Backpacking Cambodia: Iii Suggested Itineraries For Your Trip
Posted: 5/1/2019 | May 1st, 2019
Cambodia: it’s total of warm together with friendly people, beautiful coastlines, a lively nightlife, together with it has a growing foodie scene. It’s also i of the cheapest countries inwards the world.
I didn’t receive got high expectations when I kickoff visited inwards 2006. Back then, all I knew almost Kingdom of Cambodia was its awful history involving the Central Khmer Rouge together with that it was habitation to Angkor Wat.
But I was blown away past times the people together with their warmth, spirit, together with hospitality; the beautiful natural scenery; together with the country’s long history. It was wonderful, together with I ended upward staying weeks longer than I idea I would (I peculiarly loved Phnom Penh). I returned often, including spending over a calendar month at that spot when I was writing my kickoff book. (It made for a groovy base of operations of operations.)
In the final decade or so, Kingdom of Cambodia has grown past times leaps together with bounds. Sleepy footling towns I visited earlier are right away megacities, tourists (especially Russians together with Chinese) see en masse, at that spot are to a greater extent than ATMs (there was precisely i inwards the province when I kickoff went), together with there’s a growing expat together with foodie scene.
Cambodia nevertheless has problems, but it’s a lot to a greater extent than cosmopolitan today than when I kickoff went.
What should you lot practise when you lot see Cambodia?
How should you lot computer program your trip?
Below are some itineraries that include the best destinations inwards Cambodia. You tin utilisation them every bit a guideline to aid you lot create the most of your trip!
What to See together with Do inwards Cambodia: H5N1 One-Week Itinerary
Day 1 – Phnom Penh
The working capital alphabetic lineament of Cambodia, Phnom Penh has a Wild West ambiance, amongst dusty streets together with a “devil may care” atmosphere. It has a few goodness attractions together with an up-and-coming foodie scene.
The primary attraction is the Royal Palace. Start there, together with don’t missy the beautiful blossom gardens together with the Silver Pagoda, whose flooring is made upward of to a greater extent than than 5,000 silvery tiles; within is an emerald-covered Buddha together with a diamond-covered Maitreya Buddha. It also has murals about its outer wall that enjoin the story of the Ramayana.
On the palace grounds are 5 stupas, amongst the 2 largest to the eastward containing the ashes of King Norodom together with King Udung (the 2 most famous kings of modern Cambodia) together with a statue of King Norodom on horseback. Admission is $10 USD for foreigners.
After seeing the palace, acquire almost the country’s tragic, not-too-distant history. The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is a onetime schoolhouse where the Central Khmer Rouge interrogated together with tortured people inwards the 1970s. You’ll reckon rusty beds together with torture devices, inwards sudden contrast to the beautiful trees together with lovely jasmine aroma inwards the gardens. Admission is $5 USD for 4dukts together with $3 USD for anyone nether 18.
Afterward, caput to the Killing Fields, almost 14km from Tuol Sleng. Although a see to Choeung Ek (the best-known site) may non live on the most cheerful means to pass an afternoon, it makes for a hallowed together with memorable experience, a will to the dangers of uncontested power. You won’t believe the memorial edifice inwards the oculus that is filled amongst skulls. Admission is entirely $3 USD; await to pay at to the lowest degree $15 USD for a return-trip tuk-tuk ride.
(Tip: Visit the museum earlier heading to the Killing Fields, every bit it volition opened upward your eyes to the atrocities that happened here.)
Where to Stay inwards Phnom Penh: Sla Boutique Hostel – This is a pretty overnice hostel non far from restaurants, bars, together with attractions. It’s clean, together with the beds are comfy together with receive got privacy curtains. The staff (especially Mr. Star) are super friendly, together with they tin actually aid you lot computer program your trip.
Day 2 – Phnom Penh
Spend your 2d hateful solar daytime wandering about the city, together with start past times seeing the Independence Monument, designed past times architect Vann Molyvann together with inaugurated inwards 1958. It was created to score Cambodia’s independence from French rule, though it also serves every bit a de facto state of war memorial. It’s i of the biggest landmarks inwards the metropolis together with a goodness identify to start your day.
