Jenny's Blog: Our small group tour through Cambodia with G Adventures

I still remember sitting in the audience at the 2024 Travel Counsellors conference, completely captivated by Bruce Poon Tip, the founder of G Adventures. He spoke with real passion about building a travel company that genuinely supports local communities - not just visits them. I was so inspired that I went straight out and bought his book, Looptail, to find out how it all began.

By the time I turned the last page, I knew I wanted to experience it for myself. A small-group adventure through Cambodia, ending in Thailand, felt like the perfect fit - culture, community, and just the right amount of adventure for my husband Paul.

Singapore

Before joining our tour in Siem Reap, we built in two nights in Singapore. A place we hadn't visited in over 30 years.

And wow. What a transformation.

The steamy streets and hawker stalls we remembered are still there, but now they sit alongside glittering skyscrapers, visionary architecture, and green spaces woven seamlessly into the cityscape. The skyline is almost unrecognisable.

The food scene is bigger, bolder and more exciting than ever. Yet somehow, despite all of that, Singapore hasn't lost its soul. We wandered through vibrant neighbourhoods, revisited old favourites, and found ourselves completely charmed all over again. I could easily have stayed longer.

Siem Reap

A short flight later, we landed in Siem Reap just in time for sunset cocktails on our hotel's rooftop terrace, where we met our tour leader, Bun, and the rest of our group. Eleven of us in total. A mix of Americans and Brits, couples, a solo traveller, and a lovely family with grown-up children. By the end of the trip, we felt more like old friends than fellow travellers.

Our first dinner set the tone beautifully - a delicious traditional Khmer meal at Spoons, a social enterprise restaurant that trains local young people in hospitality. Travel that tastes good and does good. Exactly what I'd hoped for.

The next morning began with a tuk-tuk ride driven by an inspiring group of women from the Lady Tuk-Tuk Driver initiative - empowering women to become financially independent, many of them the primary providers for their families. It's a small thing, choosing your tuk-tuk driver, but it matters.

Our journey took us to a bustling local market, wandering through the sights, sounds and smells alongside our chef, Sophos, before heading to his family village for a hands-on Cambodian cooking class. We prepared and very happily devoured - a three-course lunch together.

That afternoon, we had a serene river cruise through a floating village where boats replace cars and daily life unfolds entirely on water. Fascinating, humbling, and utterly unforgettable.

We ended the day at Bun's favourite riverside street food spot - ice-cold beers for 50 cents, delicious plates for around $5. Flavours that rival any restaurant I've visited.

Angkor Wat

Sunrise at Angkor Wat is absolutely worth the early alarm. Our all-female tuk-tuk drivers whisked us through the quiet pre-dawn streets as the first light caught those iconic towers.

Later we explored Ta Prohm - the "Tomb Raider" temple - where enormous tree roots wrap themselves dramatically around ancient stone walls. It really does feel like stepping into another world.

That evening, Paul and I wandered through Pub Street - a fun, lively contrast to the serenity of the temples.

Koh Rong

From temples to turquoise water. We travelled by road and ferry to Koh Rong - powder-soft sand, laid-back beach bars, sunset BBQs, and toes buried in warm white sand. Bliss.

After dark, we slipped into the sea for a swim among bio-luminescent plankton. With the full moon above us, we had to duck beneath a tarpaulin to see the sparkle properly but when it appeared, it really did feel like swimming through stardust. One of those travel moments you simply don't forget.

We kayaked along the coast, visited the pristine shores of Soksan, and I managed a quick look around The Royal Sands Koh Rong - a gorgeous property that's now firmly on my must-stay list.

The Cardamom Mountains

Adventure called again in the lush wilderness of the Cardamom Mountains. We stayed at a tented jungle camp with river safaris, kayaking, zip-lining and swimming in forest waters.

Wildlife sightings were rare, but spotting monkeys, elegant storks, a hornbill, and plenty of geckos was more than enough reminder that we were deep in the wild. And the food? Some of the best traditional Cambodian dishes of the whole trip.

Bangkok

Our final stop was vibrant, noisy, brilliant Bangkok for our last evening together as a group. We cruised along the river to dinner, devoured Pad Thai, then jumped into tuk-tuks for a night-time temple tour and a wander through Chinatown. Our guide, Jill, encouraged us to try local delicacies. Verdict? Durian is not for me but mangosteen absolutely lives up to its title as the queen of fruits.

The following day, a few of us visited Wat Pho to see the magnificent Reclining Buddha, then squeezed in some shopping on Khao San Road, which has certainly changed since my backpacking days in the early 90s!

For our final nights, we checked into the beautiful Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort - a peaceful riverside retreat with boat shuttles to ICONSIAM, where we may or may not have done some very enthusiastic Christmas shopping. We'd left extra room in the suitcases. Just in case.

Would we do a small group tour again? Without hesitation.

We loved the camaraderie of small group travel, the knowledge and warmth of our guides, and knowing that our trip was directly supporting local communities - from female tuk-tuk drivers to social enterprise restaurants and our eco-lodge in the jungle.

This wasn't just a holiday. It was travel with purpose and it reminded me exactly why I fell in love with exploring the world in the first place.