It suits a first trip at a steady pace, by bus, tuk-tuk and ferry, on almost any budget. Here are the ten days, stop by stop, plus how to choose between Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem.
Plan Cambodia in Stippl
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Download the appIs 10 days in Cambodia enough?
Yes, for the classic route. Ten days covers Angkor, the capital, the south coast and an island without rushing, because Cambodia is small and most stops have one headline sight. Our trip data backs this up: a typical Cambodian stop lasts two nights, and three quarters of all stops last one, two or three nights.
Most travellers also see Cambodia as part of a bigger trip. Fewer than one in sixteen Cambodia trips planned with Stippl stay in Cambodia alone, and four in five also include Vietnam. So ten days is often the Cambodian leg of a longer journey, and it slots in well.
The 10 day Cambodia route at a glance
Picture the route as a line from the north west to the south coast: Siem Reap near the big lake, down to Phnom Penh on the Mekong, south to Kampot, then a boat out to Koh Rong. For background on the country, start with our Cambodia travel guide.
| Duration | 10 days, 9 nights |
| Route | Siem Reap → Phnom Penh → Kampot (Kep day trip) → Koh Rong |
| Nights | Siem Reap 3 · Phnom Penh 2 · Kampot 2 · Koh Rong 2 |
| Daily budget | €10 to €28 budget · €33 to €60 mid-range · €65+ comfort, per person |
| Best time | November to February, when temples, cities and islands are all dry |
| Book ahead | The three day Angkor pass, and island rooms in high season |
| Stippl tip | Travellers usually stay three nights on Koh Rong; add an 11th day if you can |
| Stop | Nights | What to do | Next stop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siem Reap | 3 | Angkor at sunrise, the small and grand circuits | Bus to Phnom Penh, 6 to 7 hours |
| Phnom Penh | 2 | Royal Palace, Tuol Sleng, Choeung Ek, the riverside | Train or minivan to Kampot, 3 to 4 hours |
| Kampot | 2 | Pepper farms, the river, a day trip to Kep | Minivan to Sihanoukville, 2 hours, then ferry |
| Koh Rong | 2 | Beaches, a boat trip, the glowing plankton | Ferry and bus back to Phnom Penh |
Siem Reap and the temples of Angkor
Siem Reap is the reason most people come to Cambodia: it is on almost nine in ten Cambodia trips planned with Stippl, and three nights is the stay travellers pick most often. That also matches the three day Angkor pass, valid on any three days within ten. Buy it only from Angkor Enterprise, at its ticket office or official site: €53 (US$62).
Day 1Arrive in Siem Reap, Old Market
Afternoon: the new airport is 45 to 50 km east of town, 60 to 80 minutes by shuttle, €7 to €8 (US$8 to $9). Check in, then visit the Angkor National Museum: the carvings make far more sense once you have seen it.
Evening: a walk through the Old Market area and dinner at Khmer Kitchen Restaurant, the cheap Khmer standard everyone is sent to on their first night. If you have not bought your Angkor pass online, the ticket office opens at 5 am, so get there on the hour tomorrow.
Day 2Angkor Wat sunrise, small circuit
Morning: be at the reflecting pond at 5 am for sunrise over Angkor Wat. Then walk into the temple while the crowd goes for breakfast, and continue to Bayon with its 216 stone faces, the Terrace of the Elephants and Ta Prohm, the temple swallowed by strangler figs. Hire one tuk-tuk for the whole day, €13 to €17 (US$15 to $20), and agree the route first.
Afternoon: back to town around 11 am, before the worst of the heat, and spend the afternoon by a pool.
Evening: The Sugar Palm for the amok everyone talks about, in a teak house on the Wat Bo side.
Day 3Grand circuit, Banteay Srei
Morning: Banteay Srei, the small pink sandstone temple about 25 km north with the finest carving in the park, and the Cambodia Landmine Museum on the same road.
Afternoon: the quieter grand circuit on the way back: Preah Khan, Neak Pean, Ta Som, East Mebon and Pre Rup.
Evening: Phare, the Cambodian Circus, an hour of acrobatics and Khmer folk tales by graduates of its own arts school.
