A 1.5 hour evening sunset river cruise is the perfect way to relax after an intense day exploring Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital.
Whether you’ve visited The Royal Palace, Tuol Sleng and The Killing Fields or you’ve had a more relaxed day, the sunset cruise is a popular late afternoon activity to do in Phnom Penh.
There are several boat companies that offer the Phnom Penh sunset cruise, but the experience is usually the same whichever one you pick. Check the links below – lots of the sunset cruises also includes unlimited drinks!
The boat ride starts from Sisowath Quay – about a 15 minute walk from The Royal Palace and very near to the Night Market, at around 5pm. But make sure to arrive here at the riverfront boulevard beforehand to enjoy the lively atmosphere, music and street food stalls.
It is a beautiful wide Colonial-style promenade and it is a great place for people watching early in the evening as many locals like to come down here and relax!
The sunset cruise will take you down the Tonle Sap River and will take you onto the Mekong River before heading past the Muslim fishing villages run by chams.
Chams are ethnic Cambodian Muslims who mostly work as fishermen and live on the fishing boats on the banks of the river. Roughly 250 families inhabit this community.
The sunsets from the river are incredibly beautiful and you also get a good view of the skyline of Phnom Penh.
The cruise itself is also fun – there’s plenty of drinks available and there’s music on board too.
There are also dinner cruises afterwards, but the sunset cruise is best as you actually get to see the sunset!
After the boat ride you should also spend some time around Sisowath Quay: there are plenty of restaurants and bars here and even the nearby Phnom Penh Night Market is worth having a look in.
Caterina McGrail is a Travel Writer and ex-Flight Attendant based in Australia. She has visited 85 countries and lived in several – including Italy, Australia, United Arab Emirates and England. Her work has been featured in a variety of popular travel publications including Fodors, Escape, Australian Traveller and Bear Grylls, as well as several international aviation and travel companies. She only writes about places she has personally visited, and aims to give real, honest advice to help her readers.