Cambodia is a major tourist destination in South-East Asia. Best known for the temples of Angkor, Cambodia is a family friendly destination, with plenty to offer. We travelled in Cambodia for almost two weeks and here we share our 10 day itinerary with kids.
CAMBODIA ITINERARY WITH KIDS
Day 1 – Arrive into Siem Reap
Day 2 – Explore the temples of Angkor in Siem Reap
Day 3 – Explore the temples of Angkor in Siem Reap
Day 4 – Air boating on Tonle Sap Lake, near Siem Reap
Day 5 – Cooking class in Siem Reap
Day 6 – Sunrise at Angkor Wat and quad biking near Siem Reap
Day 7 – Siem Reap to Phnom Penh
Day 8 – Phnom Penh
Day 9 – A day at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Park, near Phnom Penh
Day 10 – Farewell to Cambodia
DAY 1: Arrival into Siem Reap
Most visitors to Cambodia arrive into Siem Reap by flight into Siem Reap International Airport. Our fight from nearby Laos arrived mid-afternoon. A one month tourist visa is available on arrival and costs 30US$. One passport sized photo is needed. Prices correct 2018. We were transferred directly to our hotel.
We stayed at the Golden Temple Hotel, one of the best hotels we stayed at during our nine months away! Set amidst gardens, the Golden Temple Hotel features traditional Khmer décor and hospitality blended with modern comforts. It features an outdoor pool, a restaurant and bar. Less than a 5 minute walk from the Old Market area, the hotel is a 15 minute drive from Angkor Wat and Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport. The staff at this family friendly hotel were exceptional, always willing to help and please.
DAY 2: A full day exploring the Temples of Angkor
A full day to explore the Angkor Historical Park. The temples of Angkor were built between the 9th and 14th centuries by the Khmer civilisation. Angkor rates among the foremost architectural wonders of the world. From Angkor, the kings of the Khmer empire ruled over a huge area within South-East Asia. Angkor’s hundred or so temples constitute the religious skeleton of a dominant administrative and religious centre. The other buildings (houses, public buildings, royal buildings) would have been made of wood and have long since decayed.
Today visit some of the lesser known temples: Preah Khan, Preah Neak Pean, Eastern Mebon and Preah Rup, and Banteay Kdei. There are many options for travelling around the ancient city of Angkor. For the best experience we recommend hiring a tuk tuk driver for the day. In this way, you really get to appreciate the sights and sounds of this ancient city. It’s also great fun for kids, racing around in an open sided tuk tuk. It is easy to hire a driver and tuk tuk for the day. The driver will take you to the various temples and wait for you whilst you explore. We paid 18 US$ per day for the five of us.
Read more about visiting Angkor: Exploring the Temples of Angkor with Kids
DAY 3: A full day exploring the Temples of Angkor
Today visit the most well known temples at the Angkor Historical Site: Angkor Thom, The Bayon, Ta Phrom and Angkor Wat. An amazing day, straight from the bucket list!
DAY 4: Air boating on Tonle Sap Lake
Spend the morning at the hotel, enjoying the pool.
In the afternoon, it’s time for some air boating. Approximately 35 minutes from Siem Reap is Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in South-East Asia. We’d booked with Komnob Airboat Tours for an afternoon of air boating. An air boat glides in the water at high speed. It’s such fun, speeding across the lake, over plants and grasses. During the afternoon you visit two floating villages, giving at insight into the local way of life. Dinner is eaten at a local restaurant, while watching the sun set on the lake. It’s an incredible experience.
Read more about our experience air boating: Best Things To Do In Siem Reap with Kids
DAY 5: A cookery morning near Siem Reap
Today is all about food! There are many different options for cookery in and around Siem Reap. We opted for the Countryside Cooking Class which takes place in an outdoor kitchen, in the countryside around Siem Reap. Before the cooking however, there is a trip to a local market, the type of market where the locals shop. Not another tourist in sight!
We enjoyed every minute of our course. It was informative and very hands on. Our menu consisted of fried spring rolls, fish amok and banana rice cakes. After the cooking, it was time for a late lunch, everything you’ve cooked in the morning.
This cookery course is perfectly suitable for children. Ours ranged upwards from 8 years of age. All were kept engaged throughout and thoroughly enjoyed making the various dishes.
Spend the afternoon back at the hotel, enjoying the pool.
DAY 6: Sunrise at Angkor Wat and quad biking near Siem Reap
It’s an early start today. Up at 4.30am, in order to get to Angkor Wat in time for sunrise at 5.30am! Before you question whether it’s worth getting up so early with kids for a sunrise, it most definitely is. Watching the sun come up over Angkor Wat is spectacular and an experience that will live with you forever.
