Cambodia Photography Tour 2026

Tour dates: 23 – 30 November 2026
Tour led by: Seng Mah
Minimum 4 guests. Maximum 6 guests.
Pace: Easy to moderate.

Join us on a mesmerising journey into Cambodia, where ancient monuments of the devarajas, the God Kings of the 9th to 15th centuries, exist alongside the living history of Buddhist faith, traditional practices and village life.

This tour takes you on a photographic journey that charts Cambodia’s ancient past to its modern present, with plenty of opportunities to learn about travel photography, capture great images across a range of genres, and to strengthen your vision and image making through two scheduled image editing and critique sessions that are part of your tour experience.

We’ll be based in the thriving city of Siem Reap, which places us at the very doorstep of the incredible Angkor Archaeological Park, where the majority of these magnificent monuments are located. The region spans environments as diverse as broad plains and dense forests, within which slumber the ruins of Angkor. Nearby villages, lakes and reservoirs take us to the heart of Cambodia: its people and their communities, where you will be thrilled to photograph the daily lives of the Khmer people.

Angkor and Beyond
Many photographers visit Cambodia to photograph the legendary temples of Angkor, including Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and the commanding Bayon. These deserve to be photographed for their glorious and majestic architecture and structures. But this tour extends beyond these ruins, as we explore local villages, markets and spend time with rural families, where authentic portraits and storytelling images can be created.

Curated Photo Shoots
One of the highlights of this tour is the opportunities for you to capture environmental portraits on our curated portrait sessions. You’ll be photographing monks and novices in temples, and with a Khmer Apsara Dancer in the ruins of ancient Angkor. These add a unique dimension to your travel portfolio as these curated sessions let you explore the use of light and setting (and what incredible settings) in your crafting of styled portraits.

Villages, fields and lakes
No photo tour of Cambodia is complete without engaging the beating part of the country: her people. Cambodians are incredibly generous and friendly, often ready with a smile and a curiosity about your photography. We will delve into villages and even embark on a boat excursion to the floating village of Mechrey, where people reside on and ply their trade across the waters of Cambodia’s largest lake, Tonle Sap.

This tour is an opportunity for you to become immersed in travel photography, capturing the spirit of place and people, and Cambodia offers both in spades.

Tour Highlights

Day 1
The tour begins with our gathering at our hotel in Siem Reap. After an overview of the tour, we transfer into Siem Reap for our welcome dinner at Khmer Duem Restaurant (included).

Day 2
We jump into the highlights of the Cambodia photography tour with a day jam-packed with incredible photography opportunities.

• Exploration of Ta Prohm, a sprawling temple ruin which has been overtaken by the jungle. Here, strangler figs grow over the remnants of grand temples, sending their roots down doorways and columns.’
• A special curated shoot with a Khmer Apsara Dancer in these ruins. Think poised poses in temple doorways, along carved corridors and within overgrown ruins!
• Ta Nei temple, off-the-beaten track and not often visited, surrounded by jungle.
• Banteay Kdai, a temple with long corridors and incredible carvings.
• Wat Tep Pranam Monastery where we may witness Buddhist monks performing a traditional water blessing.
• The ancient city of Angkor Thom and the Bayon, with its serene carved faces of King Jayavarman VII.
• Sunset at the South Gate of Angkor Thom, overlooking the reservoirs.

Day 3
The morning takes us to Koh Ker, about 2.5 hours from Siem Reap. The temple complexes here have to be seen to be believed, and to make it extra special, you will be photographing young monks at these temples as part of our curated environmental portrait sessions.

• Curated shoot with young monks at Prasat Pram, where iconic carved towers are wreathed by giant tree roots.
• Elephant Temple and Prasat Thom, the tallest monument in the Koh Ker region.
• Beng Melea, a mysterious and sprawling temple now taken over by the jungle. You’ll feel like an Indiana Jones or Lara Croft as you clamber over temple ruins to find hidden sanctuaries and corners to photograph.

We also have our first (of two) photo editing and critique session on Day 3, which will take place at our hotel in Siem Reap. This session will work with images taken thus far. You’re encouraged to bring your images on your laptop or tablet for editing/critiquing.

Day 4
We take leave of the ruins of Angkor in the morning, and head out into the hinterland.

