Cambodia Photography Tour (12 days) with Laurent Dambies

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.

Our day begins with Ta Prohm, the atmospheric jungle temple famously featured in the early 2000s Tomb Raider movie. 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 sunset.

Another early morning takes us to a serene monastery, where we'll respectfully photograph novice monks during their morning rituals. Nearby, a local market offers a vibrant palette of colors and authentic scenes — ideal for practising your street photography techniques.

In the afternoon, we'll explore Preah Khan temple, a photographer's paradise. This expansive 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.

Our next adventure takes us to the remote temples of Angkor, visiting the ancient 10th Angkorian capital of Koh Ker and its famous 7-tiered pyramid. We will end the day by visiting the largely unrestored temple of Beng Mealea (12th century) that follows the archaeological blueprint of Angkor Wat.

We venture into possibly the most adventurous part of this tour — exploring less visited temples of the lost city of Mahendraparvata in Kulen Mountain, the cradle of the Khmer empire. These temples, dating back to the 8th–9th century, were revealed from below the jungle canopy in 2012 using LIDAR technology.

We head west to Banteay Chhmar, a sprawling 12th-century temple complex built during King Jayavarman VII's reign. Unlike the temples near Siem Reap, Banteay Chhmar sees only 5–10 international tourists per day — making it a peaceful, undisturbed location with an authentic community-led tourism initiative.

Some parts offer raw, unrestored beauty that is extraordinary for photographers. We will spend the night near the temple moat in a comfortable family guesthouse.

After an extensive morning visit of Banteay Chhmar's main temple, we say goodbye to our hosts and drive to Battambang — arriving in time to witness the spectacular exodus at sunset of millions of bats from the limestone caves of Phnom Sampov.

Early morning we 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 explore colonial-era houses, vibrant neighborhoods, and a tranquil pagoda.

After breakfast, we drive back to Siem Reap (3 hours). In the afternoon, we explore some temples around Angkor Thom.

We begin with an underrated pre-Angkorian temple, visually and historically significant. We then visit, either by boat or on foot (depending on the season), a village on the Tonle Sap river where many homes are built on stilts.

In the afternoon, we travel to the nearby countryside to capture the daily lives of monks, local villagers, and enjoy the sunset over the paddy fields.

For our final shooting day, we return to Angkor Wat to bid farewell to this magnificent temple, capturing it during the golden hour at sunrise. In the afternoon we sort and edit your favourite photos in Lightroom. We conclude our Cambodia photography tour with a farewell dinner.

Whether this is your final day in Cambodia or you're extending your stay, we'll arrange your transportation to Siem Reap International Airport. Safe travels — and happy shooting!