Khmer temple towers at first light, Cambodia
Phnom Penh & Siem Reap - 5 Days

Cambodia Classic Highlights

The essential Cambodia in five days, built for first-time visitors and short breaks. See the royal capital, the temples of Angkor at sunrise and life on the great Tonle Sap lake.

5Days 2Cities 5+Major temples 24 hrReply time
In short

What this trip is

Cambodia Classic Highlights is a 5 day, 4 night private tour from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap covering the Royal Palace and the National Museum, sunrise at Angkor Wat with Ta Prohm, Angkor Thom and the Bayon, Banteay Srei, an Apsara dance performance and a Tonle Sap floating village. It is the shortest itinerary that still does Cambodia justice.

  • 1

    Nothing essential is missing

    The Royal Palace, Angkor Wat at sunrise, Ta Prohm, the Bayon, Banteay Srei and the Tonle Sap - the five things people come to Cambodia for, inside five days.

  • 2

    The transfer is your choice

    Drive to Siem Reap for five or six hours of real countryside, or take the short domestic flight and gain an afternoon. We quote both.

  • 3

    It expands easily

    Add the coast, Battambang or a homestay night and this becomes a week or ten days without rebuilding it from scratch.

Highlights

What you will actually do

01 - The capital The riverfront and royal quarter of Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Royal Palace & National Museum

The working royal residence with its Silver Pagoda, and the finest collection of Khmer sculpture anywhere - the best possible preparation for Angkor.

Half dayLicensed guideSilver Pagoda
02 - The temples Angkor Wat reflected in water at sunrise, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Angkor Wat sunrise, Ta Prohm & the Bayon

A full guided day through the small circuit, starting in the dark at Angkor Wat, with an Apsara dance performance and dinner in the evening.

Sunrise startApsara danceFull day
03 - The lake Floating village houses on the Tonle Sap lake, Cambodia

Banteay Srei & the Tonle Sap

The pink sandstone carving of Banteay Srei in the morning, and an afternoon boat trip into a floating village on the lake.

Banteay SreiPrivate boatHalf day each
Day by day

5 days / 4 nights, hour by hour

Every timing below is a starting point, not a rule. Tell us your flights and we rebuild the shape of the trip around them.

Day 1

Arrival in Phnom Penh

Land and go straight out onto the water.

Boats on the Mekong at sunset, Cambodia
On arrival

Transfer to your hotel

Met at Techo International Airport.

Evening

Sunset cruise on the Mekong

Where the rivers meet, with the city behind.

Day 2

Phnom Penh to Siem Reap

The capital in the morning, the temple town by evening.

Terraced rice paddy with a rustic hut, Cambodia
Morning

Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda

The royal quarter on foot.

Late morning

National Museum

Khmer sculpture, before you meet it in place.

Afternoon

North to Siem Reap

Five to six hours by road, or a short domestic flight.

Day 3

Angkor Wat sunrise & the great temples

The day the trip is built around.

Angkor Wat reflected in water at sunrise, Cambodia
Before dawn

Angkor Wat sunrise

In place before the light.

Morning

Ta Prohm

The strangler figs and the stone.

Afternoon

Angkor Thom & the Bayon

The walled city and its faces.

Evening

Apsara dance performance

With dinner.

Day 4

Banteay Srei & the Tonle Sap

Carving in the morning, water in the afternoon.

Wooden stilt houses over water, Cambodia
Morning

Banteay Srei

The "Citadel of Women", 25 km north-east of the main group.

Afternoon

Floating village boat trip

Out onto the Tonle Sap.

Day 5

Departure

Onward from Siem Reap.

A path through green rice fields, Cambodia
To suit

Transfer to Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport

Timed to your flight.

No surprises

What is included, and what is not

Included

  • Private air-conditioned vehicle with professional driver throughout
  • Licensed English-speaking guide for all touring days
  • Airport meet-and-greet and all transfers
  • Accommodation as listed, with daily breakfast
  • All homestay and farm-stay meals
  • Meals specified in the itinerary
  • Boat and speedboat transfers as listed
  • Drinking water and cold towels in the vehicle

Not included

  • International and domestic flights unless added as an upgrade
  • Cambodian visa fees
  • Angkor Pass and Koh Ker entrance fees - can be included on request
  • Meals and drinks not specified in the itinerary
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips for guides and drivers
  • Personal expenses and optional activities
Answers

Classic Highlights questions, answered

Is five days enough for Cambodia?
It is enough for Phnom Penh and Angkor done properly, which is what most first visits are about. A week lets you add the coast, Battambang or a village night.
Should we fly or drive between the cities?
The road takes five to six hours and shows you rural Cambodia; the flight takes about 45 minutes. On a five-day trip either works - it depends whether you would rather have the countryside or the extra afternoon.
Is the Angkor Pass included?
Not by default. The pass is $37 for one day, $62 for three and $72 for seven, and we can include it in your quote and buy it for you.
Can we skip the 4:40am start?
Yes. Sunrise is optional - we can begin at a civilised hour and see the same temples in a different order, though the heat is the trade-off.
Go deeper

Experiences inside this trip

All experiences
Heritage experiences in Cambodia Temples & Angkor

Heritage

Sunrise at Angkor Wat and the temples of the Khmer Empire.
River experiences in Cambodia Mekong & Tonlé Sap

River

Mekong cruises and Tonlé Sap floating-village tours.
Food experiences in Cambodia Khmer cuisine

Food

Cooking classes, street-food tours and Kampot pepper tastings.
Compare

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All packages
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Ready when you are

Send your dates and group size. We come back with a costed version of this trip, reshaped around you.

Plan Classic Highlights
Classic Highlights 5 days / 4 nights · Private Enquire