Not sure two temple days are enough? Our guide to how many days in Siem Reap and Angkor Wat has 1, 2 and 3 day plans.
Where to stay: in or near the Old Market and the Old French Quarter for a short stay, so everything is within a 20 minute walk. Wat Bo Road and Wat Damnak, across the river, are calmer. Book a pool and air conditioning, and check for a generator, because power cuts are common. FCC Angkor by Avani is the old governor's residence on the river; Viroth's Hotel has a rooftop pool on the quiet side.
For breakfast before a lazy morning, Sister Srey Cafe by the river is the one everybody names, and it trains young Cambodians as it goes.
Read more: things to do in Siem Reap
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is a two night city: it is the stay most travellers plan, and nine in ten stays are one to three nights. It is also where more Cambodian trips start than end. The two days here carry the hardest part of the country's story, so leave room for it.
Day 4Bus south, Sisowath Quay
Morning: the bus from Siem Reap takes 6 to 7 hours and costs €10 to €17 (US$12 to $20). Giant Ibis is the company most recommended for safety and comfort. Book through your accommodation a day ahead, and arrive early: buses are sometimes oversold. A daily one hour flight is faster but costs far more.
Evening: sunset on Sisowath Quay, the riverside promenade, between 5 and 7 pm, when the park fills with families and exercise classes. Dinner at Friends the Restaurant, a training restaurant for former street children since 2001.
Day 5Royal Palace, Tuol Sleng, Choeung Ek
Morning: the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda, open 8 to 11 am and 2 to 5 pm only, €8.60 (US$10), cash, shoulders and knees covered. The National Museum next door holds the best collection of Khmer sculpture anywhere.
Afternoon: lunch at the Russian Market food court, then Tuol Sleng (S-21), the school the Khmer Rouge turned into a prison: €4.30 (US$5) plus the same again for the audio guide, two to three hours. Choeung Ek, the Killing Fields, is 15 km south: €5.20 (US$6) with the audio guide included, about 90 minutes there. A tuk-tuk with waiting costs €13 to €17 (US$15 to $20) return.
Evening: something gentle. A drink at the Elephant Bar in the Raffles, open since 1929, or an early night.
Where to stay: the riverside (Sisowath Quay) is closest to the sights for a short stay; BKK1 is the café and boutique quarter, better for longer. The sights are spread out, so plan on tuk-tuks or the PassApp and Grab apps rather than walking. Palace Gate Hotel & Resort is a 1908 villa by the palace wall with a garden pool; Penh House Hotel in BKK1 has the best small pool in the city; Mad Monkey Phnom Penh is the social hostel with a rooftop bar.
Keep your bag on your lap in a tuk-tuk and your phone away from the kerb: bag snatching from passing motorbikes is the one real risk here, and the riverside is best avoided alone late at night.
Read more: things to do in Phnom Penh
Kampot and Kep
Kampot is a slow river town with mountains behind it, pepper farms around it and a crab town down the road. Travellers plan two nights here more often than anywhere else in Cambodia, and Kep is the stop they add to it: four in five Kep trips also include Kampot.
Day 6Train to Kampot, sunset on the river
Morning: the train from Phnom Penh leaves once a day, early, and takes about 3 hours 40 minutes for about €7.75 (US$9). It is Cambodia's only railway line and a nicer way in than the road. Minivans take 3 to 4 hours for €7 to €10 (US$8 to $12).
Afternoon: rent a bicycle or a scooter and ride out to the salt fields south of town, worked by hand from December to May.
Evening: a sunset boat on the river towards the silhouette of Bokor mountain, with fireflies over the water when the season is right. Then a sundowner at Rikitikitavi on the riverfront, or the night market by the Durian Roundabout for the cheapest full meal in town.
Day 7Pepper farms and the Kep crab market
Morning: a scooter (€4.30 to €8.60, US$5 to $10 a day) opens up the countryside. Ride east to La Plantation or the smaller, Khmer run Sothy's Pepper Farm. Kampot pepper has protected origin status, and the farms are at their best during the harvest, January to March. On the same loop, Phnom Chhngok is a pre-Angkorian brick shrine standing inside a limestone cave.
