Cambodia's Secrets of Angkor
Trip Code: TKAS
Why we love it
See the iconic temple complex of Angkor Wat on a dedicated Short Break Adventure – as one of the world’s greatest religious and archaeological sites, Angkor Wat deserves and demands special attention., Explore the lands surrounding Angkor Wat and gain insight into the Cambodian way of life., Take a city tour of Siem Reap with a local guide who knows all the best spots, ancient history facts and local secrets., Discover a way of life dictated by the rhythm of water in the fascinating floating villages of Tonle Sap Lake., Visit the beautiful Ta Prohm temple, which was made famous by the film Tomb Raider, then maybe get your fill of street food with a free night.
Is this trip right for me?
On Short Breaks, you maintain a good level of independence and freedom, with the added bonus of having the details sorted out for you. You’ll have lots of free time and you won’t be accompanied by a Trip Leader. This means that all included activities and tours will be run by different local Intrepid partners, and these may operate independently from each other. The included activities and transfers will operate on a join-in basis, which means that you could have your Adventure all to yourself, or others may join you along the way. If you would prefer to travel in a group with a dedicated Trip Leader, just get in touch with your booking agent and they will take you through some alternatives.
We use a variety of hotels in Siem Reap, depending on availability. These hotels will be confirmed to you at your time of booking.
Part of travelling with Intrepid means respecting local cultures and sensibilities. That way you get the most out of your interactions with local people and environments and you will visit many temples on this trip, which requires a level of modesty. Be sure to bring clothes that cover the arms and pants or skirts that go past the knees. A light scarf is also a good idea for covering shoulders and arms when it’s hot.
Important information
1.You will be picked up on Day 1 from your hotel in Siem Reap at 8:00-8:15 am. Please let us know the name and address of your hotel.
2. Please note that this trip is available in either Original or Comfort style. Unlike our group trips, the style on a Short Break Adventure refers to the style of accommodation only. All other inclusions are the same no matter which style of Short Break you select.
3. This trip is operated by our local partners in Cambodia and therefore you may be joined by a mixture of Intrepid-booked passengers and other travellers during activities.
What to bring/pack
Most travellers prefer to take a small to medium wheeled suitcase, which is a great size for the packing capacity in our private vehicles. Whatever you take, be mindful that you will need to be able to carry your own luggage, handle it at airports, take it in/out of accommodation and perhaps even walk short distances. We recommend you pack as lightly as possible.
If your trip includes travelling on overnight trains or primarily using public transport, the smaller your luggage, the easier it will be to store under or above bunks. Large suitcases may not be able to be taken on board. A lockable bag or small padlock for your bag will be useful, especially when travelling on public transportation as well.
When you're exploring during the day, you'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water, a camera, a jacket and activity-specific items like a swimsuit, a waterproof pouch/bag for your phone, or hiking shoes.
Below we have listed the essentials for this trip:, https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list, WATER BOTTLE
Please bring your own water bottle to refill. Although it can be difficult to avoid bottled water when travelling, please use the water dispensers which are provided on some of our vehicles and at some of our accommodation. When unable to avoid bottled water, it is better to buy the largest available and distribute it into your smaller bottle for the day. Some travellers like to bring a bottle with its own filtration system or water purification tablets. If you are walking or trekking as part of your trip, you will need to carry at least 2 litres of water with you., LOCAL DRESS:
When packing be aware that 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 predominantly hot Asian climate. In many rural areas in Asia women will need to wear modest clothing even to swim. Singlets, tank tops and topless sun bathing are all unacceptable. When visiting religious sites men often need to wear long trousers and women a long skirt or sarong., WATER BOTTLE:
This trip includes one or more sections in a private vehicle with a water dispenser. We encourage all our travellers to bring a refillable water bottle on your trip to help reduce the use of disposable plastic bottles.
Physical rating
Joining your group
Your Siem Reap Hotel, Multiple pick-up points, Siem Reap, CAMBODIA
Alternate Joining Point
Joining instructions
Your short break adventure will start with pick up from your hotel on day one between 8:00 am and 8:15 am. If you require pick up from another hotel, please inform your agent at least 14 days prior to departure.
You do not need to reconfirm your pickup details if you have advised your hotel details in advance or if you have booked pre accommodation with us. Please check your Intrepid travel itinerary for your booking details.
We can organize pre and post accommodation at the following hotel:
Comfort
Hotel Somadevi Angkor
Resort & Spa
Sivatha Blvd, Mondol II Village,
Sangkat Svay Dangkum,
Siem Reap, (+855) 63 967 666
Alternative hotels:
During the high season (October to March) and Khmer public holidays availability at our hotels is in high demand. If we are unable to confirm one of the above hotels, we will use an alternative hotel of a similar standard, the name of which will be advised to you upon confirmation. Please check your Intrepid travel itinerary for your alternative hotel address.
Some of the alternative hotels we use during busy periods are listed below.
Alternative Comfort
Steung Siem Reap Hotel
Street 9, Mondul 1 Village
Sangkat Svay Dangkum
Siem Reap City, Tel +855 (0) 63 965 169
Finishing your trip
Your Siem Reap Hotel - Finish Point, Multiple drop off points, Siem Reap, CAMBODIA
Alternate Finish Point
Meals & dietary information
Breakfasts included: 2
Lunches included: 2
Dinners included:
While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader or local representative will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where and what to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility.
CAMBODIAN FOOD:
Wondering what Cambodian food is like? Check out our guide to the local cuisine here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/cambodian-food-guide/
Is it true they eat spiders in Cambodia? Read about it here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/cambodia-eating-spiders/
BREAKFASTS:
At some hotels you may have a menu or buffet with choices of Cambodian and Western food. At homestays you will have simpler breakfasts of local foods, eggs, bread, jam, tea and coffee.
FOOD ALLERGIES:
Travelling in South East Asia with a food allergy? We have some advice for you here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/travelling-food-allergies-south-east-asia/
Climate & seasonal information
WEATHER IN CAMBODIA
Any time of the year is a good time to travel in Cambodia, with each season having its advantages. The climate in Cambodia is generally hot and humid throughout the year. Temperatures stay in the 30Cs most of the year, dropping back to the 20Cs at night. There are officially two seasons in Cambodia – wet and dry. During November to May you can expect dry conditions, while June to October will have wetter weather.
SEASONAL FLOODING IN CAMBODIA
Severe storms and widespread seasonal flooding, including localised flash flooding, can occur without warning in Cambodia, particularly during the local wet season from July to November. The Cambodia/Thailand land border is occasionally closed due to flooding. Should land travel be disrupted and we need to fly, travellers will need to use their contingency funds to cover any additional costs.
During public holidays and festival periods in Cambodia some businesses may close, transport may be extremely busy and travel times may increase. The main holidays in Cambodia are:
Chinese New Year (29 January - 2 February 2025)
Khmer New Year (14 - 16 April 2025)
Royal Birthday of the King Sihamoni (14 May 2025)
Pchum Ben Day (21 – 23 September 2025)
Water & Moon Festival (4-6 November 2025)
In case of emergency
While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.
We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.
You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.
For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us
In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:
Available for phone call or WhatsApp call on +855 92 555 969
Accommodations
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
HOTELS:
Most of the accommodation on this trip is in hotels (mostly 2 to 3-star). Facilities are often basic, with some properties not having a continuous supply of hot water on occasion. All rooms are either fan cooled or with air conditioning and twin share with private facilities unless stated otherwise in the daily itinerary. Double beds are not widely available in South East Asia.