Cambodia Real Food Adventure

Cambodia Real Food Adventure

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8 Days From

$1370

$1096

Cambodia Real Food Adventure

8 Days Starting in Phnom Penh and ending in Siem Reap

Visiting: Phnom Penh, Kampot, Battambang, Siem Reap

Tour operator:

Intrepid Travel

Tour code:

TKZP

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

1 - 12

Physical rating:

Low, Low

Age range:

15-99 years

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians

Tour operated in:

English

Trip Styles:

Small Group

From: $1370 $1096 Operator discount: -$274 -20%

NB: Prices correct on 28-Jun-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Cambodia has a unique and ancient food culture all 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, and marvel at a cuisine, culture and population so special that you’ll very quickly be won over for life.

Highlights

  • Go market to table during an immersive cooking class with a local chef in Phnom Penh

  • Get an insight into Cambodian cuisine with a visit to famous pepper plantations outside of Kampot, and taste the best pepper in the world

  • A homestay in the village of Banteay Chhmar puts you right in the heart of rural life in Cambodia

  • Eat for a cause with dinner at a Phnom Penh restaurant that not only serves delicious modern Cambodian cooking, but helps the local youth too

  • Learn about local crab and have it cooked up fresh while you look out across the Gulf of Thailand at the Kep Crab market

  • Then head to a nearby village for a homemade traditional breakfast of Khmer noodles. Once fuelled, 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.

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Itinerary

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Day 1: Phnom Penh

Location: Phnom Penh

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: dinner

Sua s'dei! Welcome to Cambodia. Your adventure begins in Phnom Penh, set at the meeting point of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers, where the locals come to take in the air, snack on the street hawkers’ food and enjoy impromptu waterside entertainment. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. The Cambodian cooking pot combines an eclectic mix of local and international influences and has a flavour all its own. Kick off this food adventure with a welcome dinner at a local restaurant after your meeting. Later, maybe go for a drink or stroll along the famous Sisowath Quay.

Included Activities:
-Phnom Penh - Welcome Dinner

Day 2: Kampot

Location: Kampot

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast

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.

Included Activities:
-Phnom Penh - Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21)
-Phnom Penh - The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek

Day 3: Kampot

Location: Kampot

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch

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 which 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.

Included Activities:
-Kampot - Phnom Chhnork
-Kampot - Food tour and lunch
-Kampot - Pepper plantation & salt field visit

Day 4: Phnom Penh

Location: Phnom Penh

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: dinner

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 samlor machou yuon (sour soup with fresh fish and tamarind) or bok svay (pounded green mango salad, usually served with dried fish or prawns). Feast on your creations over dinner.

Included Activities:
-Phnom Penh - Khmer Cooking Class and Market Tour

Day 5: Battambang

Location: Battambang

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast

Travel by private bus to Battambang (pronounced battambong)– Cambodia's second-largest city. Battambang is a pretty riverside town of French influence, friendly Khmer people and beautifully preserved colonial architecture. The city is 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

Location: Siem Reap

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast

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 local dishes such as 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.

Included Activities:
-Battambang - Rural food by bike tour
-Siem Reap - Street food tour
-Siem Reap - Cocktail class

Day 7: Siem Reap

Location: Siem Reap

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner

After, 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 as their ancestors made them, learn about this dish’s history and then end your experience with some seasonal fruits. Then 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. In the evening, enjoy 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.

Included Activities:
-Siem Reap - One day Angkor Pass
-Siem Reap - Village breakfast
-Siem Reap - Sunrise at Angkor Wat

Day 8: Siem Reap

Location: Siem Reap

Meals Included: breaksfast

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.

What's Included

  • Siem Reap - One day Angkor Pass

  • Phnom Penh - Welcome Dinner

  • Phnom Penh - Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21)

  • Phnom Penh - Cyclo Food and City Tour

  • Phnom Penh - The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek

  • Kampot - Food tour and lunch

  • Kampot - Orientation walk with local tipples

  • Kampot - Phnom Chhnork

  • Kampot - Pepper plantation & salt field visit

  • Battambang - Rural Food and Cycle Tour

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What's Not Included

  • Tipping and Gratuities

  • International Travel

  • Airport Transfers at Destination

Included Activities

  • Phnom Penh - Welcome Dinner
  • Phnom Penh - Cyclo Food and City Tour
  • Phnom Penh - Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21)
  • Phnom Penh - The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek
  • Kampot - Orientation walk with local tipples
  • Kampot - Phnom Chhnork
  • Kampot - Food tour and lunch
  • Kampot - pepper plantation visit & salt field tour
  • Phnom Penh - Khmer Cooking Class and Market Tour
  • Battambang - Rural Food and Cycle Tour
  • Banteay Chhmar - Temple Visit
  • Siem Reap - Angkor Silk Farm
  • Banteay Chhmar - Village Market Tour and Cooking Demonstration
  • Siem Reap - Street Food Tour
  • Siem Reap - One day Angkor Pass

Accommodation

  • The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
  • Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
  • WINDOWLESS ROOMS:
  • Some hotels in South East Asia have windowless rooms, or windows that don't necessarily have a view. This is often due to high population density in large cities, however local building standards also do not require rooms to have windows. We do request rooms with windows, however they aren't always available.

