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Genocide Museum (S-21)
Price per person (children 4-9yo discounted)
tour features
| Length | 2 hour tour. Sessions available all day. |
|---|---|
| Highlights | In a short 3 year period, over 17,000 people were tortured at this former high school, locally known as "S-21 Security Prison" or "Tuol Sleng". Having "confessed", survivors of the torture were taken to the "killing fields" where they were summarily executed, sometimes over 100 people per day. |
| Key Information | ● Cultural Learning ● Site Entrance Fees Included ● Private Travel Group ● Hotel Pickup / Drop Off |
| Emotional Wellbeing | Please be aware this tour exposes people to disturbing events which may cause emotional distress. |
A journey into a tragic past.
IIn a short 3 year period, over 17,000 people were tortured at this former high school, locally known as “S-21 Security Prison” or “Tuol Sleng”. Having “confessed”, survivors of the torture were taken to the “killing fields” where they were summarily executed, sometimes over 100 people per day. The Khmer Rouge kept meticulous records of their barbarism, with each prisoner being photographed and their confessions recorded. The “Genocide Museum” preserves the stories of the victims of this tragic historical period.”.
Inclusions
As with all our tours:
○ Free pickup and drop off at your Phnom Penh hotel
○ English speaking tour guides
○ All transportation included
○ All entrance fees included
○ High quality helmet
○ Cold bottled water
○ Raincoat (if needed)
The Genocide Museum
Like the Nazis, the Khmer Rouge leaders were meticulous in keeping records of their barbarism. Each prisoner who passed through S-21 was photographed, sometimes before and after torture. The museum displays include room after room of harrowing photographs; virtually all of the men, women and children pictured were later killed.
The audio guides (included with your tour) tell detailed stories behind people in the photographs, the use of torture by the Khmer Rouge, the hardships and depravity that was evidenced within those walls.
As the Khmer Rouge “revolution” reached ever greater heights of insanity, it began devouring its own. The torturers and executioners who worked here were in turn killed by those who took their places.
When the Vietnamese army liberated Phnom Penh in early 1979, there were only seven prisoners still alive at S-21. They survived by “being of use” with skills such as painting or photography. Two of the survivors, Chum Mey and Bou Meng, are still alive, and often spend their time at S-21 promoting their first-hand accounts of their time in the prison.
Fourteen others who were still alive as Vietnamese forces were closing in on the city were brutally tortured to death. Photographs of their gruesome deaths are on display in the rooms where their decomposing corpses were found and their graves are nearby in the courtyard.
A visit to Tuol Sleng is a profound and deeply disturbing experience. The sheer ordinariness of the place makes it even more horrific. The suburban setting, the plain school buildings, the grassy playing area where children kick around balls contrast with the rusted beds, instruments of torture and wall after wall of disturbing portraits.
Tuol Sleng demonstrates the darkest side of the human spirit that lurks within us all. It shows what people are capable of enduring and what others are capable of perpetrating.
It is a chilling reminder of the protections we take for granted every day.
The Genocide Museum Itinerary.
- Hotel Pickup
- Travel to Genocide Museum (15min)
- Explore Genocide Museum (60min)
- Hotel Drop Off
When to come?
Anytime is a good time to visit Cambodia but most people prefer to visit during the dry season, from November to April, with the “cool season” of November to February being particularly pleasant. However, prices tend to be higher around this busy period.
What to bring?
Pack lightweight, breathable clothing, comfortable shoes, Insect repellent and sunscreen. For day tours it is a good idea to wear light clothes that cover your skin, they will keep you cool and protect you from the sun.
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