4-Day Express Cambodia Itinerary: Temples & Capital (2026)
Pack maximum Cambodia into 4 days: Angkor temples, Phnom Penh history, and local culture. An efficient itinerary with daily plans and budgets.
4-Day Express Cambodia Itinerary
Four days is the sweet spot for a short but satisfying Cambodia trip — enough time for both Angkor Wat and the dynamic capital of Phnom Penh.
Efficient travelers
Limited vacation time
Culture seekers
Budget Overview (4 days, per person)
🎒 Backpacker
$120–$170
~$35/day
🏨 Mid-range
$280–$450
~$90/day
✨ Luxury
$700–$1,200
~$238/day
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day
1
Arrive & Angkor Sunset
Siem Reap
- Arrive at Siem Reap airport
- Check in and freshen up
- Buy Angkor Pass after 5 PM (free sunset session)
- Sunset at Phnom Bakheng or Pre Rup
- Dinner on Pub Street
Dinner: Khmer BBQ near Old Market. Hotel in Siem Reap
Buy your 1-day pass after 5 PM — you get a free sunset session that evening, then a full day tomorrow.
Day
2
Full Day Angkor Temples
Angkor Archaeological Park
- Sunrise at Angkor Wat
- Angkor Wat exploration (2 hours)
- Bayon and Angkor Thom (1.5 hours)
- Ta Prohm jungle temple (1 hour)
- Banteay Srei (afternoon)
- Evening Phare Circus show
Lunch: Temple-area restaurant. Dinner: Pre-show dinner. Same hotel
Day
3
Fly to Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
- Morning flight to Phnom Penh (45 minutes)
- Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda
- Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21)
- Sunset walk along Sisowath Quay
- Dinner at a rooftop restaurant
Lunch: BKK1 restaurant. Dinner: Riverside rooftop. Hotel in BKK1/Riverside
Fly Siem Reap to Phnom Penh (45 min, $80–$120) instead of the 6-hour bus to save a day.
Day
4
Phnom Penh & Departure
Phnom Penh
- Choeung Ek Killing Fields memorial
- Central Market shopping
- Russian Market for souvenirs
- Final Cambodian lunch
- Depart from Phnom Penh airport
Breakfast: Hotel. Lunch: Russian Market street food. N/A — departure day
Ready to Plan Your Trip?
Use our interactive trip planner to customize this itinerary with real-time budget estimates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fly if you have only 4 days — it saves 5 hours. Flights cost $80–$120 and take 45 minutes. The bus (5–6 hours, $10–$15) is fine if you have 5+ days and want to see the countryside.
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