City Highlights and the Killing Fields Day Tour
Description
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.
Tour Options
Itinerary
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- 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.
Reviews(110)
Sam was an excellent guide for our visit to the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center and S-21 prison in Phnom Penh. His English was clear and he was extremely knowledgeable, helping us understand the history of Cambodia in a meaningful way. Overall a great experience. highly recommend Mr Sam Ang.
Many thanks Advanture for taking time to review your tour. I am delighted that you enjoyed your tour. I hope to see you and your fiancée again soon. Best regards, Sam Ang Kesar-Kesor Khmer Tours
Sam was an excellent tour guide. He was incredibly knowledgeable and informative, sharing great details throughout the tour, and his friendly, approachable personality made the whole experience even better. Everything ran smoothly from start to finish, and we left feeling like we’d genuinely learned something. Highly recommend booking a tour with Sam!
Thank you so much Isabellau for taking the time to review the tour. I am delighted that you and your fiancé enjoyed it very much. I hope to see both of you again in Phnom Penh. Best regards, Sam
He was an amazing tour guide. He was very knowledgeable about the places, explained everything clearly, and was incredibly helpful. At the same time, if you had any questions, he was ready to answer you immediately. I had a lot of fun with him. If you're planning a trip to Phnom Penh, I highly recommend this tour guide.
Many thanks Dr. Daniel. ohm and Trenton for your very review. It was my pleasure to meet you and be your guide the second time. It is equally enjoyable for me to talk and learn from people from different countries. I hope to see you again in Phnom Penh.
I booked a private tour, and everything was effortless. Sam and the driver were early/on time, and all costs were clearly stated up front. I had good communication beforehand via WhatsApp, and everything on the tour could be customized (e.g., due to hot temperatures, I asked to skip a site and go someplace else instead). Honestly, though, what made the tour the most special was chatting with Sam, who worked as a learning specialist prior to becoming a tour guide and is obviously from Cambodia. I can go and see sites myself, read books by myself, etc., but booking tours allows for interactions and learning I would not otherwise have. I highly recommend - and fun fact: as a parent of two, Sam knows just about every possible kid-oriented place/activity, including playgrounds by feature and ranking, around!
It was my pleasure to meet you and be your guide. It is equally enjoyable for me to talk and learn from people from other countries. I hope to see you again in Phnom Penh.
Sam Ang was very knowledgeable and friendly. He was able to show us everything and allow us to return to the ship on time. I would highly recommend him.
Many thanks Mrs. Sonia for your best review. I am glad that you and your husband enjoyed my city tour. I hope to see both of you again in Phnom Penh. With best regards, Sam Ang
Sam was an amazing guide and very knowledgeable about Cambodian history. He also had insight into the reign of the Khmer Rouge as his family was personally affected. It was a great day going to the historical sites and Pagodas. He can be found on facebook with Kesar-Kesor Khmer tours. Sam-Ang Eng.
Fabulous! Many thanks Mrs. Stephanie for your very kind review. I am ready to appreciate it! I hope to see you again soon. Sincerely, Sam Ang Kesar-Kesor Khmer Tours, Cambodia
Had an amazing tour. Sam was very knowledgable and I learnt so much about the history of Cambodia. Visiting the killing fields and the prison, and learning about the historically recent genocide carried out by the Khmer Rouge is a very emotional part of the tour. However, I think it’s something we all should learn about. It’s very humbling. Also, I urge everybody to purchase a book or 2 from the people that are selling them at the killing fields and the prison. Still alive, and sitting in the very spot where they endured so much pain, so they can sell their story and perhaps make a few dollars in the process. I was on my own with Sam and a driver. Sam knew exactly what time to be where, and how to navigate the whole experience while avoiding all the crowds. I 100% recommend this tour. Tku Sam for an amazing day.
Many thanks Mr. Craig for your very kind review. I am glad that you enjoyed my city tour. I hope to catch up with you again in Phnom Penh. With best regards, Sam Ang
It was a wonderful day. There was a lot to cover but Sam was the perfect guide who made the day flow comfortably. The day was a mixture of wonderful sights and interesting history around the Palace and Temples, alongside the challenging and horrific story of the 1970's. Sam dealt with everything in a most appropriate way and provided us with a memorable day, assisted by his very professional driver Michael. We would be pleased to recommend their services to anyone who would like to understand the history of Cambodia and specifically it's capital Phnom Penh. Thank you Sam.
Thank you very much for your great review. I am so exiting to hear that you loved my city tour. I hope to see you and your wife again in Phnom Penh. I wish you and the family good luck and stay healthy. Big regards, Sam
The full day Phnom Penh City Tour was a great experience. Our guide Sam was fantastic and very knowledgeable. We had a great experience during the tour and especially visiting the Palace and Genocide Museum and Centre. I would recommend the tour to anyone visiting the city for a day as it covers all the major sites with Sam providing his knowledgeable perspective of the city. His assistant Michael was great too, and both are great.
Many thanks Mrs. Priyanka N for your great review. I and Michael feel very happy that you and your friend enjoyed the tour. We hope to see both of you again in Phnom Penh. Best regards, Sam
We had a great full day city tour of Phnom Penh. Our Guide Sam Ang was very knowledgeable, informative and courteous. He has vast knowledge of Cambodian history which he explained very well during our full day city tour. His assistant Michael was also great. I would recommend the full day city tour and Sam as a guide
Thank you very much Mrs. Praful Naik for your kind review. I am very happy that you and your friend loved my city tour. I wish you good luck and stay healthy. Best regards, Sam Ang
