Cambodia Photography Tour
Join us for a 12-day tour in Cambodia during the High Water
Cambodia High Water Photography Workshop – Angkor, Tonlé Sap & Rural Cambodia
This 12-day Cambodia photography workshop explores the country during the High Water season, when the Mekong and Tonlé Sap transform the landscape and shape the lives of communities across Cambodia. From Angkor to the villages, waterways, and rural landscapes around Tonlé Sap, we explore a side of the country far beyond the usual tourist routes.
Co-led by Régis Binard and Etienne Bossot, the workshop combines extensive photographic experience with deep local knowledge and access developed through many years of working and photographing in Cambodia.
Together, they bring two different photographic perspectives, providing guidance, feedback, and creative input throughout the journey.
Photograph Cambodia During the High Water Season
This workshop focuses on travel photography, documentary photography, and portrait photography during one of Cambodia’s most visually fascinating seasons.
As the waters rise, the Tonlé Sap and surrounding countryside are transformed. Villages, waterways, fields, and daily activities take on a completely different character, creating unique photographic opportunities.
Photography includes:
- Angkor temples at sunrise and sunset in controlled light conditions
- Buddhist monks and daily monastery life
- Villages and communities around Tonlé Sap
- Floating villages and life on the water
- Family homes and environmental portraits
- Rural Cambodia and traditional ways of life
- Flooded landscapes, waterways, boats, and seasonal activities
Each location is selected for its photographic potential, light, seasonal conditions, and access.
Exploring Tonlé Sap During High Water
The heart of the workshop is Tonlé Sap Lake, where the annual rise of the water dramatically changes the landscape and the way people live.
We travel through multiple regions around the lake, visiting villages and communities that are rarely part of standard tourist itineraries. From life on the water to rural communities along the lake’s changing shoreline, each area offers a different perspective on Cambodia during High Water.
The constantly changing conditions create exceptional opportunities for Cambodia travel photography, from environmental portraits and daily life to boats, reflections, flooded landscapes, and intimate moments.
Beyond the Tourist Trail
Rather than following a conventional sightseeing route, the workshop takes you to less-visited parts of Cambodia where daily life continues away from mass tourism.
These locations offer genuine opportunities to photograph people in their natural environment and experience communities whose lives remain closely connected to the rhythms of the water.
The focus is on authentic encounters, observation, and storytelling, rather than simply visiting landmarks.
Two Photographers, Two Perspectives
Being co-led by Régis Binard and Etienne Bossot means participants benefit from two experienced photographers throughout the workshop.
Both bring their own photographic approach and perspective, allowing participants to receive more individual guidance and explore different ways of seeing, approaching, and photographing the same environment.
More Time Photographing, Less Time Travelling
The itinerary is designed to maximise time in the field.
Rather than spending long hours travelling between conventional tourist sites, we focus on carefully selected locations around Tonlé Sap, allowing more time to work with changing light, composition, people, and the seasonal environment.
Local Knowledge and Photographic Expertise
With extensive experience photographing and working in Cambodia, Régis and Etienne bring a level of local knowledge that goes far beyond a standard photography tour.
This includes:
- Khmer language communication
- Deep cultural understanding
- Long-term relationships with local communities
- Extensive experience photographing Cambodia’s people and landscapes
- Knowledge of seasonal timing, light, access, and field conditions
The result is an immersive Cambodia photography workshop that reveals the people, landscapes, and changing way of life around Tonlé Sap during the extraordinary High Water season.
12-Days
Oct 25 – Nov 5, 2027 – (2nd edition)
CONFIRMED – 5 SPOTS AVAILABLE
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Oct 9 – 20, 2028 – (3rd edition)
NEW DATES
Tour Price
USD $4,250 (single supplement $450)
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From 2028,
USD $4,500 (single supplement $450)
Group Size
Small group: 4-8 Participants. 2 Professional photographers will accompany you in your journey.
We believe in quality, personalised tuition with a ratio 1:4 maximum.
Accommodation
Very comfortable 4-star hotel in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. 3-star in rural areas.
Effort Level
Easy (2/5). Flat ground, walking 4-5km per day, hot and humid weather… might be pretty muddy!
Tour Leaders
Available Privately
We also offer private and costumized guided photo tours
Highlights of the Tour
- Tonle Sap Lake at its best!
