The 6 Best Day Trips from Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Meet clouded leopards at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre
Meet clouded leopards at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre | © piviso / Pixabay
Marissa

For those who have a day to spare after exploring all the Cambodian capital’s attractions, then there are plenty of spots that sit close enough to Phnom Penh, to spend the day at.

Oudong

Standing as the ancient capital, Oudong sits about 44km away from Phnom Penh–about a two-hour tuk-tuk journey and 1.5 hours in a taxi–and makes for an interesting day trip out of the city.

speech icon man in bubble

Destinations Unlocked:

Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture trip

Looking for an expert's perspective?

Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
speech icon man in bubble
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

Phnom Oudong sits in the background

Serving as Cambodia’s capital from 1618 to 1866, Oudong was the venue where several kings were crowned and buried, holding a special place in many Cambodians’ hearts.

Accessing the ancient site, which sits atop a hill, may be challenging for those who are unsteady on their feet, with a flight of 509 uneven stone steps the only way to access Phnom Oudong’s peak.

For those who are simply unfit, then push through because reaching the top comes coupled with unparalleled 360-degree vistas of the surrounding countryside.

A sequence of historic sites dot the peak in the form of temples and stupas that contain the ashes of kings, such as the stupa Damrei Sam Poan, which was built by King Chey Chetha II (1618-26) and holds the ashes of his predecessor, King Soriyopor.

Religious structures at the base of Phnom Oudong

At the base, sits a collection of stalls selling snacks, food, drinks and souvenirs. Vipassana Dhura Buddhist Mediation Centre also sits close to Oudong and is well worth a visit to see its pristine shimmering pagodas. Visitors are welcome to wander around, provided they are dressed appropriately, which means keeping knees and shoulders covered.

Koh Dach

A short tuk-tuk ride and trip on the ferry sits Koh Dach, commonly referred to as Silk Island. Despite only being 6km from the capital, Koh Dach sits a million miles away, where rural life has been preserved on this island in the Mekong River.

Explore Cambodia’s silk weaving heritage at Koh Dach

The trip can easily be shortened into half a day for those tight on time, or stretched out to take in a lazy day of enjoying the laidback delights of sleepy island life.

Despite Cambodia’s rich silk weaving heritage being in decline, Koh Dach is home to an abundance of weavers. Freshly dyed silk can be seen hanging in the sun to dry in front of homes, where women weave from a handmade loom below their stilted houses.

The Silk Weaving Centre and Village is open to visitors and shows the whole process, from silk worm to cocoon, to silk to fabric. A small restaurant and picnic spot on the river, with a swimming area, are on-site.

Offering a glimpse into rural living, there is a road that skirts the island which is ideal for a lazy bike ride past paddies and woodland, through small villages and across shallow streams. Bikes are available for hire at the ferry terminal. Popular stop-off points include Koh Dach Pagoda, which houses some of the island’s colourful boat entries into the annual Water Festival boat races.

Round off a day exploring Koh Dach with a swim at Le Kroma’s pool

Le Kroma is a great place to stop for a breather, food and a swim in their infinity pool that overlooks the river. Their woodfire pizzas (only available at weekends) come highly recommended, with local dishes also on the menu. If the day has tired you out, then check-in for the night, with a range of bright and breezy rooms available.

Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre

Whether you’re an animal lover or not, a trip to Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre ticks all the boxes. Run by Wildlife Alliance (WA), it sits about 36km outside of the capital and is home to more than 1,200 animals, such as tigers, elephants, snakes, gibbons and clouded leopards, that have been rescued from the clutches of poachers and illegal trafficking.

Sun bears can be seen at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Centre

Animals that are in a fit state are rehabilitated before being returned to the wild, while those unable to be freed due to physical or psychological trauma become permanent residents.

WA also puts on ‘behind the scenes’ day tours, where guests can spend the day shadowing a worker, meeting the animals and learning more about their stories.

The centre is also home to Free the Bears, which operates a Bear Keeper for a Day tour, where visitors can see how rescued Asiatic black bears and Malaysian sun bears are cared for, prepare food for them and hang alongside them—at a safe distance, of course.

Kampong Cham

Famed for its bamboo bridge, Kampong Cham is the place to go for some relaxation as time almost stands still in this compact rural city–more a small town.

Sitting approximately a two-hour drive from Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s third largest city is the capital of the province with the same name. Serving as a thriving trading post under the French means Kampong Cham is dotted with ageing buildings from colonial times.

A Buddhist monastery in Kampong Cham

Nestled on the Mekong River, the charming town boasts a pleasant promenade that gets busy at dusk, and the iconic bamboo bridge, which was rescued from being scrapped last year.

Standing as the longest bamboo bridge in the world, it connected Kampong Cham with Koh Pen, a scenic island that is home to a cluster of villages.

The rickety 1km bridge had to be rebuilt annually once the rainy season passed and the Mekong water levels dipped. Despite its precarious positioning, vehicles of all kinds hurtled across this seemingly unstable structure, from horse and carts and motos, to cars and trucks.

However, the construction of a concrete bridge made the bamboo alternative obsolete. The bamboo bridge’s closure caused a bit of a stir, so the provincial chief decided to build a smaller version and has banned vehicles.

Tonle Bati

This destination is popular with the weekend Khmer crowd, who flock to the large lake about 30km south of Phnom Penh to enjoy picnics on one of the many floating bamboo pavilions that dot the edge. Locals also love to splash about in the water so don’t forget your bathers if you dare to join them.

A trip to Tonle Bati isn’t all about the lake. The area is also home to the ruins of Ta Prohm of Bati–not to be confused with Angkor’s Tomb Raider temple, Ta Prohm. Built by Jayavarman VII to house the Jayabuddhamahanatha statues, the gardens are well-maintained by a crew of elderly caretakers–it’s worth keeping a few small notes handy to give them a tip.

About 12km from the lake sits the impressive 11th century Phnom Chisor, which is perched atop a 133-metre high hill above Dok Por village. This requires another hefty hike up 461 steps, but the sweeping views make it worthwhile.

Kirirom

Kirirom National Park sits approximately a two-and-a-half-hour drive from the capital. At this mountain retreat, visitors can enjoy hiking through the cooling pine forests, where temperatures sit a good few degrees below the heat of the capital–leading to it being dubbed Cambodia’s mini Switzerland.

The national park was founded in the 1950s as the country’s first protected national park and is home to some of the country’s rarest and endangered animals.

Hiking and cycling trails snake through the forests (bikes can be hired from the resorts that dot the area), waterfalls and rivers can be swum in and Chambok Community Ecotourism Project gives visitors the chance to delve into village life.

culture trip left arrow
 culture trip brand logo

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

women sitting on iceberg

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

culture trip logo letter c
group posing for picture on iceberg
group posing for picture on iceberg

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points
culture trip brand logo
culture trip right arrow
landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

X

Holiday Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

Edit article