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[dropcap]H[/dropcap]ow much time should you spend in Cambodia? Some will say that 1 week in Cambodia is enough. But in my opinion 2 weeks is just the right amount of time to visit all of the most beautiful places in Cambodia. There will be no need to rush. And you will have enough time for cultural activities, chilling on the beach and snorkeling, as well as for a lot of sightseeing and/or shopping.
Yes, it is possible to visit all these places I will mention in my “2 Weeks in Cambodia Itinerary” also in shorter time. But do you want to run from one place to another? I think you don’t.
This 14 day itinerary to Cambodia is based on, what we did during our trip to Cambodia in May 2016. I’m including also cost estimates to help less experienced budget travelers to have a better idea, how much money does it cost to travel in Cambodia. Experienced budget travelers will have no problems to travel with less money or to experience more for the same money. For example, we spent less than 500$ (per person) during a whole month in Cambodia.
[x_blockquote type=”left”]TRAVEL INSURANCE: For travelers to Cambodia we recommend World Nomads Explorer Package! [/x_blockquote]
And it’s not a problem to spend 1500$ in 2 weeks in Cambodia either. Or even in 1 week in Cambodia.
Table of Contents
2 Weeks in Cambodia Itinerary
Day 1 – arrival to Phnom Penh. If it’s already 7-9 PM, when you get to your hotel in Phnom Penh, then it’s probably not worth going out. You can have a dinner at restaurant in your hotel or somewhere near, rest and wake up earlier on the next day. As daily life here starts early, even before 6 AM, people go home at about 9 PM, and thus most of places close at 9 – 10 PM.
However, if you want to go out, head to Phnom Penh’s riverside, one of the most popular area of the city among tourists.
Day 2 – day in Phnom Penh. We recommend you to visit Wat Phnom, Central Market, Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium, Russian Market and then head to riverside, visiting Royal Palace on the way, for a dinner.
If at about 7 PM you find yourself near The Independence Monument, go to Wat Bottom Park. There every evening youngsters come together and dance. It may not sound too interesting, but it’s something really cool. Because some of them are dancing really, really well. Making you feel like you are watching some MTV music video. Only everything is happening now and here, just in front of you.
Day 3 – bus from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, ferry to Koh Rong Samloem. Bus ride will take about 4-5 hours, but ferry ride – 45 minutes or 2 hours, depends on what kind of boat you will choose, fast or slow. Keep in mind, that last ferry to Koh Rong Samloem leaves Sihanoukville at about 3 PM. Read more about Koh Rong Samloem paradise island and possible activities there, on this paradise island of Cambodia!
Day 4 – Koh Rong Samloem. Chilling on the beach or at the beach bar. Snorkeling. Going for a walk to the jungle.
Day 5 – Koh Rong Samloem. Continue chilling on the paradise island. During the day don’t forget to register for a return ferry ride to Sihanoukville. You need to do it one day in advance!
Day 6 – ferry from Koh Rong Samloem to Sihanoukville, bus to Kep. Bus ride will take about 2 hours. For a lunch or/and dinner go to Kep Crab Market to eat some tasty crab with green peppers from Kampot, mmm. Or try some other seafood. If you don’t like seafood, there are also other food options in Kep. Check out nearby for you restaurants or head to the area of Kep beach.
Day 7 – Kep. Rent a scooter for 2 days (alternative – hire a tuktuk) and go exploring nearby area. There are big salt fields not far from the border of Cambodia and Vietnam (Google Maps), and there are interesting mountains with caves under them near Kampong Trach (Google Maps). This ride is your chance to see real rural Cambodia.
Day 8 – Kep & Kampot. Driving from Kep to Kampot. Driving up the Bokor mountain, from where you will have a really good view to areas around. On top of the mountain there is an interesting object – abandoned hotel/casino and church (Google Maps).
