a short drive to the foothills of Kulen Mountain, you’ll be introduced to the elephants and will have the goosebump-worthy chance to walk alongside them through the forest. You’ll learn about conservation work, local plants, and the gentle personalities of these incredible creatures. After a family-style Khmer lunch at base camp, you’ll return to Siem Reap for a relaxed afternoon.
Set off this morning to explore the legendary temples of Angkor. You’ll begin at Ta Prohm, where tree roots twist dramatically through temple walls. Then explore the grand city of Angkor Thom, home to the Bayon with its mysterious stone faces. This afternoon, it’s time for the icon – Angkor Wat. Cambodia’s most iconic site is truly impressive, and you’ll have plenty of time to take in the intricate carvings and rich history at your own pace.
This morning, you’ll head south towards Phnom Penh by private vehicle. Along the way, you’ll stop at Kampong Kdei’s ancient Naga Bridge and make a quirky detour to Skoun – known to locals as ‘Spiderville’ for its fried tarantula snacks. (Sample if you dare!) You’ll arrive in Phnom Penh later in the day and have the evening free.
Today is a powerful and insightful day. Begin with a guided visit to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, then browse ancient treasures at the National Museum and enjoy views from Wat Phnom. In the afternoon, explore Cambodia’s recent history with moving visits to the Killing Fields at Choeung Ek and Tuol Sleng (S-21), the former prison turned genocide museum. It’s a sobering but eye-opening day that will give you a real insight into Cambodia’s history – and the resilience of its incredible people.
You’ll head west today into the lush, remote landscapes of the Cardamom Mountains. After reaching Tatai, a shared boat will whisk you downriver to your peaceful riverside lodge in Koh Kong, a collection of floating tented villas surrounded by jungle and wildlife. The rest of the day is yours to relax.
We’ve included a full couple of days to soak up the beauty of this off-grid paradise. Whether you fancy kayaking, wildlife spotting, a jungle walk or simply lazing on your deck listening to the sounds of the rainforest, the choice is yours. Paddle through mangroves, explore nearby trails or relax with a book on your floating terrace. This is slow travel at its finest.
You’ll take a boat back to Tatai today and travel by road to Sihanoukville. From here, hop aboard a shared speedboat to the laid-back island paradise of Koh Rong. Once checked in, the rest of the day is yours to relax, explore or hit the beach.
White sand beaches, turquoise water, and nothing on the agenda. Whether you snorkel, paddleboard or just sip cocktails by the sea, you’ve got two full days to enjoy island life.
You’ll return by speedboat to the mainland today, then transfer back to Phnom Penh in time for your departing flight. Your Cambodian journey ends here – but the memories won’t be going anywhere in a hurry.
Places you'll visit
We have hundreds of partner hotels across the world, with our tailor made trips you can pick from our range of beautiful hotels
What You're Saying
“
We have just returned from a wonderful trip to Cambodia and Vietnam. Our destination Manager was Lisa Jankus-Scott who patiently organised and re-organised our itinerary whilst we changed our minds and plans - more than once! She gave us some really helpful advice too, supported by further valuable information from HA. We had been recommended to HA by a friend and very glad that we were.
Alan Brompton
”
“
We had THE BEST holiday we could have wished for! Literally everything was sooo interesting and fun and we were so well looked after both in Cambodia and Vietnam. Both our local guides were absolutely brilliant! They were always on time, so friendly and super enthusiastic about their respective countries. They were very happy to share fascinating facts about their culture, their families, their day to day lives and we learnt so much more than we could ever have found out had we travelled alone. Thank you Fenton for all your hard work and support. We shall be saving up and hopefully using Holiday Architects again!
David Barber
”
“
Not long back from a wonderful trip to Cambodia. Lisa from HA was a great help in tailoring the holiday to our requirements and everything went very smoothly with the local guides and drivers through Exo travel. We stayed in some lovely boutique hotels particularly memorable in Siem Reap, Battambang and the Cardamom mountains where the service and friendliness of the staff was excellent without being obsequious. Thoroughly recommend HA.
Tim Piper
”
“
Thank you Lisa for organising what I can only say was an amazing holiday. From the moment we were greeted at Siem Reap airport to leaving 18 days later it was faultless. The guides were great -informative, helpful and clearly passionate about their beautiful country . The itinerary was perfect -history , culture, food tasting , jungle, glamping on floating tents , beach . There was not one part we would have changed but highlights were the early morning cycling through the temples at Angkor, Vespa street food tour, elephant sanctuary, Cardamom mountain tented camp ( night trek) and finally arriving at Pagoda beach to relax. This holiday was to celebrate my 60th birthday and thanks to you for making it so special and memorable.
Alison
”
“
The whole booking process was really good with Lisa very quickly understanding our aims for the holiday. We wanted to see "real life" and the various trips including the Vespa street food experience in Siem Reap and the local bike tour in Battambang, amongst others hit the mark. The guides we had were excellent with good English and local knowledge. The guides too were great with stopping at local markets etc. All the arrangements, flights, transfers , hotels etc went without a glitch the whole trip. Highly recommended.
Andrew Waring
”
Holiday Gallery
Meet our Cambodia experts
We offer tailor-made holidays to suit a wide range of tastes. Our experts Fenton and Lisa are dedicated to all things Cambodia and are here to help you plan your perfect trip.
Fenton
Destination Manager
Our Fenton’s explored Cambodia countless times, both solo and with his young family in tow, and it’s a firm favourite. He knows where to find culture, adventure and downtime, and how to bundle it together in one unforgettable trip.
Lisa Jankus-Scott
Destination Manager
From her first visit, Lisa was captivated by Angkor Wat, the Cambodian smile and everything else about Cambodia. With a love of culture, food and real local experiences, she knows just how to bring it to life for you.
Ready to pack your bags?
Speak to one of our travel specialists today.
Get a Quote 01242 253 073Open Mon-Fri: 9am-5:30pm
We'd love to keep in touch.
Sign up to get our latest team news, travel tips and holiday inspiration straight to your inbox.