If you’re inwards the metropolis on a weekend, endeavour to grab an architectural walking tour amongst KA Tours, which has first-class guides who are students or experts inwards architecture, addition they’re non rattling expensive at about $15.
Check out the Cambodian Living Arts Center, a traditional trip the low-cal fantastic schoolhouse together with performance oculus where you lot tin sentinel students inwards grooming together with reckon traditional alive theatre. This is a fun means to pass a duo of hours piece learning almost the artistic traditions of the country. You tin also accept purpose inwards a workshop, which final about ninety minutes together with toll $15 USD per person.
Make certain you lot stroll along Sisowath Quay on the Mekong River. The 3km walkway is busy together with total of restaurants, bars, cafés, together with shops.
Day 3 – Sihanoukville
Get an early on start together with accept a five-hour jitney ride to Sihanoukville, named afterward the ruling prince of Kingdom of Cambodia inwards 1964. It was a lazy beach town until almost 2010, when it took off amongst travelers (and tons of Chinese together with Russian tourists on packet tours) because of its white-sand beaches, nearby deserted islands, first-class diving, together with delicious seafood. Its varied nightlife filled amongst inexpensive booze makes it the premier backpacker political party metropolis inwards Cambodia.
If you’re looking to soak upward some sun, Independence Beach together with Otres Beach are belike your best bets. Serendipity Beach used to live on a groovy political party spot, but there’s a lot of Chinese evolution going on now, therefore I wouldn’t remain there.
Where to Stay inwards Sihanoukville: Monkey Republic – This hostel is awesome. It’s a happening place, amongst a bar, restaurant, together with pool. The staff is actually friendly, together with they host a lot of events. (Say howdy to Aaron for me!) They tin also organize a lot of hateful solar daytime trips for you lot too.
Day iv – Sihanoukville
Today is a hateful solar daytime for hateful solar daytime trips.
From Sihanoukville, hop on a boat together with accept a 45-minute ride to Koh Rong. While you lot tin remain overnight, if you’re pressed for time, you lot tin practise it inwards a hateful solar daytime trip. The beaches hither are means amend than on the mainland (and a lot less polluted). Snorkeling hateful solar daytime trips toll some $21 USD together with include tiffin together with equipment; at that spot are PADI-certified schools inwards the surface area that offering a diversity of unlike dive trips for i or to a greater extent than days.
If you lot don’t experience similar heading to Koh Rong, you lot could volume motorcycle trip into Bokor National Park (as good every bit longer, multiday trips if you’re interested). There, you lot tin hike through a groovy rainforest or reckon the atmospheric ruins of the French aristocracy for whom Bokor was a large depict dorsum inwards the day. You’ll receive got some amazing views together with honor ruins, waterfalls, together with temples all around.
You could also practise a hateful solar daytime trip to Kampot together with the pepper fields inwards that surface area too.
Day 5 – Siem Reap
It’s gonna live on a busy go day. From Sihanoukville, you’ll require to supply to Phnom Penh together with and therefore acquire on some other jitney to Siem Reap. I recommend Capitol Tours. It’s a 12-hour ride, therefore it’ll live on eve past times the fourth dimension you lot acquire to Siem Reap.
(Note: It’s amend to accept the black jitney therefore every bit non to waste materials a day. You won’t slumber well, but you lot also won’t lose a day!)
Siem Reap is located on the northeastern side of Tonle Sap Lake together with is the primary access to Angkor Wat. The oculus remains a rural old town, amongst French-style houses together with shops. The surface area about the Old Market is crowded amongst locals together with foreigners all hateful solar daytime long.
Where to Stay inwards Siem Reap: Topsky Hostel – This hostel offers basic accommodations inwards a pretty placidity surface area that’s non far from the action. Try to acquire a lower bunk amongst a privacy curtain. The friendly staff volition aid you lot suit a tuk-tuk together with activities too.
Day 6 – Siem Reap
Spend your hateful solar daytime at Angkor Wat, the ancient metropolis that was the oculus of the Central Khmer Empire that i time ruled most of Southeast Asia. The temple was built inwards the twelfth century together with covers over 500 acres.
The most pop temples are Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Phrom, together with Angkor Thom. I would recommend getting a multiday go past times therefore you lot tin see some of the outer temples where at that spot are fewer visitors. You tin hire a tuk-tuk for the hateful solar daytime for about $20-25 USD or rent bicycles together with explore on your own.
