Overview
Why Cambodia is Southeast Asia's most underrated country
Sandwiched between headline-grabbing Thailand and Vietnam, Cambodia quietly holds Southeast Asia's most extraordinary ancient site, some of its cleanest island beaches, and a rural landscape that still feels genuinely untouched. Travellers who make time for it almost always wish they'd stayed longer.
Ten days in Cambodia is the perfect first visit. This route — Phnom Penh → Kampot → Koh Rong → Siem Reap — moves you through the country's four defining experiences: the raw, moving history of the capital, sleepy riverside Kampot, tropical downtime on Koh Rong, and finally sunrise at Angkor Wat. You'll never backtrack.
Budget anywhere from £350 for a lean backpacking trip to £1,800+ for a comfortable luxury holiday. The best time to visit is November to March — dry, cool and clear across the entire country.
Quick Overview
Duration
10 Days
Country
Cambodia
Best For
First-time visitors, couples, backpackers
Budget
£350 – £1,800+
Transport
Buses, ferries, tuk-tuks & domestic flights
Highlights
Phnom Penh · Kampot · Koh Rong · Siem Reap
The Route
Your 10-day Cambodia route
A logical south-to-north route ending at Siem Reap — fly home from Siem Reap International or catch a short hop back to Phnom Penh.
Phnom Penh → Kampot (bus, ~3–4 hrs) → Sihanoukville → Koh Rong (ferry, ~45 mins) → Siem Reap (short flight or overnight bus).
Day 1–2
Phnom Penh
Fly into Phnom Penh International and spend two days getting to grips with Cambodia's capital — riverside promenades, gilded palaces and the country's most important history.
How to get there
Fly into Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH). A metered PassApp tuk-tuk or Grab into central Phnom Penh takes 30–45 minutes and costs around $8–$12.
Where to stay
Budget
- Onederz Phnom Penh — rooftop pool hostel steps from the riverside
Mid-Range
- Aquarius Hotel and Urban Resort — pool, garden and central location in BKK1
Luxury
- Raffles Hotel Le Royal — colonial grande dame with elephant bar and history in every room
Best areas to stay: Riverside (budget, walkable to sights), BKK1 (mid-range, cafés and restaurants), Daun Penh (luxury, close to Royal Palace).
Things to do
- Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda — Cambodia's most opulent complex
- National Museum of Cambodia — pre-Angkor and Angkorian sculpture
- Central Market (Phsar Thmei) — art deco dome, jewellery and street food
- Russian Market (Phsar Toul Tom Poung) — souvenirs, silks and Khmer BBQ
- Sunset cruise on the Tonlé Sap and Mekong confluence
- Riverside promenade at Sisowath Quay
- Wat Phnom — the temple the city is named after
History & culture — visit with respect
A visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) and the Choeung Ek Killing Fields is difficult but essential — they document the Khmer Rouge era from 1975–79 and are the reason so many Cambodians speak so openly about the country's rebuilding. Go quietly, dress modestly, and take the audio guide. Half a day for both, together.
Food recommendations
- Romdeng — training restaurant for former street kids, brilliant amok and tarantulas
- Malis Restaurant — fine-dining modern Khmer, worth the splurge
- Backyard Café — plant-based, healthy, digital-nomad favourite
- Central Market food stalls — noodle soups, grilled skewers and iced coffee
Day 3–4
Kampot
Sleepy riverside Kampot is Cambodia's slowest, most charming town — colonial shophouses, pepper farms and cloud-shrouded Bokor mountain looming above.
How to get there
Giant Ibis or Virak Buntham buses from Phnom Penh take around 3–4 hours (about $12–$15). A private transfer via 12Go is faster and more comfortable ($40–$60).
Where to stay
Budget
- Arcadia Backpackers — riverside dorms with a famous water slide and bar
Mid-Range
- The Columns — boutique colonial-style rooms in the town centre
Luxury
- Sabay Beach — sun loungers, sunset dining and pool by the river
Best areas to stay: Kampot Riverside (views, sunsets), Town Centre (walkable to cafés and restaurants).
Things to do
- Kampot pepper farms — tour La Plantation for the world's best peppercorns
- Bokor National Park day trip — abandoned hill station, jungle and viewpoints
- Sunset boat cruise on the Kampong Bay River
- Kayaking or paddleboarding on the river
- Salt fields at Kampot (visible in dry season)
- Rabbit Island (Koh Tonsay) for a lazy beach day
Food recommendations
- Twenty Three Bistro — modern Khmer-French, best restaurant in town
- Café Espresso — brilliant coffee roastery in a converted warehouse
- Rikitikitavi — riverside restaurant with excellent Khmer curries
Day 5–6
Koh Rong
White sand, warm water and neon plankton at night — Cambodia's biggest island is where you slow down completely.
How to get there
From Kampot, take a bus or taxi to Sihanoukville (~2 hours). From Serendipity Pier, Speed Ferry Cambodia and Buva Sea run 45-minute ferries to Koh Rong (~$25 return). Book on 12Go the day before — first ferry usually 09:00, last return 16:00.
Where to stay
Budget
- The Big Easy Koh Rong — sociable hostel above Koh Touch pier
Mid-Range
- Long Set Resort — beachfront bungalows on the island's best beach
Luxury
- The Royal Sands Koh Rong — private beach, infinity pool and villas on Long Set Beach
Best areas to stay: Long Set Beach / 4K Beach (postcard sand, calm), Koh Touch (backpacker party pier), Sok San Beach (long, quiet, west coast).
