Private Phnom Penh Secrets Tour
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Office phone number: +855 12 391 780 or +855 92 999 860
Private Phnom Penh Secrets Tour
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Spend the day learning about Phnom Penh's past and present. Delve into the region's history; it's dark but essential to understanding the Cambodia of today. Visit sombre spots made infamous by the Khmer Rouge and learn about the current politics that continue to shape this country. Then, get out of the capital to visit an island on the Mekong, where you'll experience the local way of life along the river.
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Highlights
- Explore Phnom Penh’s recent tragic history by paying visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Choueng Ek bone pagoda
- Savour the flavours of Khmer lunch at an NGO training restaurant
- Travel by boat to explore an island in the Mekong, discovering the local way of life — and maybe even try your hand at silk weaving
- Wander around local villages, visit a family home, and sample Khmer snacks and fruits
- Marvel at Phnom Penh’s Khmer and French colonial architecture
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Schedule details
- Duration: 8 hours
- Meeting point:
Front Entrance of National Museum of Phnom Penh, Address: Preah Ang Eng St. (13), Phnom Penh.
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- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: Various
- Ending point:
Drop off at centrally located hotels in Phnom Penh.
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, entrance fees to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) and Choueng Ek Killing Field, transport by vehicle, moto-remork, and local boat, Khmer snacks and lunch
Exclusions: Items of a personal nature, water, additional food, tips / gratuities for drivers or guide.
Your private Phnom Penh tour starts by learning about and confronting Cambodia's tragic past. You’ll take a guided tour of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a former school that served as a Khmer Rouge torture centre. Then, head out of the city to the Choueng Ek Memorial, where a pagoda made up of some 8,000 human skulls marks the site of one of the infamous Killing Fields. Afterwards, make a difference to the Cambodian community by enjoying a Khmer lunch at an NGO training restaurant.
Next on your private Phnom Penh tour, you’ll travel by moto-remork (a Cambodian tuk-tuk) and head out of Phnom Penh on the Japanese Friendship Bridge before catching a ferry across the mighty Mekong River to Mekong Island. The island is famous for silk weaving, agriculture, and aquaculture (85% of residents earn their living from these industries). We'll stop to see the silk weavers at work in the village, where you can purchase some of the local products if you wish. As you wander the village, you can explore a Buddhist temple and floating fish farms, see fields of rice and morning glory, and enjoy local Khmer snacks at a family home.
Say goodbye to the tuk-tuk and board a boat to enjoy the sunset from the water at the junction of the Tonle Bassac, Tonle Sap, and the mighty Mekong. You’ll see the distinctive architecture of Cambodia, with Khmer-influenced buildings such as Wat Ounalom, the Royal Palace, and the Silver Pagoda, as well as French colonial buildings — some renovated, some ravaged by neglect and the war.
Finally, we close off the Mekong boat tour with a gorgeous sunset, and return you back to Phnom Penh and your hotel.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, entrance fees to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) and Choueng Ek Killing Field, transport by vehicle, moto-remork, and local boat, Khmer snacks and lunch
Exclusions: Items of a personal nature, water, additional food, tips / gratuities for drivers or guide.
Dress standard: Dress standards are conservative throughout Asia, especially outside major cities. To respect this, and for your own comfort, we strongly recommend modest clothing. This means clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Loose, lightweight, long clothing is both respectful and cool in the predominately hot Asian climate. Visitors to the Royal Palace must wear shorts or skirts that are knee-length or below, shirt sleeves that reach the elbow or longer, and sandals or shoes (no flip flops). Otherwise, they will be required to rent appropriate covering.
Your Trip: For most of the year it is hot in Cambodia. The guide will make regular stops where you can purchase water and snacks. Please keep hydrated and bring sunscreen and a hat to protect yourself from the sun.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher. If you make your last minutes booking, you should call to our local hotline number to check the availability
Closure of sites: The Royal Palace grounds may be closed on important Khmer holidays for part or all of the day, and as such the order of visiting different sites may change in order to accommodate this. In the rare event that the palace grounds are closed for the entire day, an alternate activity of the same value will be provided.
Child Policy: Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children below the age of 6 are not permitted on this tour.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +855 12 391 780 or +855 92 999 860
Email address: info@phnompenhurbanadventures.com
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