Angkor Wat is opened upward daily from 5am to 6pm. Admission is $37 USD per someone for a hateful solar daytime pass, $62 USD for a three-day pass, together with $72 USD for a seven-day pass.
Day 7 – Siem Reap
Enjoy your final hateful solar daytime inwards Kingdom of Cambodia past times exploring to a greater extent than of the Siem Reap area. Head over to the Angkor Wat complex for several to a greater extent than hours inwards the forenoon together with and therefore caput over to astonishing Banteay Srei.
Known every bit “the metropolis of women,” this temple was dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva together with features a issue of outstanding blood-red sandstone statues. (You require an Angkor Wat Pass to visit.)
If you lot receive got time, see Tonle Sap, Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake. It is 52km (32 miles) from Siem Reap. Sailing downwards the river together with about the lake gives you lot a expression at how closely Cambodian life is tied to this major waterway. Tours start about $2.50 USD per person.
What to See together with Do inwards Cambodia: H5N1 Two-Week itinerary
Want to pass to a greater extent than fourth dimension inwards Cambodia? Great! You should! There are tons of other places to visit. Here are my suggestions:
Days 1 & 2 – Phnom Penh
Follow the Phnom Penh itinerary from above.
Day 3 & iv – Sihanoukville
Follow the Sihanoukville itinerary from above.
Day 5 & 6 – Koh Rong
Head out to Koh Rong, which got its mention afterward the legend of a giant King Kong–like ape that i time called the isle home. It’s a 45-minute trip from Sihanoukville together with a groovy identify to relax on the beach or acquire snorkeling. There are a lot of accommodation options, together with it’s a pop spot amongst backpackers.
Day trips costs about $25 USD together with include tiffin together with snorkeling equipment, but since you lot receive got the time, pass a few nights hither relaxing together with enjoying beach life.
There are also other islands nearby if you lot desire to remain longer together with explore, including Koh Rong Samloem, which is becoming something of a backpacker paradise (there’s fifty-fifty a Full Luna Party at that spot now).
Days 7 & viii – Kep
In the morning, go past times jitney to Kep, which is almost 2 hours from Sihanoukville. This quaint beach town together with line-fishing hamlet is the placidity version of Sihanoukville: a overnice identify to relax nigh the sea but without a political party atmosphere. It’s famous for its pepper crab together with empty beaches.
Consider taking 2 total days here. Sure, it’s quite sleepy together with there’s non a lot to do, but it’s the perfect identify to relax, swallow all the delicious crabs the metropolis is famous for, together with read a book. You tin also pass some fourth dimension on nearby Rabbit Island (Koh Tonsay) too, a secluded together with charming escape from the basis if you’re looking to disconnect. Basic bungalows tin live on rented for nether $10 USD per night.
Where to Stay inwards Kep: Khmer House Hostel – Kep is pretty spread out, therefore wherever you lot stay, create certain you lot rent a bike or scooter. This hostel is a goodness choice every bit it’s non far from the Crab Market.
Day ix – Kampot
The southern part of Kingdom of Cambodia is filled amongst pepper farms where you lot tin acquire almost the history of the spice, reckon how it is grown, together with pick upward what is considered some of the finest pepper inwards the world.
I’d pass i black inwards Kampot. It’s some other placidity town on the coast. Most people come upward hither to taste the scenic riverside views every bit good every bit the rolling hills that environs the city. The surface area used to live on a getaway for the French, therefore you’ll reckon old French architecture around.
At night, the street nigh the old span is lined amongst fruit milk shiver vendors. Try a million. The metropolis is famous for them.
Also, if you lot entirely practise i affair inwards this entire itinerary, create certain it’s eating the ribs at The Rusty Keyhole. They are some of the best ribs I’ve ever had inwards my entire life. You receive got to club them the hateful solar daytime before. You’ll also acquire salubrious side of mashed potatoes together with coleslaw too. It’s i of the best meals I’ve ever had. I nevertheless dream of it.
