This small country in Southeast Asia is best known for the magnificent temple complex Angkor Wat. But Cambodia is more than just Angkor Wat! Besides the world-famous temples, you will also find beautiful rice paddies, tropical islands and delicious food. The hospitable Cambodians are eager to show you all the beauty of their special country. On the other hand, you are also taken into their tragic history and can admire how the country is increasingly on the rise. Here you can read about the ideal itinerary of two weeks through Cambodia!
Everything you need to know before your trip begins
Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia, but many are particularly familiar with Siem Reap since it is the base for visiting the temples of Angkor. Consequently, these are the two cities where an international airport can be found. From the Netherlands or Belgium you fly to Cambodia in about 12 hours with often one transfer in Singapore or Bangkok. To enter Cambodia, you need a visa. At the airports you can arrange a visa-on-arrival, but this is just a bit more expensive than the e-visa that you arrange in advance. A visa is valid for 30 days and will cost you €32 via digital.
Did you know that Cambodia is still recovering from a tragic genocide that took place 40 years ago? Under the Pol Pot regime there were 2 to 3 million victims, which was about 25% of the population. To this day, this country is still recovering from this trauma. For that reason, we recommend that you start your trip in Phnom Penh to start in order to better understand the impact of this tragedy in the country. A better understanding of a country’s history and dynamics greatly enriches your trip.
There are two currencies in Cambodia, the Cambodian Riel and the U.S. Dollar. They are used interchangeably and often you will get change in the other currency. (1$ is about 4,000 Cambodian Riel). There is not yet as much ATM as in Belgium or the Netherlands, so make sure you always have enough cash in your pocket. Also keep in mind that they often don’t have change at $50 or $100 so provide plenty of change yourself.
How to get around in Cambodia
Using public transportation, you can easily travel around Cambodia. There are smooth bus connections between major cities and places of interest. You can easily buy tickets online at 12GO or on site at your stay. If you prefer more luxury or are in a larger group, you can always consider traveling privately via minibus. You can also arrange this locally quickly and smoothly. In the cities, the most obvious way to get from A to B is to use a tuktuk. Do clearly discuss the price with the driver in advance, bargaining is recommended! In larger cities, you can also use Grab. An alternative is the lesser-known Passapp, a local cab app that works like Grab.
Two weeks round trip Cambodia
In two weeks you can see a lot of this extraordinary country! This itinerary begins in the capital Phnom Penh and ends in Siem Reap with the highlight being Angkor Wat. With a travel period of two weeks, you have time to combine culture, nature and relaxing on an island. Below you will find the ideal travel itinerary Cambodia!
Day 1 – 3: Phnom Penh
In Cambodia’s capital, you can spend the first day recovering from your flight. We find that many people skip this city and travel directly to their next stop in the country. Unjustified, it seems to us, since Phnom Penh has a lot to offer. If you still have energy in the evening, we recommend a sunset cruise recommended. A two-hour boat ride takes you along the Mekong and Tongle Sap rivers past the capital’s skyline. An ideal place to enjoy a beautiful sunset.
The second day gives you a little more insight into Cambodia’s history. To get an idea about the tragic events between 1975 and 1979, visit the Tuel Sleng Genocide museum visit . This museum is located in a former school building and was transformed into a prison called S21. Afterwards, you can visit the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. Prisoners of Tuol Sleng and others were brought here and murdered. At both the genocide museum and the killing fields, an audio guide is included in the entrance fee. It may not be the most cheerful thing to do while traveling but it is an important part of Cambodia. In addition, by visiting you also express your support for the country.
Still, to end the day on a positive note, visit the night market for delicious local food or book a cooking class to delve into local cuisine. In addition, there are many atmospheric bars in town for an enjoyable evening. Before traveling on to your next destination, you can visit the royal palace and silver pagoda on the third day. Do keep in mind the opening hours. You can visit the palace and pagoda daily only between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. and again between 2 and 5 p.m.
Where to stay in Phnom Penh
You can find a wide range of accommodations in Phnom Penh, ranging from low-budget hostels to gigantic hotels. It is recommended to stay along the waterfront or in the BKK1 district. Both are centrally located, with many attractions close by.
- Budget (€): Onderz Hostel
- Comfort (€€): HM Grand Central Hotel
- Luxurious (€€€): Plantation Urban Resort
Day 3- 5: Kampot
A 3-hour bus ride will take you from Phnom Penh to Kampot. In this cozy town, you will find colonial French-inspired buildings everywhere. If you love nature then Bokor National Park is not far away. This park is one of the largest protected natural areas in Cambodia. To explore the area around Kampot, we recommend renting a scooter or tuktuk locally (driver included) that will take you past all the highlights. This day tour in Kampot takes you past salt flats, caves, beach resort Kep and a pepper plantation. It is said that Kampot pepper is the best pepper in the world! These peppers, among others, are grown at La Plantation where you can take a free tour.
