Confronting the Past: The Killing Fields & Tuol Sleng

To understand the warmth and resilience of the Cambodian people today, you must first understand what they survived. Between 1975 and 1979, the Khmer Rouge regime claimed the lives of nearly two million people. A visit to these two sites is not "tourism" in the traditional sense; it is an act of witnessing and paying respect.

The Two Main Sites

Most visitors hire a Tuk-Tuk for a half-day trip to visit both locations. We recommend starting early in the morning.

1. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21)

📍 Location: City Center | ⏱️ Time needed: 1.5 - 2 Hours

Once a high school, this compound was turned into the notorious Security Prison 21. Prisoners were interrogated and tortured here before being sent to the Killing Fields. Walking through the classrooms, you will see the iron beds, the cells, and thousands of haunting mugshots of the victims. It is a chilling, intimate look at the regime's cruelty.

2. The Killing Fields (Choeung Ek)

📍 Location: 15km South of City | ⏱️ Time needed: 1.5 - 2 Hours

This was the execution site. Today, it is a peaceful orchard marked by mass graves and a towering Memorial Stupa filled with the skulls of the victims. It is a place of quiet reflection.

Must Do: You must get the Audio Guide. It is included in the ticket price and is narrated by survivors. It guides you through the site with incredible storytelling that brings the history to life.

🙏 Visitor Etiquette

• Dress Modestly: These are memorial sites. Shoulders and knees must be covered. Do not wear revealing clothing.
• Be Quiet: Please speak in whispers. It is disrespectful to laugh or shout in these areas.
• No "Fun" Photos: Do not take selfies or smiling photos. You may take photos of the site for memory, but keep yourself out of the frame.
• Smoking/Eating: Strictly prohibited inside the sites.

💡 Emotional Prep

This will be a heavy day. Many visitors feel overwhelmed or tearful. It is okay to take breaks. We recommend planning a quiet afternoon afterwards—perhaps a walk by the river or a rest at your hotel—rather than rushing to another activity.

Transportation

Any Tuk-Tuk driver in Phnom Penh knows the "Killing Fields Loop." The standard rate is $15-$20 for the round trip to both sites.