Phnom Penh tour: Royal Palace & Killing Fields visit

See Phnom Penh's history in one day with a driver who knows the city inside out

A full-day private tour of Phnom Penh with an English-speaking driver covers the Royal Palace, Wat Phnom Temple, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Choeung Ek Killing Fields memorial. You travel in a comfortable air-conditioned minivan, stopping at each site while the driver provides context and handles all the navigation. Entry tickets to museums and memorials are not included in the tour price.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum2h
2. Choeung Ek Genocidal Center2h
3. Russian Market1h
4. Royal Palace1h

Explore Phnom Penh historical sites

• Visit Royal Palace complex
• Explore Wat Phnom Temple
• Tour Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
• Visit Killing Fields of Choeng Ek

The experience

The tour starts at the Royal Palace, the residence of the Cambodian royal family built between 1866 and 1870 on the western bank where the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers meet. From there you move to Wat Phnom Temple, founded in 1372 when a widow named Penh retrieved Buddha statues from a floating log in the river and built a temple on an artificial hill to house them. The driver provides the history as you go, and the minivan's air conditioning keeps you comfortable between stops.

The afternoon takes you to Tuol Sleng, a former high school that the Khmer Rouge converted into Security Prison 21 in 1976. The five buildings were enclosed in electrified barbed wire, classrooms turned into interrogation chambers, and all windows covered with iron bars to prevent escape. After Tuol Sleng, you travel the same route prisoners once took to Choeung Ek, the killing fields memorial outside the city. Mass graves containing 8,895 bodies were discovered there after the Khmer Rouge fell. Today a Buddhist stupa filled with over 5,000 human skulls marks the site, with exhumed pits and scattered bones still visible on the grounds.

The driver speaks English and has worked in Phnom Penh for many years, so navigation and logistics are handled for you. You'll also stop at the Russian Market, a bustling warren of clothes, accessories, souvenirs and electronics surrounded by local fruit and vegetable stalls. Bottled water is provided throughout the day, and the vehicle seats up to seven passengers comfortably.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned minivan.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• gasoline.
• English-speaking driver with years of local experience.
• pickup included.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Russian and Thai

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Phnom Penh Vip Private Car

Is this one for you?Book this if you want an English-speaking driver who knows the city intimately to guide you through Royal Palace, Wat Phnom, and Tuol Sleng at your own pace in one day, rather than joining a group tour.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

6 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

How long does the full-day Phnom Penh tour take?

The tour runs for 8 hours, covering the Royal Palace, Wat Phnom Temple, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, Choeung Ek Killing Fields and the Russian Market in a single day with your private driver.

What is Tuol Sleng and why is it part of this tour?

Tuol Sleng was a high school converted by the Khmer Rouge into an interrogation and torture center called Security Prison 21 in 1976. The tour includes it because prisoners held there were later taken to Choeung Ek, making both sites central to understanding Cambodia's recent history.

Are museum and memorial entry tickets included in the tour price?

No. Entry tickets to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Choeung Ek Genocidal Center are not included. You pay those separately at each site. The tour price covers transportation, the driver, bottled water and the minivan's air conditioning.

What is the Choeung Ek Killing Fields memorial like?

Choeung Ek is an open-air memorial marking the site where mass graves containing 8,895 bodies were discovered after the Khmer Rouge regime fell. A Buddhist stupa with acrylic glass sides holds over 5,000 human skulls, with lower levels open during the day so visitors can see them directly. Exhumed pits and scattered human bones remain visible across the grounds.

Is the Russian Market included in the tour itinerary?

Yes. The Russian Market (Phsar Toul Tom Pong) is a stop on the tour, a bustling market in central Phnom Penh where you can browse clothes, accessories, souvenirs and electronics, with local fruit and vegetable stalls surrounding the outside.

What language does the driver speak?

The driver speaks English and has worked in Phnom Penh for many years. Audio guides in Spanish, Italian, French and several other languages are available if you need them.