Cambodia Tours & Holidays
Small Group Tours & Tailor-Made Holidays
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Overview
Cambodia is a land of rich contrasts which has overcome its turbulent recent past to reinvent itself as one of the best travel destinations in Southeast Asia. Our Cambodia tours offer guests a fantastic combination of adventure, romance and culture in a country that was once the beating heart of the Khmer Empire - Southeast Asia’s most powerful medieval kingdom.
From the jungle-shrouded temples of Angkor, to the mountain-fringed beaches of the south, the country presents a breath-taking ...
Cambodia is a land of rich contrasts which has overcome its turbulent recent past to reinvent itself as one of the best travel destinations in Southeast Asia. Our Cambodia tours offer guests a fantastic combination of adventure, romance and culture in a country that was once the beating heart of the Khmer Empire - Southeast Asia’s most powerful medieval kingdom.
From the jungle-shrouded temples of Angkor, to the mountain-fringed beaches of the south, the country presents a breath-taking landscape filled with ancient ruins, dense rainforest, endangered wildlife, remote communities and some of the finest cuisine in Southeast Asia. We recommend taking the opportunity to cycle, trek and kayak through its near-pristine countryside. Get up close with elephants at the ethical Elephant Valley Project or try to spot the endangered Irrawaddy Dolphin along the mighty Mekong River.
Our range of tailor-made Cambodia holidays offers a wonderful chance for the adventurous family or honeymooners to get off the beaten track and away from the usual holiday destinations; to experience Cambodia’s excitingly diverse and welcoming culture in the way they want.
Travelling with a responsible and experienced tour operator like Wild Frontiers enables you to get a taste of the ‘real’ Cambodia by interacting with local communities, sharing mealtimes with local families and enjoying the country’s famed hospitality in homestays. The focal point for many visits to Cambodia is the incomparable Angkor Wat Temple Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site spread across over 300 square kilometres of jungle and rainforest in the country’s north-west. Angkor Wat’s magnificent ruins testify to the glory of Khmer power, with the spectacular centrepiece being the ‘Temple City’ itself, the world’s largest religious monument and one of the new wonders of the world.
But Cambodia is so much more than the temples of Siem Reap – as spectacular as they are. It can also boast remote tribal communities in its northern hills and beautifully deserted beaches in the south, the meandering labyrinth of waterways around picturesque Tonle Sap and a fusion of colonial French and Thai influences that offer up a smorgasbord of flavours and experiences.
Those seeking the modern side of Cambodia will be thrilled with the bustling cities of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. These growing urban centres showcase an optimistic and outward looking population, with high quality restaurants, quirky bars and luxury hotels on offer for those looking to relax and unwind.
Come and explore this incredible destination on one of our Cambodia tours or tailor-made holidays.
Meet the Experts
Start your journey
Group tours
Travel to Cambodia with like-minded people on one of our small group tours (usually max size 12), featuring knowledgeable local guides and an expert tour leader.
TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAYS
Whether you want to travel on one of our award-winning itineraries or build your own journey from scratch, our expert consultants will help create the perfect tour for your tastes and budget. Below are a few suggestions of the kind of trips we can offer, all of which can be tailored to you.
EXAMPLE ITINERARIES
HIGHLIGHTS OF CAMBODIA
BEST EXPERIENCES
Empower young female tour guides
Journey off the beaten track on the back of a scooter with a local MotoGirl guide and explore the outskirts of Phnom Penh. Cross the Tonle Sap River by ferry to visit Silk Island and gain a unique insight into rural living and local silk-making.
Cycle hidden temples of Angkor Wat
Explore some of the lesser-known ancient temples of Angkor by bicycle, following hidden routes and pathways through the magical jungle, followed by a delicious lunch overlooking the royal bathing pool of Sra Srang.
Sample real local nightlife
Soak up the hustle and bustle of Road 60. Learn about contemporary Cambodian cuisine and culture and fill up on local treats in this popular area. Sample Khmer fruits, deep fried beetles and enjoy some of the tastiest barbeque in town.
Support talented acrobats
Visit Phare Ponleu Selpak, one of Cambodia’s favourite social enterprises. Learn about the organisations rich history and tour the fine arts gallery and exhibitions on campus. Witness practicing artists and an evening circus show performed by senior students.
Soak up historic and cultural Kep
A former premier beach town in the 1960s, Kep today inspires adventurous travellers seeking a rustic and relaxed tropical atmosphere. From abandoned colonial villas to famous crab shacks on coastal roads, this tour provides the perfect introduction to Kep.
