Battambang tuk-tuk tour: Bat Caves, temples, bamboo train

Ride the bamboo train before it closes, then watch the bat cave exodus at sunset

A full-day guided tour of Battambang by tuk-tuk that covers colonial architecture, three temples including a 300-year-old Buddhist site, rural villages, the Battambang Bat Caves, and a ride on the original bamboo train. The guide speaks English, hotel pickup is included, entrance fees to the killing cave and bat cave are covered, and snacks from local producers are provided along the way. The bamboo train ticket costs $5 extra per person.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each3 stops

1. Wat Samrong Knong3m
2. Kampong Pil Pagoda1m
3. Battambang Bat CavesEntry included1h

Full day Battambang sightseeing tour

• Pick up from hotel at 9:00am
• Visit French colonial buildings and local market
• See Lok Ta Dambong Kra Nhoung symbol
• Visit Wat Samrong Knong temple and learn history
• Explore small villages and local family crafts
• Walk around fish paste market
• Visit Ek Phnom temple and Buddha statue
• Drive through villages and visit fruit farms
• Stop at Golden Gate Bridge for photos
• Ride the original bamboo train
• Visit Phnom Sampov mountain and killing cave
• Watch bats fly out of Bat Cave
• Return to hotel

The experience

The day starts at 9am with pickup from your hotel. Your English-speaking guide drives you through Battambang's city center first, pointing out French colonial buildings and the local market, then the statue of Lok Ta Dambong Kra Nhoung, the symbol of Battambang. From there the tuk-tuk heads into the countryside to visit small villages where you'll stop and watch families make bamboo sticky rice, rice paper for spring rolls, and dried banana. You can taste samples as you go. A short walk through the fish paste market (called Cambodian cheese locally) rounds out this part of the morning.

The afternoon takes you to three temples. Wat Samrong Knong, built over 300 years ago, was used as a prison during the Pol Pot regime. Your guide explains the history and shows you the Well of Shadows, a killing field where over 10,000 people were killed: skulls and bones remain visible in a stupa there. Ek Phnom, one of Battambang's oldest ruins from the 11th century, stands nearby with a large Buddha statue. Before the bamboo train, you pass through more villages and fruit farms along the river, stopping at Kampong Pil Pagoda and a small golden bridge with river views where locals wave and greet you. The bamboo train ride itself lasts as long as you want and costs $5 per person (not included). You'll see small villages and countryside from the bamboo platform as it rolls along the tracks.

The final stop is Phnom Sampov, the mountain holding the killing cave and bat cave. You can walk up or take a motorbike or pickup truck to the summit. The killing cave shows where victims were pushed from the top during the Pol Pot era: thousands of skulls and bones are housed in a stupa inside. After that, you wait for the bat cave exodus: millions of bats emerge over 30 to 40 minutes, flying out in a stream that looks like a long dragon. The guide then returns you to your hotel by 6:30pm. Bottled water and snacks are provided throughout. Bring cash for the $5 bamboo train ticket if you want to ride.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup at 9am.
• English-speaking guide for the full day.
• entrance fees to Phnom Sampov killing cave and bat cave.
• bottled water throughout.
• snacks and samples from local producers (sticky rice, rice paper, dried banana).
• a short walk through the fish paste market.
• and a donation to a local family to support children's education in rural Battambang.

Information

Lasts 9h 45m, runs every day at 09:00, from US$ 20 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 8 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00Another time? ›

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 29 pickup points.

AgesAdult (18 to 45 years) · Senior (46 to 70 years) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (under 3): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Battambang tours by bun

Is this one for you?The day runs nine and a half hours with frequent tuk-tuk rides between stops and short walks at villages and temples, so it suits travelers comfortable with a full schedule and some heat. The two killing sites (Wat Samrong Knong and Phnom Sampov) are historically significant but graphic, with visible human remains. If you want to understand Battambang's recent history and the Pol Pot era, this tour covers it directly. The bamboo train ($5 extra) is optional, so you can skip it if you prefer to spend more time at the temples or villages instead.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is the Battambang Bat Caves experience like?

The Battambang Bat Caves are a mountain cave where millions of bats roost. At dusk, they emerge together over 30 to 40 minutes in a continuous stream that locals describe as looking like a long dragon. You watch from outside the cave as they fly out. The cave is also called the killing cave because it was used as an execution site during the Pol Pot regime, and skulls and bones remain inside a stupa there.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

Most of the day is spent in the tuk-tuk traveling between stops. At each village and temple, you walk for short periods: through the fish paste market, around Wat Samrong Knong and Ek Phnom temples, and across the golden bridge near Kampong Pil Pagoda. To reach the top of Phnom Sampov mountain for the bat cave, you can walk, take a motorbike, or ride in a pickup truck. The choice is yours.

Is lunch included in this tour?

Lunch is not included. The tour provides bottled water and snacks you can taste from local producers (sticky rice, rice paper, dried banana), but you'll need to arrange your own meal or eat at a stop along the way.

What is the bamboo train and do I have to ride it?

The bamboo train is an original, hand-powered platform that runs on tracks through the Battambang countryside. The operator notes it may close soon, making this one of the last chances to ride it. The ticket costs $5 per person and is not included in the tour price. Riding it is optional, and the tuk-tuk will take you to the station if you choose to go.

Will I learn about the Pol Pot regime on this tour?

Yes. Your guide spends time at Wat Samrong Knong explaining the Pol Pot regime and its impact on religion and the country. You'll also visit two killing sites (the Well of Shadows at Wat Samrong Knong and the killing cave at Phnom Sampov), where you can see skulls and bones of victims. The guide provides historical context at both locations.

What time does the tour end and how do I get back to my hotel?

The tour ends at 6:30pm. Your guide drives you back to your hotel in the tuk-tuk after the bat cave visit, so return transport is included.