Travel Overland from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap by Car stopping off to spend the night in rural Cambodia. Slow down to see the Mekong River, the Tonle Sap Lake and Khmer villages before arriving at Siem Reap, the home of Angkor Wat Temple.
Siem Reap Overland from Phnom Penh Cambodia
The Phnom Penh to Siem Reap passage has become very well travelled . . . by air!
As ever increasing numbers descend on Siem Reap to visit the Angkor World Heritage Site and Angkor Wat Temple flights, whiz back and forth depositing passengers at both destinations. What these airborne sightseers are blissfully unaware of as they sip their complimentary drink at high altitude is that below them they are missing the chance to see pre-Angkor temples and a far more authentic peep at the real Cambodia, modern Cambodia.
Just as well really because it leaves the real Cambodia alive, well and very much intact for off-the-beaten-track adventure tours packed with authentic encounters and memorable meetings and Phnom Penh to Siem Reap overland is no exception.
The overland route from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap by car takes you up the entire length of the Tonle Sap lake which is a phenomenon itself and is the lifeline and lifestyle of numerous small communities and villages, both floating and land-based. You will have the opportunity to meet some of these Khmer villagers, to visit a working silk farm and to sample a Khmer delicacy; deep fried spiders!
As your ultimate destination is Siem Reap you will doubtless be going to visit the awe-inspiring Angkor World Heritage Site with Angkor Wat Temple the centrepiece. Long gone are the days when you could explore the Angkor World Heritage Site in absence of crowds and justifiably so really given their magnificence.
But if you are looking for the Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider type adventure and the opportunity to experience ancient Khmer empires away from the crowds then this Phnom Penh to Siem Reap overland trip might be just the tonic! En route you travel back to 613 A.D. to visit the capital of the Chenla Empire at Sambor Prei Kuk. Careering forward to the 11th century you explore the far less frequented Wat Kohear Nokor before leaping forward another century to visit Wat Nokhor.
We live in an age in which speed and efficiency are worshiped and ironically this leaves us time starved. By nature we tend to consider the fastest most direct and efficient way to travel from A to B. But stop a moment! Slow down and make the means of getting there as interesting and as unforgettable as the destination itself.
Highlights: Overland to Siem Reap from Phnom Penh
- Skuon – Deep fried spiders
- Visit a Silk Farm
- Kampong Cham – French Indochina Colonial Architecture, Wat Nokhor (12th Century), Wat Kohear Nokor (11th Century), Santuk Silk Farm
- Sambor Prei Kuk – Capital of the pre-Angkor era Chenla Empire
- Kompong Thom – Overnight
- Khmer villages
- Ancient Naga Bridge (Spean Pratpo)
Sleeping Arrangements
Break the journey overnight from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap at the best available Kompong Thom hotel.
Accommodation options are somewhat limited here but we will recommend and arrange the pick of the bunch so that you are bright-eyed and bushy tailed ready for day 2 and the final leg of the journey to Siem Reap.
Overland to Siem Reap from Phnom Penh Itinerary
Our 2 Day Phnom Penh to Siem Reap overland tour is a journey through the culture and history of Cambodia as well as her landscape and scenery. This trip reveals some of the real Cambodia, away from the tourist trappings of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
Travelling overland from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap plonks you in the midst of the Khmer people unveiling their rural lifestyles, customs and cultures as well as some surprising and inspiring sights along the way.
Day 1: Phnom Penh – Kampong Cham – Kompong Thom (-/L/D)
The Phnom Penh to Siem Reap overland trip by car kicks off from either your Phnom Penh hotel or the airport. Leaving Phnom Penh behind you, the trip first beelines Kampng Cham via Skuon for a mandatory interval because Skuon has a reputation for dishing up a Khmer culinary delight; deep fried spiders!
Arachnid appetite satiated, it’s onwards to Kampong Cham which is rich in colonial architecture from the French Indochina era. At Kampong Cham you will also have an opportunity to visit the 12th century temple of Wat Nokhor before once again sampling the more down to earth delights of Khmer cuisine at a local restaurant.
After lunch the journey continues onwards towards Kompong Thom with stops on the way to see the 11th century temple of Wat Kohear Nokor and the Santuk Silk Farm which is an excellent community project where you can see the process of making silk from the worm, to weaving and finished textiles.
Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at a Kompong Thom Hotel.
Day 2: Kompong Thom – Siem Reap (B/L/-)
Have breakfast at the hotel before commencing the second and final leg of the journey which will ultimately take you to Siem Reap, the home of Angkor Wat Temple and the capital of the ancient Khmer empire.
From Kompong Thom the first destination is Sambor Prei Kuk, a distance of about 35Km. Sambor Prei Kuk is the location of the ancient capital of Chenla which is pre-Angkorian and there are still over 100 monuments and temples to see and the chances are you will have them all to yourselves. Return to Kompong Thom for lunch.
After lunch its all-systems-go for Siem Reap. Up until fairly recently this was a bone-shaker of a journey but a shiny new black-top makes for a very comfy trip to Siem Reap which you will cover in about two and a half hours. This means that you have plenty of time to visit traditional villages and the ancient Naga Bridge (Spean Pratpo) on the way.
40Km on from Naga Bridge is Siem Reap and the culmination of the Phnom Penh to Siem Reap overland journey and your driver will deliver you to the front door of your Siem Reap Hotel.
Distances
- Phnom Penh to Kampong Cham: 124 km, the drive takes around 2 hours
- Kampong Cham to Kompong Thom: 136 km, around 3 hours drive
- Kompong Thom to Sambor Prei Kuk: 35 km
- Kompong Thom to Siem Reap: around 2.5 hours drive
TOUR OPERATES: October to March
TOUR PRICE: Available upon Request
Rates vary frequently. Please contact us to get the best possible price based upon your travel period and specific touring needs.
Overland to Siem Reap from Phnom Penh
The 2 Day Irrawaddy Dolphin Eco Adventure that takes you from Mandalay on a cruise on the Ayeyarwady River is available as a Private Tour only. While the format of the eco adventure is fairly fixed, the departure dates are flexible and can be adapted to your Myanmar Travel itinerary.
Overland to Siem Reap from Phnom Penh Includes:
- Transfers and tours with local English speaking guides (guides in other languages are on request and may be subject to supplements)
- Accommodation in shared twin rooms at indicated hotels or similar
- Meals as specified in the program (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
- Entrance Fees
- Service Charges
- Room Tax
- Baggage Handling
Overland to Siem Reap from Phnom Penh Excludes:
- Siem Reap Hotel Accommodation
- Christmas and New Year’s Eve Dinners
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