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Phnom Penh tours and excursions

Phnom Penh tours

Boat tours

Lunch, sunset and dinner cruises are available on the Kanika catamaran and are an ideal way to watch life on the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers during the day. They are also good for seeing the sun set over the Royal Palace or for views of Phnom Penh lit up at night. The lunchtime cruises offer an Asian buffet and dinner cruises offer an extensive Asian and Western a la carte menu.

Tel: +855 89 848 959.
Website: http://www.kanika-boat.com

Car tours

Tours by car with a guide can be arranged through Exo Travel (formerly Exotissimo Travel) and Diethelm Travel. A standard tour will take in the National Museum, Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda in the morning and an afternoon excursion can be made to the killing fields at Choeung Ek or Tuol Sleng.

Tel: +855 23 218 948; +855 23 219 151.
Website: http://www.exotissimo.com

Phnom Penh excursions

Udong

An hour west of Phnom Penh is the abandoned royal city of Udong, which was the capital of Cambodia from the early 17th century until 1866. Several temples, stupas and other buildings cover three hills from which there are sweeping views of the Cambodian countryside. One of the stupas contains the remains of King Monivong (1927-1941). Many of the stupas are badly damaged after they were blown up by the Khmer Rouge, but there is on-going renovation work. At the base of one of the hills is a memorial to the Khmer Rouge victims who were found in mass graves nearby.

Choeung Ek Genocidal Centre

This is the location of one of the many killing fields to be found around Cambodia, situated 15km (9 miles) from the city. Thousands of people were executed here, many brought from the notorious Toul Sleng prison in Phnom Penh, and there are 129 mass graves where around 9,000 bodies were exhumed. A moving memorial stupa contains the skulls of many of the victims found at the site. The location itself is very tranquil but it is disturbing to walk along the paths between the excavated pits, as evidence of small human bones and remnants of clothing still remain.

Tel: +855 23 305 371
Website: http://www.cekillingfield.org
A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

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Villa Langka Hotel

This good value boutique hotel sits in lush tropical gardens in central Phnom Penh. Close to the Independence Monument, and overlooking Wat Langka, the hotel is spread over two converted houses. All 43 rooms are spacious and colonial in style. The hotel's restaurant offers local and international cuisine using the freshest ingredients and meals are either served on the terrace or indoors.

Juliana Hotel

This long-established, resort-style hotel is located at the heart of the city, making it a great base for exploration as most of the major sights are just a few minutes away. The 97 rooms are contemporary in design with Khmer silks and textiles accenting the décor throughout. The swimming pool is surrounded by lush gardens and the hotel's Vanda restaurant serves Asian and Western food and is famed for its barbecued seafood buffet.

InterContinental Hotel

Located in the new business centre of the city, the InterContinental is the first 5-star business hotel in Phnom Penh. With 346 rooms, it's the ideal place for those visiting for work as it has a range of meeting rooms. Its good selection of restaurants offer pan-Asian, Western and Chinese cuisine as well as a popular patisserie.

La Maison D’Ambre

With a superb location on the corner of Sisowath Quay, La Maison D'Ambre has quickly become one of Cambodia's hottest hotels, especially thanks to its river views. Its 10 luxury rooms are individually decorated, while the rooftop bar, Fifth Element, is a huge draw for those after a cool drink at the end of a day. A tree-lined pool and private dining terrace round out a compelling package.

Cozyna Hotel

It's the location of this hotel that makes it such a winner. Right on the main quay, with great access to sights and the city's best nightlife, it's perfect for those on a tight budget. The rooms are simple, but clean, and the staff friendly.

Sunway Hotel

A longstanding favourite, the Sunway Hotel has an excellent location in an upmarket part of Phnom Penh, close to Wat Phnom. The 138 rooms are all large and stylish, some with balconies. The restaurant serves local and international cuisine with special themed nights and there is a patisserie in the lobby. With its own fitness centre and spa, this hotel remains popular.