Cambodia is an authentic country in Asia. Cambodia is not known for its beautiful landscapes or extraordinary nature, but still, it is a great country to travel through. You will easily get in touch with the locals and experience much of the daily life of Cambodians. In this itinerary, we will travel from Siem Reap to the capital Phnom Penh in 2 weeks. This is the most logical route when traveling to Cambodia from Thailand or Laos. Are you coming from Vietnam? Then perform this itinerary exactly in reverse.
Content of this blog:
Siem Reap: 4 days
How to get to Siem Reap: Most travelers will travel to Siem Reap from Thailand. The best route in this case is Bangkok – Siem Reap. You can read all about this route, how long it takes and where to book tickets here.
Things to do in Siem Reap: Siem Reap is a very nice start to your tour in Cambodia. It is a relaxed city with many activities. Of course, being in Siem Reap you must visit the immense and extraordinary Angkor Wat temple complex. Be sure to set aside one or two days for this.
Besides Angkor Wat, Siem Reap offers countless other activities. Fancy cooling off in the hot climate of Cambodia? Then spend a day water skiing, wakeboarding and enjoying the adventure park at ICF Wake Park. This is a perfect place for a day out on the water. End the day at Pubstreet, which is also known as Cambodia’s Khao San Road.
At the Cambodia Landmine Museum and Apopo Rat Centre, you’ll learn more about Cambodia’s history and the landmines that remain in many places today. It is really interesting to hear more about the good initiatives of the people to remove landmines. Want even more inspiration for fun activities and attractions? Then check out the list of the 12 best activities in Siem Reap.
Additional tip Siem Reap: In Siem Reap, you can do volunteer work. We ourselves spent one week teaching English to children in a local village. You stay with a local family the whole time. You will have a wonderful time here and you can also contribute to the education of the children. Read all the information about volunteering in this article.
Accommodation in Siem Reap: Do you feel like staying in a cozy hostel? Then Onederz and Lub D are the best options. At both hostels you will find lots of friendly travelers, a lovely pool and it’s located in the centre of the city.
Are you looking for a hostel, hotel or apartment in Siem Reap? Then check out our list of the nicest accommodations in Siem Reap here. For each type of accommodation, the 3 best options are described in detail.
Battambang: 1 or 2 days
How to get to Battambang: From Siem Reap, take the 4 to 5 hour bus to Battambang. It is also possible to go by a slowboat. However, this takes a lot longer, the tickets cost more money, and the slowboat’s engine makes an enormous amount of noise. This is really not a comfortable way to travel. We would therefore recommend taking the bus for a better trip. Tickets can be easily booked online through 12GO.Asia.
Things to do in Battambang: Battambang can be seen in 1 or 2 full days. When in Battambang, a ride on the iconic bamboo train should not be missed. The bamboo train was designed after the war because there were few roads left. Today, it is mostly used by tourists. When you encounter another bamboo train, the vehicle with the fewest passengers will be taken off the tracks and then rebuilt. A ride costs $5 per person.
Furthermore, the other attraction in Battambang is the Bat Cave. Every day just before sunset, millions of bats simultaneously fly out of the cave in search of food. Be sure to arrive at the Bat Cave between 5 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. so you can claim a plastic seat. You pay no entrance fee, you just have to order a drink and then you can take a seat.
Accommodation in Battambang: A cozy and social hostel in Battambang is The Place. You’ll also find a nice rooftop bar where you can relax. In addition, the Royal Hotel is a fine budget hotel in Battambang. Delux Villa is also a very good option, with a nice pool.
Koh Rong (Samloem): 4 days
The Cambodia itinerary takes you to Koh Rong and/or Koh Rong Samloem. You can choose whether you prefer to visit Koh Rong or Koh Rong Samloem (of course, you can visit both). Koh Rong is known as a livelier island where there are also more parties to be found. Koh Rong Samloem is the relaxed island where there is no motor traffic (except boats) and you mostly chill on the beaches and in the small villages. We have been to Koh Rong ourselves and found it a fine choice.