As you’re up and about so early it’s also worth going back to any of the nearby temples that were busy the first time around. We went back to The Bayon as it had been super busy when we visited on day 3 in the mid-afternoon. It was wonderful to wander around looking at all the impressive heads carved into the rock, with relatively few people around.
In the afternoon, it’s time for a quad bike adventure with Quad Adventure Cambodia. Explore the Cambodian countryside around Siem Reap from a quad bike. Your adventure takes you through rice fields and local villages, as well as to a local crocodile farm. With two people per quad, an adult and child on each, the quad biking is a huge amount of fun. Our kids wanted to do it all again, the minute we got back!
DAY 7: Siem Reap to Phnom Penh
Travel from Siem Reap, to the capital city of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. We oped for flights as we managed to find super cheap fares. Another option is to take a bus or organise a car transfer, which may be more comfortable for a family. A car or bus transfer will take approximately five hours.
Our accommodation for the next three nights was The Kabiki, well located in Phnom Penh. Despite good reviews, we were disappointed with this hotel. The staff were generally unhelpful, the waits at the restaurant were long and the pool was constantly full of leaves.
Relax for the remainder of the afternoon.
DAY 8: Discover Phnom Penh
Today is a full day exploring Phnom Penh. Phnom Penh is the focus of the violent history associated with Cambodia. In April 1975 the Khmer Rouge took over Phnom Penh and immediately forced the entire population into the countryside. This was part of its radical social programme to turn the whole country into an agrarian society. It is estimated that two million Cambodians died at the hands of the Khmer Rouge during their four year reign of terror.
The main memorials to the atrocities that occurred under the Khmer Rouge Regime in the 1970’s are the Tuol Sleng Museum (S-21), and the Choeung Ek “Killing Fields”. Both are located in Phnom Penh and will be visited today.
Please read our separate post on Exploring Phnom Penh with Kids which gives a full account of our thoughts and experience on visiting these memorial sites with children.
DAY 9: A day at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Park near Phnom Penh
Visit Phnom Tamao, Cambodia’s leading zoo, come safari park, about an hours drive from Phnom Penh. We spent the day with Free the Bears on their Bear Care Tour. The Bear Care Programme looks after more than 130 rescued Sun and Moon bears, native species to Cambodia. Our day involved feeding the bears, preparing enrichment toys for the bears, learning all about these endangered species and touring the wildlife park.
DAY 10: Farewell to Cambodia
We travelled overland from Phnom Penh, Cambodia into Vietnam.
IF YOU HAVE MORE TIME…
Add days on the beach, either at Otres Beach in Cambodia or at Phu Quoc in Vietnam, as we did.
READ ALSO:
Top 8 Things To Do In Cambodia with Kids
The Floating Villages of Tonle Sap Lake
Have you been to Cambodia? Do you have any recommendations or things to add to our Cambodia itinerary with kids?
9 Comments.
You missed my 2 MUST Do’s!!! Phare Cambodian Circus was AMAZING! It’s like Cirque Du Soleil but they’ve trained street kids (everything in Cambodia has a NGO/Charity arm so you can make sure your money is going into the community to make sure no one gets left behind). And the other, is the Landmine Museum and Relief Centre. It literally changed my world view of how I fit into the world and my role and responsibility in it. I adored Siem Reap. Just an amazing city #MondayEscapes.
Hi Lydia. I’ve heard so much about the Phare circus and wished we’d known about it during our trip as we would definitely have gone. I’d not heard of the Landmine museum before. We loved Siem Reap too.
Cambodia is high on my list, and I’d love to bring my boys. Your accommodations looked wonderful! Maybe my head was in the sand, but I don’t think I knew you were gone for 9 months! How wonderful! #farawayfiles
It’s a fabulous country to visit with kids. Yes, a nine month world adventure! Absolutely loved it.
What a fantastic adventure to have with kids! I’m very jealous! Such fab suggestions for things to do, my girls would love feeding the bears for sure! #MondayEscapes
Wow what a wonderful itinerary. Cambodia looks absolutely incredible and a wonderful trip to take with your children. That sunset is just beautiful…..Thanks for linking up to Monday Escapes Nicky 🙂
Cambodia is a real family friendly destination, and there’s so much more to do than just Angkor Wat!
I second the Landmine Museum – it was life changing for me as well.
Thanks for commenting Rachel. Did you enjoy Cambodia? We loved our time there.