Cambodia Beach Holiday

Upon arrival in Phnom Penh, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. The city was once considered one of the most beautiful cities in the Orient and despite its recent turbulent history it still retains much Colonial charm. Today the city buzzes with energy and an air of opportunity as Cambodia advances into the 21st century. The remainder of your day is at leisure and Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Morning tour of the Royal Palace, situated on the site of the former citadel and built by King Norodom in 1966, the Palace still serves as the King and Queen’s residential quarters. Also within the walls of the Palace is the Silver Pagoda, so called because of five thousand silver tiles that line its exquisite floor.
Continue to visit the National Museum, which houses the world’s leading collection of Khmer art and sculpture, and Wat Phnom the founding site of the city. All are within easy walking distance of each other and are a great introduction to this laid-back city.
In 1975, after years of guerrilla warfare, the radical Communist Khmer Rouge party, under its leader Pol Pot, seized power of Cambodia and declared ‘year zero’. They immediately abolished money and private property, and ordered the entire population of Phnom Penh from their homes and into the countryside to cultivate the fields. Over the next three years an estimated 2 million Cambodians died, many from starvation and exhaustion. Many others were tortured and executed for being supposed ‘enemies of the state’.
The afternoon is spent learning more about these terrible years, through visits to the infamous Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocidal Crimes and Cheung Ek, better known as the ‘Killing Fields’. It is an incredibly moving experience, but these are two visits you will be glad to have made. During your visit to Cambodia, you will barely meet a single person who didn’t lose a member of their family during these years, yet they are all willing to talk openly about it with you. They wish you to hear about it and see these places, to ensure that it never happens again. End of the city tour and overnight in Phnom Penh.

Pick up at your hotel for a private transfer to Kep. On the way to Kampot Province you will visit sights such as Ta Prohm and Yeay Peau temples, Phnom Chisor, Angkor Borei, and Phnom Da. Arrival Kep and free at your leisure.

In the morning, wake up early to discover Kep’s teeming crab market before you hop on a boat for a 30-minute ride to Rabbit Island (Koh Tonsai), where secluded white sandy beaches, coconut trees, and a variety of sea coral await you. Free to explore this wonderful tropical island and enjoy some sea food there. Continue to trek along the island’s trail, ocean kayak, enjoy a beach massage or just rest and relax in this paradise. Get back to Kep before late afternoon.

Morning excursion to the Kep National Park which was established in 1993 and covers 28 square kilometers of lush forest and hills. The 8 kilometers of mountain trail through the National Park is definitely good for nature lovers. The plantations such as cashew, jackfruit, papaya, mango, dragon fruit are beautiful. There are benches along the trail and at the viewing points to relax for a while and enjoy the sounds and smell of nature. This 2.5 hour trek is an easy nature walk for everybody and you will discover this natural oasis before it gets more developed. You will drive back to your resort for the rest of afternoon and be free to visit the swimming pool and beach or go sailing if you desire.

Today, leave Kep for Sihanoukville, spend time time on imposing Bokor Mountain on the way. Bokor Hill Station was a French colonial village. The remains of the old church and police station can still be seen today. Drive to Sihanoukville for a restful night and discover Khmer hospitality with world-class service. You can explore the private, pristine, white sand beach, which stretches out over 1.5 kilometres. Enjoy sunset with cocktails and dine in style at typical restaurant to complete a beautiful day.

Free day to relax on the beach, swim in the clear waters and enjoy the peace of the area. Sihanoukville, also known as Kampong Som, is a province of Cambodia on the Gulf of Thailand. This port city is a growing Cambodian urban center, located 185 kilometers (115 miles) southwest of the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. Surrounded by white sand beaches and undeveloped tropical islands, Sihanoukville is the epicenter of beach life in Cambodia.

Free day to relax on the beach, go swimming, sunbathing

After breakfast at the hotel, time to say goodbye to Cambodia and the little piece of paradise you have been enjoying. Transfer to Phnom Penh airport for the next leg of your travels, either home or to your next destination.