A Guide to the Phnom Penh Killing Fields and S21 Hop-on-Hop-off Joint Tour

Are you planning a trip to Cambodia and looking for a comprehensive tour around its capital Phnom Penh? A joint tour around the Phnom Penh Killing Fields and S21 sites is the perfect way to get a detailed overview of the city’s history and pay respects to its victims. Here, we’ll provide a comprehensive guide to the Killing Fields and S21 Hop-on-Hop-off Joint Tour in Phnom Penh, covering everything from its price tags, enticing stops, and inspiring stories.

What are the Phnom Penh Killing Fields?

In the late 1970s, the Khmer Rouge took control of Cambodia and started a mass massacre of genocide. This decimated roughly one-quarter of the country’s population, leaving nearly two million people dead or missing, and living in fear thanks to Leninist leader Pol Pot. The Phnom Penh’s Killing Fields, or Choeung Ek, is an eerie reminder of the atrocities that were carried out during this grueling period. Located 15km southwest of the city center, the site contains the remains of millions of victims, the remains of 17,000 people remaining uncovered. As soon as you enter the site, you’ll come upon a large temple of glass. Within its walls, you’ll find the skulls of over 5,000 male, female, and child victims.

What is S21?

Another significant relic that remains from the Khmer Rouge regime is Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. Also known as Security Prison 21 (S21), this building formerly served as a high school before it was transformed into a prison where an estimated 17,000-20,000 people were imprisoned and executed over a 4 year period. During this time an estimated 40 innocent people survived the torture, which included electric shocks, sometimes to fifth degree burns, since prison officials did not Document any deaths by their own hand. The prison has been preserved to this day in order to commemorate and honor its victims. Stripped of its cell doors, barbed wire fences, and torture chambers still remain. Making a visit to S21 is sure to be both educative and emotionally jarring as you gain a comprehensive insight into this dark time in history.

What is included in a Phnom Penh Killing Fields and S21 Hop-on-Hop-off Joining Tour?

A joint tour centered around the Phnom Penh Killing Fields and S21 will generally allow you to explore both sites over the course of one day. Such a tour will help visitors get an in-depth look into these sites, with help from an informative guide who can provide history and facts about each location. Tours generally last for around 8 hours, involving both pick up and drop off transportation from your hotel or guesthouse. As such, this tour is great for a daytrip exploration of Phnom Penh in one solid go. The tour usually kicks off at 7:30 am with pickup from your hotel in Phnom Penh. The first point of call on the tour is usually Choeung Ek Memorial located in Ban Dey Krahom village. Here you will be given an introduction to the site along with explanations about its dark past. Once you’ve done some exploration at Choeung Ek Memorial and visited its haunting temple of glass filled with skulls, the tour will make its way to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21). This museum serves as testimony to the violence treatment that claimed numerous victims in Pol Pot’s regime. You will be given a guided tour around the museum with time for exploring its many rooms before departing for lunch. After paying homage at both sites, you’ll be taken for a bite at one of Phnom Penh’s most popular local eateries for lunch. Your guide will then escort you back to your hotel or guesthouse of choice by late afternoon.

How much does the Killing Fields and S21 Hop-on-Hop-off Joint Tour cost?

The cost of this joint tour usually runs somewhere between $40-$60 USD per person depending on which provider you book through. Most tourist companies offer discounts if you’re traveling with three or more people so make sure to take advantage of such offers when booking.

What are the best tour companies offering this joint tour?

There are several reliable companies offering this joint tour so it pays to shop around for prices and reviews. The most popular choice among tourists would be Viator Tours which offers comprehensive 8-hour joint tours at an affordable price tag under $50 USD per person – perfect for visitors short on time but with long lists of attractions to visit. Viator’s Phnom Penh Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng S21 Museum Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour runs every day at 8am and takes visitors around both of these important sites with comfortable air-conditioned transport and stops at two other places of interest including Wat Thmey (Killing Fields) and Wat Ounalom (Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum). The package also includes a local guide who will provide guests with an insight into Cambodia’s dark past along with vibrant storytelling complemented by inspirational photographs throughout the trip. Plus, guests get hassle free transport at locations that do not offer major transport hubs such as hotel lobbies or central tour points – perfect for travelers looking for maximum convenience when exploring Cambodia’s capital city. Another company offering this joint tour is GetYourGuide who provide private full day tours complete with morning pickup directly from your hotel lobby or guesthouse. On this tour you’ll get fully guided visits to both sites with professional local guides who are knowledgeable about the country’s history . You’ll even have the opportunity to learn more about Cambodian culture from local experts who can tell you all about during a delicious dinner rounding up your afternoon at a restaurant near your hotel.

Is it worth doing a Killing Fields & S21 Hop-On Hop-Off Joint Tour in Phnom Penh?

In short – yes! A joint hop on hop off tour is one of the most comprehensive ways to explore both the poignant sites that represent Cambodia’s violent past as well as get insights about its present culture in one go. While some travelers may prefer to visit each independently on their own itineraries, it’s worth considering investing in one of these well tailored tours which offer facilitated transportation between sites and an experienced guide who can shed more light in these specific regions of interest if you’re not so familiar with their historical contexts or cultural heritages. Moreover, considering past reviews along customer ratings is also important when choosing which tour agency to invest in – especially if you’re looking for a personalized trip full of informative accounts about these dark chapters in Cambodian history. For more information or to book your own Killing Field & S21 Hop On Hop Off Joint Tour in Phnom Penh today click here.