Itinerary for 18 days in Cambodia
FR

Translated into English.

Original post
BA
Hello, I’m starting to plan my adventure in Cambodia. I’ve read a lot of your posts and really appreciate all your articles. Now it’s my turn to share my plans with you: 12/01 arrival in PP 13/01 arrival in SR where I’ll meet up with 2 friends for 6 days exploring the temples and surrounding areas 19/01 I’ll leave and finish the trip solo. I fly back on 29/01 at 8 PM, so I’ve got 10 days for a little immersion. The dilemma is whether to: # head to Battambang, then make my way to PP, Kampot, and 2 nights by the sea # go to Kratie and head down to Kampot with 2 nights by the sea (or, to cut down on kilometers, go via Kampong Cham to Kampot). Option 2 is my preference. I’m almost 70 and not too keen on rushing 😅 Thanks in advance for your time and any helpful tips! Françoise
SO Songsam Veteran ·
Hello,

2 nights in a beach resort

Where?
BA Balboakayak ·
Hello,

2 nights at the beach

Where?

- Koh Rong, Koh Ta Kiev or Koh Rong Samloem
SO Songsam Veteran ·
So after Siem Reap, over 10 nights. Option 1 is fine but in a different order: Battambang – 1 night Bus to Sihanoukville, 1 night on the bus Island – 2 nights Kampot – 3 nights Phnom Penh – 3 nights

Details: Siem Reap to Battambang by boat because it’s a must-do. The next day, explore Battambang or its surroundings by tuk-tuk, then take an overnight bus to Sihanoukville (this company offers the route: https://vireakbuntham.com/bus-list, but there may be others) and continue to an island. Sihanoukville before Kampot because it’s better connected by bus from Battambang. Island to Kampot: Buva Sea (https://www.buvasea.com/) offers convenient direct connections to Kampot from Koh Rong, Koh Rong Sanloem, and Koh Sdach (not Koh Ta Kiev). Kampot: 3 nights to explore the area by tuk-tuk and take a ride through the countryside of the Fish Island peninsula if you can bike or scooter. Phnom Penh: 3 nights because it’s a cool capital with plenty to see.

Option 2: Kratie or K.Cham – 3 nights Kampot – 2 nights Island of your choice – 2 nights Phnom Penh – 3 nights

I’d lean toward Kompong Cham to avoid the detour to Kratie, which isn’t really worth it on its own, and to skip a transit night in Phnom Penh before Kampot. By leaving early, you can make the K.Cham-Kampot trip in the same day. K.Cham is a chill town, but if you can bike or scooter, the real highlight is exploring the river island of Koh Pen and taking the paths along the east bank of the river, north and south of the bridge, passing through quiet villages. The area around K.Cham can also be explored by tuk-tuk or motodop. Kampot to island: same route as Option 1, just in reverse.

For both options: Is the beach stop *really* a must for you?
ER Erwanploz Regular ·
Hi there,

I have a preference for Kampong Cham, so I’d go with the second option: 19/01: arrive in Kampong Cham around noon. Depart on 21/01 early morning either for Kampot, arriving mid/late afternoon. 22 and 23/01 in Kampot, depart on 24/01 in the morning for Koh Rong or KRS with Buva Sea as Songsam mentioned. 24, 25, and 26 on the island. Depart on 27 in the morning for PP, with the afternoon of the 27th and the 28th–29th in the capital.

