Want to discover the perfect 2 week Cambodian travel itinerary in a handy, day by day format?
Then this post is for you!
There’s many great reasons to travel Cambodia, after all this southeast nation is filled with historical gems, cultural curiosities, unique UNESCO spots and some seriously beautiful landscapes.
And not to detract from any of this, but another great reason to travel Cambodia is because it’s fairly small and easily manageable, meaning if you’ve only got 2 weeks to get a flavour of Southeast Asia, it makes the ideal country.
Plus, who can forget, it allows you to tick a major treasure, the UNESCO-listed Angkor Wat, off your bucket list too!
So if you’re looking to head somewhere warm for a couple of weeks and want to cram in culinary feasts, cultural delights, beautiful beaches and some seriously superb temples, look no further than my ideal Cambodia itinerary – it will have you seeing all the sights in just a fortnight… promise!
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Beginning Your Cambodia Itinerary
To start this itinerary, you first need to arrive into Cambodia – an obvious but important point!
Most people arriving into Cambodia do so by air, and this country conveniently boasts 3 international airports – one located in the capital Phnom Penh, one in the city of Siem Reap near to Angkor Wat, and one in the coastal city of Sihanoukville.
Long haul flights generally arrive into the capital, while flights from other areas in the Southeast Asia region also arrive into Siem Reap and Sihanoukville.
Regardless of whether you’ve travelling to Cambodia from a far flung international airport, or a closer regional one, I highly recommend using Skyscanner to find the best flight prices.
Alternatively, if you’re coming to Cambodia from Bangkok, which may have cheaper international flight prices (it’s a major airport hub in the area), then you can easily travel to Siem Reap in a day overland too.
Check out how I crossed the border from Bangkok to Siem Reap by bus – I definitely recommend this option over flying if you’ve been travelling in central Thailand already.
Once in Cambodia, you then need to get to Siem Reap to begin this itinerary.
For those flying into Siem Reap airport, a taxi is the easiest way to travel the short distance to the city and your accommodation.
Otherwise, if you are landing in Phnom Penh or Sihanoukville, then I suggest getting an internal flight (or a good luxury bus if you’re trying to be eco-minded) to Siem Reap.
If you’re going for the bus option, then check out 12Go, who make comparing and booking your Southeast Asian bus journeys, online and in advance, a breeze.
Once in Siem Reap, you’re then ready to begin your 14 day adventure!
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Ideal 2 Week Cambodia Itinerary
Day 1 – 4: Siem Reap
Recommended Hostel: Hostel Onederz
Recommended Hotel: IBIS Styles
And now to begin this Cambodia itinerary for reals, starting in the country’s second-largest city, Siem Reap.
Obviously, this place is most famous for the ruins that lie just beyond it – those of Angkor Wat – but the town is a lively, cultural place in and of itself and definitely worth a day to explore.
For that reason, and because you’re likely to have just arrived into Cambodia, I’d allow yourself a day here to adjust and get your bearings in this new country.
During your first day in Siem Reap you can also check out the city temples, visit the night markets, hit Pub Street if you really fancy it, and also organise your Angkor Wat excursion if you haven’t already.
Learn more in this post I wrote about the 10 best things to do in Siem Reap.
Alternatively, check out these Angkor Wat tours you can book in advance – a great idea if you’re on a tight schedule for your Cambodia itinerary.
You’ll likely also want some time to chill by a pool on your first day, as that Cambodia humidity is going to hit you hard!
Thankfully, both my well-priced recommended accommodation options (the Ibis Styles Siem Reap and Onederz Hostel), have pools, so you can also relax, unwind and get accustomed to the jungle humidity.
During the remainder of your time in Siem Reap, you’re going to want to explore the amazing place that is Angkor Wat.
There’s loads of details, including how and where to buy tickets, how to see the best sunrise there and the top Angkor Wat tours to take in other articles I’ve written, so I’ll spare you the repetition of details here – the best thing is to do is click on the links to learn more about each topic.
The top-line details if you want them however are… get a 3 day ticket to this huge temple complex if you can, as it’s just too massive to cover in one day.
