Cambodia Itinerary: 2 weeks for first-timers

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Cambodia is one of the most underrated countries in Southeast Asia, boasting everything from ancient temples and impactful museums to turquoise oceans and tranquil countrysides. No matter what you travel for, Cambodia has a perfect mix of culture, history, food, modernity, nature, and beaches. This Cambodia itinerary will take you through the best places to visit if you’re a first-timer, guaranteed to leave you wanting more and already planning your next trip back.

Cambodia Itinerary: FAQs

Why should I visit Cambodia?

You probably haven’t heard as much hype about Cambodia as you have its neighboring countries, Thailand and Vietnam. When I first visited Cambodia, I was coming from an amazing month in Vietnam and didn’t think it could compare. I was SO wrong – Cambodia holds its own and exceeded all my expectations. In only two weeks, you will go from ancient temples and peaceful countrysides to beautiful beaches and hard-hitting history lessons. It’s a diverse, well-rounded country that packs a big punch into a small time frame. Not only are the sights incredible, but the food is delicious and the people are lovely. Cambodia has everything you could want from a country in Southeast Asia.

Lucky enough to be on a Southeast Asia backpacking trip? Check out my 3-6 month route, including this Cambodia itinerary!

How long do I need in Cambodia?

Two weeks is the perfect amount of time for first-time visitors. Anything less will feel rushed, while three to four weeks would be too much for this Cambodia itinerary (although there are plenty of less discovered places you could add, in that case). Two weeks allows you to visit a diverse range of top attractions without burning out.

When to visit Cambodia?

The best time to visit Cambodia is during the dry season, which lasts from November to April. This Cambodia itinerary features mostly outdoor attractions, so warm, sunny days are ideal. Temperatures range from pleasant lows in the mid-70s°F (24°C) to highs of around 90°F (32°C). For the most ideal weather, visit between November and February before the temperatures start to climb.

How to book the best hotels and hostels in Cambodia?

The best booking platform for finding and reserving great hotels in Cambodia is Agoda. It’s owned by the same company as Booking.com but is based in Southeast Asia, making it great for finding any hotels you need. If you’re a backpacker staying in hostels, then Hostelworld is consistently the best hostel booking platform worldwide, and Cambodia is no exception. Book your Cambodia accommodations on Agoda today:

Don’t want to search for the best option, or just don’t have time? That’s what I’m here for! I’ve linked the best hotels and hostels through Agoda and Hostelworld for each destination on this Cambodia itinerary. As a professional travel advisor, I’ve vetted or personally stayed at these suggested properties. Properties marked with “$$$” are 4 or 5-star luxury properties, “$$” are 3 and 4-star mid-range hotels, and “$” are hostels.

How to book the best activities and excursions in Bali?

The best activity and excursion booking platforms for Cambodia are Klook and GetYourGuide. Both websites have thousands of trustworthy travel experiences with verified user reviews. I use Klook and GetYourGuide to book almost all my excursions in Asia, and you’ll find links throughout the article to great experiences I’ve personally vetted or experienced myself.

How to get around Cambodia?

Cambodia is easy to get around using public transportation, such as buses and trains. I always book my transportation online using 12Go or in-person through my hostel. During the high season from November to April, book a few days in advance because they will sell out. This Cambodia itinerary specifies how you can get from place to place using public transportation.

Once you’re in a city or town, you can get around using Grab (Cambodian Uber), hiring a TukTuk, or renting a motorbike.

Is Cambodia expensive?

This is a hard question to answer because it’s all relative, but here’s my answer as an American who’s traveled Southeast Asia extensively: Cambodia is expensive for Southeast Asia, but not compared to prices at home. Coming from Vietnam, Cambodian prices were quite a shock. Everything was about double what I had paid in Vietnam. However, Cambodia is still less expensive than many travel destinations in the world. This two-week Cambodia itinerary will not break the bank! However, I wasn’t prepared for Cambodia to be expensive by Southeast Asia standards, so just a word of warning.

Is Cambodia safe for solo travelers?