Where to stay in Kampot
The center of Kampot is not very big and we recommend spending the night there. That way you are within walking distance of nice restaurants and bars and close to the bus stop. Most accommodations are also happy to help you arrange a tour or transportation.
- Budget (€): Karma Traders Kampot
- Comfort (€€): Hotel Old Cinema
- Luxurious (€€€): Kampot Sweet Boutique
Day 5 – 8: Koh Rong
Today you will explore the beautiful islands of Cambodia! Travel from Kampot again by bus towards Sihanoukville. This is a bus trip of about 3 hours along the south coast of the mainland. There is not much to do in Sihanoukville itself but you can take the ferry towards Koh Rong or its smaller brother, Koh Rong Samloen. These paradise islands are ideal for relaxing for a few days. We stayed in Mpai Bay, a cozy fishing village on Koh Rong Samloen. Kayaking, snorkeling, exploring beaches or just doing nothing is the day’s activities on these islands. Via a ferry you can easily visit the other island.
Where to stay on Koh Rong Samloem
You can stay on Koh Rong Samloem at M’Pai Bay or Saracen Bay. At Saracen Bay you will find more resorts, white sandy beaches and you can easily hike yourself to Sunset Beach and Lazy Beach. Then again, at M’Pai Bay you have that authentic feeling of Cambodia, can swim among luminous plankton and visit quaint bars.
- Budget (€): Onederz
- Comfort (€€): Beach House Cambodia
- Luxurious (€€€): Sara Resort
Day 8 – 10: Battambang
The next stop on your Cambodia itinerary is Battambang. This authentic village is still free from mass tourism but has a lot to offer! Keep in mind that this is a long travel day of 9 hours. The smoothest way to get there is by (shared) minivan from Sihanoukville. Just like in Kampot, you can take a tuktuk with driver to take you past all the highlights. Your driver will lovingly tell you about his country and you also support local people this way!
Visit the numerous temples and pagodas that Battambang is rich in. The most famous are Wat Dhum Rey Sor, Wat Phephittam and Phnom Sampeau. The most popular activity in Battambang is taking a ride on the bamboo train. Book a ride and before your eyes they “build” the train on the track to take you for a ride through the countryside. Be careful though, as soon as an oncoming car passes, you must take the train off the track along with your guide! In addition, your guide will take you through various crafts in Battambang. So you can make your own rice paper what they use to make spring rolls. Tasting is part of it, of course!
In the late afternoon, you can drive on to the Killing Cave. During the Khmer Rouge regime, this cave was used as a mass grave. It doesn’t make you happy, but again it leaves a deep impression of what happened in this country. At the nearby Bat Cave , you can end the evening at sunset. Millions (!) of bats leave the cave at sunset creating an impressive sight.
TRAVEL TIP! Support underprivileged youth in Cambodia by going to see Phare Ponlue Selpak ‘s spectacular circus. Phare Ponleu Selpak is a special project where these often traumatized youth are given the opportunity to learn a trade and earn money from their passion.
Day 10 – 13: Siem Reap
Time to travel to the highlight of Cambodia! Located in the western part of the country, Siem Reap is the ideal base for visiting the nearby temples of Angkor. From Battambang in the morning at 7 a.m. you can take a boat that takes you past some floating villages Siem Reap. The alternative is to book a shared or private transfer ticket when you stay in Battambang.
Siem Reap has grown tremendously in recent years thanks to the prominence of its temples. As a result, it has become a fine city where you can stroll, shop, eat or enjoy a massage at one of the numerous salons. While visiting the city, it is a must to visit the national museum before heading to the temples of Angkor. This museum outlines to you in detail the zeitgeist and further background of the entire temple complex.
Just a few kilometers from Siem Reap are the temples of Angkor. This is the largest temple complex in the world and the most famous attraction in the country. You can easily spend several days here at this complex, which is why we recommend going for a three-day pass. Speak to a tuktuk driver in Siem Reap, who will be happy to guide you through the temple complex. Some of the most beautiful temples not to be missed are Angkor Wat, Bayon and Angkor Thom (the temple used in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider).
Day 14: Return trip
Your two-week journey through Cambodia is over! Time to return home or expand your itinerary further. Since Siem Reap has an international airport, you can easily travel on to another destination from here. Thailand and Vietnam are neighboring countries to Cambodia that you can easily combine with this itinerary.
Best travel time Cambodia
Cambodia, like many countries in Southeast Asia, has a monsoon climate. That is, temperatures throughout the year average 30°C (with occasional warmer months as outliers). In addition, there is a rainy season that runs from May through October. Therefore, the best travel time is in the dry season which falls between November and April.
Do you have any questions about this itinerary Cambodia? Let us know in a comment below! Looking for more information about your next trip? Please do not hesitate to contact us or send an email to info@snoezelsontheroad.com
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