Spreading your visit here over multiple days will also allow you to experience both a sunrise and a sunset within the temple complex (without falling over from exhaustion) and give you the opportunity to walk, cycle and tuk-tuk around the ruins, so that you can cover the close, as well as the further away, temples.
For cycling tours in Angkor Wat as part of your Cambodia itinerary, I recommend TakeMeTour who provided me with a great day trip.
For tuk-tuk tours, check out Onederz Hostel, who have daily departures that team you up with other travellers. Allowing you to access the site on 4 wheels for under $10 USD, they have a couple of different routes you can enjoy as well!
Day 5: Battambang
Recommended Hostel: Pomme
After 4 days, it’s then time to move on from Siem Reap to the quieter city of Battambang, a few hours away either by bus or boat.
If you’re travelling in high season, when the water levels in Lake Tonle Sap are still quite high, then combining a boat trip with your journey to Battambang is a great way to see how the local people live amongst their floating villages.
You can even enjoy a sunset dinner tour there too!
Otherwise, take an early bus from Siem Reap to Battambang so you have the afternoon to explore this new destination.
Must-sees in Battambang include the heritage walk, which is self-guided and takes in the beautiful faded French colonial architecture this destination is famous for, as well as the good café scene here.
After that, you can ride on the traditional bamboo train, before heading to the famous bat caves in the evening.
For around $10 USD, a local tuk-tuk driver can offer you a return journey from central Battambang to the cave and also wait for you there too, before giving you a ride home.
It’s worth doing the hike around the cave to see the temples at the top, before returning to watch the sunset spectacle when thousands upon thousands of bats exit the cave mouth at the same time.
Don’t worry about not finding the place, you’ll easily see the assembled tourists and rows of chairs laid out!
Despite how awful I’ve made this sound, it really is quite the spectacle and definitely a must on this Cambodia itinerary, trust me!
Day 6 – 7: Phnom Penh
Recommended Hostel: Feliz Hostel
After a bit of quiet downtime in Battambang, it’s then straight back into the Southeast Asian chaos, as the next place to head on your Cambodia itinerary is the country’s capital Phnom Penh.
This certainly isn’t the greatest city in the world, but it is definitely worth a couple of nights on your itinerary.
Coming from Battambang, the bus to get to Phnom Penh will take you a few hours, so on your arrival in the capital I’d suggest just spending some time to get acquainted with the city, especially its riverside promenade, which is the best place for a stroll and to get a feel for the place.
There’s also several good cafes in the capital to check out including Vibe, Backyard, Feel Good and Daughters.
You might also want to use this first day in the capital to plan your trip to Phnom Penh’s main highlights… although highlights is definitely the wrong use of the word, seeing as the sights I’m talking about refer to Cambodia’s horrific genocide.
If you weren’t in the know about this tragic and horrendous event, then this is the time to educate yourself as you visit the aptly-named Killing Fields and the infamous S-21 prison, which now acts as the genocide museum.
You’ll want to allow a full day to soak in the visceral and confronting nature of visiting both these 2 sites, and to do them and the victims, justice.
Onederz Hostel in Phnom Penh organise daily tuk-tuk transport to both sites for under $10 USD per day, and pair you with other travellers to share the ride and keep costs down. This is a great option for budget, solo visitors come moi.
Day 8 – 10: Kampot & Kep
Recommended Kampot Hostel: Ganesha Eco Lodge
After 2 days in the capital, it’s then time to move onto a quieter spot, so next up on this Cambodia itinerary are the semi-twin towns of Kampot and Kep.
Located out to the east of the country, near the southern Vietnamese border, Kep is on the coast, while Kampot (about an hour away) is situated on a river inland.
Many travellers base themselves in one of the towns (normally Kampot) and day trip to the other from there.
I’d allow 3 days to see both these destinations – 1 day to arrive from Phnom Penh and get your bearings, 1 day to explore Kampot and the other to explore Kep, including the nearby Rabbit Island.