Yes, Cambodia is a great destination for solo travelers and this Cambodia itinerary is designed based on my solo adventure! Not only does it offer so many great experiences, but it’s easy to meet fellow travelers. Cambodia is part of the Southeast Asia backpacking trail that so many travelers do, so you won’t have any issue making travel buddies. This also means that plenty of solo travelers have come before you, making it easy to navigate. Cambodia is budget-friendly, easy to get around, and generally safe.

I heard some horror stories about safety in Cambodia that scared me as a solo traveler, but I never felt unsafe once or spoke to anyone else who felt unsafe. You should always stay aware and take standard safety precautions, such as keeping your belongings close and avoiding walking alone at night. If you do this, you shouldn’t have any issues in Cambodia as a solo traveler.

Koh Rong, Cambodia is one of my top picks for the best places to solo female travel in Asia!

Cambodia Itinerary Overview

Days 1-3: Phnom Penh

Days 4-6: Kampot

Days 7-10: Koh Rong

Days 11-14: Siem Reap

2 Week Cambodia Itinerary

Days 1-3: Phnom Penh

WHERE TO STAY: $$$: Plantation Urban Resort & Spa, $$: Glow Park Hotel, $: Mad Monkey Phnom Penh

Day 1: Phnom Penh city exploring

Welcome to Cambodia! On your first day, fly or bus into the capital of Phnom Penh. In my opinion, it’s crucial to start your Cambodia itinerary in Phnom Penh. This is where most of the historic sights regarding the Cambodian Genocide, Khmer Rouge, and Pol Pot regime are located, and it’s very important that you educate yourself on this dark side of Cambodia’s history at the beginning of the trip. It’s crucial to understanding the country and its people.

So, get settled in Phnom Penh on your first day. You can visit the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, take a sunset boat ride on the river (this one has unlimited beer and soft drinks!), go shopping and cafe hopping on Street 240, or eat around the night market.

Day 2: Cambodian genocide history

Today will be a heavy day learning about the Cambodian genocide and civil war. There are two main sights in Phnom Penh that you can’t miss: Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (AKA S21) and Choeung Ek (AKA the Killing Fields). I recommend hiring a TukTuk driver for the day or joining a guided tour such as this one, since the Killing Fields are 45 minutes outside of the city center. You’ll want to visit S21 first, then the Killing Fields. Both sights offer fantastic audio tours that you absolutely shouldn’t miss. Remember to dress respectfully, with shoulders and knees covered.

After a heavy and warm morning, head back to your hotel to relax by the pool or continue exploring Phnom Pehn.

Day 3: Travel to Kampot

The only thing you have to do today is make your way from Phnom Penh to Kampot, an easy three-hour bus ride. If you’re a dog lover, make sure to arrive by sunset so you can visit High Tide, a dog rescue and sanctuary doing absolute amazing work. You can chill along the river with a beer while surrounded by rescue dogs – what’s better?

Days 4-6: Kampot

WHERE TO STAY: $$$: Hotel Old Cinema, $$: The Magic Sponge, $: Karma Traders

Day 4: Countryside cycling tour

If you take any advice from this Cambodia itinerary, let it be to do Jason’s tour when you’re in Kampot. Seriously, his countryside experience tour was one of the best tours I’ve done in all my travels and was the highlight of my time in Cambodia.

Jason is an extremely knowledgeable expat who has been living in Kampot for five years (as of 2025). He’s a walking encyclopedia who will take you cycling through the local villages while giving you a detailed lesson on Cambodian history and culture. The cycling isn’t too difficult, with frequent breaks for drinks and countryside stops. You won’t be with any other tourists, making it a very unique and authentic experience. We visited local monasteries, temples, schools, and even had an amazing meal at a local family’s home. I cannot recommend this tour enough!

The countryside experience tour runs every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Jason also offers a free walking tour every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. I didn’t have time to join that one, but lots of people on my cycling tour had been and highly recommended it.

