Cambodia is quite a small country to travel around, and is an excellent destination to consider for your holiday if you have a small timeframe for your holiday. This is an independent itinerary suggestion of how to see the highlights of Cambodia in under two weeks, while still keeping a relaxed pace for your Cambodia trip. It even allows a few days relaxing at the beach at the end.
Days 1 -3 Phnom Penh
Located on the banks of the mighty Mekong River, Phnom Penh is a captivating and energetic city at the crossroads of Asia's past and present. The National Museum of Cambodia is well worth a visit; it has a large collection of Khmer artefacts and was built in 1917. Afterwards you could visit the Silver Pagoda, otherwise known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and the Royal Palace. In the afternoon you could climb the mountain that the Wat Phnom is built upon, the city was actually named after this temple. It's recommended to have a guide for a visit to the Tuol Sleng Museum and the Killing Fields, so you can learn more about the tumultuous history of the country.
On your third day you can make your way to Battambang in the north-west of Cambodia.
Days 3 - 5 Battambang
Battambang is an elegant, riverside city located in an area otherwise known as the "rice bowl of Cambodia" due to the rich fertile soil in the region. Grab a tuk-tuk and head a small way outside of the town to visit the infamous Bamboo train; for a small fee you can take a ride on the unique contraption that was initially built by the French to transport goods. Next you could visit the ancient temple of Wat Ek Phnom, visiting small villages along the way to experience some local skills such as making bamboo sticky rice, banana paper and rice paper. There is also a Khmer Rouge memorial and a hill-top temple with commanding views over the Cambodian countryside.
At the end of your stay in Battambang you can continue on to Siem Reap by boat or bus. The boat trip from Battambang to Siem Reap has spectacular scenery, but the quality of the boats can vary quite considerably and overcrowding of the boats is common. If the weather is quite stormy the river can get quite choppy, making the boat trip quite an adventure, but it's certainly not for everyone. In this situation it might be worthwhile playing it safe and considering taking the bus instead.
Days 5 - 8 Siem Reap
Siem Reap is a town where it's definitely worth spending an extra day if your schedule allows. On arrival into Siem Reap, whether you have travelled by boat or bus, there will be plenty of tuk-tuk drivers waiting to pick you up, and the trip to your hotel should only cost a few US dollars. After quite a lot of travel over the last few days this is a good chance to relax a bit, and there are plenty of great hotels to choose from around town. Perhaps try a nice Khmer dish at your hotel or walk into town and try out a local restaurant. The centre is not very big, and is quite charming with little streets and small cafes. In the evening you could visit the night markets; it is a touristy spot, but be sure to have a good hunt around and there are plenty of good souvenirs to take home with you.
On your first full day in Siem Reap, you are sure to head straight for the Angkor Wat temple complex, and having a guide for the day is highly recommended. In order to see the entire complex, you would need to spend several days here since the dozens of temples are spread out over an area of about 25 square kilometres. You can wander endlessly through the statues, temples and historic reliefs, but be sure to stay on the defined and marked paths, as there are still mines in some of the unchartered areas. The temples were built in various time periods with each ruler building his own temple. Because of this, each temple has its own character; the most famous temple, Angkor Wat, features Hindu influences while the Angkor Thom temple features Buddhist influences. During your time in Siem Reap, be sure to catch a sunrise or sunset over the temples, and your guide will be able to give you some suggestions of the best place to sit to get the best view.
From Siem Reap it's possible to fly directly to Sihanoukville in the south of Cambodia. The flight currently operates three times a week, however airlines in Cambodia do tend to come and go quite quickly, and schedule changes are common.
Days 8 - 10 Sihanoukville
This tropical Cambodia beach destination with its four outstretched beaches and clear blue waters is still relatively new, especially when compared to the beach resorts of Thailand and Vietnam. It's a lively town, but still very laid-back and relaxed. Ochheutal beach is a good spot, offering plenty of bungalows full of local charm just a short walk from the waters' edge. At sunset Cambodian vendors sell fresh shrimp, lobster and squid which they grill for you on the barbecue. There are also several island and snorkel excursions available from Sihanoukville, and not far from town is Ream National Park with mangrove forests and dense jungle to explore.
Days 10 - 12 Kep
Only a few hours travel east of Sihanoukville is Kep. The coastal village of Kep is less developed than Sihanoukville, and very peaceful with a couple of fish restaurants and a nice beach. Kep is a good base from which to explore the uninhabited islands off the coast, or for a cycling or hiking trips in the nearby hills.
After rounding off your travels through Cambodia at the relaxing beaches, you can either continue travelling towards the border and into Vietnam or head back to Phnom Penh to meet your onward international flight.
Explore the majestic Angkor temples, sail along the mighty Mekong River, trek along jungle paths or snorkel off idyllic sandy beaches. At Cambodia Online our travel specialists can help you build your own independent Cambodia travel adventure.