All in all, this was a fabulous holiday - now I just have to visit the rest of Vietnam - Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City , .....!

Have a great holiday!

However, it is Cambodia's significant recent past and I feel it's appropriate, even if not "enjoyable" to visit.

Lest we forget

I was on one of the early Untold Cambodia & Laos trips. There is a review on the review page.

I had been to Cambodia previously but only as a few days after touring Vietnam much as you are doing. On the earlier trip a visit to Tuol Sleng had been included so I had been before so knew what to expect. I had not been to the Killing Fields and to further understand the history of this lovely country wanted to go there but it was not (then) included in the itinerary. I mentioned this to the TM with a view to ducking out of something and getting a tuk tuk to go there on my own. However, the TM did a straw poll and of the party all bar 2 wanted to go. As a result we got the visit using the tour bus and it is now an included part of that tour.

I don't know what your timings are but if you mention your interests to the TM it might be possible to fit something in. Time permitting Tuol Sleng is fairly central and you should be able to do this in a tuk tuk but the Killing Fields are a short distance out of town. Getting there was quite easy but we hit the local rush hour on the way back and the journey back to the hotel took ages.

As Bob says both are harrowing but do give a very strong understanding of the troubled past of this lovely country. The War Remnants museum is also very interesting as this gives a different perspective to the conflict to that usually seen by western eyes.

Cambodia is a beautiful country and whatever you do/don't fit in you will have a great time.

Best, Ian

All the best,

Bob

Hi Langtoftlad,

It is possible to squeeze in an independent visit to Tuol Sleng. The current timings on this trip have you arriving in Phnom Penh in the early afternoon, with the rest of the day at leisure.

Obviously, the timings may change die to unforeseen circumstances - but it looks like there is time for you to make this visit.

Kindest regards,

Julia

Thank you - appreciate things change [I worked for an airline so I know all about delays & schedule changes 😃 ] - I'll discuss my options nearer the time with my Tour Manager.

It is possible to squeeze in an independent visit to Tuol Sleng. The current timings on this trip have you arriving in Phnom Penh in the early afternoon, with the rest of the day at leisure.

Obviously, the timings may change die to unforeseen circumstances - but it looks like there is time for you to make this visit.

Kindest regards,

Julia

Hi landtoftlad,

Please accept my apologies in the delay of this response.

I have been advised that on this trip we do not visit Tuong Sleng or the Killing Fields.

Kindest regards,

Julia

Sorry to be a bit of a dog with a bone - but was wondering if there is any "at leisure" time in Phnom Penh when an independent trip to Tuol Sleng [or even Choeung Ek as it's only 15km] might be taken?

Or even to opt out of one of the included elements - such as Wat Phnom or the Central/Russian market [which I'm not too bothered about TBH]?

Just seems a shame to be so close and miss out on one of the most significant parts of Cambodia's recent [living memory] history.

Cheers

Please accept my apologies in the delay of this response.

I have been advised that on this trip we do not visit Tuong Sleng or the Killing Fields.

Kindest regards,

Julia