Day 5: Pepper and salt farms & Kep

Today, you’ll explore the tourist highlights of Kampot and neighboring Kep. I suggest renting a motorbike to get around, as the roads in Kampot are decently easy even for beginners. If you’re uncomfortable on a motorbike, there are lots of TukTuks waiting to take you around for the day.

Start your day early and drive 30 minutes to La Plantation, a scenic pepper farm where you can take a free tour and sample lots of peppers. Then make your way to Kep, a small seaside town known for seafood and Kep National Park. On the way back to Kampot, stop at the salt fields where you can watch the sunset over piles of salt (only visible in January – May).

Day 6: Travel to Koh Rong

You’ll make your way to the island paradise of Koh Rong today. First, take a bus or train from Kampot to Sihanoukville. The train runs only once a day, but it’s the cheapest and fastest way to get there (2 hours, $7). The bus takes 3 hours and drives on a gravel road for about an hour, which is bearable but not ideal.

Once you’re in Sihanoukville, take the one-hour ferry to Koh Rong. It also stops at the smaller island, Koh Rong Samloem, so make sure to pay attention to where to get off. Once at Koh Rong, the ferry stops at both Koh Touch and Long Set piers, so check which one is closer to your accommodation. I recommend staying at Koh Touch, as its the main town area with more options for eating and drinking.

Days 7-10: Koh Rong

WHERE TO STAY: $$$: BeachWalk, $$: Europe Enchanted Bungalow, $: Lost Boys

Days 7 – 9: Beach hopping

Welcome to paradise! Koh Rong is a beautiful, mostly undeveloped island with crystal clear turquoise water and fine white sand. For the next few days, you’ll relax on the stunning beaches around Koh Rong. I recommend renting a motorbike or hiring a TukTuk for at least one day and exploring the beaches beyond your accommodation area. Renting a motorbike isn’t for beginners, as many of the roads are unpaved. Here’s some of the best beaches in Koh Rong:

• Long Set Beach: one of the two main tourist areas, AKA 4K Beach for it’s long white shores
• Koh Touch Beach: one of the two main tourist areas, walk 5-10 minutes away from the pier for the best stretch of beach
• Sok San Beach: long stretch of beach home to many resorts but with plenty of room to spread out, stunning sunsets
• Lonely Beach: untouched, secluded beach (my favorite on the island) but not easy to get to!

If you’re on Koh Rong on a Saturday and you like to party, you can’t miss Nestival. This huge beach party hosted by Nest Beach Club features two stages with two DJs so you can always choose what music you prefer. It starts at 3pm with free beer and team sports games, and then the party picks up around 9pm. Basically every single backpacker will be there, and it’s lots of fun.

Day 10: Travel to Siem Reap

You have two choices for making your way to Siem Reap: take a mini bus during the day or take a sleeper bus through the night. You’ll first have to take the 45 minute ferry from Koh Rong to Sihanoukville, where you can transfer to a 10-12 hour bus to Siem Reap. I chose to travel during the day because I don’t do well on night buses. If you’d prefer to have an extra day on Koh Rong and don’t mind sleeping on buses, then take the night bus.

A note about the night buses in Cambodia: most of these buses have shared beds, meaning you could end up cuddling a stranger for 10 hours. You can find night buses that have private beds, but you should ask specifically for them and book in advance in peak season.

Days 11-14: Siem Reap

WHERE TO STAY: $$$: Golden Temple Residence, $$: The Urban, $: Onederz Siem Reap

READ MORE: The 10 best things to do in Siem Reap: Angkor Wat & beyond

Day 11: Angkor Wat Small Circuit

Angkor Wat is so iconic in Cambodia that it’s on the Cambodian flag. You can’t visit Siem Reap without dedicating at least one day to exploring this 900 year old massive temple complex. Many people don’t know that Angkor Wat is just the name of one temple, but there are 71 other temples in the Angkor Wat area. You could spend a week exploring all of them, but I suggest dedicating two days to it. These days will be tiring and hot, so you don’t want to overdo yourself.

