Luxury Cambodia: Angkor to Islands

Temple Ruins, a Private Island, and a Secretive Cardamom Escape 

The mysticism of Angkor Wat’s jungle-clasped temples looms large in the psyche of travelers. For many, it’s the reason they’re drawn to Cambodia (undeniably so—the complex exceeds expectations), but it’s not the reason you’ll fall head over heels for this pocket-size country.  

Along our 12-day Luxury Cambodia: Angkor to Islands itinerary, you’ll be charmed by Siem Reap’s alleyways, held spellbound by a temple sunrise, and your palate will be tantalized by simmering Khmer curries. At Angkor Wat, you’ll place your hand on ancient stones and sense the untold stories and hidden histories of the ancient Angkor Empire.  

But Cambodia’s treasures are not all written in past tense. You’ll spend nearly a week retreating to the country’s most pristine natural environments where regenerative travel is working hard to protect and conserve Cambodian wilderness for generations. (And the accommodations are pure experiential luxury.) 

Before you depart, catapult into modern-day Cambodia in the capital of Phnom Penh. You’ll taste the past, present, and future of Khmer cuisine before taking a somber but essential learning journey into Cambodia’s painful 1970’s genocide. Your heart will ache for the Khmer people whose warmth and gentle hospitality has made you feel so welcome in a place so far from home. Uplifted by their resilience and generosity of spirit, you’ll hold forever hold a piece of Cambodia in your heart.  

Luxury Cambodia Angkor to Islands: 12 days/11 nights

Luxury Cambodia: Angkor to Islands Trip Highlights

Begin your 12-day Cambodia travel itinerary in the country’s ancient cultural heart: Siem Reap. Touching down at the airport, look for your VIP escort through customs and immigration, then greet your awaiting guide and driver for a welcoming arrival. Check into Jaya House River Park for three nights and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Nap, enjoy a restorative Khmer massage, or wander Siem Reap’s charming boutiques, markets, and alleyways. This evening, take a seat at Cambodia’s first farm-to-table restaurant for what will be the gastronomic highlight of your trip. Inspired by the chef’s upbringing on a vegetable farm, the menu reimagines Khmer Empire fare and traditional recipes with a modern twist that stands to define Cambodian cuisine’s future.
Depart early in the morning to catch a magical, contemplative sunrise at Angkor Wat. Afterward, journey back to the ninth-century Khmer Empire, visiting Angkor’s most iconic temples with a guide who will bring history to life. We upgrade your experience by using a senior archeologist who has specialized training in stone restoration—and has guided presidents and A-list celebrities.
Reserve a second day to tour Angkor Archaeological Park, this time, calling on secretive temples that most day-trippers skip—but are equally worth a visit. This exhilarating day has you rumbling along sandy tracks past a stilted village in an open-air safari jeep to arrive at rarely-visited ruins. It’s an action-packed day that merges history and culture with rugged, off-the-beaten-path adventure.
Depart charming Siem Reap for the Cambodian coast. All transfers and a short flight seamlessly are facilitated by Extraordinary Journeys so all you have to do is repack your bags. A 40-minute boat ride from Sihanoukville brings you to Song Saa Private Island for three nights, a tranquil, sand-skirted island in the Koh Rong Archipelago.  
Spend two full days blissed out with your toes in the sand. Snorkel Song Saa’s protected reefs to scan for seahorses, lounge at the dreamy pool, go scuba diving or kayaking, and search for bioluminescent after dark. There are also opportunities for guided meditation, a monk-led blessing ceremony, yoga, and a walking safari. We recommend an al fresco treatment at the “spa without walls”—secretive sanctuaries in nature that dot the island.  
Trade the beach for the biodiverse Cardamom Mountains, where you will make a thrilling zipline arrival when checking in to Shinta Mani Wild. Buried in the wilderness and overlooking a whitewater river, make this tented camp your rainforest home for three nights.  
You’ll pass adventurous days at Shinta Mani Wild on personalized outdoor experiences designed by attentive Bensley Butlers. Kayak along mangrove-lined channels, explore secretive backwaters on an expedition pontoon boat, and “stumble upon” wilderness picnics, set up in the most surprising jungle settings. Guided hiking, mountain biking, ziplining, camera trapping, foraging, and “wild bathing” in secretive swimming holes handily fill a multi-day stay. You can even join conservation rangers on an anti-poaching survey via motorbike.  
From the Cardamom Mountains, take a private vehicle transfer to Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital city. You’ll check in at Raffles Hotel Le Royal—an iconic heritage hotel. Settle in, sip a cocktail in the esteemed Elephant Bar, and enjoy the ambiance of this storied destination. (It's one of the best things to do in Cambodia.) 
On your last full day in Cambodia, set out with a guide for a cultural city tour of Phnom Penh on foot and via tuk-tuk. You’ll first set off on a culinary journey, visiting food stalls, markets, and hidden gems to sample Khmer delicacies, sweets, and snacks. Next, learn about French colonialism in Cambodia from 1887 to mid-century, admiring Belle Epoque and Art Deco influences on an architectural exploration of the city’s most fascinating facades. The day ends at Tuol Sleng Prison, a former high school-turned-detention center during Cambodia’s bloody genocide. While somber and distressing, it’s an essential part of understanding the country’s modern past.  
A private vehicle transports you to the airport for your international flight home or the next leg of your luxury Southeast Asia travel adventure. 

Price

Starting at $14,500 per person sharing in 2025

Luxury Cambodia: Angkor to Islands on a Map