There is a possibility to go on a trek through jungle leading to waterfall. Once you will reach top of the mountain and guard will check your ticket you will notice road signs showing, where is waterfall. After some 2 kilometers you will reach the beginning of trail. Path is well marked, but it’s quite long. There are three options, ranging from 7 to 20 kilometers. So, keep that in mind, that even shortest one will take you some 3-4 hours to go and come back.
Day 9 – bus from Kep to Siem Reap (through Phnom Pehn). Bus ride takes about 12 – 14 hours. Because of Angkor temple complex Siem Reap is a very popular tourist destination in Cambodia. In the evening you can go to Siem Reap pub street for a dinner or some drink. If you plan to visit Angkor tomorrow, don’t forget to arrange a tuk-tuk.
We did it at our hotel. And for 20$ we not only visited the most popular temples of Angkor, but also had a 2 hour ride through rural Cambodia.
Day 10 – Siem Reap, visiting Angkor temple complex.
Angkor temple complex or day in the city and circus show in the evening or drive to Tonlé Sap lake.
Day 11 – Siem Reap. Time in Siem Reap or somewhere around. Going to Phare, The Cambodian Circus performance in the evening.
Another interesting destination not far from Siem Reap is Tonlé Sap lake, which is largest fresh water lake in Southeast Asia.
Day 12 – day of your choice. Extra day in Koh Rong Samloem? Or Kep? Or Kompot? It could be also your day for a trip to Rabbit island, near the coast of Kep. Or maybe you want to visit Tonle Sap lake and its floating villages, located not too far from Siem Reap, you have time for it.
Day 13 – bus from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. Bus ride takes about 6-8 hours. Evening in Phnom Penh.
Day 14 – flying home.
Costs of Budget Traveling in Cambodia
1. Accommodation Costs in Cambodia
Phom Penh, 3 nights: 10 – 15$ per day, 30 – 45$ in total.
Koh Ronh Samloem, 3 nights: 13 – 20$ per day, 39 – 60$ in total.
Kep, 3 nights: 10 – 15$ per day, 30 – 45$ in total.
Siem Reap, 3 nights: 10 – 15$ per day, 30 – 45$ in total.
1 more night somewhere, where you choose: 10 – 20$.
For this money you will get a simple double room, with fan or air conditioner. With an exception of Koh Rong Samloem island, where electricity is generated with solar and diesel generators, there rooms with air conditioner cost a bit more.
If you are traveling alone, you may choose dorm bed in a hostel. Price for a bed in Cambodia starts from 3-5$.
Total accommodation costs: 139 – 215$ (for up to 2 persons, staying in hotel), 39 – 65$ (1 person, staying in a dorm room of hostel).
Budget Hotels in Cambodia Where We Have Stayed & Recommend:
Homeland Guesthouse in Phnom Penh (Check out on: Booking.com, Agoda).
The Beach Island Resort on Koh Rong Samloem (Check out on: Booking.com, Agoda).
Visal Sak Guesthouse in Kep (Check out on: Booking.com, Agoda)
Advisor Angkor Villa in Siem Reap (Check out on: Booking.com, Agoda).
2. Transportation Costs in Cambodia
It’s up to you if you will use tuk-tuks or not. We almost don’t use them. As an alternative mode of transportation in Cambodia I can recommend you to rent a bicycle, which costs about 1-2$ per day. Scooter rent for a day in Cambodia usually is about 7$, for a month – 50 – 100$. As Cambodia geographically is flat country it’s not hard to go on a bicycle here.
Short rides (1-3 km) with a tuk-tuk should cost not more than 2-3$, longer ones about 5$. In Siem Reap it is possible to hire a tuk-tuk for whole day for 15$ or less. There we highly recommend you to do it. Especially if you are visiting Angkor Temple Complex just for one day.
Bus is the most convenient mode of transportation for long distances in Cambodia. There are few companies providing public bus service in Cambodia. For all our rides we used Phnom Penh Sorya Transport. Train service in Cambodia was resumed only in the spring of 2016, and in May there was only one line, between Phom Penh – Sihanoukville.
Bus Phnom Penh – Sihanoukville, 8 – 10$.
