CAMBODIA PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR | YOUR NEXT PHOTO ADVENTURE AWAITS!
PRIVATE TOUR (12 DAYS)
Cambodia in Focus: Ancient temples, Smiling Faces, and Timeless Traditions
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📷 Your Cambodia photo journey awaits!
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PRICING
USD 5200 per photographer (solo traveler).USD 3800 per photographer.
We offer discount for accompanying travellers (non photographer) and to previous photo tour participants.
INCLUSIONS
Photography guidance and feedback by Laurent Dambies.
Air conditioned private car or van with driver.
All entrance fees and 7-day Angkor pass.
3-star hotel in Siem Reap in Battambang. Guest house with aircon in Banteay Chhmar.
Fresh water, soda drinks and great coffee ☕.
Breakfasts, some lunches during the tour. Welcome and farewell dinners
EXCLUSIONS
Your tourist visa to Cambodia.
Personal insurance.
AVAILABLE YEAR-ROUND.
BLACKOUT MONTHS: APRIL, MAY AND SEPTEMBER.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED MONTH: AUGUST
STRIKING A BALANCE BETWEEN TEMPLE AND PEOPLE PHOTOGRAPHY
While Angkor’s ancient temples inevitably draw the majority of photographers whose requests being to capture the temples with the best light and minimal crowd, Cambodia has also an untapped world of street photography and people waiting to be discovered. The countryside villages, with their wooden houses and verdant rice fields, offer intimate glimpses into the real life in Cambodia. Local markets burst with photographic potential – from the vibrant displays of exotic fruits to the animated conversations between vendors and buyers.
Novice monks in bright orange robes go about their daily activities, creating beautiful scenes that only last a moment. You might catch them studying languages, cleaning the grounds, or chanting their prayers as the sun is just setting down. These quick, candid moments really show the heart of Cambodia’s Buddhist culture.
In my 10 years of photography tours in Cambodia, I’ve learned to carefully balance these two worlds. While the temples offer endless photographic opportunities, the physical demands of temple photography shouldn’t be underestimated. Spending hours composing shots in temperatures soaring past 30°C, with humidity levels around 60%, can test even seasoned photographers.
SMALL AND INTIMATE GROUP
I want to keep this photo tour small and intimate. It can accommodate a solo traveler, a photographer with one or two accompanying non-photographers, or a small group of 3 to 4 friends passionate about photography. The advantage of having such a small group is that it makes it easier to photograph in confined spaces like indoor markets, or to be discreet when capturing the daily life of monks, for example.
TAILORED ITINERARY
During this photo tour, content will be adjusted to your photography level and preferences (people photography, temple photography). Additionally, depending on your level of fitness we can do some treks or covering more distances by e-bikes.
PHOTOGRAPHY HIGHLIGHTS
- Capture the iconic temple of Angkor Wat at sunrise.
- Gaze at the amazing Bayon temple and its 216 carved stone faces.
- Explore the hidden chambers and wander through the maze of Preah Khan‘s ancient halls.
- Meet friendly locals in the countryside and local food markets.
- Explore the mysterious ruins of Beng Mealea’s overgrown temple.
- Witness the daily life of monks in their pagodas.
- Explore the countryside few kilometers away from Siem Reap.
- Ride an electric mountain bike on dirt trails and discover hidden temples away from the crowd (optional).
- Witness the daily life of people living on the floating villages of the Tonle Sap lake (seasonal).
CAMBODIA PHOTO TOUR (12 DAYS) | EXAMPLE OF PROGRAM
DAY 1 - SIEM REAP
Upon your arrival at Siem Reap International Airport, I will receive you and we drive to your hotel in the city center. During our welcome dinner, I will give you an introduction of our tour together. We will conduct a gear check – ensuring your equipment is primed for the coming days of shooting.
DAY 2: SIEM REAP. FIRST DAY 📷
Our day begins early at Ta Prohm, the atmospheric jungle temple famously featured in the early 2000s Tomb Raider film. You’ll photograph this remarkable site in the soft morning light, before tourist crowds arrive. We’ll then explore several intimate, lesser-known temples in the vicinity. After refreshing at your hotel during the midday heat, we’ll return to the archaeological park to photograph Angkor Wat during the golden hour, staying until after sunrise.