- Main temples in the best light and far from the bustling crowds
- Buddhist monasteries and the daily rituals of novice monks
- Adventures into the rarely seen countryside and the Tonle Sap Lake
- Beautifully intimate meets with local families
Themes:
Local Life ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Architecture ★ ★ ★
Landscapes ★ ★ ★
12-Day Cambodia Photo Tour – High Water –
Day 1: Arrival in Phnom Penh
Arrive in vibrant Phnom Penh, where the Asia Travel Photography and Pics Of Asia team will welcome you at the airport and escort you to your boutique hotel. In the evening, enjoy a relaxed walk around the area near the hotel before dinner, offering our first opportunity to discover the atmosphere and local life of the Cambodian capital.
Day 2: Transfer to Rural Cambodia
We leave Phnom Penh behind and begin our journey into rural Cambodia. Along the way, we make a stop on the peaceful island of Koh Dach, known for its traditional weaving and small-scale agriculture. We then continue to Kampong Thom Province, arriving in the “Buffalo Village,” where we begin our immersion into rural Cambodian life.
Day 3: Kampong Thom and Village of the Tonle Sap Lake
We begin the day exploring a traditional village in the Cambodian countryside before continuing towards Siem Reap. In the afternoon, we reach our first village on the Tonlé Sap Lake, where we discover the unique way of life of communities living along the lake and capture the atmosphere of this remarkable floating and stilted environment.
Day 4: Water lilies collection and Angkor Wat
Today, we head out from Siem Reap again onto Tonlé Sap Lake, meeting local fishermen and families who collect water lilies from the lake. In the afternoon, we return to dry land to photograph one of our favorite monastery before Angkor Wat, Cambodia’s national symbol and one of the world’s most iconic temples.
Day 5: Local Market and Temples of Angkor
On day five, we explore a local market and a Buddhist monastery before heading to Angkor Thom, where we photograph the impressive temples and ancient city of the Khmer Empire.
Day 6: Temples, monasteries and village on stilts
OToday, we explore a temple where ancient trees and roots have grown over the ruins, with visits to Buddhist monasteries along the way, before continuing to a traditional stilted village and discovering another side of rural Cambodian life.
Day 7: Countryside Life near Siem Reap and floating village
We begin the day exploring a traditional village in the countryside near Siem Reap, where we visit a local monastery and meet small-scale artisans. In the afternoon, we continue to our first floating village, to discover life on and around the water.
Day 8: Boat Journey to Battambang
We leave Siem Reap by boat and travel towards Battambang, crossing the Tonlé Sap and passing through floating villages and communities along the waterways. The journey offers a unique perspective on life around the lake, with plenty of opportunities to observe and photograph the people, homes and landscapes along the way.
Day 9: Battambang, Floating Villages & Kampong Chhnang
We begin the day exploring the countryside around Battambang, visiting a local monastery, discovering traditional rice-paper production and stopping at the nearby Killing Fields. In the afternoon, we continue towards one of Cambodia’s fascinating floating villages before travelling on to Kampong Chhnang, where we spend the night.
Day 10: Countryside of Kampong Chhnang and transfer to Phnom Penh
We begin the day with a visit to a local market before discovering two traditional crafts villages, known for their pottery and basket weaving. In the afternoon, we travel back to Phnom Penh, with time to relax and rest after our journey through rural Cambodia.
Day 11: Phnom Penh
We begin the day with a morning walk through Phnom Penh, exploring its streets and capturing everyday life in the capital. In the afternoon, we take time for a photo review, before heading out again in the evening for another walk and further opportunities for street photography.
Day 12: Departure
Enjoy one final breakfast and say farewell to new friends before departing Phnom Penh!
Inclusions and Exclusions
What's Included:
Accommodation (4-star boutique resort/spa) and 3 stars hotel in Province.
Private transport during photography excursions.
Daily breakfast at the hotel, Farewell Dinner, chilled drinking water on all excursions, and other meals/drinks as specified.
Guiding/Tuition from 2 Western professional photographers.
All tickets and entrance fees.
Round-trip pick-up and drop-off at Siem Reap International Airport.
What's Excluded:
Airfare to and from Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Meals, drinks and snacks beyond those specified.
Alcoholic beverages beyond one with specified meals.
Tips for Guides/Drivers etc.
Medical & Travel Insurance.
General Information
HOW DO I RESERVE A PLACE?
Simply fill out the form on this page to let us know your dates and preferences.
We’ll need a 30% deposit by International Bank Transfer to reserve your dates, with final payment being due 45 days prior to departure.
WHAT IF I NEED TO CANCEL?
We understand that plans change. That's why all of our tours come with a clear, fair cancellation policy.
You'll find full details in our brochure and in our booking conditions.
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