Indulge in a private island
Experience the stunning Song Saa Private Island. Discover the natural fauna, flora and ecosystems that exist here and learn about the local conservation projects working to maintain these stunning ‘sweetheart’ islands.
TOP PLACES TO VISIT
OUR FAVOURITE PLACES TO STAY
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WHEN TO GO
Cambodia has a climate that is warm all year round, but it does have distinct seasons. The dry season runs from November to May with the first half being cool and the second, March to May, being hot and humid. The wet season is between June and October. The daytime temperature will generally be 30-40 degrees so hats and sunscreen all round!
LGBTQIA+ Guidance
When planning to travel as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, there may be additional things you wish to consider doing, such as:
- Speaking to one of our travel experts for information about travelling in your chosen destination and local attitudes towards members of the LGBTQIA+ community
- Checking the Human Dignity Trust map of countries that criminalise LGBTQIA+ people, which highlights potentially dangerous regions and countries
- Checking the ‘Local laws and customs’ section of your country's official foreign travel advice page
- Looking for any updates for your desired destination on the Human Rights Watch LGBTQIA+ rights page
- Buying a recommended guidebook, as many include an LGBTQIA+ section and advice for LGBTQIA+ travellers
USEFUL INFORMATION
Health and Vaccinations
There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Cambodia though you should be up to date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. Malaria is present in some parts of Cambodia. Please note we are not medical professionals and so we highly recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments.
Currency
In Cambodia the official unit of currency is the Riel. This is a closed currency and can only be exchanged in country. However, majority of businesses deal with US Dollars, the unofficial currency throughout Cambodia, so we advise to take USD in cash.
To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com.
Cultural Sensitivity
On our tours you will frequently interact with local people, each with their own distinct customs and traditions. We therefore ask you to be considerate and to treat them with respect. Your tour-leaders and guides will always be able to advise you accordingly.
Overall Cambodia is very liberal towards travellers and their ways, but we always recommend that modest dress should be adopted for both sexes when exploring local areas. The region is predominantly Buddhist and so especially when visiting temples or monasteries you will need to cover your legs and shoulders. Do not wear hats in religious buildings, never touch anyone on the head and do not point your feet towards them (this would be an insult to a monk particularly). Also avoid eating within religious buildings. Generally, when entering a temple sanctuary, house or even guesthouse, you should remove your shoes. This will be apparent by the pile of shoes outside!
At Wild Frontiers we are very aware of the ethical impact tourism can have on ancient cultures. We realise that taking tourists through such a region can have a negative impact on the lives of those who live there and on all our tours we therefore go to great lengths to minimise the negative and accentuate the positive…after all, there are also many good things that the tourist can bring.
To help this process we ask that our clients do not hand out pens or sweets to children. As one sign in Egypt emphatically put it, ‘Please don't make beggars out of our children!' No matter how well intentioned, in our opinion the dolling out of free gifts fosters a ‘beggar mentality' that is ultimately extremely destructive to a society. In addition, we do not condone giving out money to beggars or ‘students'.
However, we also realise that we are exceptionally privileged to be travelling in areas where most of the people have far less than us and that the desire to ‘help' can be very powerful. As a result, we ask that you refer to the Responsible Travel section of this document which highlights the Wild Frontiers Foundation, which supports specific projects in the areas where we travel.
Language & Religion
80% of the Cambodia’s population speaks the Khmer language, which is the official language. Other languages spoken include Chinese, Vietnamese and Cham. French was once the language of government in Indochina and is still spoken by many older Cambodians. Buddhism is the majority religion in Cambodia, with 96% being Theravada Buddhist. The other minorities are Islam and Christianity.
Time
Cambodia is 7 hours ahead of GMT.
A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com.
Food and drink
Rice is the foundation for meals, and almost all dishes are cooked with fresh ingredients such as vegetables, freshwater fish, poultry, duck, pork, beef or water buffalo. Lime juice, lemon grass and fresh coriander give the food its characteristic tang, and various fermented fish concoctions are used to salt the food. Hot chillies, garlic, mint, ground peanuts, tamarind juice, ginger and coconut milk are other seasonings.
In terms of alcohol, the local beers are good and reasonable wine can also be found, although they can be expensive by comparison. Most spirits are also generally available but watch out for those priced very cheaply as the quality will definitely leave you with a lasting headache the next day!
Travelling Solo In Cambodia
All of our small group tours are designed to cater for solo travellers: the number of solo travellers will vary from tour to tour, but usually over half will be travelling alone. Get all of the excitement of discovering new places combined with the security of travelling with an organised group, with like minded people.