Transport

  • Private Vehicle , Bus , Bicycle

Important Information

  • 1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
  • 2. While we endeavor to cater for specific dietary requirements, some meals and food activities are set in advance and may be difficult to adjust. Please advise us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking so that we can ensure you’ll enjoy this trip.

Check out our Q&As

  • Are airport transfers included in this tour?

    No

  • Are all entrance fees included in the price?

    Yes, except optional activities

  • Are international flights included in this tour?

    No

  • Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?

    No

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes

  • Are children permitted to take part in the tour?

    Yes if aged 15+ and accompanied by an adult

  • Is this trip right for you

    The cuisine of Cambodia includes a lot of meat and seafood. For vegetarians and vegans, we recommend reviewing the itinerary and inclusions to ensure that you will be able to participate and enjoy this trip fully. We also have many other trips to Cambodia that can accommodate various dietary requirements.

    Cambodia can get very hot, and even temple-hopping can take it out of you quickly. Remember to use sun protection and drink plenty of water.

    The bloody rule of the Khmer Rouge is a painful but essential part of Cambodian history to confront. If you would rather not visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, just let your leader know.

    You will visit several temples on this trip, and this requires a level of modesty. Be sure to bring clothes that cover the arms and pants or skirts that go past the knees. A light scarf is also a good idea for covering shoulders and arms when it's hot.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room

Reviews of this operator

Maroochy Dazza (Google Reviewer)  

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24-Aug-2023

Just leaving a review to share how much I enjoyed my Central America trip. I thought the guide, Aura was so knowledgeable and organised and clearly a great ambassador for Intrepid. She gave us lots of information on each region, helped us organise anything we needed and dealt with queries from passengers very well and diplomatically. She made the trip run smoothly. She was also keen to explain the Intrepid vision and how the company values making a difference to locals and is a credit to your company. I did Guatemala and beyond and thoroughly enjoyed it - very fast paced, lots to see and do and a great overview of the region. I would definitely recommend 👍

V Open (Google Reviewer)  

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26-Oct-2022

I have just come back home after doing Intrepid's 10-day Vietnam Express Northbound tour. What a SUPERB tour. We saw lots and did lots, it was jam-packed full of sights and activities. Our tour leader, Tam, was the best ever. Very knowledgeable, organised and lots of fun too. The other 10 people on the group were all lovely. The places we visited were very interesting. We even visited local homes and ate just like the local people do. I highly recommend Intrepid to anyone considering touring a new country. This was my 5th tour with them and they have consistently been fantastic.

Jack Edwards (Google Reviewer)  

I have travelled with Intrepid...

03-Jun-2024

I have travelled with Intrepid a number of times now and can't recommend them enough. The trips are always exciting, full of history and immersive in the culture and environment. The office staff are great too and always happy to help with any questions you might have. Everywhere I have gone with the company has been different but the guides and itinerary have always been excellent and full of knowledge and passion for their country. Add in the social responsibility angle the company has and it top quality ethical practice and you can't go wrong

Jo Clayton (Google Reviewer)  

I recently went on an...

15-Mar-2024

I recently went on an 11 day tour of India with Intrepid and was impressed with every aspect of the tour, the tour leader and the organisation behind the scenes. I always travel alone so it was a big deal to join a tour, I didn't want to feel less independent or ferried about. I loved being part of a group and the things we saw and did on the tour, I would never have known about or seen if I had been by myself. I loved it from start to finish. Yes the overnight trains were not easy to sleep on, but I managed. Meeting locals on board was a high light for me. English is widely spoken in India and its amazing who you strike up a chat with. I had two problems on the tour - one my own fault and one hotel related. The support from Intrepid was amazing. I cannot thank them enough for going the extra mile to support me. I recommend Intrepid 100% and have gone from thinking an organised tour is for people who don't know about Lonely Planet and can't do solo stuff, to realising its a faster, better, more fun way to get to know a country truly and deeply whilst on a bit of a budget. I will book again and again with Intrepid. I loved it that much! Big thanks to tour leader Daddy H. Devender for his help on day one, and Nick in the Oz office for his fab customer care skills. Also the person who staffed the emergency whatsapp in India - you saved my sanity helping me get there a day late! THANK YOU ALL X

Nicole  

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12-Oct-2021

This was my first international solo trip, but I never felt “alone” - there was always someone to go shopping, hike, or grab a quick bite with. The itinerary was a great balance between organized activities, while still allowing free time for exploring. Each location was unique and charming in its own way. Spending the night in the holy city of Moulay Idriss and wandering the winding streets of Chefchaouen were especially memorable. Thank you Mustapha and Intrepid for an incredible adventure!

Alice Norton (Google Reviewer)  

I have just completed a...

29-Feb-2024

I have just completed a 12 day food tour of Vietnam, and had an amazing time. Our tour leader was great, knowledgeable and kind, who helped throughout the trip with recommendations for places on our free days, and spas. All the food we tried was delicious. It is a very fast paced tour, and Bon tried to maximise our experiences for the best.

Henry Guy Robinson   United Kingdom

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22-Jan-2024

The overall experience was fantastic. V good tour leader. All places visited had something special to do or see. I would book a tour with this company again. Only one negative tour hub is not I repeat not available to contact direct by phone.

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Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.

    Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.