Ferry Sihanoukville – Koh Rong Samloem – Sihanoukville, 15 – 20$.
Bus Sihanoukville – Kep, 8 – 10$.
Scooter rent in Kep, 2 days (48 hours), 5 – 7$ per day, 10 – 14$ in total.
Bus Kep – Siem Reap, 15 – 20$.
Tuk-tuk for a day in Siem Reap, visiting Angkor Temple complex, 10 – 25$.
Bus Siem Reap – Phnom Penh, 10 – 12$.
Total transportation costs: 76$ – 111$.
When traveling with tuk-tuk in Cambodia there can be up to 4 passengers for the same price. To save money, at least when going to Angkor temple complex, I recommend you to ask around to find someone willing to share the costs of tuk-tuk.
3. Food Costs in Cambodia
Prices of food in Cambodia isn’t high in general. But anyway they vary a lot. You can buy fried rice or noodles with vegetables, or noodle soup from a street vendor for as low as 0,75$. In any of restaurants it will cost you around 1,5 – 3$. Mostly 3 – 4$ will be enough for a meal (vegetarian or non vegetarian) and drink.
In a lot of places beer is the cheapest drink (starting from 0,5$), but alcoholic cocktails often cost around 1-2$.
Of course, sometimes you will spend less, sometimes – more. If, for example, you will stay at Advisor Angkor Villa in Siem Reap (Booking.com, Agoda) like we did, you will save on breakfast, as it’s already included in price. Even if you take the cheapest room for 5$. But in total it should be something like this:
14 days x 3 meals a day = 42 meals. 4$ per meal. 168$ in total.
Drinking water – 1,5 l bottle per day, 0,5$ per bottle. 7$ in total.
Total food costs: around 175$.
4. Costs of Attractions in Cambodia
Includes only attractions listed higher in itinerary.
Wat Phnom in Phnom Penh – 1$.
Snorkelling at Koh Rong Samloem – snorkelling equipment rent is 2$ for full day (50$ deposit).
Going to Bokor mountain – 0,5$ per motorbike/bicycle.
Visiting Angkor temple complex – 20$ for 1 day pass (40$ – 3 day pass).
Phare, The Cambodian Circus performance in Siem Reap – 18$.
Total costs of paid attractions: 41,50$.
Total costs of 2 weeks in Cambodia: 431,5 – 542,5$ (staying in hotel), starting from 330$ (staying in dorm room).
These costs doesn’t include flight to Cambodia and back, visa (30$) and travel insurance. To find the cheapest flights to Cambodia go to Momondo, choose destination and set a departure date to a whole month. Compare prices and choose what fits you best! When looking for travel insurance we recommend you to check out World Nomads!
Happy travels!
If you have any questions about traveling in Cambodia, contact us!
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Hey, I’m looking to go travelling in Cambodia but wasn’t sure how long I’d need to spend – maybe 10 days (as I’m on a tight budget). I’m also interested in doing some yoga classes, could you recommend any? And are there any sights you’d definitely recommend to visit (apart from Angkor Wat, of course)? I think I will be flying into Siem Reap. Thank you
Hi, Alice! I don’t know much about yoga classes in Cambodia. But I’m 100% sure you’ll find something in Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, two most popular cities among tourists in Cambodia. In Siem Reap I highly recommend you to go to Phare Circus (organized by local non-profit organization; though not a cheap performance).
Kep is well known for its crab and green pepper dishes. Tasty! Would stop there also if only for that. Otherwise I would say that Kep same like Kampot is just a small and quiet town. Koh Rong Samloem is an awesome island if you want to have some peaceful time on the beach. The island is small. There are no roads. And electricity comes from diesel generators, that they turn on in the evenings. On one side of the island you can go snorkeling straight from the beach. There are no ATM’s on the island. Everything is priecier there. Food starts at something like 4-6$.
Note that there are 2 islands next to each other – Koh Rong Samloem is the small one, Koh Rong is a bigger one.