Cambodia is a destination perfectly suited for family vacations. Like anywhere, certain demanding activities are strongly discouraged for children under 14-16 years old. The country does, however, offer numerous majestic and engaging points of interest, and reaching them often requires minimal effort.

The first thing to know before taking your children on vacation to Cambodia is that they will be true darlings while there! The Khmer people have a well-deserved reputation for tact and a reassuring, infectious smile. This will put your little ones in the best conditions for what may be their first trip abroad. The people you'll meet during your travels—guides, drivers, those who host you, and shopkeepers—will have no trouble easing the atmosphere. Your children may even play with other Cambodian children, which will first give you, no doubt, some respite during the day, and leave them with unforgettable memories. At that age, the language barrier is not a problem.

A Suitable Length of Stay

The big question mark you'll have before heading to Cambodia with your children will be whether they'll enjoy the trip or instead get bored, spoiling their experience and, consequently, yours. Our local agency Voyage Seripheap proposes its Cambodia as a Family itinerary, specially designed to balance the needs of young and old alike.

The length of stay is one of the key factors in a successful trip. It shouldn't last too long so as not to destabilize the child away from home. Upon your return, at the end of their school holidays, they should have some time to recover from the journey and readjust to French time. The time difference can sometimes be stressful, but taking precautions beforehand in terms of rest solves the problem. Finally, you also need to stay long enough to make the most of this trip, which may not be repeated for a long time... A week between departure from France and return seems far too short. The itinerary proposed above takes you to the kingdom for 12 days, knowing that, outside summer, school holiday periods last 16 days, which leaves enough time for the little ones to readjust when they return to France.

Harmonious Activities

Determining which activities to undertake, which cities to visit, and why, is a difficult choice when you need to satisfy everyone. But the agency has succeeded in planning a carefully crafted itinerary. Over these 12 days, the country's 3 largest cities are visited in this order: Siem Reap, Battambang, and the capital Phnom Penh. Engaging activities are offered within each of them. Visiting the temples of Angkor is a necessary step for you, first of all, but also for your children, however well-informed they may be. What you'll learn on site with your guide will shape the rest of your journey. You'll know where you are.

However, a visit spanning three full days can prove exhausting for everyone, especially children, particularly if their interest in bas-reliefs and Angkorian architecture suddenly fades. One day is more than sufficient. You'll spend a week in Siem Reap! You can ride the famous ancestral ox-carts, take off aboard a hot air balloon, or admire waterfalls in the heights of Phnom Kulen.

In Battambang, cycling will be at the center of your activities! You'll enjoy the fresh air of this rural and artisanal region and be able to explore the surroundings of Cambodia's 2nd city through bicycle tours specially designed to teach you all about local trades. You can also discover the incredible bamboo train, which will delight you each morning with the fresh and verdant landscapes of the region.

Finally, the last leg of your journey will take place in Phnom Penh. Here, after spending a night on Koh Dach, an island nicknamed the Silk Island, located on the Mekong, close to the capital, you'll discover the history of this city once called by the French: the Pearl of Southeast Asia. To do so, you'll participate in a treasure hunt in the historic quarters. An engaging and fun activity where children will take on the role of true explorers!

We prefer to exclude activities that demand a certain level of physical fitness during your stay, such as treks in Ratanakiri, or Mondulkiri, or even quad rides around Siem Reap.

You'll have understood, then, that everything in this itinerary is designed to satisfy you as much as your children. Harmony between your two generations is our primary goal to allow you to experience wonderful family moments in Cambodia before returning home with your heads full of memories.