Cambodia
Aug 21

The Ultimate 10-Day Cambodia Itinerary

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In this guide, I’m sharing my ultimate 10-day Cambodia itinerary. From Siem Reap to Phnom Pehn with a special stop in between, this small Asian country has a rich history with so much to offer travelers. And I’ll be the first to tell you, 10 days won’t be long enough!

Thank you to Bookaway for sponsoring this post. Bookaway is a transportation website that helps you book bus, train, and ferry tickets to the world’s most beautiful destinations. I recommend using Bookaway to book your transportation for this 10-day Cambodia itinerary. You can book your travel from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, all the way to Koh Rong in one simple place.

Even though Bookaway sponsored this post – all opinions are my own and I would never share a product or service with you that I don’t use and love myself!

“Be careful because Cambodia is the most dangerous place you will ever visit. You will fall in love with it, and eventually, it will break your heart.”  – Joel Brinkley

The Kingdom of Wonder

Cambodia has so much history, from it’s world-famous temples to it’s capital city. It’s a country that has been calling me back since our first visit. 

Most travelers in Cambodia don’t get a chance to peek behind the curtain of what’s on the ‘normal’ tourist route. We only got the smallest taste on our trip. There are still so many places that I’d like to explore. 

Sandwiched between Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, Cambodia couldn’t be more different from its neighbors. Coming from the United States, I’m always so surprised by the diverse cultures of such small countries. The people, food, temples, and traditions all change when you cross the border into Cambodia. 

10-Day Cambodia Itinerary Table of Contents

Please note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting my blog! 

Quick Facts about Cambodia

  • Cambodia’s Capital in Phnom Penh
  • The National Language is Khmer and English isn’t widely spoken
  • There are 3 International Airports (Sihanouk International Airport, Phnom Penh International Airport and Siem Reap International Airport)
  • You’ll need a visa to explore Cambodia. You can apply for your visa online or get a visa on arrival (you’ll need $30 USD in crisp bills) and the visa lasts for 30 days. 
  • They use the US dollar and the Cambodian Riel ($100 = ៛407664.25)
  • You can drink the tap water in Phnom Penh (and technically in Siem Reap but it didn’t taste nice)
  • You won’t need to rent a car or scooter – Cambodia has plenty of easy transportation options!
  • Tipping isn’t expected though it’s nice to leave 10% for exceptional service

Getting to Cambodia

Because Cambodia has 3 international airports, it’s extremely easy to get into the country! Depending on where you’re coming from, it’s probably going to be easiest to travel to Phnom Penh, but I would recommend flying into Siem Reap and moving down the country. 

You can also travel overland into Cambodia from any of the neighboring countries on buses. There are overnight bus options from Bangkok for only $39 with Bookaway (the journey is around 12.5 hours) or a 7-hour bus from Ho Chi Minh for only $22. 

Safety in Cambodia

I traveled in Cambodia with my husband but still spent time wandering around on my own. Overall I would say that Cambodia felt very safe. The people were so kind, we felt like everyone was happy to help us along the way. 

Personally, I would travel solo around Cambodia. As always, when you’re traveling solo just take the normal precautions to protect yourself. 

Transportation in Cambodia

As previously mentioned, I don’t think you need to rent a car or scooter in Cambodia. Renting a scooter would help with your explorations, but it’s not necessary and you can easily get anywhere you need to go without one. 

For transportation, I recommend using Bookaway. They’re an easy and trusted way to book all your overland travel in Cambodia. You can find affordable bus tickets from Siem Reap to Kampong Thom, Kampong Thom to Phnom Penh, and beyond! 

Everywhere that I’m sharing in this 10-day Cambodia itinerary can be booked with Bookaway.

When to Visit Cambodia

Like most countries in Southeast Asia, there is a dry season and a rainy season. You might also see it referred to as ‘green season’. The dry season is between November and April, which is also when it’s the coolest. However, we visited in March and it was very hot. 

During the dry season, you’ll see clear skies most days. The peak season is November to January and the green season is September to October. Personally, I would plan on visiting Cambodia around September at the end of the rainy season, but before it gets too busy. 

Language

In Cambodia, they speak Khmer. In Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, you’ll find that most people speak enough English that it’s easy to get by. If you travel to other parts of the country, that might not be the case. 

Here are some basic phrases:  

  • Hello: Suostei (pronounced Sous-Day) 
  • Thank you: Arkoun (pronounced A-Koon)
  • Please: Saum 
  • I’m sorry: Khnhom​ Somtos 
  • Goodbye: Leahaey (pronounced Lee-Hi)

Eating Vegetarian/Plant-Based in Cambodia

Eating vegetarian was extremely easy in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, however, it got a lot harder when you left these main cities. The street food in Cambodia is very meat-heavy and when we got off the beaten path, eating became a lot more difficult. 