Where to Stay inwards Kampot: The Magic Sponge – This is i of my favorite hostels inwards Cambodia. Make certain you lot volume early, every bit it tends to sell out. It’s a actually nice, relaxed guesthouse where you’ll acquire your ain bed (not a bunk). You’ll experience at habitation here, together with it’s a small walk to the oculus of town. The dorm rooms are rattling clean. They also receive got a footling mini-golf class too.
Day 10 – Kampot
Today, hire hire a tuk-tuk driver to explore the Kampot area. The Phnom Chhngok Cave Temple has a religious shrine inside, or you lot tin caput out together with pass the hateful solar daytime inwards Bokor, every bit Kampot is relatively unopen to the park.
Days 11, 12, & thirteen – Siem Reap
Follow the Siem Reap itinerary from above. Angkor Wat is best seen slowly, therefore utilisation your days to explore it every bit much every bit possible. There are a lot of out-of-the-way temples to see that are gratis of crowds.
Day xiv – Siem Reap
On your final hateful solar daytime inwards Cambodia, why non accept a cooking class? The bird sizes tend to live on about 6 people, together with you lot volition acquire to laid upward 3 unlike meals, every bit good every bit acquire recipe cards at the end. Prices start about $20 USD per person; local guesthouses tin aid suit a class.
What to See together with Do inwards Cambodia: H5N1 Three-Week Itinerary
Have fifty-fifty to a greater extent than fourth dimension for Cambodia? Good! Kingdom of Cambodia has a lot to a greater extent than to it than the major spots on the backpacker trail.
Days 1, 2, & 3 – Phnom Penh together with Kirirom National Park
Follow the to a higher identify suggestions, but also caput out to Kirirom National Park for a hateful solar daytime trip. This common has all sorts of walking trails, mount biking trails, waterfalls, together with a few lakes. It’s a goodness identify to acquire to accept a pause from the city.
The common is about a two-hour drive from the city, therefore you’ll require to hire a driver for the day. The best means to practise this is to honor some travelers to bring together you lot therefore you lot tin portion a ride, which volition toll about $80 for the day.
Days 4, 5, 6, 7, & viii – Sihanoukville together with the Islands
Follow the to a higher identify suggestions but at a much slower pace!
Days 9, 10 & eleven – Kep together with Rabbit Island
Follow the to a higher identify suggestions for Kep, but caput out to Rabbit Island for a rustic isle getaway.
Days 12 & thirteen – Kampot
Follow the to a higher identify suggestions!
Days 14, 15, & sixteen – Siem Reap
Follow the to a higher identify suggestions!
Day 17 – Koh Ker
For a fun hateful solar daytime trip from Siem Reap, caput to Koh Ker, located about 2.5 hours from town. Koh Ker was briefly the working capital alphabetic lineament of the Central Khmer Empire, together with many of the temples hither are over 1,000 years old. It’s a massive archeological site located inwards the jungle, together with it sees far fewer tourists than Siem Reap.
There are no world buses that acquire at that spot (the roads were entirely paved a few years ago), therefore you’ll receive got to suit shipping via your hostel or hotel.
Day xviii – Phnom Kulen
For some other fun hateful solar daytime trip, caput to Phnom Kulen, considered the country’s most sacred mountain. It’s located but 50km from Siem Reap together with offers some amazing jungles, hiking, together with picturesque waterfalls where you lot tin accept dip to vanquish the heat. You tin easily pass a hateful solar daytime here. If you lot caput upward to the summit, at that spot are some groovy views every bit good every bit a large reclining Buddha statue. Try to acquire inwards early on every bit the common fills upward past times lunchtime. Admission to the common is $20 USD.
Day xix – Battambang
From Siem Reap, you lot tin accept a three-hour jitney to Battambang. Or endeavour taking a riverboat on Tonle Sap for a unique experience (there is i boat per day, amongst tickets costing about $20 USD per person).
When you lot arrive, you’ll uncovering Kingdom of Cambodia without the tourism. Get familiar amongst Battambang past times exploring the town on human foot (or past times tuk-tuk). Check out the Phsar Boeung Choeuk together with Phsar Naht markets. You’ll also desire to see the gorgeous pagodas together with temples, such every bit Wat Pippitharam (near the Old Market), Wat Bovil, Wat Kandal, together with Wat Damreay Sar.
