Are you planning to travel through beautiful Cambodia? Then, of course, you’ll start by creating an exciting travel itinerary! To assist you in putting together a travel route for Cambodia, this article provides some tips, a sample itinerary, and brief information about each destination so you can choose what suits your trip best. Most travelers allocate approximately two weeks for Cambodia, giving you enough time to visit the stunning temples, experience the culture, explore the countryside, and, of course, go island hopping.
Tips for Creating a Travel Itinerary for Cambodia
Before we get into the itinerary, here are some handy tips.
Determine Your Travel Direction
How you shape your travel route depends largely on where you’ll start your trip and whether you plan to visit neighboring countries alongside Cambodia. Many travelers combine Cambodia with Thailand, Vietnam, or Laos. The most popular route goes from Thailand through Cambodia and possibly continues to Vietnam. For this example itinerary, we’ve created a route that includes the most popular destinations. You can determine your own travel direction based on where your journey will begin and whether you plan to visit more countries in the region. Upon arrival in Cambodia, you’ll receive a 30-day Visa on Arrival for $20. You don’t need to arrange anything in advance for this.
Tip: Often, it’s much cheaper to fly to Bangkok than to Phnom Penh. You can frequently find great deals on Cheaptickets.nl for a flight to Bangkok. From Bangkok, you can take an eight-hour bus ride to Siem Reap. Another option is to book a cheap flight from Bangkok to Siem Reap, which costs about $50.
Buses in Cambodia
You can usually arrange your bus tickets for your next destination in any hostel or hotel. Typically, you can do this a day in advance, but during peak season, it might be wise to arrange it 2 days ahead. Buses in Cambodia are often decent and usually depart fairly on time. The biggest issue is that they often sell more tickets than there are seats on the bus. As a result, sometimes they have locals sitting on small stools in the aisle, and if you’re unlucky, they might try to put you on one of those stools too. You can prevent this by being at the station on time to secure a seat. The roads are not all in the best condition, especially during the rainy season.
Bargaining with Tuk-Tuks
Buses usually don’t go to the city center of a town but drop you off at the outskirts. There, tuk-tuks are waiting to take everyone to hostels and hotels. Tuk-tuk drivers often ask ridiculous prices for short distances, just to see if you’ll fall for it. Bargaining is very common in Cambodia, and it’s smart to use an app like maps.me so you can determine the distance to your hostel or hotel. A tuk-tuk ride should almost never cost more than $3. This amount is not per person but per tuk-tuk.
Hostels and Hotels
When traveling through Cambodia, it’s not necessarily required to book all your accommodations in advance. You can do it a few days before when you know your next destination. If you want to stay in more popular hotels or hostels, it might be wise to book a bit earlier. We’ve been to Cambodia four times and have tested quite a few hostels. You can find our favorite hostels here.
The Itinerary with Information for Each Destination
On the left, you can see routes to or from Thailand, on the right, to or from Vietnam, and above Cambodia, you’ll find Laos. You’ll need about 2 weeks for this sample itinerary.
Siem Reap
Approximately half of all travelers begin their journey through Cambodia in Siem Reap. The city is easily accessible from Thailand by bus, but you can also fly there from other destinations in Asia, such as with AirAsia. Siem Reap is a pleasant city where you can easily spend a few days. Just outside Siem Reap, you’ll find the magnificent temples of Angkor, Cambodia’s most important attraction. If you want to know how to have some of the most beautiful temples all to yourself without hundreds of tourists, check out our tips for visiting the Angkor Wat temples. You can read our tips for Siem Reap here.
Phnom Penh
The capital of Cambodia is not necessarily the most pleasant city to visit, but a trip to Phnom Penh should not be omitted from your travel itinerary. Cambodia has a profoundly tragic history, and in Phnom Penh, you can learn more about it. For example, visit the former torture prison Tuol Sleng or the Killing Fields, where you can take an informative audio tour, available in Dutch. The riverside area always has something going on, and in the evening, you can relax at one of the rooftop bars.
Kampot
Before heading to the coast to hop on a boat to one of the tropical islands, you’ll pass through the peaceful town of Kampot. This quiet town is situated along the river and is a haven for backpackers. There are a few cozy hostels, and you can try paddleboarding on the river or rent a scooter to explore the surroundings. For instance, take a trip to the fishing village of Kep, which is a few hours’ drive from Kampot.
Sihanoukville
This is the most famous coastal town in Cambodia and, at the same time, an important port city. Personally, we don’t find it to be a particularly enjoyable destination because it has a significant amount of prostitution, and it’s not exceptionally beautiful. Nevertheless, there’s a great atmosphere at some hostels, and there’s always a cool party happening somewhere. From here, boats depart about 6 times a day to the nearby islands.
Koh Rong & Koh Rong Samloem
Cambodia’s islands are fantastic and should never be missing from your travel route. The beaches are pristine white, the sea is crystal blue, and the atmosphere is delightful. Koh Rong is the largest island with the most activities. You can stay in the bustling part with many restaurants and bars or on an almost deserted stretch of beach. There are plenty of options. If you want more tranquility, Koh Rong Samloem is a recommendation. Of course, you can combine these islands easily. The speed ferry runs three times a day and takes about 15 minutes to travel between the islands. Read our mini travel guide for Koh Rong here.
