Traveling with children in Cambodia
Cambodia is an ideal destination for family trips. As with anywhere else, certain physically demanding activities are strongly discouraged for children under 14-16 years old. However, the country offers many majestic and fun places to visit, and reaching them usually doesn't require excessive effort.
The first thing to know before heading to Cambodia with your children is that they will be real darlings there! The Khmer people have a well-founded reputation for tact and a reassuring, contagious smile. This will undoubtedly put your little ones at ease, especially if it's their first trip abroad. The people you encounter during your travels – guides, drivers, local hosts, or even shopkeepers – will have no trouble relaxing the atmosphere. Your children will also have the chance to play with other Cambodian children, giving you, in turn, a bit of respite during the day while creating unforgettable memories for them. At this age, the language barrier is not an issue.
A suitable stay duration
One major question before traveling to Cambodia with your children is whether they will enjoy the trip or if they will get bored, thereby ruining their experience and yours. Our local agency, Voyage Seripheap, offers the "Cambodia with Family" tour, designed specifically to cater to both young and old alike.
The length of stay is a crucial factor in a successful trip. It shouldn’t be too long, as it could destabilize your child who may be far from home. Upon your return, at the end of their school holidays, your child will need some time to recover from the journey and adjust back to French time. Jet lag can sometimes be stressful, but taking proper precautions in terms of rest beforehand can solve the problem. On the other hand, you should stay long enough to fully enjoy the experience, as it may not be repeated for quite some time. A week between departure from France and return is often too short. The proposed tour takes you to the Kingdom for 12 days, which fits well with the 16-day school holiday period outside of summer, leaving enough time for the little ones to readjust once back in France.
Harmonious activities
Determining which activities to do, which cities to visit, and why, is a tricky choice when trying to satisfy everyone. But our agency has managed to plan a well-thought-out itinerary. During these 12 days, you will visit the country’s three largest cities in the following order: Siem Reap, Battambang, and the capital Phnom Penh. Fun activities are offered in each city. Visiting the Angkor temples is a must for you first, but also for your children, no matter how learned they may be. What you learn on-site with your guide will shape the rest of your journey and help you understand your surroundings.
However, a full three-day visit to the temples can be tiring for everyone, especially for children, especially if their interest in the bas-reliefs and Angkorian architecture wanes. One day is more than enough. You will spend a week in Siem Reap, where you can ride in the famous ox-carts, fly in a hot air balloon, or admire the waterfalls at the heights of Phnom Kulen.
In Battambang, cycling will be the focus of your activities! You will enjoy the fresh air of this rural and artisanal region, and you will be able to visit the surroundings of Cambodia's second-largest city by bicycle, on specially designed tours that teach you about local crafts. You will also discover the incredible bamboo train, which will offer you breathtaking views of the fresh, green landscapes in the early morning.
Finally, the last leg of your journey will take you to Phnom Penh. After spending a night on Koh Dach, an island on the Mekong River near the capital, known as the "Silk Island," you will discover the history of this city, once called by the French "The Pearl of Southeast Asia." You will participate in a treasure hunt in the historic districts. A fun and engaging activity where children will feel like real explorers!
We prefer to exclude activities that require a certain level of physical fitness, such as treks in Ratanakiri or Mondulkiri, or even quad biking in Siem Reap.
As you can see, everything in this tour has been designed to satisfy you as well as your children. The harmony between the two generations is our primary goal, enabling you to have wonderful family moments in Cambodia before returning home with your heads full of memories.