Phnom Penh day trip from Sihanoukville: Royal Palace, Tuol Sleng

Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, Tuol Sleng and Wat Phnom in one day from the port

A full-day private shore excursion from Sihanoukville to Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, with an English-speaking guide covering the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Wat Phnom. The round-trip uses the express highway to maximize sightseeing time, and the schedule is built around cruise ship arrivals and departures. All entrance fees and transport are included. You choose between a private tour, a small shared group or a larger group option at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Royal Palace1h · entry included
2. Silver Pagoda40m · entry included
3. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum1h · entry included
4. Wat Phnom30m · entry included
5. Wat Ounalom30m · entry included

Full-day Phnom Penh sightseeing tour

• Meet driver at Sihanoukville port or Independence Park
• Travel via private express highway to Phnom Penh
• Meet English-speaking tour guide in Phnom Penh
• Visit the Royal Palace
• Explore the Silver Pagoda
• Tour the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
• Visit Wat Phnom
• See the Independence Monument and King Father Norodom Sihanouk Statue
• Visit Wat Ounalom
• Return to Sihanoukville via private express highway
• Drop off at Sihanoukville cruise port

The experience

Phnom Penh sits about two hours from Sihanoukville by express highway, and this tour is built to fit a cruise day. You're picked up at Independence Monument (where the free shuttle from the port arrives), and driven straight into the capital with your English-speaking guide. The round-trip highway travel cuts down dead time, leaving most of the day for the sites themselves.

The Royal Palace has been the primary residence of Cambodia's king since 1886, and the Silver Pagoda sits next to it, its floor covered in handcrafted silver tiles and its central Buddha statue carved from emerald or baccarat crystal. Wat Phnom, the hilltop pagoda that gave the city its name, stands 27 meters high and was founded in 1373 according to legend. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum occupies a former secondary school used as Security Prison 21 by the Khmer Rouge from 1975 to 1979. The site documents Cambodia's recent history directly. Your guide accompanies you through all four stops, and entrance fees are covered.

The tour runs 10 to 11 hours total, including the highway drive both ways. You're dropped back at the port in time for your ship's departure. Lunch is available at local restaurants during the day at your own expense, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. The cruise typically provides free shuttle service from the port to the meeting point and back, so confirm your ship's arrangement when you book.

What’s included

• Round-trip private air-conditioned transport from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh via express highway.
• pickup and drop-off at Independence Monument to align with cruise shuttle schedules.
• English-speaking licensed guide throughout all sightseeing stops.
• entrance fees for Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, Wat Phnom and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum.

Options for this experience

3 options

Big Group TourGuide in English · 08:00Joint big group tour: you will join a group tour from Sihanoukville. We pick you up at Independence Park in Sihanoukville at your cruise drop-off point, and pickup is included.

Private TourGuide in English · 07:30, 08:00 and 08:30This is a private tour only. Pickup is included at Independence Park in Sihanoukville, depending on your cruise ship's shuttle bus drop-off arrangement.

Small group tour, jointGuide in English · 08:00Joint small group tour. Pickup is included at Independence Park in Sihanoukville, depending on your cruise ship's shuttle bus drop-off arrangement.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:30, 08:00 and 08:30

AgesAdult (6 to 79 years) · Under 6: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 9 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by About Cambodia Travel & Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the private tour option if you want to set your own pace and skip the group stops. Pick the small group or larger group option if you prefer to share the cost and don't mind a fixed itinerary with other cruise passengers. The express highway route is what keeps the full four-site day inside the 10 to 11 hour window and gets you back to the port on time.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

What is Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, and is it difficult to visit?

Tuol Sleng is a former school used as a torture and execution center by the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to 1979. It is now a museum documenting Cambodia's genocide. The visit is emotionally heavy but not physically demanding. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health or pregnancy.

Do I need to arrange my own transport from the cruise port?

Your cruise ship provides free shuttle service from the port to Independence Monument, where your tour guide meets you. The tour includes round-trip private transport from there to Phnom Penh and back to the port by express highway.

Can I book this as a private tour, or do I have to join a group?

You can choose between a private tour, a small shared group or a larger group option when you book. The price and group size vary by option, but all three follow the same itinerary and include the same sites and entrance fees.