City Highlights and the Killing Fields Day Tour

On all our tours, you will be personally guided by Sam Ang (Sam), a Khmer local and licenced English-speaking guide. Sam will immerse you in a rich cultural tour filled with his passion, friendship, knowledge and stories about Cambodia. A comprehensive itinerary is provided, and you will travel across the city to key sites including the Royal Palace and Wat Phnom Pagoda. Also included are in depth visits to the renowned historic sites of the Genocide Museum (S21) and Killing Fields. This tour is suitable for families, groups and solo travellers alike, but please note that the Genocide Museum and Killing Fields are unsuitable for most children, and that at temples, religious sites, and the Royal Palace, shoulders, backs and legs above the knee should be covered.

1. 1

   Royal Palace

   1 hour

   The Royal Palace, located on the riverside, is the official residence of the Cambodian King and his family. Here you will visit a range of ornate and colourful buildings with golden roofs and towering spires, that are a great examples of classic Khmer architecture. Our tour includes the Throne Hall, Napoleon III Pavilion, and the Silver Pagoda with its silver tiled floor and amazing artifacts. A visit to the Palace provides an interesting insight to Cambodia’s regal past and the richness of Khmer artistry and craftsmanship.

2. 2

   Independence Monument

   15 min

   The impressive, Angkorian styled, Independence Monument was built in 1958 to commemorate Cambodia's 1953 independence from its colonial past under the governance of France. Located on a large roundabout, at the intersection of two major boulevards, it is in the very heart of the city. The Monument provides a notable landmark, reference point, and is the center of activity during many national celebrations.

3. 3

   Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

   1.5 hours

   Tuol Sleng, is a museum recording the Cambodian genocide committed by the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to 1979 . The museum is the site of a former secondary school which was used as Security Prison 21 (S21) by the Khmer Rouge. A visit to this museum, and the closely associated Killing Fields, is essential to gaining understanding into the heartbreaking and tragic events that have shaped modern day Cambodian society. Toul Sleng was a place of detention, interrogation and torture, and its preservation maintains evidence of that recent and tragic period in Cambodia’s history. Visiting the museum serves to encourage visitors from around the world to promote peace.

4. 4

   Choeung Ek Genocidal Center

   1.5 hours

   The Killing Fields are sites around Cambodia where altogether about 1.3 million people were killed and buried by the then government under the leadership of the Khmer Rouge and Prime Minister Pol Pot. These terrible crimes against humanity are known as the Cambodian genocide. Most famous of these is Choeung Ek, a former orchard about 15 km from Phnom Penh, and now preserved as a museum for visitors to know and understand what happened during that tragic time. Choeung Ek was closely associated with the Tuol Sleng detention centre.

5. 5

   Central Market

   45 min

   Central Market (Phsar Thmei) is a prominent art deco building in the shape of a cross with a spectacular central dome. The four wings of the cross are filled with stalls selling gold and silver jewellery, antique coins, fake name-brand watches and souvenirs. There are hardware stalls, a wet market, clothing and household items, food outlets…a huge range of products for sale. This is a popular place for tourists to browse, find a bargain or buy gifts and memorabilia to take home.

6. 6

   Wat Phnom

   1 hour

   Wat Phnom is a Buddhist temple built on a tree-covered, man-made hill on the North side of the city. This is an historic and cultural landmark, and a place of tranquillity in the bustling city. The main stupa sits spectacularly atop the hill and enshrines the ashes of King Ponhea Yat who in 1434, arrived and built the city of Phnom Penh. Wat Phnom has become a central attraction in the city for both Khmer and overseas visitors and is a ‘must visit’ when in Phnom Penh.

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• The Genocide Museum and Killing Fields are not suitable for most children.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.