Battambang Discovery: Bamboo Train, French Architecture, Killing Cave Day Tour from Siem Reap

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Battambang

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Embark on a full-day tour from Siem Reap to Battambang, Cambodia’s second largest city. Explore the city’s elegant French architecture, ride a bamboo train through rice paddies, and visit the hilltop temples of Phnom Banan and Phnom Sampov, which hold haunting reminders of Cambodia’s dark past.

Duration: 10 hours

Cancellation: 1 day learn more

Highlights

Battambang - Battambang is Cambodia’s second-largest city and the capital of Battambang Province, which was founded in the 11th century. It is the former capital of Monton Khmer and lies in the heart of the Northwest of Cambodia. Until the war years, in which almost every infrastructure was destructed it was the leading rice-producing province of the country.
Bamboo Train Battambang - The bamboo train is one of the world’s all-time classic rail journeys. From O Dambong, on the east bank 3.7km south of Battambang’s Old Stone Bridge, the train runs southeast to O Sra Lav, via half an hour of clicks and clacks along warped, misaligned rails and vertiginous bridges left by the French. Each bamboo train known in Khmer as a norry (nori ) consists of a 3m-long wood frame, covered lengthwise with slats made of ultra-light bamboo, that rests on two barbell-like bogies, the aft one connected by fan belts to a 6HP gasoline engine. Pile on 10 or 15 people or up to three tones of rice, crank it up and you can cruise along at about 25km/h.
The genius of the system is that it offers a brilliant solution to the most ineluctable problem faced on any single-track line: what to do when two trains going opposite directions meet. In the case of bamboo trains, the answer is simple: one car is quickly disassembled and set on the ground beside the tracks so the other can pass.
Royal Residence Battambang - The Royal Bungalow on the compound of the Provincial Residence was built in the 1960s by famous Cambodian architect Vann Molyvann. Its architectural design is a fusion of traditional Khmer architecture and contemporary features (“New Khmer Architecture”). It accommodates the Royal Family whenever they visit Battambang. His Majesty, King of Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni, was last seen there in 2007.
Damrey Sor Pagoda - Damrey Sor Pagoda (White Elephant Pagoda), Battambang is one of the frequently accessed tourist spots that is situated in the city center area. This famous temple is located in one of the busy districts of the city which can be convenient to access making this temple one of the prime Battambang attractions. Wat Tahm-rai-saw (White Elephant Pagoda), Battambang is a temple which is known for its elaborate architectural structure. If you are to visit this popular tourism destination, you are to take one of the roads known to be Road 2 or Road 3. Road 2 is comparatively busier than Road 3. There are road side shops and eateries that you will be getting as you take one of the two roads. Also, being located close to the city center area, there are many hotels and lodging destinations that you will be getting in this part of the city. So, it is quite easy for the tourists staying in this region to pay a visit to this temple
Battambang Central Market - Battambang city, the provincial capital of Battambang Province in western Cambodia, is known for three things: Its expertly preserved French colonial architecture, its burgeoning creative scene, and its plentiful rice harvest
Cambodia Peace Gallery (Cambodia Peace Museum) - Open from Monday to Saturday and close on Sunday for optional tour and just pay yourself ticket on site visit
The Cambodia Peace Gallery is a space for reflection and learning on Cambodia’s journey from war towards peace and reconciliation, presenting the complicated Cambodian history characterized by structural violence emerged from the past atrocities, while celebrating the work of Cambodian peacebuilders.
Banan Temple - ភ្នំបាណន់ - Phnom Banan is the best-preserved of the Khmer temples in Battambang Province. The distinctive five towers of the temple are similar to the much larger and more famous temple in Battambang. At the base of the mountain, is a step laterite staircase flanked by Nagas.
Phnom Sampow - On the top of Sam Puoy mountain, there are temple and three natural wells, namely Pkar Slar, Lo Khuon and Ak So Pheak. Next to Sam Puoy mountain, there are some main mountains, the natural site like Phnom Trung Moan, Phnom Trung Tea and Phnom Neang Rum Say Sork. These mountains related to the Cambodia folk legend of Reach Kol Neang Rum Say Sork.
Pkar Slar Cave - Pkar Slar cave is very small, albeit it has a specific atmosphere due to the Buddhist shrine inside. When we were exploring the cave, there was a lovely scene in front of our eyes.
The Killing Cave - The killing caves of Phnom Sampeau are a Khmer Rouge execution site on Phnom Sampeau, a hill southwest of Battambang in western Cambodia. The Khmer Rouge killed their victims on top of the cave at the rim of a daylight shaft or ceiling hole and then threw the dead body into the cave. Men and women were placed in separate caves and clothes in another. There are a number of caves at Phnom Sampeau that have traditionally served as Buddhist temples. Today there is a large glass memorial in the cave next to the skulls and bones and a golden reclining Buddha that can be reached via a staircase. A memorial, assembled from cyclone fencing and chicken wire contains human bones at the base of the stairway
Battambang Bat Caves - It’s something of a spectacle sitting at the foot of Battambang’s Phnom Sampeou, the sun sinking into the horizon as a stream of millions of bats pour from caves and zoom into the sky. Here’s all you need to know about Cambodia’s bat caves.

What's Included

Professional English-speaking licensed tour guide
Hotel pick-up and drop-off included
Luxury air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers
All entrance fees for tour sites as per itinerary
Service charges and government VAT tax included

What's Not Included

All other accounts are not mentioned in the above inclusion
Tip for tour guide and driver
$ 5 per ticket for Cambodia Peace Museum ( Open from Monday to Saturday )

Additional Information

Embark on a journey to Battambang, Cambodia’s second-biggest city, beginning from Siem Reap. Start your explorations around Battambang, stroll along the Steung Sangké river, and take in the city’s charming French colonial architecture. Hop on a bamboo train, traverse the area’s rice fields, and find quaint hamlets. Then, visit the mountaintop shrines of Phnom Banan and Phnom Sampov, where you’ll find the Killing Caves - a chilling testament to the grisly reign of the Khmer Rouge.

Enjoy a private, full-day tour from Siem Reap with a proficient English-speaking guide
Gain insights into Cambodia’s historical legacy from a well-informed guide
Capture memorable snaps of renowned Battambang sights like the Bamboo train, Phnom Banan, Phnom Sampov, and more
Journey in the comfort of a private, air-conditioned vehicle

Location

Battambang

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

5.0

(8 Ratings)

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1 star

87carelv

Feb 12, 2024

Great trip - not to be missed. - Mr Leap was a great tour guide, he made sure we were looked after well and gave us great tips during the tour. I loved that they made this tour more custom to our interests. Really enjoyed the bamboo train and watching the bats come out of the cave. The van was great with AC and Mr Pheap was an excellent driver and felt safe the entire trip. I would definitely recommend this tour to everyone.