However, in Siem Reap, we found some fantastic vegan and vegetarian restaurants and in both cities we found is easy to order vegetarian options at the night markets and street food vendors. In most cases however they won’t substitute the protein with tofu, they’ll just serve without. 

My 10-Day Cambodia Itinerary

This 10-day Cambodia itinerary moves at a nice slow pace. I’m a digital nomad who spends all year traveling, I don’t like to move quickly. Instead, I like to spend an extra day getting to know a city, frequenting several restaurants and coffee shops, and attempting to get off the beaten path. 

I also always work while we travel, so it’s important to have downtime. All the hotels I’ll share in this post have pools which means downtime can also be spent reading and chilling in the sun (which we did plenty of).

I recommend starting your trip in Siem Reap and traveling overland down the country to Phnom Penh. If you’ve flown into Phnom Penh you can easily fly up to Siem Reap or flip this itinerary and do Phnom Penh first! It’s up to you.

Day 1: Arrive in Siem Reap

Depending on where you’re traveling from, you might be landing in Siem Reap quite late on your first day. We flew from southern Thailand and didn’t get to our hotel until around 8 pm. For your first day, I recommend just getting settled.

Check in to your hotel, get familiar with the area that you’re staying in, and explore the night market and pub street. I definitely recommend getting $1 beers on pub street at least once during your stay. 

Where to stay in Siem Reap

I loved Siem Reap. It’s very ‘walkable’ and you’ll be able to get around easily if you stay in a central location. I recommend finding a hotel with a pool. Trust me, you are going to want a swim to cool down after a day exploring temples. 

Find a hotel in Siem Reap

We stayed at Homewood Hotel which was beautiful and within walking distance to everything! Next time I would love to stay at Eightfold Urban Resort which looks absolutely stunning or Mane Village Suites which is so well-reviewed!  

There are honestly so many luxury hotels that you can stay at in Siem Reap for a fraction of the price you’d pay in the US.

Day 2: Angkor Wat

Once you’ve had a day to settle in and relax, prepare for your early morning wake-up call because you will be watching the sunrise over Angkor Wat.

There are a couple of ways that you can explore Angkor Wat. You can take a guided tour, hire a tuk-tuk for the day, or even explore by bicycle. Personally, I would recommend a tour so that you can get the history with a certified English-speaking guide. If you explore on your own, it’s going to be beautiful but you’ll miss out on so much history. 

Angkor Wat is a Hindu-Buddhist temple complex and it’s the largest temple complex in the world. With a guided tour, you’ll hit all of the highlights. Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon and Ta Prohm – AKA The Grand Circuit. 

Make sure to pick a tour with small group numbers and be prepared with plenty of water. You’ll be able to buy breakfast and lunch within the temple complexes. 

After spending 8 hours at Angkor Wat, you’ll likely be exhausted. I recommend spending a few hours chilling by the pool before heading to Madam Moch Khmer Restaurant for dinner. They have traditional Khmer food made vegetarian – and it was delicious! 

Madam Moch Khmer Restaurant Vegetarian Options for Traditional Khmer Food

Day 3: Siem Reap

I hope you’re not bored of temples yet, because there are a couple more worth exploring in Angkor Wat and our next step. Our favorite Angkor Wat temple isn’t in the Grand Circuit, so you’ll need to make an additional trip. It’s further away from Siem Reap and took us about 45 minutes to reach by Tuktuk. 

It’s called Banteay Srei and it’s a 10th-century temple dedicated to the Hindu gods Shiva and Parvati. I recommend hiring a tuk-tuk driver to take you there. You can arrange a price (we paid $20) and they’ll wait while you explore. Even though you’ve already seen so many temples, I highly recommend visiting Banteay Srei. The style is very different from the temples you’ll have seen the day before, and it’s worth the trip. 

If you need a break from exploring temples, you can spend the day shopping at the Made in Cambodia Market and exploring other interesting things to do around Siem Reap. 

Today you’ll want to have dinner at HeyBong, a vegan restaurant that’s about a ten-minute walk from the city center in Siem Reap. The food there was amazing as well and it was so nice to have a menu full of choices for us!

Day 4: Siem Reap

For your last full day in Siem Reap, I recommend doing a waterfall day trip and spending the rest of the day exploring Siem Reap. Siem Reap was my favorite place that we stayed in Cambodia. We loved the local bars, fresh cafes, pub streets, and the overall quiet vibes of the city. 