Please note that there are no ATMs on Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem. Make sure you bring enough cash (riel or dollar). You can get money on Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem from tour agencies and hostels but here you pay an absurd amount of fee: between 8% and 10%. So make sure to get some extra cash before you leave for Koh Rong or Koh Rong Samloem.
How to get to Koh Rong: From Battambang, first catch the bus to Sihanoukville. This one goes via Siem Reap. Prepare for a long day of travel. Then, from Sihanoukville, take the ferry or speedboat to Koh Rong or Koh Rong Samloem. Book the entire bus and boat itinerary on 12GO.Asia.
Things to do in Koh Rong: Koh Rong is an island, opposed to a city there are fewer things to do here. The best thing on Koh Rong is the boat tour that is organized daily from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets can be bought anywhere for $15 and it is an unforgettable day. Furthermore, Koh Rong offers excellent diving, kayaking, supping and jet skiing excursions.
Accommodations in Koh Rong: Are you looking for accommodations in Koh Rong? Then you should note that they are fairly expensive compared to the rest of Cambodia. Koh Rong is a large island with few roads, so it is important to book accommodation in a good location. If you’re looking to party, it’s best to stay near the Nest Hostel. Here you will find a party every night, especially on Saturday during the Nestival. It is a very cozy and social party hostel!
If you prefer a slightly quieter spot, check out the Scarlet Sails Bungalow. This beautiful accommodation is right on the beach and has a swimming pool. Rooms are quite affordable for Koh Rong, available from ā¬40 per night.
If you’re looking for something even more beautiful, check out the beautiful BeachWalk Koh Rong. The resort, the rooms and the whole atmosphere is paradisiacal. The resort is located on a bright white beach and has a pool, what more could you want? Rooms are available from ā¬75 per night.
Kampot: 2 to 3 days
How to get to Kampot: From Koh Rong, you can easily travel to Kampot by bus or train. Read more about this in this article.
Things to do in Kampot: You won’t find particularly many activities in Kampot itself. The best part is strolling through the center and taking in all the beautiful details of the buildings and flowers. Furthermore, you can visit a nice pepper plantation just outside Kampot. You can also go on a tour to Bokor National Park.
Tip: read all about transportation in Cambodia here
Accommodation in Kampot: Are you looking for a cozy hostel in Kampot? Then be sure to book with the fine Onederz. Onederz is in the middle of town and has a chill pool. Another nice hostel is Karma Traders. It is slightly outside the city, though (2 kilometers away). You can easily rent a scooter from Karma Traders to go to town and explore the area. The food is delicious and the pool is relaxing.
Looking for a good budget option in downtown Kampot? Then Samnop Samnang is a good choice. The rooms are spacious and it is possible to book a room with air conditioning. This is wonderfully cooling after a hot day in Kampot. You can book a room with fan from ā¬11 and with air conditioning from ā¬16.
If you are looking for a great hotel in the center of Kampot, Hotel Five S comes highly recommended. The rooms are beautifully decorated and the bathroom has a Jungle Vibes theme. Will you soon be under the jungle shower of Five S?
Phnom Penh: 2 days
How to get to Phnom Penh: From Kampot, you can take a train or bus to Phnom Penh. The train leaves at 4 p.m. every day. If you think this is too late, it’s better to catch the bus. It departs at different times (the first at 08:00) look for all times and tickets at 12GO.Asia.
Things to do in Phnom Penh: Phnom Penh is not a nice city to stay long. Most travelers come here for only 2 things: the S21 prison and the Choeung Ek Killing Fields. Here you will learn more about Cambodia’s terrible history. Read more about these two attractions in this article.
Accommodation in Phnom Penh: for the nicest hostels, hotels and apartments in Phnom Penh, use this handy overview. Here are short reviews of the best accommodations.
If you enter Cambodia from Phnom Penh, you will perform this itinerary of Cambodia exactly the other way around. You then end up in Siem Reap from where you can easily travel to Thailand or Laos.
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