• Sunrise at local rice fields framed by sugar palm trees. We will witness the collection of sugar palm by a local man, who will climb the tree to tap the sap from the flowering stalks at the top of a tree.
• Visiting a local family in the morning, with the opportunity to capture authentic portraits.
• A boat trip across Lake Tonle Sap to visit the floating village of Mechrey.
• Sunset shoot at Mechrey, capturing stunning silhouettes of fishing boats, floating houses and fishermen at sunset.

Day 5
The temples of Angkor further afield from Siem Reap feature in this day’s photography.

• A curated photo shoot with young monks at Chuey Srey Vibol, a quieter and lesser known temple. This shoot will feature the uses of candle light and incense smoke to create mood and emotion.
• Banteay Srey, a beautiful temple of sandstone carvings; one of the most beautifully preserved structures of the Angkor period.
• Village and rice field visit for candid travel photography of life in rural Cambodia.
• Photography of men and boys with their water buffaloes, against the light of the golden hour and sunset.

Day 6
This day is dedicated to creating the iconic sunrise shot of Angkor Wat in the morning, followed by a visit to the impressive Preah Khan, one of the largest temple complexes. This atmospheric jungle temple offers long corridors, ancient stone carvings and hidden corners.

We have our second photo editing / critique session in the afternoon, and time for you to relax and enjoy the hotel facilities.

Day 7

• A visit to Psar Kram, a local Cambodian fresh food market – where we will capture the vibrant, vivid life of a morning market. It’ll be a morning of faces, moments and busy scenes.
• A metal worker’s family workshop — an opportunity to capture images of a fading traditional trade.
• Wat Atyea, a peaceful pagoda and temple, which combines a religious setting within quiet rural environments.
• A return to Angkor Wat, this time to photograph the complex in the warm afternoon light.

Day 8
Our final morning of this tour takes us to Srah Srang, the 700 year old reservoir, or “baray” that presents a beautiful, reflective backdrop for our sunrise shoot. It features a landing stage lined with statues of nagas and garudas (mythic creatures from Khmer mythology). We may find some monks in contemplation or meditation here.

The tour concludes after this shoot and upon your return to the hotel.

Arrival and Departure Times

We have nominated group arrival and departure times that will include airport transfers from Siem Reap International Airport: Arriving on Singapore Airlines flight SQ166 (15:55 arrival time) on 23 November, and departing on Singapore Airlines flight SQ165 (16:45 departure time) on 30 November. Note that airport transfers outside of these times and dates will be at your own cost.

Tour Price

AUD$5899 inclusive of your own private room (single occupancy, with ensuite).

If you are traveling with a life partner who is also participating in this tour, a twin share price is available. Please contact us if you would like to take this option.

A discount is available if you are a regular guest on our photography tours (having completed 3+ tours with us).

INCLUSIONS

• Seven nights accommodation.
• Air-conditioned transportation (mini bus) during the tour (Day 1 to Day 8).
• Breakfast (Days 2 – 8) and Lunch (Days 2 – 7), including coffee/tea/water/juice.
• Welcome dinner at Day 1.
• Farewell dinner at Day 7.
• Bottled drinking water and cool towels during the tour.
• Private boat experience at Merchey Floating Village.
• Monks and Khmer Apsara Dancers at selected locations as per the itinerary.
• Entry ticket (7 days) into Angkor Archaeological Park, and Koh Ker Archaeological site.

EXCLUSIONS

• International flights to / from Siem Reap.
• Comprehensive international travel insurance (mandatory).
• Dinners (Days 2 – 6): you might like to discover the many restaurants near the hotel or at Pub Street in Siem Reap.
• Alcoholic drinks.
• Gratuities.
• Personal expenses, such as laundry, wifi, incidental meals and medication.
• Photographic equipment.

Reserve your place

A deposit of AUD$1500 will secure your place on this tour. Deposits are due on reservation, with the balance paid by 20 August 2026. Note that deposits are fully refunded if the tour is cancelled due to not attaining minimum numbers.

For details of the Terms and Conditions of our tours, including cancellation charges, please read our Photography Tours Terms and Conditions.

To join this tour or contact us with your questions, please use the form below or email seng [at] venturephotography.com.au or telephone/WhatsApp on +61 417 604 614