Things to do
- Sunset walk along Long Set Beach — 7km of empty white sand
- Bioluminescent plankton tour — swim in a sea of blue stars
- Snorkelling trip to Koh Rong Samloem's coral reefs
- Sok San viewpoint hike — the whole west coast at sunset
- Full-day boat trip around the island's hidden coves
- Paddleboarding on the flat morning water
Food recommendations
- Sandbank Restaurant — beach-shack Khmer BBQ with your feet in the sand
- The Royal Sands Restaurant — most refined dining on the island
- Coconut Beach cafés — banana pancakes, smoothies and Angkor beer
Day 7–10
Siem Reap
You've saved the best for last — four days for Angkor's sprawling temple complex, plus the buzzing food and bar scene that Siem Reap has built up around it.
How to get there
Ferry back from Koh Rong to Sihanoukville, then fly Sihanoukville or Phnom Penh to Siem Reap with Cambodia Angkor Air or Sky Angkor (~1 hour, $80–$130 — the smart choice). The overnight Giant Ibis sleeper bus from Phnom Penh is the budget alternative (~10 hours, $25).
Where to stay
Budget
- Onederz Siem Reap — spotless pool hostel, five minutes to Pub Street
Mid-Range
- Golden Temple Boutique — long-standing favourite with free tuk-tuk transfers
Luxury
- Shinta Mani Angkor — Bill Bensley-designed, one of Asia's best boutique hotels
Best areas to stay: Old Market / Pub Street (nightlife, walking distance to everything), Wat Bo Road (quieter, riverside, great cafés).
Things to do
- Angkor Wat sunrise — arrive by 05:00 with a 3-day Angkor Pass ($62)
- Angkor Thom, Bayon Temple and the 216 stone faces
- Ta Prohm — the jungle-strangled 'Tomb Raider' temple
- Banteay Srei — the pink-sandstone 'citadel of women' on the outer circuit
- Phare, The Cambodian Circus — the country's best evening show
- Pub Street after dark — cheap beer, street food, live music
- APOPO Visitor Centre — meet the rats that clear Cambodia's landmines
- Floating villages on Tonlé Sap (optional half-day trip)
Food recommendations
- Khmer Kitchen — Pub Street institution, classic amok and lok lak
- Chanrey Tree — polished modern Khmer in a garden setting
- Sister Srey Café — riverside brunch and social-enterprise coffee
- Marum — training restaurant, small-plate Khmer, book ahead
How to visit Angkor
Buy your Angkor Pass at the official ticket centre (you can buy the day before after 17:00 — sunrise is included). Hire a tuk-tuk driver for the day ($20–$25) or a knowledgeable English-speaking guide via your hotel or Klook (~$40 extra). Small circuit day 1, big circuit day 2, outer temples (Banteay Srei + Beng Mealea) day 3.
Getting Around
Cambodia Transport Guide
Buses
Giant Ibis is the gold standard — comfortable, on time, wifi, snacks. Virak Buntham is cheaper and covers more routes including sleeper buses. Book online or on 12Go 1–2 days ahead in high season.
Ferries
Sihanoukville to Koh Rong is a 45-minute speed ferry with Speed Ferry Cambodia or Buva Sea — $25 return, roughly hourly from 09:00 to 15:00. Book the day before through your hotel or 12Go.
Domestic flights
Cambodia Angkor Air and Sky Angkor connect Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville and Siem Reap in about an hour. Worth it to skip the 6–10 hour overland journey between Sihanoukville/Phnom Penh and Siem Reap — usually £60–£100.
Tuk-tuks
Ubiquitous everywhere. In Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, use PassApp or Grab for metered fares (short hops around $2). Off-app rides need friendly haggling — agree the price before setting off. A full day of temples in Siem Reap is $20–$25.
Apps to download
Grab and PassApp for tuk-tuks and taxis, 12Go for buses and ferries, and Google Maps with offline maps saved before you land.
Currency & payments
Cambodia runs on US dollars for anything over $1, with Cambodian Riel as small change (~4,000 KHR = $1). Bring clean, unmarked notes. ABA ATMs are the most reliable — expect a ~$5 fee.
The Numbers
Cambodia Budget Breakdown
All-in estimates per person for 10 days — includes accommodation, food, transport, activities and the 3-day Angkor Pass ($62). International flights excluded.
| Budget Style | Cost For 10 Days | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | £350 – £550 | Hostels, street food, shared buses and ferries. Angkor Pass included. |
| Mid-Range | £700 – £1,100 | 3–4 star hotels, some domestic flights, sit-down restaurants and small group tours. |
| Luxury | £1,800+ | Boutique hotels and resorts, private transfers, fine dining and private guides at Angkor. |
Add roughly £600–£900 for return flights from the UK depending on season.
FAQ
Common questions about visiting Cambodia
Keep planning
Related Cambodia & Asia guides
Cambodia destination guide
Cities, regions, costs, visas and FAQs.
Best time to visit Cambodia
Season by season across the country.
Cambodia travel costs
Per-day breakdowns for every travel style.
Phnom Penh travel guide
Royal Palace, riverside and history.
Siem Reap & Angkor Wat guide
How to plan the perfect 3 days at Angkor.
Koh Rong travel guide
Beaches, ferries and where to stay.
Southeast Asia backpacking routes
More day-by-day itineraries across the region.
Cambodia travel tips
Money, safety and etiquette essentials.