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Cambodia Real Food Adventure

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Cambodia Real Food Adventure

Was From $ 2,000 AUD
Now From $ 1,795 AUD
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Description

Cambodia has a unique and ancient food culture all of its own, and unlike Thai and Vietnamese food, it’s probably difficult to find a bowl of it in your local neighbourhood. Using pepper rather than chilli to add spice, Cambodian cuisine is laden with fresh herbs, spices, rice, freshwater fish and condiments. While there are influences from French and Thai styles, Cambodian food has a distinct style and flavour that’s best experienced while seated at a local beer hall or family home. While travelling from Phnom Penh through to Siem Reap, discover the sights, sounds and flavours of Kampot, Battambang and Angkor Wat.

Trip Name
Cambodia Real Food Adventure
Last Updated
2024-08-19
Days
8
Capacity
12
Highlights
  • Tuck into a homemade traditional breakfast of Khmer noodles in a small village in Siem Reap. Once fuelled, you’ll spend the day roaming the UNESCO World Heritage Angkor complex.
  • Tour the markets in Phnom Penh with a passionate local chef and then head to his home for a cooking class, where you’ll learn about Khmer cuisine.
  • Cycle through Battambang meeting locals as you stop to see the production of fish paste, rice paper and rice wine, finishing with a delicious sticky rice tasting.
  • Learn about the sombre but important history of the Cambodian people at the S21 Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields.
  • Feast on local delicacies and street food favourites, like fish amok, fresh seafood, num banh chok, beef lok lak and black pepper ice cream.

Itinerary

ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It's important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, political unrest or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. Your group leader or local representative will keep you up to date with any such changes once your trip is underway. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance fees only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and maybe on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your group leader or local representative know you are interested at the Welcome Meeting and they can assist. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and group leader or local representative are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk.