In Kampot, a quiet country town, you can enjoy kayaking on the river, cycling in the surrounding countryside or hiking to nearby waterfalls.
You can also check out the local pepper farms – Kampot pepper is famous the world over – enjoy some time in the local cafes (Simple Things was my fav), snap the crumbling colonial architecture or go for a sunset river cruise.
There’s also a number of good spas in Kampot if you need a massage or a yoga class (Banteay Women’s Spa is great for both) or you can head out of town on a day trip to explore the Bokor Hill Station and other natural areas around.
Day 11 – 14: Koh Rong Sanloem
Recommended Hostel: Hornbill Guesthouse
And last but not least on this 14 day Cambodia itinerary, we get to my favourite spot in the country!
Yes Koh Rong Sanloem really is the jewel in Cambodia’s crown as far as I’m concerned and if you can allow longer than 4 days here you should!
But don’t get me wrong, that’s not because of the huge amount of things to do here, instead it’s because this place really is all about chilling the heck out.
So kick off your flip flops, roll out your towel and get ready to enjoy the beach life in this patch of paradise.
The smaller of the 2 islands in southern Cambodia, I’d definitely recommend visiting Koh Rong Sanloem over its larger neighbour (Koh Rong – confusing I know!) and you can easily get boats here from the mainland city of Sihanoukville.
If you accidentally miss the last boat and have to stay in Sihanoukville (which you should avoid at all costs if you can!), Onederz Hostel is the place to rest for the night here.
Then, in the morning, hop on the first boat and get to the island asap, where hammock lying, sunset watching, beer reclining and sea swimming all await you!
There is some snorkelling and hiking to do on the island too if you’re feeling active, otherwise kick back and enjoy the last few days of your Cambodia itinerary in style!
For more info about this island, check out my full guide to visiting Koh Rong Sanloem.
Ending Your Cambodia Itinerary
And now it’s time to make your way back home.
Boo hiss!
Head to Phnom Penh to grab your international flight out of Cambodia, or you continue your journey into Vietnam and the amazing city of Ho Chi Minh City – I absolutely loved this place!
Learn more about how I travelled overland by bus from Kampot in Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam here.
Mini Cambodia Travel Guide
When to Visit Cambodia?
The best time to visit Cambodia is during the drier, cooler season between the months of November and April.
Once you start getting into May, the humidity really starts building and after that, the rains definitely don’t make the country nearly as fun to travel in.
How to Travel Around Cambodia?
You can book bus tickets both across borders into Cambodia, as well within the country itself, online via the secure website 12Go.
I used this site throughout my time here and highly recommend it for ease, convenience and peace of mind.
Travel Insurance for Cambodia
World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while travelling and claim online from anywhere in the world.
Alternatively, if you’re a long-term traveller, digital nomad or frequent remote worker seeking travel health cover, check out Safetywing’s Nomad Insurance policies.
5 Cambodian Packing Essentials
#1 Lonely Planet Guidebook – The Cambodia Lonely Planet is excellent and very helpful for any trip to this part of the world with lots of top tips and helpful information.
#2 Birkenstocks – A good pair of sandals are king in Cambodia and I love my Birkenstocks which are perfect for keeping my feet cool, supported and for kicking on and off easily when you visit temples or hit the beach. Literally wore them all day every day in Cambodia!
#3 European & British Power Adapters – Cambodia use a mix of power outlets, but generally opts for a mix of European and British ones, so make sure you come prepared with a skross world adapter.
#4 Camera and Lens – I love my Sony A6000 mirrorless, which was ideal for capturing this crazy and beautiful country.
#5 Sarong – A great multi-purpose travel item that can be brilliantly used in Cambodia as a beach towel / dress, a pillow / blanket on bus rides and for covering shoulders when you visit temples. A good sarong is a Southeast Asia travel must-have in my book.
SAVE THIS TO PINTEREST!
And so there you have it, my ideal 14 day Cambodia itinerary.
Have you travelled to this Southeast Asian gem of a country?
Do you have any advice (or fav destinations) to add to the above?
If so, please help other travellers out, by leaving your thoughts in the comments below…
