Battambang full-day tour: Bamboo train, bat caves, villages

Ride the bamboo train, watch millions of bats emerge at dusk, taste local snacks in working villages

A full-day tour of Battambang's countryside and villages by bicycle, tuk-tuk and bamboo train, with an English-speaking guide, hotel pickup, and stops at Wat Samrong Knong, the bamboo train station, and Phnom Sampov mountain to see the bat cave and killing cave. Snacks to taste along the way (bamboo sticky rice, spring rolls, dry banana), and entry to both caves are included. The bamboo train ride costs 5 dollars per person at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Wat Samrong Knong3h · entry included
2. Battambang Bat Caves2h · entry included

Explore Battambang and nearby attractions

• Start tour at 9:00am
• Visit colonial buildings and local market
• Explore Wat Samrong Knong and learn history
• Visit village to see bamboo sticky rice making
• See rice paper making and taste snacks
• Walk fish paste market and try dry banana
• Travel to bamboo train via villages and farms
• Ride original bamboo train
• Visit Phnom Sampov mountain and killing cave
• Watch bats emerge from cave
• Return to hotel

The experience

The day starts at 9am with pickup from your hotel. You'll begin in Battambang city itself, walking past French colonial buildings and local temples, then move into the countryside to see how people actually live. At a small village you'll watch someone make bamboo sticky rice and taste it. At another you'll see spring rolls being rolled by hand and try one. A third stop shows the fish paste market, what locals call Cambodian cheese, and a family making dried banana. These are not performances: you're watching the work happen and tasting what they make.

Mid-morning you'll ride the bamboo train, a flat wooden platform on rails that runs through villages and farmland. The ride itself costs 5 dollars per person. After that comes Phnom Sampov mountain, where you can hike or take a motorbike up to the killing cave (a site used as a prison during the Pol Pot regime), and the monastery at the summit. Your guide will explain the history and what happened there. At dusk, you'll wait 5 to 10 minutes for millions of bats to pour out of the bat cave in a single emergence. The view from the mountaintop is one of the most photographed in the region. Hotel dropoff happens after the bats.

You travel by bicycle and tuk-tuk throughout the day, with water and snacks provided. The tour includes a donation to a local family you visit. Children from age 6 are welcome, and infants can sit on an adult's lap or use a specialized infant seat if needed.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and dropoff.
• English-speaking local guide.
• bicycle and tuk-tuk transport.
• entry to the killing cave and bat cave.
• snacks to taste at villages (bamboo sticky rice, spring rolls, dried banana).
• water and snacks throughout the day.
• donation to a local family visited.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (13 to 75 years) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 30 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Battambang Bicycle Tour

Is this one for you?This tour works best for travelers visiting Battambang for the first time who want to see how locals actually live and work, not just the main sites. The mix of village stops, the bamboo train ride, and the bat emergence at dusk means you're moving constantly and seeing something different every hour, so it suits people who like a full day of varied experiences over a slower pace.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What is Wat Samrong Knong and why does the guide spend time explaining it?

Wat Samrong Knong is a Buddhist temple built over 300 years ago that was used as a prison during the Pol Pot regime. Your guide will spend time there explaining the history of that period and the religious significance of the site, and you'll see the Well of Shadows, a killing field where thousands of victims' remains are visible.

How does the bamboo train work and what does it cost?

The bamboo train is a flat wooden platform mounted on rails that runs through villages and countryside. The ride costs 5 dollars per person, paid at the station, and takes you through small villages and farmland on the original bamboo train route.

What happens at the bat cave and when?

At Phnom Sampov mountain, you'll visit the bat cave at dusk and wait 5 to 10 minutes to watch millions of bats emerge from the cave all at once. Your guide will explain the history of the mountain and the killing cave nearby before the bats emerge.

What snacks will I taste during the tour?

You'll taste bamboo sticky rice made in a village, fresh spring rolls being rolled by hand, and dried banana from a local maker. Water and additional snacks are provided throughout the day.

Do I need to arrange my own lunch?

Lunch is not included in the tour, so you'll want to arrange it separately or bring something with you. The snacks you taste at villages and the water provided will keep you going between stops.