Alternatively, a half-day stop in PP on the 21st to break up the Kampong Cham–Kampot trip. Then depart on 22 in the morning for Kampot by train (scheduled arrival at 10:40, likely a bit late). 23 and 24 also in Kampot. 25 in the morning to the islands, 26 and 27 there. Afternoon of the 28th and the 29th in PP.
BA Balboakayak ·
Thanks for your tips! The more I think about it, the less the islands are a priority for me... so new itineraries. I’m not a big fan of big cities. Are the floating villages worth visiting? At least one!! But if I take a boat to Siem Reap, that could already be an experience. Are there different categories of boats? Thanks again for your help
BA Balboakayak ·
Re itinerary: I’m planning to arrive on 1/12 in PP: room for 1/2 night, rest and stroll around Silk Island, cruise and overnight bus to SR On the 13th, SR until 1/18 in Angkor and surrounding areas On the 18th, departure for Kampong Thom – 1 or 2 nights? On the 19th, heading to Kratie, 1 night On the 20th, heading to Kampong Cham, 2 nights On the 22nd, heading to Kampot/Kep, 3 or 4 nights From the 25th to the 28th, islands 28th, back to PP and departure on the 29th late evening? What do you think? Thanks
ER Erwanploz Regular ·
In my opinion, it's too packed—you should pick just one of the three stops between Kampong Thom, Kampong Cham, and Kratie. Because with the travel time (e.g., your Kampong Thom–Kratie route with only one night in Kratie), you’ll arrive mid-morning, and by the time you drop your stuff at the hotel and grab a bite, you’ll only have a few hours to explore before it gets dark around 5:45 PM in mid-January. Meanwhile, just a relaxed stroll on Koh Trong, the island in the middle of the Mekong opposite Kratie, takes up an afternoon (you also have to factor in waiting time for the ferry crossing both ways). If you want to do all three stops, you’ll have to skip the south of the country...

For just 10 days, I’d recommend staying two days in Kratie or Kampong Cham to experience life along the Mekong, then head down to Kampot. With 8 days left for Kampot, an island, and PP (not counting the long trip to Kampot), it’s already pretty tight.
SO Songsam Veteran ·
12/01 in PP: half-night room, rest and stroll on Silk Island, overnight cruise and bus to SR

Nope, this won’t be restful—it’s borderline impossible. Plus, for Koh Dach, it’s way nicer to sleep there. But that’s not even the worst part—the math is brutal: with this new version, you’re averaging only 0.88 full days per stop (and just 0.62 for those outside Siem Reap). That’s totally unreasonable—it’d be a marathon. Wasn’t it you who said you didn’t like rushing around at the start?

To get back to something doable, you’ll need to cut 2–3 stops. I’d say drop Kratie and either Kep or Kampot.
BA Balboakayak ·
Oh wow, you're saying it's impossible whether by public transport or car? Thanks for your honesty!
DA Dancoine Regular ·
Erwan and Thierry are absolutely right—the itinerary as it stands is unrealistic. We’ll have to make some choices: either extend the trip or we’ll have to come back...
La musique est le seul plaisir sensuel sans vice.

joël
SO Songsam Veteran ·
Ouch, you're saying it's impossible whether by public transport or car?

Arriving at the airport, which is now way out there, getting to the hotel, dropping your bag, taking a shower, a reasonable-length excursion to Koh Dach, doing a cruise—all without spending a single night in Phnom Penh? Yeah, realistically impossible no matter how you travel between each of these spots. Skip Koh Dach or plan at least one proper night in the capital or on the island.
BA Balboakayak ·
Of course you're right!!!! I'm thinking of skipping Kratie and spending a night on Tonsay to satisfy my island craving... which will give me some breathing room since leaving SReap. I'm keeping Kampong Thom (2 nights), Kampong Cham for 2 nights, Kampot, Kep, and one night on Tonsay. I thought I was still sharp at 68 to plan this trip. Maybe it's too big a challenge. Thanks
SO Songsam Veteran ·
extend the trip

That’d be a great idea. Plus, Françoise, "18 days" means paid leave—are you still working? Add 10 more days (but no extra stops!...) and your last itinerary will work (just don’t drag it out too much).
DA Dancoine Regular ·
Hi Thierry, We’ve been traveling through Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos for 12 years now—two months every year—and we’ve learned to take our time to really explore these amazing countries at a relaxed pace.
La musique est le seul plaisir sensuel sans vice.

joël
ER Erwanploz Regular ·
Of course you're right!!!! I'm thinking of skipping Kratie and spending a night on Tonsay to satisfy my island craving... which will give me some breathing room since leaving SReap. I'm keeping Kampong Thom (2 nights), Kampong Cham for 2 nights, Kampot Kep, and one night on Tonsay. I thought I was still sharp at 68 to plan this trip. Maybe it's too big a challenge. Thanks

That’s much better! 2 nights in Kampong Thom, 2 in Kampong Cham, 4 in Kampot/Kep (including one on Koh Tonsay), and 2 to finish in Phnom Penh—this seems well-balanced, and you’ll have time to enjoy your stay! 🙂

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