Full-day Battambang tour: Bamboo Train, temples & Bat Cave

Bamboo train, mountain temples, and a cave full of bats at dusk

A full-day tour of Battambang covers five major stops: a colonial city center and riverbank walk, the Cham and Javanese villages, a one-hour ride on the original bamboo train, Wat Banan Temple reached by climbing ancient stairs, and Phnom Sampov Mountain with its Killing Cave and Bat Cave. The tour includes tuk-tuk transport, an English-speaking guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch at a Cambodian restaurant, and unlimited water. Group or couples options are available at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Phnom Banan2h · entry included
2. Battambang Bat Caves3h · entry included

Explore Battambang and Surroundings

• Visit colonial building and provincial hall
• See Tadam Bong Kro Aung statue
• Stroll along riverbank and markets
• Take photos on hanging bridge
• Visit Kampon Pile Pagoda
• Explore Cham and Javanese villages
• Ride the original Bamboo Train
• Climb to Wat Banan Temple
• Observe bamboo sticky rice baking
• See fruit bats hanging from trees
• Visit Phnom Sampov Mountain and rice fields
• Explore Killing Cave and learn history
• Enjoy sunset at Bat Cave with a beer

The experience

Start in Battambang's colonial quarter, where you'll visit the Tadam Bong Kro Aung statue and walk the riverbank to watch local life unfold along the water. Stop at the bustling markets to sample street food and pick up souvenirs, then cross the Sangke River on the hanging bridge and learn about Buddhism at Kampon Pile Pagoda. You'll spend time in the Cham and Javanese villages, where residents share their daily routines and local snacks.

The bamboo train (a flat wooden platform on rails, powered by a motorcycle engine) carries you for one hour through the countryside on the original track. This is the centerpiece of the day: a ride that exists nowhere else in Cambodia. Afterward, you'll visit locals baking bamboo sticky rice and spot fruit bats hanging from trees as you approach Wat Banan Temple on Phnom Sampov Mountain. Climbing the ancient stairs to the temple takes effort, but the view opens onto rice fields and working farmers below.

In the late afternoon, you move to the Killing Cave on Phnom Sampov Mountain, where you'll learn about the Khmer Rouge and see the historical remains. The day ends at the Bat Cave as the sun sets, where thousands of fruit bats emerge from the cave entrance at dusk. A beer is included as you watch this natural spectacle unfold. Your guide handles all logistics (transport by tuk-tuk, entry fees, and the route), so you move between sites without arranging anything yourself.

What’s included

• Transportation by traditional tuk-tuk.
• all entry fees and taxes.
• an English-speaking local guide.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• lunch at a Cambodian restaurant.
• unlimited mineral water and cold towels throughout the day.
• a beer at the Bat Cave at sunset.

Options for this experience

2 options

Group/Family tourGuide in English · 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00Private tour: this option is a private package with a tuk-tuk reserved only for your group. Several rate options are available, so you can choose the one that best fits the number of people in your group who want to book the tour. Duration: 10 hours. Khmer tuk-tuk: traditional Khmer transport. Included option: a pickup truck is provided for transport to the Phnom Sampov peak and the drop-off at the bat cave. Pickup is included.

Couples/Friend TourGuide in English · 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00Private tour: this option is a private package with a tuk-tuk reserved only for your group. Rate options: couples and groups of 2-4 people. You can select the option that best suits the number of people who wish to book the tour if you are traveling as a group. Countryside roads. Khmer tuk-tuk: traditional Khmer transport. Includes pickup.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (8 and older) · Under 8: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 24 pickup points.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 5

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Battambang Tour: Mr Lychee

Is this one for you?Choose the group or couples option at checkout depending on your party size. The full-day schedule packs five distinct sites into one route, so you see the bamboo train, two temples, and the bat cave without backtracking, though the climbing at Wat Banan and the afternoon pace mean this suits travelers comfortable with a moderately active day.

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Top questions

What is the bamboo train and how long is the ride?

The bamboo train is a flat wooden platform mounted on rails and powered by a motorcycle engine, unique to this region of Cambodia. The ride lasts one hour and takes you through the countryside on the original track, passing through villages and farmland.

Do I have to climb stairs to reach Wat Banan Temple?

Yes, Wat Banan Temple sits on Phnom Sampov Mountain and requires climbing ancient stairs to reach it. The climb is part of the experience, and the view of rice fields and farmers below makes the effort worthwhile.

What happens at the Bat Cave and when?

The Bat Cave is your final stop, timed for sunset. Thousands of fruit bats emerge from the cave entrance at dusk, and you'll watch this natural event while enjoying a beer included with the tour.

What does lunch include and where do we eat?

Lunch is a meal at a typical Cambodian restaurant featuring delicious Khmer cuisine. The tour also includes stops to sample traditional street food and local snacks in the villages you visit.

Is hotel pickup included, and what about getting back?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included in the tour price. Your guide will collect you from your hotel in the morning and return you at the end of the day.

What is the Killing Cave and what will I see there?

The Killing Cave on Phnom Sampov Mountain is a historical site from the Khmer Rouge period. You will learn about this history from your guide and see the remains preserved at the site.