Afternoon: on to Kep, 25 km away, for crab with fresh green Kampot pepper at the crab market, at tables over the water. Holy Crab is the best known and priciest; Kep Sur Mer, next door, serves the same menu for less. Stay for sunset on the promenade before heading back.
Instead: if you would rather see a view, swap the farms for Bokor Hill Station: an hour of switchbacks to 1,081 m and an abandoned French hill station. Take a jacket, and go only in the dry season, when the summit is out of the clouds.
Where to stay: in town if you want to walk to dinner, or on the riverfront north of town if you came to slow down; it is up to 20 minutes by tuk-tuk from the restaurants, twice a day. The Columns is a set of colonial shophouses by the Old Market; Monkey Republic Kampot is a central hostel with private rooms; Sabay Beach is a riverside resort upstream with tree houses. Want a night in Kep instead? Knai Bang Chatt is a set of restored 1960s villas on the water.
Kampot has no beach of its own: it sits on a river about 5 km inland, which is why the islands come next.
Read more: things to do in Kampot
Koh Rong
Koh Rong is where travellers in Cambodia finally stop moving. It is on almost half of all Cambodia trips planned with Stippl, a quarter of stays there run five nights or more, and it is usually the last Cambodian stop before the trip moves on.
Day 8Minivan and ferry to Koh Rong
Morning: a minivan from Kampot to Sihanoukville takes about two hours, €4.30 to €7.75 (US$5 to $9). The port town is a place to change transport, not to stay.
Afternoon: the fast ferry to Koh Touch takes 30 to 60 minutes, about €12 one way. Buy an open return for about €22 and fix only the outbound date. Withdraw cash before you board: there is no ATM on the island.
Evening: walk 20 minutes up the sand to Long Set Beach for sunset, then dinner on the sand in Koh Touch: Family Guesthouse does amok and beach barbecue at fair prices.
Day 9Boat trip, snorkelling, plankton
All day: the full day boat trip is the highlight for many travellers: snorkelling, fishing, a beach stop, a barbecue of what you caught, sunset on the west coast and a swim in the glowing plankton on the way home. It costs about €7 to €17 (US$8 to $20); you can compare trips on GetYourGuide or book on the beach.
Instead: walk the jungle trail across the island to Sok San, a seven kilometre beach on the west coast, about an hour each way. The plankton is brightest on dark nights near the new moon, away from the bar lights.
Day 10Last swim, ferry back
Morning: one last swim at Long Set, then the ferry back to Sihanoukville. From there, the bus to Phnom Penh takes 4 to 5 hours; the whole trip from the island is about €19 as one ticket. You can also fly out from Sihanoukville's airport. If your plans allow, stay a third night: it is what most travellers do here.
Where to stay: Koh Touch is where the ferry lands and where the bars are, and it gets loud late. Long Set Beach, 20 minutes up the sand, is the best balance: quieter, cleaner water, still close to the village. Pagoda Beach is the comfortable, upmarket stretch. BeachWalk Koh Rong on Long Set has a pool at a fair price; Happy Elephant Bungalows is a simple choice in Koh Touch; Tamu Koh Rong is a luxury tented camp on Pagoda Beach.
Expect power cuts outside the bigger resorts, weak wifi and no cars. Do not swim near the Koh Touch pier, where the outfall is.
Read more: things to do on Koh Rong
Koh Rong or Koh Rong Samloem?
They are two different islands, a short boat ride apart, and both are reached from Sihanoukville. The short answer: choose Koh Rong for more choice, beach bars and village life in Koh Touch; choose Koh Rong Samloem for quieter bays, jungle walks and slower days. Or do both: almost two in three Koh Rong Samloem trips planned with Stippl include Koh Rong too.
