Bamboo Train and Killing Caves Day Tour in Battambang

9 hours Free CancellationMin 15 participantsPickup availableInstant confirmationPrivate tourGuided Operated by About Cambodia Travel & Tours 4.9 from 1,915 reviews

Why we love it?

This full-day private tour from Siem Reap explores Battambang Province, featuring a sightseeing route along the Steung Sangké river and visits to the city’s French colonial architecture. Highlights include a ride on the Bamboo Train Battambang through rice paddies and stops at Damrey Sor Pagoda and the Royal Residence. The tour also visits the hilltop temples of Phnom Banan and Phnom Sampov, where you can see the Phnom Sampow Pagoda and the nearby Killing Cave, sites that reflect Cambodia’s complex history under the Khmer Rouge. Admission is not included for the Bamboo Train Battambang, Damrey Sor Pagoda, the Killing Cave, or Phnom Sampow Pagoda. Throughout the day, a professional English-speaking guide provides informative commentary, and private air-conditioned transport ensures comfort. This tour suits travelers interested in cultural history, rural landscapes, and lesser-known Cambodian landmarks.

Inclusions

  • Pick-up & Drop-off at your Hotel (please provide us your hotel name for tour pick up)
  • Professional English Speaking License Tour Guide
  • All entrance fees for tours sites as mentioned in itinerary
  • All private transfer by luxury air-con vehicle
  • Services charge and current government VAT tax

Exclusions

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

Itinerary

Bamboo Train 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.

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

Adapts the architecture of mid11th century and the end of 12th century the temple was first built by King, Ut Tak Yea Tit Tya Varman II ([ ]) and was built finally built by the king, Jarvarman VII ([ ]). The temple is located on the top of approximate 400 meter heighten mountain at Koh Tey 2 commune, Ba Nan District in 15 kilometer distance from the provincial town by the provincial Road No 155 parallel to Sang Ke River

Phnom Sampov

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.

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

Pkar Slar Cave

Bats view

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.

Please Note

  • We offer free pick up and drop off from your hotel located in Siem Reap. If your hotel is not listed please provide us your hotel name for tour pick up
  • Special note: for Italian/French/German/Spanish/Russian/Chinese/ speaking guides are available upon request but The surcharge will be applied

Cancellation Policy

Fully refundable until 2 days before start

Non-refundable after 2 days before start