Cambodia culinary journey 6 days 5 nights

Welcome to Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia! Renowned as the country's historic, cultural, and vibrant city, Phnom Penh is worth visiting for war relics, alluring cuisine, and inspiring arts and traditions.

Your driver and local guide will welcome you and transfer you from Phnom Penh Airport to the city for hotel check-in and relaxation.

Starting with a city tour of the country's capital today. This morning, you will meet up with your local host and meander through a local market to select the ingredients for your cooking session. Also, you can see more about Khmer cuisine, mainly the vegetables commonly used and Asian exotic spices. Head to the cooking studio set up nicely in an antiquated café. The passionate chef Nara will guide and share recipes for making 3 Khmer dishes. After handing over the cooking, you will sit down and delight in your meal.

In the afternoon, enter the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, which are situated in the same premises. There are precious treasures on display in these places, such as the 90-kilo gold Buddha encrusted with over 9,000 diamonds and the crystal Buddha. Next, you will visit the National Museum, a terracotta-style design built in 1917. This museum houses the finest Angkorian sculptures and artifacts in diverse materials such as sandstone, bronze, wood, and ceramic, showcasing the gracefulness of Khmer art. Then stroll around the Russian Market, located in the southern part of the French Quarter. There, you can see the local life, buy a souvenir, and have a glimpse of Colonial architecture.

After breakfast, you will have some time to relax and prepare for check-out. At a good time, kick off your energetic day with a cycling trip to Silk Island in Phnom Penh. Traverse to the pier, and you will cross the Mekong River to reach the cycling starting point on Diamond Island. Getting through the local villages, you will take the second river crossing by ferry to Koh Oknha Tei, a tranquil island. Discover the narrow paths, Buddhist pagoda, farm plantations on this island till a bridge leading to Koh Dach or the Silk Island of Phnom Penh City. Our private tour in Cambodia also includes authentic visits to local homes, learning about traditional silk weaving, and getting to know the famous Krama, a Cambodian scarf. Return to Phnom Penh city center for lunch, rest, then travel to the airport for the flight to Siem Reap.

Welcomed by your local tour guide, you will travel from Siem Reap airport to the city center for check-in. Have a free & easy time till the rest of the day.

In the morning, leave the busy Siem Reap behind and enter the world of Angkorian temples, which are the best things to see in Cambodia. The road, lined with huge, verdant trees, gradually reveals the mysterious masterpieces. Among the must-see Angkor Temples, Bayon is the first, as it is located right behind Angkor Thom, which means "the big city." As an intriguing edifice with 54 massive towers emerging in a circle, the Bayon temple is renowned for the smiling faces carved on the 4 sides of each tower. Carry on, you will walk toward the Baphuon temple, built in the 11th century. Getting a bit out of the lush jungle, you can spot the Terrace of the Leper King and the Terrace of the Elephants, where the square was for royal announcements or public ceremonies.

Afternoon, visit the most well-known and the largest temple, Angkor Wat. Far from the axis leading to the central towers, you can realize how huge the place is. Walking around or under the corridors, you will find artistic sculptures and meaningful images of Khmer culture and religious factors. The last temple is Ta Prohm, which appeared in the movie “Tom Raider” with the famous scenes of Angela Jolie.

Spend this morning in a local village to experience village life and further interact with local cultures. During the journey, you can learn how to make the rice noodles in a local way, make a traditional breakfast bowl, learn from handicraft works, enjoy the delicious snacks, and call at sugar palm stalls to see different ways of processing the fruits. Afterward, travel back to Siem Reap city, stopping to visit the enticing Banteay Srei Temple, or the Citadel of Women. This is among the smallest Angkor Temples, but it characterizes a unique stone hue and the finest carvings.

This late afternoon, embark on a Siem Reap street food tour with your guide to experience the local atmosphere and observe Cambodian street life and culture. Hopping on a local tuk-tuk, you will hunt for the districts with the best Siem Reap and Cambodia delicacies. There are opportunities to sample sweet desserts, BBQ skewers, tropical fruits, fried bugs, and more, and to try local drinks like beer or fusion juice.

It's the last day of your Cambodian culinary tour. You will spend your time relaxing and chilling out at the hotel until your transfer to the airport, for your flight to your next destination.