| Koh Rong | Koh Rong Samloem | |
|---|---|---|
| Vibe | Busier, with the island's nightlife in Koh Touch | Quiet and slow, with a small bar scene in M'Pai Bay and on Saracen Bay |
| Beaches | Long Set, Sok San (7 km), Pagoda Beach, empty east coast bays | Saracen Bay, Sunset Beach, Lazy Beach, M'Pai Bay |
| Getting around | A few tracks and scooters, boat taxis beyond Long Set | No sealed roads; you walk or take a boat |
| Ferry from Sihanoukville | 30 to 60 minutes | 1 to 2 hours |
| Typical stay | Three nights, often longer | Three nights, and fewer long stays |
| Best for | Backpackers and anyone who wants choice | Couples, families and walkers |
Which bay you pick on Koh Rong Samloem decides most of your stay. Saracen Bay has both piers, most of the rooms and the widest range of prices, and its eastern end is quieter for the same money. M'Pai Bay is the island's only working village, with the cheapest beds; The Cliff Hostel there has the best sunset. Sunset Beach has the clearest water and glamping such as Sleeping Trees, but power is not always on. Lazy Beach is 25 minutes on a jungle trail from Saracen Bay, with one restaurant and almost nothing else.
Between the islands: a local boat takes 30 to 45 minutes and costs about €4.30 (US$5); a fast ferry takes about 30 minutes for €13 to €17 (US$15 to $20). Check which bay your boat docks at before you book, because arriving at the wrong pier with luggage means a boat taxi or an hour in the jungle. There is no ATM on either island. Splitting your nights works well: two on Koh Rong, one or two on Koh Rong Samloem.
Almost the whole island is under a long development concession, and some businesses have been evicted since 2023, so check that a specific place is open before you book.
Read more: things to do on Koh Rong Samloem
Other ways to spend 10 days in Cambodia
The coast is not the only option. In the rainy season, or if you prefer culture to beaches, swap the second half of the route.
- Battambang instead of the coast. Siem Reap 5 nights, Battambang 2, Phnom Penh 2. Battambang is the artistic second city: the bamboo train, the bat cave at dusk and a Khmer cooking class. The bus from Siem Reap takes 3 to 4 hours; the boat past the floating villages runs only when the water is high.
- The north east. From Phnom Penh, the bus to Kratie takes 5 to 6 hours, for the rare Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong. Mondulkiri, 6 to 8 hours from the capital, adds waterfalls and an elephant sanctuary where you walk beside the animals.
- Temples and cities only. Siem Reap 4 nights and Phnom Penh 3, with an extra day for Phnom Kulen or Beng Mealea and a slower pace.
Shorter: a Cambodia 1 week itinerary
For a Cambodia itinerary of 7 days, keep the first half: Siem Reap 3 nights and Phnom Penh 3, the two city minimum. A Cambodia itinerary of 5 days only works as Siem Reap 3 and Phnom Penh 2, or as three days at Angkor alone. Skip the islands on a week: they need a full day each way.
Longer: two weeks or more
A Cambodia itinerary of 14 days is the classic backpacker loop: Phnom Penh 2, Sihanoukville 1, Koh Rong 3, Koh Rong Samloem 2, Kampot 3, Siem Reap 3. A Cambodia itinerary of 3 weeks adds Battambang between the coast and Siem Reap, or the north east.
Most travellers add a second country instead. Vietnam is the usual partner, with an open land border near Phnom Penh, and our Vietnam and Cambodia itinerary covers that route. For a Thailand Cambodia itinerary of 10 days, plan to fly: the land border with Thailand has been closed since mid 2025, and Siem Reap to Bangkok is about 1 hour 20 minutes by air.
Getting around Cambodia
Buses and minivans are the backbone, ferries take you to the islands and tuk-tuks do everything in town. Distances are short, and no journey on this route takes more than a working day.
| From | To | Best option | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Siem Reap airport | Siem Reap | Shuttle bus | 60 to 80 min | €7 to €8 (US$8 to $9) |
| Siem Reap | Phnom Penh | Bus (Giant Ibis) | 6 to 7 h | €10 to €17 (US$12 to $20) |
| Phnom Penh | Kampot | Train, or minivan | about 3 h 40, or 3 to 4 h | €7.75 (US$9), or €7 to €10 |
| Kampot | Kep | Minivan, scooter or Crab Shuttle boat | 30 to 45 min, or 2 h by boat | about €5 (US$6) by minivan |
| Kampot | Sihanoukville | Minivan | about 2 h | €4.30 to €7.75 (US$5 to $9) |
| Sihanoukville | Koh Rong | Fast ferry | 30 to 60 min | about €12 one way, €22 open return |
| Koh Rong | Phnom Penh | Ferry plus bus | about 45 min plus 4 h | about €19 |
A few things that make it easier:
- Book through your accommodation a day ahead, two days in high season. It is usually cheaper than online.