DAY 3: SIEM REAP
Another early morning takes us to a serene monastery, where we’ll respectfully photograph young monks during their morning rituals. You’ll have opportunities to capture intimate moments. Nearby, a local market offers a vibrant palette of colors and authentic scenes—ideal for practicing your street photography techniques.
In the afternoon, we’ll explore Preah Khan temple, a photographer’s paradise. This expansive temple complex features long corridors, hidden chambers, and ornate windows. The extraordinary light quality, combined with lichen and algae-stained sandstone, will provide unique and vibrant photographic opportunities.
DAY 4: SIEM REAP - PREAH VIHAR
Our next adventure takes us deep into Cambodia’s heart, with a 90-minute drive to the mysterious Beng Mealea and Koh Ker temples. These less-visited sites offer raw, unrestored beauty that’s catnip for creative photographers.
DAY 5: PREAH VIHEAR - BANTEAY CHHMAR
This early morning, we’ll explore Preah Vihear Temple, dramatically perched over 500 meters on a cliff edge with stunning panoramic views of the surrounding landscapes of Cambodia and Thailand. The temple’s high elevation often means morning mist and fog, especially during cooler hours, which creates an atmospheric setting as the structure emerges through the clouds.
We’ll head west to Banteay Chhmar, a sprawling temple complex from the 12th century, constructed during King Jayavarman VII’s reign. We’ll explore this massive site before sunset. Unlike the temples near Siem Reap, Banteay Chhmar sees very few visitors – only 5-10 international tourists per day – making it a peaceful, undisturbed location. The temple complex is overseen by a community-led tourism initiative, offering an authentic and intimate experience and atmosphere.
As evening falls, we’ll have dinner arranged specially within the temple complex. If weather conditions are favorable, we’ll set up for night photography, taking advantage of the dark skies to photograph the stars above the ancient temple.
DAY 6:BANTEAY CHHMAR-BATTAMBANG
After a extensive visit of the main temple of Banteay Chhmar in the morning, we say good bye to our hosts and drive to Battambang where we arrive in time to watch a sunset over the colorful countryside.
DAY 7: BATTTAMBANG
Early morning we will wander through Battambang’s charming city center streets and lively local markets, soaking in the town’s laid-back atmosphere.
After a lunch break, we will explore colonial-era houses, vibrant neighborhoods, and a tranquil Cambodian pagoda, then venture to Phnom Sampov to witness the spectacular bat exodus at sunset.
DAY 8: BATTAMBANG - SIEM REAP
In the morning we will capture Battambang’s most photogenic landmarks and hidden gems, then journey to Siem Reap and settle into your hotel. After checking into your hotel in Siem Reap, this evening Experience the electrifying energy of the Phare Cambodian Circus, a mesmerizing blend of acrobatics, theater, and storytelling. Put your photography skills to the test by capturing the vibrant performances and dynamic movements.
DAY 9: SIEM REAP
We begin our morning by visiting a lively local food and fish market off the beaten path, followed by a boat ride through one of the Tonle Sap villages, where many homes are built on stilts. In the afternoon, we will explore the enigmatic and distinctive architecture of Bayon Temple during the golden hour.
DAY 10: SIEM REAP
In the morning, we will review your favorite pictures and edit them together using Lightroom. In the afternoon, we will travel to the nearby countryside to capture the daily lives of monks, the local villagers, and enjoy the sunset over the paddy fields.
DAY 11: SIEM REAP. LAST DAY 📷
For the final of this photo tour together, we will go back to Angkor Wat, where we’ll bid farewell to this magnificent temple by capturing it during the golden hour at sunrise. For those with extra energy, we can explore the temples near the Royal Palace or spend time sorting and editing your favorite photos in Lightroom. We will conclude our Cambodia photography tour adventure with a special farewell dinner together.
DAY 12: SIEM REAP.
Whether this is your final day in Cambodia or you’re extending your stay, we’ll arrange your transportation to Siem Reap International Airport.