If you don’t feel like getting out of town for a waterfall excursion, I’ve heard the Secrets of Siem Reap tour with Ayana Journies is meant to be incredible (I’ll definitely be going this on my next trip!) They take you through the streets of Siem Reap by bicycle to explore craft workshops, local markets, and other hidden gems. 

Day 5: Siem Reap to Kampong Thom

Your first travel day! For this itinerary, you’ll be making your way down to Phnom Penh, but not without a unique stopover in Kampong Thom for a ‘pre-Angkor’ temple experience. You’ll take the bus from Siem Reap to Kampong Thom which will take around 2.5 hours. 

We left in the early afternoon so that we could have one final morning exploring the cute cafes of Siem Reap. Before you leave, make sure to try Sister Srey, Damnak Café, and Footprint Cafes. 

Where to stay in Kampong Thom

Kampong Thom is not a popular tourist destination. It was one of those places where we definitely stood out, and I think most people who visit Prasat Sambor Prei Kuk don’t stay overnight – but instead come as a day trip from Siem Reap. While you could do that, it would make for a really long day. And why not break up your journey?

Find a hotel in Kampong Thom

I recommend staying at Sambor Village Hotel. It’s a beautiful property surrounded by greenery with an amazing pool. If you’re on a budget, you can stay at Kampong Thom Palace Hotel which also has a pool and is located right in the city center.  

Day 6: Prasat Sambor Prei Kuk

Prasat Sambor Prei Kuk is another temple complex, though much older than Angkor Wat. Most of this complex is an archeological site, with work still being done to uncover and restore these unique temples. We spent around 5 hours exploring the complex thanks to our tuk-tuk driver who we hired in Kampong Thom. 

We paid 70,000 Riel for our tuk-tuk driver, which is around $17 (USD). The 1-day pass was 81,000 Riel for 2 adults which is $20. 

Prasat Sambor Prei Kuk was incredible. Our tuk-tuk driver dropped us off at one end with a paper map and told us to walk to the other end where he would pick us up. The temples were more complex and unique and we went along and for most of the day, we were the only ones there. 

My favorite was saved until the end (our tuk-tuk driver knew what he was doing!) It’s an incredible temple that’s been completely reclaimed by nature. You can’t go inside but it was really cool. 

After exploring, your tuk-tuk driver will take you back to your hotel where I recommend cooling off at the pool. You can explore the Kampong Thom Market which is a very authentic Cambodian Market as well.

Day 7: Kampong Thom to Phnom Penh

Today you’re traveling from Kampong Thom to Phnom Penh. For a really smooth travel day, make sure that you book your travel with Bookaway. You’ll be able to take a minibus/van from Kampong Thom to the train station in Phnom Penh. From there you can take a tuk-tuk to your hotel in Phnom Penh. We paid $1 to get to Penh House Hotel, in one of the nicest neighborhoods (and hotels!) in Phnom Penh. 

Spend your first day/evening relaxing by the pool and wandering around Phnom Penh. I highly recommend staying at Pehn House Hotel because it’s so centrally located in a lovely neighborhood where you can wander around, explore the royal palace, and see the riverfront. 

If you’d like to do an activity for your first night in Phnom Penh, try a river cruise. 

Where to stay in Phnom Penh

I didn’t love Phnom Penh as much as Siem Reap. It’s definitely a big city in comparison! Because of that, I think where you stay is so important. You really want to make sure you’re in a nice neighborhood as a nice hotel – which is a lot cheaper than you’d ever find in America! 

Find a hotel in Phnom Penh

We stayed at Penh House Hotel and loved it. If I was going back to Phnom Penh I would stay there again for sure. Other hotels that are on my bucket list for Phnom Penh are Plantation Urban Resort, Aquarius Hotel, and Pavilion Hotel. 

There really are so many nice hotels in Phnom Penh that can really help you have a wonderful stay! 

Day 8: Phnom Penh

It would be a mistake to visit Cambodia and not learn about the history of the Khmer Rouge, Pol Pot, and the civil war. Your first full day in Phnom Penh will be heavy as I’m going to send you to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) and Choeung Ek (the Killing Fields). 

I recommend starting with Toul Sleng because it’s where the story begins – and the story sadly ends at the Killing Fields. 

Start with a good breakfast and head out early (to beat the worst of the heat, because you will be outside most of the day.) Tuol Sleng opens at 8 am most days so you can get an early start. 

It’s comprised of 4 buildings around a courtyard. Some of the rooms are filled with photos of the prisoners while others are still composed of the cells that people were held in. 

I would urge you to explore on your own, with the audio guide. It’s a very heavy place to visit and the audio guide is extremely well done. You’ll want to take your time, listen to the stories on the benches, and have quiet around you to reflect on the experience. 