- Arrive early at the bus. Seats get oversold, and latecomers end up on a plastic stool in the aisle.
- Agree tuk-tuk prices before you get in, or use PassApp or Grab in Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Kampot.
- Never rely on a same day connection off the islands outside the dry season: rough seas cancel ferries.
Turn these stops into a route
Pick your favourites and Stippl orders them, adds travel times and builds the day-by-day.
Trip to Cambodia cost
Cambodia is one of the cheapest countries in Asia to travel. Per person per day, expect €10 to €28 on a budget (dorm bed, local meals, public buses), €33 to €60 mid-range (private room with air conditioning, restaurant meals, tours) and €65 or more for boutique hotels and private transfers. Flights not included.
Budget
€10–28
dorm bed, local meals, public buses, one big paid sight
Mid-range
€33–60
private room with air-con, restaurant meals, tuk-tuk day hires, tours
High-end
€65+
boutique and resort hotels, private transfers, guided temple days
The biggest single line on this route is usually the Angkor pass: €53 (US$62) for three days. After that come the ferries, the boat trip and tuk-tuk day hires. Cambodia runs on US dollars, with riel as small change; ATMs charge about €4.30 (US$5) a withdrawal, so take out larger amounts and carry enough cash for the islands.
Best time for this itinerary
The best time for this route is November to February, when it is dry and cool enough for full temple days, and the sea is calm. March and April still work for the islands, but Angkor gets hot. From June to September the coast gets its heaviest rain and ferries are often cancelled, so swap the islands for the Battambang version then. Details per month and region in our best time to visit Cambodia guide.
Dos and don'ts in Cambodia
Cambodia is a conservative country, and a few customs matter more here than in its neighbours.
Money works in two currencies: US dollars for anything above about a dollar, riel for the change. Damaged dollar notes are often refused, so check what you are handed. Losing your temper gains you nothing, in a negotiation or anywhere else.
Plan your Cambodia itinerary in Stippl
Almost 36,000 Cambodia trips have been planned with Stippl, most of them as part of a longer journey through Southeast Asia. Add Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Kampot and Koh Rong to the Stippl itinerary planner, set the nights per stop and see the whole route on a map with the travel time between each stop. Swap Kampot for Battambang, add Koh Rong Samloem, or bolt Vietnam on the end, and share the plan with whoever is coming.
Describe your trip, get a Cambodia itinerary in seconds
Everything in this guide is already in Stippl. Tell the planner how long you have and what you like: it builds the route, the days and the travel times, and you edit whatever you want.
Frequently asked questions about Cambodia
Ten days covers Angkor, Phnom Penh, the south coast and an island at a comfortable pace. One week fits Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, two weeks adds a second island and more time in Kampot. Across the almost 36,000 Cambodia trips planned with Stippl, travellers usually spend two nights per stop.
Only if they cover your knees, with a top that covers your shoulders. Guards check the dress code, strictest at the upper level of Angkor Wat, and turn people away. Light long trousers or a long skirt are easiest; cheap cover-ups are sold at the market.
They are different. Cambodia is quieter and cheaper, with Angkor, the Khmer Rouge history and low key islands, but often one main sight per town. Thailand offers more organised trips and polish. Many travellers combine both, flying between them because the land border is closed.
Koh Rong for more choice, beach bars and the village of Koh Touch; Koh Rong Samloem for quiet bays, jungle walks and slow days. Many travellers do both: a local boat between them takes 30 to 45 minutes. Neither island has an ATM, so bring cash.
Both. US dollars pay for anything above about a dollar, and change under a dollar comes back in riel. ATMs dispense dollars and charge about €4.30 (US$5) a withdrawal, so take out larger amounts. Damaged dollar notes are often refused, and the islands are cash only.
Ready to plan your ten days in Cambodia? Add these four stops to your Stippl trip, set the nights, and share the route with your travel partner. Move the islands, add a night on Koh Rong, and you are set.
