Follow along this Explorer’s Journal with Destination Expert, Claudia on a virtual adventure through Cambodia. She explores the ins and outs of Cambodia, tasting the authentic cuisine, cruising through the Tonle Sap & Mekong River, and roaming impressive temples.

Hello! I’m Claudia, Southeast Asia Specialist for SA Expeditions. After a few months in Thailand, it was time to continue to Cambodia. I was super excited to see Angkor Wat and learn more about this country!

‘Suosdai’ from Cambodia!

We made it to Cambodia’s capital of Phnom Penh, ready to meet our local team and explore. Our guide, Sophan, took us to our first stop: the Royal Palace. Cambodia has a complicated history and is now considered a constitutional monarchy and liberal democracy. The power resides in the prime minister who is chosen by the king with the recommendation of the National Assembly. Although reluctant to openly share their thoughts on politics, everyone we encountered throughout our trip shared some hope of improvement for the country as a new Prime Minister was appointed after 38 years.

Our tour included stops to see the National Museum, have a delicious local lunch, learn about the dark history of the Khmer Rouge, and visit S21 Killing Field. We had a perfect end to our day with a private sunset cruise over the Mekong River.

Exploring like a Local

The next day, we met up with a young local guide that took us around by tuk-tuk through the vibrant streets, away from the usual tourist trails. Like a local, we got to start the day with a colorful market tour, getting to taste snacks from bustling local stalls. We then continued with the discovery of the underground street art scene on a mural-spotting tour. Considering it’s not too common for locals to express their discontent with the government, art is how they express themselves, which we found very interesting.

It was our last day in Phnom Penh before hopping on a cruise and we took a local ferry with our guide to Koh Dach Island. Hopping on local transportation commonly used by residents is a great way to have a little adventure. We encountered people, motorbikes, cars, tuk-tuks and even had the chance to try a fried spider on the way (though we didn’t dare).

Upon arrival, we were met by our tuk-tuk driver and got to see the rural life of wooden houses and small, charming pagodas. This was a nice break from the busy city life as everything seems to be slower and more peaceful. We also got to stop at a traditional house where they showed us how they make silk fabric and even bought some souvenirs to bring home! After lunch at a local stilt house, we returned to Phnom Penh for our last night.

Boarding the Aqua Mekong Cruise

Join me as I embark on the Aqua Mekong Cruise – the most comfortable way to explore the Tonle Sap & Mekong River! With 3-, 4-, and 7-night options to sail from Vietnam to Cambodia, I experienced the 3-night itinerary from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. Due to low-water season, we didn’t cross the Tonle Sap Lake to reach Siem Reap, but instead cruised out-and-back the Tonle Sap River from Phnom Penh and flew to Siem Reap.

We embarked in the afternoon and were immediately welcomed by the wonderful staff before going to our cabin and settling in for our welcome meeting to discuss the next days’ activities. For each day, you get to choose how active you’d like to be, whether you want to go biking in the morning or afternoon (or both, or none!). After a welcome dance show, we enjoyed dinner and rested for the next day.

Endless Excursions to Choose From

The next morning, we had a tasty breakfast that involved some dietary restrictions; we were super appreciative of how easily accommodating and aware the staff was of this. We hopped on our skiffs and were on our way to see some local communities. While one group went to see a temple, we chose to bike and enjoy some nice views.

After lunch and some time to rest, we went on our second biking trip for the day before returning to the ship to relax at the lobby, where you can play some board games, enjoy happy hour, watch a movie (along with popcorn and ice cream!), and receive information for the next day. For dinner, we had the nice surprise of having the option to order from an alternative menu if you want to change your meals up a bit. Aboard the Aqua Mekong, you can also do laundry for free, so we were able to have our post-biking muddy clothes cleaned for the next day.

Pottery, Bike Rides, and a Floating Spa

The following day, we chose to do another bike ride to see some traditional pottery-making – a great chance to buy some very affordable souvenirs and visit more local residents that always welcomed us with a smile. Our afternoon excursion was much lighter this time, and we even had an oxcart “race” before enjoying some sundowners set up by the wonderful crew.

After our last night meeting of the day, the team showed us the amazing pictures that they took of us throughout the cruise (you can opt out if preferred!), which were later shared to us via email. The Aqua Mekong also has a floating spa that we enjoyed for an hour treatment after dinner, leaving us ready for our last night on board.

Off to Siem Reap!

During our last morning on the Aqua Mekong, we enjoyed our free time at the plunge pool before disembarking. As we traveled during the low-water season, our itinerary included the flight to Siem Reap.

The next morning, we were ready for one of the main highlights of our trip: Angkor Wat! Our guide and tuk-tuk met us at the hotel to start the day. Within 20 minutes, we were already at this impressive temple from the 12th century filled with impressive details that would help us understand this ancient culture. We got to explore different parts of Angkor Wat, learn about the history from our guide, and continue to Ta Phrom, particularly famous for the Tomb Raider movie.

Experiencing the Culture of Cambodia

We were amazed to learn more about the communities and local people. We started our day biking and understanding how to make rice noodles, and even had the chance to give it a try. After getting to see the whole process, we got to eat them as a traditional Cambodian breakfast! We then continued to a local house where we were taught how to make these beautiful handicrafts. It turns out, I don’t have the skills and it’s not as easy as you’d expect!

For our last experience in Siem Reap, we visited the floating villages. It was very impressive to see how high the water would get in just one month after our visit, and the whole village moves around in boats. We even saw some houses moving from Vietnam to Cambodia, relocating for the season!

After some hotel visits and independent exploration, it was time to say goodbye to Cambodia and move on to my next destination: Vietnam!

Dreaming of a trip to Cambodia? Claudia and our Destination Experts are here to make your adventure unforgettable! Whether you're interested in an expedition like this one or exploring other incredible ways to experience Cambodia, we’ve got you covered. No matter which Cambodia adventure you choose, it’s bound to be a journey you’ll cherish.