Cambodia’s capital has seen its fair share of turbulence in the past under the rulings of the Khmer Rouge; large parts of Phnom Penh were severely damaged, and parts of the city have been undergoing major reconstruction work. But the magic remains to dwell through the streets and landmarks – a rustic charm with ample references to its architectonical endeavours.
Phnom Penh is a veritable oasis compared to the modernity of other Asian capitals. With wide tree-lined boulevards and well-designed buildings, Phnom Penh still harks back to the colonial days of this former French playground and the French colonial buildings, much in evidence, add to the ambience. This, and using pedal-powered cyclos, is what makes this half-day exploration of Phnom Penh worth the fabulous views from your slow-moving means of transportation.
Private Tour in the morning
Pickup included
The relaxing means to explore Phnom Penh and its architecture starts right from the doorstep of your centrally-located hotel as we transfer you to the meeting point. It is here where you are welcomed by an English-speaking guide and well-trained ‘chauffeur’ who assist you in stepping into your private cycle (a Cambodian bicycle-powered rickshaw). The wheels slowly turn, creating a cool flow as you venture through the streets and alleys in search of striking buildings and characteristics in the capital’s architecture. Your knowledgeable guide offers a brief historical and cultural introduction to the city, as you make your way calmly with traffic passing by, specifically highlighting the colonial buildings from 1910 onward. You soon see that you are not alone using this laid-back way to move through the city: pedalled rickshaws still ply the streets as in colonial days and provide an excellent opportunity for sightseeing and people watching as well as the taxi service.
Not only those buildings of immense importance pass and landmarks on an ordinary half-day pass the revue. This 3-hour ride also includes a selection of private buildings, and some less obvious examples of religious architecture, both to be admired from the in- and outside. Guests may require to sometimes walk into smaller alleys, where cyclos cannot go, to get a glimpse of hidden treasures. Your cyclo driver slowly makes its way back to the central meeting after this extraordinary tour of seeing what is often not shown and where we scratch the historical surface of this dynamic city. From here, a car/van waits for you for the final stretch to your Phnom Penh Hotel.
Choose to be picked up from a list of locations
Hotel pickup is available from most centrally located Phnom Penh hotel, Supplements apply for customers who want to join this excursion outside one of these regions.
• Our office hours are from 08:00 hrs. until 17:30 hrs. from Monday to Friday - It is the responsibility of the customer to provide us with the correct name or the registration name which is also the name of your hotel booking and hotel information,should pick-up and drop-off services be included in the package. Any changes in accommodation outside 48 hours will be handled accordingly: changes within 48 hours may be on request. - To allow entrance into the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, visitors are obliged to uphold a very strict dress code to respect these royal premises. It is essential that you dress modestly and appropriately during this excursion by wearing clothes that cover shoulders and fall below the knees. Hotel pickups commence prior to this time, you must contact the local service provider to verify your exact pickup time.