Cambodia with kids: the highlights in a week

Itinerary in brief:

• 3 nights Siem Reap
• 2 nights Battambang
• 2 nights Phnom Penh

Day 1: Arrive Siem Reap

On arrival in Siem Reap you will be met at the airport and driven to your hotel, where you will check in for three nights. Spend the day at leisure before taking a sunset tour of Angkor Wat, the magnificent temple that draws thousands of people to Cambodia each year.

Day 2: Siem Reap

After breakfast, you’ll take a tour of the other main sites of Angkor – starting at the ancient city of Angkor Thom. Inside the walled city lies Bayon Temple, known for its 54 towers with enigmatic faces, representing the 54 provinces of the Great Khmer Empire. Next you’ll wander around the Ta Prohm temple - made famous by the Tomb Raider films, this overgrown temple is crumbling away and one of the most picturesque ruins of the whole area. For lunch, you’ll enjoy some delicious local cuisine at Marum Restaurant, which trains disadvantaged youths in the hospitality industry.

The afternoon is yours to explore Siem Reap at your leisure or relax at the hotel.

Day 3: Siem Reap

Today you’ll spend the morning learning about life in a typical Cambodian village, meeting friendly locals and discovering village customs. On arrival at the village in the early morning you’ll sit down with a family and shared a western-style packed breakfast, learning about morning life when the village is most active. Next, you’ll take a 30-minute ox cart ride through the village to a local market, where you can see Cambodian vegetables, herbs and fruits. Continuing to walk through the village you’ll watch rice being planted, thatch rooves being woven and men making fish traps. Each day will be different depending on the season and the needs of the village but walking through the countryside surrounded by lush paddy fields and palm trees is a wonderful insight into Cambodian life any day of the year.

You’ll end the morning at a local pagoda where you and the children will receive a special water blessing by Buddhist monks before returning to the hotel to spend the afternoon at leisure. In the evening you could go and see a performance of the Cambodian Circus, set up by refugees – if you want to add this activity, just ask.

Day 4: Siem Reap to Battambang

After an early breakfast, set off on a boat trip, over the Tonle Sap Lake towards Battambang, on a private boat. Passing by floating villages and flooded forests, you’ll begin to understand why this body of water is the heart of Cambodia. On arrival in Battambang you’ll check into your hotel for two nights and spend the rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure.

Day 5: Battambang

Spend the morning on a tour that combines walking, a boat ride and cycling along the Sangke River to experience life in Battambang. Walking through the main market you can try some local coffee before taking the boat across the Sangke to visit Wat Povil on the other side, where you can pray with the monks. Collecting a bike you’ll cycle past a Thai temple, evidence of Battambang being passed between Thailand and Cambodia over the centuries, before trying a sugar cane juice as you explore some old Khmer houses that are over 100 years old.

After a delicious meal at Jaan Bai, another restaurant which helps vulnerable people find employment, the whole family will enjoy a ride on the Bambook Train, a small bamboo platform that chugs 8 kilometres through the jungle, with views of rural life and rice paddies. After a fantastic day exploring Battambang, you’ll return to your hotel and spend the evening at leisure.

Day 6: Battambang to Phnom Penh

Today you’ll be driven towards Phnom Penh, stopping in at the pagodas of Oudong and a picnic lunch on top of the local mountain before cruising the final stretch to the capital city, passing by fishing stations and floating villages. On arrival in Phnom Penh you will check into your hotel for two nights.

Days 7: Phnom Penh

Spend the morning at leisure, wander along the waterfront and explore the city – we’d recommend lunch at the Foreign Correspondents Club, your family will love their pizza! In the afternoon you’ll be taken on a tour of the city in a tuk tuk, visiting the sumptuous Royal Palace where you’ll glimpse the Silver Pagoda and the National Museum, home to Khmer art, religious artefacts and a rather large bat colony in the roof!

Spend your final evening in Cambodia at leisure.

Day 8: Depart Cambodia

Today your time in Cambodia has come to an end – after breakfast you’ll be transferred to the airport for your onwards flight.