There are two main routes to take: the Small Circuit and the Grand Circuit. The Small Circuit includes the iconic Angkor Wat, along with Bayon Temple, Ta Prohm, and more. The Grand Circuit includes Preah Kahn, Ta Som, Pre Rup and more. They are both worth doing, which is why I suggest spending two days exploring them. Splitting up your days gives you time to rest, escape from the heat, and not get “templed-out”.

I suggest visiting the Small Circuit on your first day exploring Angkor, as this is the most famous temple route. Many people wake up for sunrise at Angkor Wat and then continue the Small Circuit, but I don’t recommend this. While sunrise can be beautiful, it’s often very cloudy, so you can’t guarantee that it’ll be a good one. This also puts you on track to be surrounded with tourists all day, as you’re going at the most popular time. Here’s how I avoided crowds by doing the Small Circuit later and in the opposite direction:

• 8:30am: left Siem Reap town and headed to Ta Prohm
• 10:00am: Bayon Temple
• 11:30am: Angkor Wat

We also stopped at some smaller temples on the way, but we focused most of our time and energy on these heavy hitters. By doing the Small Circuit in reverse and at a later time, we hardly had any other tourists with us. The only downside to doing it this way is that by the time we got to Angkor Wat, it was getting pretty hot. You can choose what’s more important to you: seeing the sunrise and having cooler temperatures, or avoiding the crowds.

After spending the morning at Angkor Wat, you can relax by the pool, eat local food, check out cute cafes, go shopping at Old Market, or get drinks on Pub Street.

If you want a kind, safe, affordable TukTuk driver to take you around Angkor Wat with ice cold water waiting at every stop, contact Mr Honey on WhatsApp at +855 97 653 9874. I used him my whole time in Siem Reap and he’s great!

Day 12: Rat demining, city exploring, and the circus

So you don’t get templed-out, I’m including a day of other activities in between your two Angkor Wat days.

Did you know that rats are saving lives in Cambodia by detecting unexploded landmines and bombs? Cambodia is one of the most mine-affected countries in the world, with millions of unexploded munitions that can injure and kill locals. There are unexploded bombs from the US bombing of Cambodia during the Vietnam War and unexploded landmines from the Cambodian Civil War and Genocide. While humans and dogs can help in detecting these, NGO APOPO is training rats because they’re light enough to not set off the landmines. Together, dogs, rats, and humans are saving Cambodian lives. To learn more about this and see the rats in action (and even hold one!), take a tour of the APOPO center in Siem Reap.

You can spend the rest of the day exploring the city before going to Phare, the Cambodian circus tonight. Don’t worry, this circus is a great organization that trains underprivileged people in music, arts, and acrobatics. There are no animals involved. They do different shows throughout the year, with each show telling a story. It’s an impressive, entertaining, and funny show that’s more than worth seeing. Get your tickets in advance here, as it sells out during high season!

Day 13: Angkor Wat Grand Circuit

Today you’ll be tackling the Grand Circuit of Angkor Wat, seeing the less famous but no less impressive temples. After successfully seeing the Small Circuit with fewer crowds, I set out to do the same today. Here’s how I avoided crowds on the Grand Circuit by starting early:

• 7:30am: left Siem Reap town and headed to Preah Kahn
• 9:30am: Ta Som
• 10:30am: Pre Rup

We also stopped at some smaller temples on the way, but we focused most of our time and energy on these heavy hitters. Not only did we successfully avoid crowds, but we also avoided most of the heat.

Spend the rest of the day cooling down, resting, or exploring the town.

Day 14: Goodbye Cambodia!

That’s the end of this 2-week Cambodia itinerary! Siem Reap has an international airport and plenty of buses to take you home or to your next destination. From the history and culture of Angkor Wat and Phnom Penh to the countryside of Kampot and the beaches of Koh Rong, your Cambodia trip will have a little bit of everything. How about continuing onto Thailand or Vietnam next, just a short flight or a cheap bus?

Keep reading:

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• Southeast Asia backpacking route: The best 3-6 month itinerary
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