Day 1 - Phnom Penh
Sua s'dei! Welcome to Cambodia. Your adventure begins in Phnom Penh – the meeting point of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers, where the locals come to snack on the street hawkers’ food and enjoy impromptu waterside entertainment. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight, then you’ll kick off your food adventure with a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. The Cambodian cooking pot combines an eclectic mix of local and international influences and has a flavour all of its own. Later, maybe go for a drink or stroll along the famous Sisowath Quay.
Day 2 - Kampot
Before you leave Phnom Penh this morning, confront Cambodia's tragic past on a guided tour of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, in a former high school that served as the notorious Security Prison 21 (S-21) for the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to 1979. See the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, which represent the tragic legacy of the Khmer Rouge. After, you’ll drive south by private vehicle, towards Kampot – one of Cambodia's most attractive old towns. Famous for its pepper, Kampot supplied most French restaurants for many years during colonial rule. Today, the region is also renowned for its durian (a spiky, pungent fruit that you’ll either love or hate). Tonight, maybe ask your leader about the sunset river cruises here and watch the gorgeous nightly display of colour, looking out for the resident fireflies.
Day 3 - Kampot
This morning you’ll have breakfast at Epic Café – a social enterprise that provides employment for local people living with disabilities. After, visit the salt fields that stretch across much of Kampot’s coastline. After learning a bit about the salt production here, head to Phnom Chhngok – a Hindu cave temple built in the 7th century, dedicated to Shiva. Then it’s onto the Kampot Pepper Project. Grown in Cambodia for centuries, Kampot pepper is considered the world’s finest. Today, pepper is also seen as an important symbol of Cambodian regeneration. You’ll taste some pepper ice cream here before heading to Kep Beach for lunch – the nearby Kep markets serve fresh crab cooked to perfection – and eat on the pier overlooking the ocean. After lunch, walk along the coastline and explore the old oceanfront buildings. Kep was once Cambodia's most popular and prestigious beach town, but the Khmer Rouge destroyed many of Kep's mansions and villas. The ghostly remains now stand as a silent reminder.
Day 4 - Phnom Penh
If you’re a morning person, you might like to rise early and see the fishing boats arrive at the port with their daily catch. Then, maybe find a good spot for breakfast and enjoy a leisurely morning. After, you’ll return to Phnom Penh. When you arrive, meet with a passionate chef for a guided tour of the markets, learning about the building blocks of Khmer cuisine. Enjoy a hands-on cooking class and master Khmer staples such as Chicken Curry, Fish Amok (Cambodia's signature dish, a mildly spicy fish curry, typically made with freshwater fish like catfish, and cooked with a rich coconut milk-based sauce) or bok svay (pounded green mango salad, usually served with dried fish or prawns). Feast on your creations over dinner.
Day 5 - Battambang
Travel by private bus to Battambang (pronounced battambong)– Cambodia's second-largest city. Battambang is a riverside town of French influence, famous for its many statues of animals and divinities that decorate the streets and buildings. It also lacks the traffic of Phnom Penh and the visitor numbers of Siem Reap, so it’s a great place to get a real slice of Cambodia. Your leader can recommend activities for your free afternoon. Perhaps join a local Battambang foodie for a home-cooked meal, tasting local dishes such as amok, Khmer curry and fried spicy chicken with homemade rice noodles.
Day 6 - Siem Reap
Take a bicycle ride into the countryside. The ride is easy and takes mostly shady roads through local villages. Along the way, stop to experience rice paper making, fruit drying and preparation, production of the famous prahok (fish paste) and rice wine making at local homes. Finish up at the best Kralan (sticky rice in bamboo) stall in the district. After, you’ll head to Siem Reap via private vehicle. When you arrive, head out for a street food tour with your local leader, tasting grilled fish or spicy fried chicken. Enjoy the atmosphere along the riverbank as the sun goes down, then head to a cocktail class and tasting. As you taste local liqueurs and snacks made with Cambodian herbs, mango and ginger, you’ll also learn how to make three popular cocktails. Later, maybe ask your leader for the spots to keep the party going.
Day 7 - Siem Reap
Head to the village of Preah Dak for a traditional breakfast of homemade num banh chok (a popular Khmer noodle dish). This village is famous for its lifestyle, language, spirituality, culture and of course, its food! You’ll see how the local families make the noodles just as their ancestors made them, then you’ll try some seasonal fruits. After, it's time to explore more of the Angkor complex, built between the 9th and 13th centuries when the Khmer Empire was the pre-eminent influence in South East Asia. See the Bayon temple and the jungle-covered Ta Prohm. Tonight, head out for a final dinner at a plant-based restaurant celebrating contemporary flavours. Using fresh produce from their own gardens, you’ll tuck into dishes like grilled eggplant, creamy pumpkin soup, vegetable curry and homemade lime pie.
Day 8 - Siem Reap
Your adventure comes to an end this morning. There are no activities planned for today and you’re free to leave at any time. If you’re keen to continue your exploration of the Angkor complex, please speak with your leader about extending the length of your access pass.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
26-12-202402-01-2025AUD $ 1,910-
16-01-202523-01-2025AUD $ 1,900-
06-02-202513-02-2025AUD $ 1,865-
20-02-202527-02-2025AUD $ 1,865-
13-03-202520-03-2025AUD $ 1,865-
10-04-202517-04-2025AUD $ 1,995-
08-05-202515-05-2025AUD $ 1,795-
05-06-202512-06-2025AUD $ 1,795-
03-07-202510-07-2025AUD $ 1,795-
04-09-202511-09-2025AUD $ 1,795-
09-10-202516-10-2025AUD $ 1,795-
30-10-202506-11-2025AUD $ 1,865-
06-11-202513-11-2025AUD $ 1,940-
27-11-202504-12-2025AUD $ 1,940-
18-12-202525-12-2025AUD $ 1,940-
25-12-202501-01-2026AUD $ 1,940-
15-01-202622-01-2026AUD $ 2,035-
05-02-202612-02-2026AUD $ 1,960-
19-02-202626-02-2026AUD $ 1,960-
12-03-202619-03-2026AUD $ 1,960-
09-04-202616-04-2026AUD $ 1,885-
07-05-202614-05-2026AUD $ 1,885-
04-06-202611-06-2026AUD $ 1,885-
02-07-202609-07-2026AUD $ 1,885-
03-09-202610-09-2026AUD $ 1,885-
08-10-202615-10-2026AUD $ 1,960-
29-10-202605-11-2026AUD $ 1,960-
05-11-202612-11-2026AUD $ 2,035-
26-11-202603-12-2026AUD $ 2,035-
17-12-202624-12-2026AUD $ 2,035-
24-12-202631-12-2026AUD $ 2,035-

Accommodation

Hotel (7 nights)

Transport

Private Vehicle,Bus,Bicycle

Map