We spent close to 3 hours at Tuol Sleng. From there, take a tuk-tuk to the Killing Fields. Choeung Ek was a former Orchard and Chinese Cemetery outside of Phnom Penh, but during the rise of the Khmer Rouge, it became the site of thousands of murders. 

Mass graves containing 8,895 bodies were discovered at Choeung Ek after the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime. (source: Wiki) 

We spent close to 3 hours at the Killing Fields as well. Once again, I recommend taking the guided audio tour. 

For both of these activities, make sure that you’re dressed modestly with your legs and shoulders covered up. 

Once finished, take a tuk-tuk back to your hotel and relax by the pool for a couple of hours before heading out to get dinner. We walked down the riverfront to the Phnom Penh night market where we had street food and sugar cane juice. 

Day 9: Phnom Penh 

To start your second full day in Phnom Penh, head for a coffee and shopping spree along Street 240. Here you’ll find shops that truly care about Cambodian people and culture. Most of the shops have products that are made with high-quality materials, by Cambodian women who’ve been paid a fair wage. It’s the perfect place to shop for any souvenirs. 

I also recommend visiting the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum of Cambodia. These three attractions are all very close together, making it easy to explore by foot. 

For a more detailed Phnom Penh itinerary, read this post next! 

End your night watching the sunset over the river with a cocktail at Juniper Gin Bar.

Day 10: Phnom Penh (Leaving Day)

Depending on what time you’re flying, you might have a few hours to explore Phnom Penh before you leave. I personally always want my travel days to be easy, so I’d start my last day in Phnom Penh with a leisurely breakfast, a good shower, and packing up all of my belongings. 

Then you can take a final walk along Street 240, get a coffee and a cake at Barista 240, and enjoy your final morning in Phnom Penh before heading off to your next destination. If you are flying out of Phnom Penh, it’s easy (and cheap) to take a tuk-tuk to the airport! 

Cost of travel in Cambodia

Daily Budget

Your daily budget is going to vary depending on how much time you spend in Phnom Penh v.s. Siem Reap and smaller towns. Phnom Penh is definitely the most expensive place to be in Cambodia! We found that the majority of our budget went to sightseeing. Visiting all of the museums and temples of Cambodia does add up, but it’s worth it! 

🏨 Hotel room: $50 – $100 a night

🛏️ Hostel room: $10 – $20 a night

🍛 Lunch / Dinner: $3 – $20

🍻 Beer: $1-$2 (local beer) / Cocktail: $6 – $8

🚰 Drinking water: $0.80 for 1.5L

🛺 TukTuk: $1.00 – $3.00 a trip

🚂 Intercountry Buses: $10 – $15 

Overall for two people, we spent $962 in Cambodia. For 10 days, that includes everything from our hotels to our Angkor Wat tickets, meals, and drinks. We use the TravelSpend app to track expenses so I can confidently tell you that’s exactly what we spent. 

What to Pack for Cambodia

Walking shoes. Trust me, even though Phnom Penh isn’t the most walkable city, you are going to want a very good pair of walking shoes for your trip. 

Modest, lightweight clothing and a scarf for visiting the temples and memorials. It’s very important to dress modestly in Cambodia. You are going to want flowy, lightweight pants, lightweight tops with sleeves, and a scarf that you can use to cover your shoulders. Keep in mind that for some temples, simply covering your shoulders with a scarf won’t be enough. You’ll need to wear modest clothing. 

A reusable water bottle. Cambodia definitely suffers from plastic pollution, but the tap water is drinkable in Phnom Penh! Make sure that you bring a reusable water bottle. Most restaurants (and Penh House Hotel) will be more than happy to refill it for you. I love this water bottle because it comes with a lid for coffee or a smoothie! 

Hydration salts/Liquid IV. It gets very hot and on days spent exploring, it can be really easy to get dehydrated. I always keep some hydration salts in my purse (or if I’m lucky, LiquidIV). 

Wet wipes and tissues. Bathrooms across Southeast Asia don’t usually have toilet paper, so I like to keep wet wipes and tissues in my purse. It also doesn’t hurt to carry hand sanitizer. 

Read Next:

Are you planning your trip to Cambodia? I hope this 10-day Cambodia itinerary helps you make the most of your time, and see the highlights of this beautiful country. There is so much to still explore, I can’t wait to go back. If you get the chance, make sure to get off the beaten track and enjoy all that this beautiful country has to offer. 

For more travel inspiration, follow me on Instagram and TikTok! I’ll see you there. 

Special thanks to Bookaway for sponsoring this post! As always, all opinions are my own.