3 days
The Angkor essential
Fly into Siem Reap. Day 1: small circuit + sunset. Day 2: sunrise at Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, Bayon. Day 3: floating villages or the town. Markets, cafés, Phare circus at night.
Siem Reap day-by-day
Plan your trip
How many days and itineraries
Cambodia rewards slow travel, but even a short trip works if you route it well. Honest time budgets first, then four itineraries that actually flow.
- Minimum
- 3 days (Angkor)
- Sweet spot
- 10–14 days
- Cities ↔
- 5–7h by bus
The honest answer
How long each place deserves
Distances are short on the map but slow on the road. Budget with these numbers and you won’t spend your trip on buses.
| Destination | Minimum | Comfortable | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siem Reap & Angkor | 2 days | 3–4 days | Temples at sunrise + the town’s food and craft scene deserve separate energy. |
| Phnom Penh | 1 day | 2 days | Royal Palace, genocide memorials, riverside and a serious dining scene. |
| Kampot & Kep | 2 days | 3 days | Pepper farms, the crab market, Bokor mountain, river sunsets. |
| Koh Rong / Samloem | 2 days | 3–4 days | Ferry logistics eat half a day each way: don’t come for one night. |
| Battambang | 1 day | 2 days | Colonial streets, the countryside loop, the bat caves at dusk. |
| Mondulkiri | 2 days | 3 days | It’s a long ride: worth it for elephants, waterfalls and cool air. |
Rule of thumb: every change of city costs half a travel day. Three bases in 10 days is comfortable; five is a blur.
- Siem Reap guideAngkor, the town, where to eat and stay.
- Phnom Penh guidePalace, memorials, riverside and the dining scene.
- Kampot guidePepper farms, the river and Bokor mountain.
- Kep guideThe crab market and the quiet coast.
- Koh Rong guideBeaches, ferries and island life.
- Battambang guideColonial streets and the countryside loop.
- Mondulkiri guideElephants, waterfalls and cool air.
Ready to use
Four itineraries that flow
7 days
The classic loop
Siem Reap (3 days, temples + town) → bus or short flight to Phnom Penh (2 days, palace + history + food) → day trip or overnight to Kampot for pepper farms and the river (2 days). Fly out of Phnom Penh.
10 days
Temples to islands
The 7-day loop, then continue south: ferry from Sihanoukville to Koh Rong Samloem for 3 nights of beach. Book the ferry back the evening before your flight. Not the same morning.
14 days
The full country
Add Battambang between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh (colonial streets, countryside), or swap the islands for Mondulkiri’s elephant sanctuaries and waterfalls if you prefer hills to beaches. Two weeks covers Cambodia without rushing.
Logistics
Routing tips that save days
- Open-jaw flights (into Siem Reap, out of Phnom Penh, or the reverse) save a full backtracking day.
- The Siem Reap ↔ Phnom Penh leg is ~6h by bus or 45 min by plane; night buses exist but day buses are safer and show you the country.
- Angkor passes come in 1-day ($37), 3-day ($62, valid over 10 days) and 7-day versions: the 3-day is the sweet spot for most.
- Rainy season (May–Oct) doesn’t ruin a trip: mornings are usually clear, temples are green and quiet. Check our weather tool for your dates.
- Combine Cambodia with Vietnam or Thailand overland only if you have the time buffer: border days are long days.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Is 3 days enough for Cambodia?
Three days covers Siem Reap and the main Angkor temples well: it’s the minimum worthwhile trip. You’ll see the highlight of the country, but adding Phnom Penh or Kampot needs a full week.
How many days do you need for Angkor Wat?
One long day covers the icons (Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm). Two days lets you split sunrise and the big circuit comfortably; the 3-day pass ($62) is ideal since it’s valid over a 10-day window.
Siem Reap or Phnom Penh first?
Either works: pick by flights. Many travellers prefer landing in Siem Reap (calmer arrival, jet-lag-friendly) and ending with Phnom Penh’s energy and food scene before flying out.
Is 2 weeks too long for Cambodia?
Not at all. Two weeks fits temples, capital, riverside towns and islands at a humane pace: Cambodia is one of the few countries in the region you can genuinely “finish” in a fortnight without rushing.
Continue planning
More Cambodia travel info
Visa & Entry Requirementse-Visa, visa on arrival, e-Arrival card and entry rules.When to Go & WeatherMonth-by-month weather, seasons and the best time to visit.Money & PaymentsDollars, riel, KHQR, ATMs and tipping.Getting AroundBuses, boats, flights, trains and city transport.Safety & HealthHealth tips, insurance, scams and emergency numbers.Essential AppsThe apps to download before you land.
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