Oudong Day Trip & River Cruise from Phnom Penh with Guide

Summary

Cruising to Oudong’s hilltop stupas & Koh Chen’s silver village

You’ll cruise slowly up the Tonle Sap River from Phnom Penh, watching daily life unfold along its banks before stopping at Koh Chen Island to meet local silver artisans. A tuk tuk takes you up Oudong mountain where ancient stupas and endless Buddha statues wait in silence. With lunch included and an easy pace, it’s a day you’ll remember long after you’re home.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the smell of the river — not bad, just earthy, like wet wood and something green. We’d barely left Phnom Penh when our guide, Dara, started pointing out little things: a fisherman waving from his boat, kids splashing along the bank. The cruise was slow in a good way. I sat back with a cold drink (unlimited beer is no joke here) and watched the floating villages drift by. At one point I tried to count the different crops growing along the shore but got distracted by a woman balancing baskets on her head — she grinned when she caught me staring.

Koh Chen Island was next. It’s famous for silverwork, which I didn’t know before this day trip to Oudong from Phnom Penh. Dara introduced us to a craftsman who let us try hammering a pattern into a bowl — mine looked like it’d been through an earthquake, but he just laughed and said practice is everything. The air smelled faintly metallic inside their workshop, mixed with something sweet from someone’s lunch nearby. Walking around the village felt honest; people nodded or smiled but didn’t fuss over us.

After that we hopped into a tuk tuk for the bumpy ride up to Oudong mountain. The road twisted through fields and suddenly there were these white stupas rising above everything else — apparently some hold remains of Cambodia’s old kings. There are thousands of Buddha statues up there (Dara said 5,000 but honestly I lost count). It was quiet except for monks’ chanting somewhere far off and the wind rattling prayer flags. I still think about that view down over the plains — kind of humbling, you know?

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Full Day Cruise and Tour

• Cruise from Phnom Penh along riverbank
• Visit Koh Chen Island silver village
• Tuk Tuk to Oudong mountain
• See stupa and 5,000 Buddha statues

Top questions

How long does the Oudong day trip from Phnom Penh take?

This is a full-day tour including cruise time, village visit, lunch, and return.

Is hotel pickup included for this Oudong & Koh Chen tour?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included in your booking.

What do you see on Koh Chen Island?

You’ll visit local silver workshops and walk around the village known for its craftsmen.

Are drinks provided during the cruise?

Unlimited beer and soft drinks are included on board.

Is lunch part of this day trip?

Yes, lunch is served at a restaurant during your tour.

Do we have an English-speaking guide?

An English-speaking guide leads the entire experience.

How do we get to Oudong mountain from Koh Chen?

A tuk tuk ride takes you from Koh Chen Island to Oudong mountain.

Are entrance fees covered in this tour?

All entrance fees are included in your booking price.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off, all entrance fees along the way, unlimited beer and soft drinks during your river cruise, fresh fruit platter on board, an English-speaking guide throughout, lunch at a local restaurant, plus tuk tuk rides between Koh Chen Island and Oudong mountain before heading back to Phnom Penh.