2-Day 1-Night Pchum Ben Festival Tour: Khmer Ancestor-Remembrance Ceremony, Dawn Rice-Ball Toss & Ancient Capital of Oudong
Multi-day tours
International tour
Festival tour
Spiritual tour
Standard
Departure point
→
Destination
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Phnom Penh
Oudong
2N1Đ (Participation Duration)
Car,Walking (Transportation)
English (Language)
Number of participants 0/12
0 booked
Tour description
Pchum Ben is a 15-day ancestor-remembrance festival according to the Khmer calendar (around September–October), culminating on Ben Thom Day. Cambodians believe that during these days, the gates of hell open and the spirits of ancestors return to the earthly world; descendants must visit at least seven pagodas to make offerings and dedicate merit to the deceased.
The most distinctive ritual takes place at dawn: people carry sticky rice balls mixed with sesame (bay ben) around the main hall and toss them onto the grass for spirits who have no descendants to worship them, while monks chant prayers. Afterwards, they offer food to the monks—the monks’ only meal of the day—and listen to the scriptures together.
The program allows you to participate respectfully with a Khmer guide, combined with a visit to the ancient capital of Oudong, featuring royal stupas on the hill and Wat Ounalom—the center of Buddhism in Cambodia.
The most distinctive ritual takes place at dawn: people carry sticky rice balls mixed with sesame (bay ben) around the main hall and toss them onto the grass for spirits who have no descendants to worship them, while monks chant prayers. Afterwards, they offer food to the monks—the monks’ only meal of the day—and listen to the scriptures together.
The program allows you to participate respectfully with a Khmer guide, combined with a visit to the ancient capital of Oudong, featuring royal stupas on the hill and Wat Ounalom—the center of Buddhism in Cambodia.
Meeting point:
View on map
Sân bay quốc tế Techo (KTI) hoặc khách sạn tại Phnom Penh
Đón tại sân bay Techo hoặc khách sạn ở Phnom Penh; kết thúc tại Phnom Penh.
Detailed itinerary
Noon: Pick up guests at the airport or hotel, check in, and have lunch.
Afternoon: Visit Wat Ounalom Pagoda and see local people preparing offerings; join a family in making ansom cakes (Khmer sticky rice cakes) and bay ben rice balls.
Evening: Enjoy a Khmer dinner. Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Afternoon: Visit Wat Ounalom Pagoda and see local people preparing offerings; join a family in making ansom cakes (Khmer sticky rice cakes) and bay ben rice balls.
Evening: Enjoy a Khmer dinner. Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Morning (04:00): Accompany your guide to a local pagoda to participate in the Bay Ben ritual of throwing balls of rice around the main hall and listen to the chanting. Offer food to the monks. Return to the hotel for breakfast and check out.
09:00: Depart for Oudong (approximately 1 hour), climb the hill to visit the royal stupas and the hilltop pagoda, crowded with worshippers.
Lunch: Have lunch at a bamboo hut at the foot of the hill.
Afternoon: Return to Phnom Penh. The vehicle will take you to the airport or hotel, ending the program at approximately 15:30.
09:00: Depart for Oudong (approximately 1 hour), climb the hill to visit the royal stupas and the hilltop pagoda, crowded with worshippers.
Lunch: Have lunch at a bamboo hut at the foot of the hill.
Afternoon: Return to Phnom Penh. The vehicle will take you to the airport or hotel, ending the program at approximately 15:30.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Tour price includes
• English-speaking local Khmer guide throughout the program
• Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
• 01 night at a 3-star hotel in central Phnom Penh (2 guests per room)
• Meals: 1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 dinner
• Offerings for the pagoda, ingredients for making ansom cakes and bay ben
• Bottled water
• Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
• 01 night at a 3-star hotel in central Phnom Penh (2 guests per room)
• Meals: 1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 dinner
• Offerings for the pagoda, ingredients for making ansom cakes and bay ben
• Bottled water
Tour price excludes
• Airfares and Cambodian visa
• Single-room supplement
• Additional donations to the pagoda (at your discretion)
• Tips for the guide and driver
• Travel insurance and personal expenses
• Single-room supplement
• Additional donations to the pagoda (at your discretion)
• Tips for the guide and driver
• Travel insurance and personal expenses
Cancellation policy
Cancellation 7 days or more before departure: 100% tour refund.
Cancellation 3–6 days before departure: 50% tour refund.
Cancellation within 3 days of departure or no-show: non-refundable.
In the event of natural disasters, epidemics, or attraction closures required by the authorities, we will assist with changing the date or refunding the unused services.
Cancellation 3–6 days before departure: 50% tour refund.
Cancellation within 3 days of departure or no-show: non-refundable.
In the event of natural disasters, epidemics, or attraction closures required by the authorities, we will assist with changing the date or refunding the unused services.
Other notes
Departure schedule: the festival tour operates only during the festival period according to the Khmer lunar calendar; the festival dates change every year. The currently available departure date follows the nearest published schedule, and dates for subsequent years will be updated. During the festival, hotels and vehicles are in high demand, so book at least 1–2 months in advance.
Dress code: when entering temples, pagodas, and the Royal Palace, please wear clothing that covers your shoulders and trousers/skirts below the knees; sports shoes are recommended because some sections have steep stone steps.
The tour is normally led by an English-speaking local guide; guides speaking Vietnamese, French, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other languages can be requested (please advise when booking, subject to guide availability).
The price applies per guest, based on a private tour for groups of 2 or more guests. Larger groups receive better rates; please contact us.
Visa: international visitors need a Cambodian visa (apply for an e-visa online before the trip or obtain a visa at the border crossing/airport); ASEAN citizens are visa-exempt. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months.
2027 schedule: the Pchum Ben holiday is from 29 September to 1 October 2027, with the tour departing on 29 September. During the festival, many locals return to their hometowns, and some shops and museums in Phnom Penh may be closed. Please wear white or modest-colored clothing that covers your shoulders and knees when entering pagodas.
Illustrative photos: Wat Ounalom 2012 – Kiensvay, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Wat Ounalom. – Milei.vencel, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Phnom Penh, Wat Ounalom (4) – Pierre André, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Big Buddha Statue - Flickr - D-Stanley – David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada, CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Oudong Cambodia November 1964 01 – Don Christie, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).
Dress code: when entering temples, pagodas, and the Royal Palace, please wear clothing that covers your shoulders and trousers/skirts below the knees; sports shoes are recommended because some sections have steep stone steps.
The tour is normally led by an English-speaking local guide; guides speaking Vietnamese, French, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other languages can be requested (please advise when booking, subject to guide availability).
The price applies per guest, based on a private tour for groups of 2 or more guests. Larger groups receive better rates; please contact us.
Visa: international visitors need a Cambodian visa (apply for an e-visa online before the trip or obtain a visa at the border crossing/airport); ASEAN citizens are visa-exempt. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months.
2027 schedule: the Pchum Ben holiday is from 29 September to 1 October 2027, with the tour departing on 29 September. During the festival, many locals return to their hometowns, and some shops and museums in Phnom Penh may be closed. Please wear white or modest-colored clothing that covers your shoulders and knees when entering pagodas.
Illustrative photos: Wat Ounalom 2012 – Kiensvay, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Wat Ounalom. – Milei.vencel, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Phnom Penh, Wat Ounalom (4) – Pierre André, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Big Buddha Statue - Flickr - D-Stanley – David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada, CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Oudong Cambodia November 1964 01 – Don Christie, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).
Detailed price list
| Guest type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | $230 |
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