In the evening, cheque out the Battambang Circus. The exhibit is seat on past times students at a Cambodian nonprofit arts school, therefore your donations acquire to a goodness cause.
Where to Stay inwards Battambang: Sophea Hostel – This is a goodness identify to encounter locals together with create some friends. It’s family-run, together with they endeavour to create you lot experience at home. The facilities are pretty basic, but typical, dorms. There’s a overnice garden together with sitting area. While there’s no eating house on-site, at that spot are enough of nearby options.
Day xx – Battambang
Take it like shooting fish in a barrel this forenoon past times touring the town a combat to a greater extent than on foot. Check out the colonial architecture along the waterfront together with the governor’s residence. This edifice from the early on 1900s is non open, but you lot tin marvel at the exterior.
While you’re wandering, don’t missy the Art Deco key marketplace position edifice together with the Victory swimming puddle (where you lot tin accept a dip if you’re inwards the mood). You may desire to see the Battambang Museum; admission is but $1 USD, together with you’ll acquire a lot almost the history of the area.
After lunch, you lot should grab a tuk-tuk together with caput a combat out of town to cheque out Phnom Sampeu. Take almost an lx minutes to climb to the monastery on the hill. You’ll also honor some caves inwards the surface area amongst Buddhist temples inwards them. There’s also some other cave at the human foot of Phnom Sampeu; this is where you lot desire to live on about dusk, when millions of bats wing out of the cave inwards search of food. It’s an incredible sight!
Day 21 – Siem Reap or Phnom Penh
Make your means dorsum to i of these towns, depending on where your flying is leaving from. Enjoy the jitney ride, knowing it’s your final inwards Kingdom of Cambodia (at to the lowest degree for now)!
I e'er dear my fourth dimension inwards Cambodia. It lacks the smooth of Thailand, making go hither a footling to a greater extent than rustic together with challenging.
But to a greater extent than amazing than whatsoever of the country’s sights together with activities are the people. I’ve e'er establish them to live on incredibly welcoming. Even amongst therefore much darkness clouding their recent history, Cambodians e'er acquire to a higher identify together with beyond, making whatsoever trip hither a memorable one.
But don’t accept my give-and-take for it. Come together with reckon this incredibly province for yourself.
And allow these suggested Kingdom of Cambodia itineraries aid you lot computer program your trip!
Book Your Trip to Cambodia: Logistical Tips together with Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a inexpensive flying past times using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my 2 favorite search engines because they search websites together with airlines about the globe, therefore you lot e'er know no rock is beingness left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You tin volume your hostel amongst Hostelworld. If you lot desire to remain somewhere other than a hostel, utilisation Booking.com every bit they consistently supply the cheapest rates for guesthouses together with inexpensive hotels. I utilisation them all the time. My favorite places to remain are:
- Sla Boutique Hostel (Phnom Penh) – This is a classy hostel non far from restaurants, bars, together with attractions. It’s clean, together with the beds are actually comfy!
- Topsky Hostel (Siem Reap) – This hostel is inwards a placidity surface area together with offers basic accommodation. The staff volition aid you lot suit a tuk-tuk together with activities.
- Monkey Republic (Sihanoukville) – This hostel is a happening identify together with e'er goodness for a aprty. They receive got a bar, restaurant, together with puddle making it actually like shooting fish in a barrel to realx together with encounter people. The staff is actually friendly, together with they tin also organize some hateful solar daytime trips for you lot too.
- Sophea Hostel (Battambang) – This is a family-run hostel together with they doo a goodness chore of making you lot experience at home. The facilities are basic but there’s a overnice garden together with sitting area. While there’s no eating house on-site, at that spot are enough of nearby options.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance volition protect you lot against illness, injury, theft, together with cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection inwards illustration anything goes wrong. I never acquire on a trip without it, every bit I’ve had to utilisation it many times inwards the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for x years. My favorite companies that offering the best service together with value are:
- World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
- Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
Looking for the best companies to salve coin with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to utilisation when you lot travel! I listing all those I utilisation to salve money, together with I intend they volition aid you lot too!
Want More Information on Cambodia?
Be certain to see our robust finish guide on Cambodia for fifty-fifty to a greater extent than planning tips!
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