Battambang temples and villages tour: Ek Phnom and rice wine

An 11th-century temple ruin stands where Angkor-type carvings still mark the stone.

A half-day morning tour from Battambang explores the rice fields and temples north of the city, starting with the 11th-century Ek Phnom temple about 15 km away: an Angkor-type ruin with carved stone still visible. The route includes stops at village workshops where you watch bamboo sticky rice and rice paper being made by hand, a tasting of rice wine, and a visit to Wat Samrong killing field. A guide leads the group, tuk-tuk transport and water are included. Pickup is arranged from your hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Morning Tour of Temples and Villages

• Visit Ek Phnom temple
• Learn bamboo sticky rice making
• Try rice wine
• Explore Wat Samrong killing field

Day 2: Visit Wat Samrong Khong

• Visit Wat Samrong Khong

The experience

What does a half-day tour north of Battambang actually show you? The region is ringed by rice fields and temples, and the morning route takes you out to Ek Phnom first: a Buddhist temple ruin from the 11th century, roughly 15 km northwest of the city. The carved stonework is still legible on the structure, and the scale and detail give a sense of what the Angkor temples looked like when they were built. From there the tour moves through villages where you stop to see how locals make bamboo sticky rice and rice paper, the kind of everyday craft that doesn't make it into guidebooks but shapes what people eat and use every day.

The route also includes a tasting of rice wine (a local spirit made from rice), and a stop at Wat Samrong, a killing field site that marks a darker chapter of Cambodian history. A guide leads the group through each stop, explaining what you're looking at. The tuk-tuk moves you between sites, and water is provided throughout the morning. Pickup from your hotel is included, so you don't arrange your own transport to the starting point.

What’s included

• Tuk-tuk transport between sites.
• a live English-speaking guide leading the group.
• water throughout the morning.
• hotel pickup from your accommodation.
• stops at Ek Phnom temple, village workshops for bamboo sticky rice and rice paper, a rice wine tasting, and Wat Samrong killing field.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00, 09:00 and 10:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 to 25 years) · Senior (35 to 70 years) · Youth (13 to 15 years) · Child (8 to 10 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years)

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 13 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomeNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Mr. Pov Battambang Amazing Tour

Is this one for you?The morning departure means you're back by early afternoon, leaving the rest of your day free: useful if you're moving on to another town or want time to explore Battambang itself. The tuk-tuk and guide handle the logistics, so you step out at each stop without arranging transport or finding your way between sites.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 15 years); Child (8 to 10 years); Infant (1 to 3 years).

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.

How far is Ek Phnom temple from Battambang city?

Ek Phnom temple sits about 15 km northwest of Battambang, roughly a 20–30 minute tuk-tuk ride depending on traffic and road conditions.

What exactly do you see at the Ek Phnom temple?

Ek Phnom is an 11th-century Buddhist temple ruin with the carved stonework and architectural style of Angkor-period temples still visible on the structure, giving a sense of how these temples were built and decorated centuries ago.

Do you actually make the rice paper and sticky rice yourself, or just watch?

You visit village workshops where locals demonstrate how bamboo sticky rice and rice paper are made by hand. The tour is structured as observation and learning, not hands-on participation in the craft.

What is Wat Samrong killing field?

Wat Samrong is a site connected to Cambodia's killing fields history during the Khmer Rouge period. The tour includes a visit as part of understanding the region's past.

Is hotel pickup included, or do I meet the group somewhere?

Hotel pickup is included in the tour, so the guide arranges to collect you from your accommodation before the morning route begins.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs as a half-day morning experience, covering Ek Phnom temple, the village workshops, rice wine tasting, and Wat Samrong within that timeframe.