Cambodia 2-Week Itinerary: Complete Route Overview

Fourteen days in Cambodia is the sweet spot between too rushed and too slow. The country is compact — about the size of Missouri — but surprisingly varied: ancient jungle temples, French colonial towns, a cosmopolitan capital with a dark and complex history, a laid-back pepper-growing river town, and some of Southeast Asia's least-developed islands. Two weeks lets you experience each of these properly rather than racing through.

This itinerary flows north to south, which is also transport-logical. Most international flights arrive at Siem Reap or Phnom Penh — the route works from either entry point with a small adjustment. If you fly into Phnom Penh, begin there (Days 6–7 below), take the morning flight or bus to Siem Reap, then follow the Battambang detour before looping back south. The total transport cost is similar.

The single biggest advice for a 2-week Cambodia trip: do not rush the islands. Most visitors spend too long at the temples and arrive at Koh Rong with only one night remaining. Reverse the natural impulse to front-load the famous sights — the islands are the highlight for many travelers who finally get there.

Day 1 — Arrival and first temples

• Arrive at Siem Reap International Airport. Collect your SIM card at arrivals (Smart or Cellcard, $2–5 for 7 days of unlimited data). Tuk-tuk to accommodation via PassApp: $3–6.
• Buy your Angkor Pass at the ticket office on the road to Angkor. The 3-day pass ($62) is the best value for this itinerary. Purchase it in the late afternoon — your first day begins the next calendar day, giving you a free afternoon visit.
• Afternoon: walk the outer galleries of Angkor Wat in golden hour light (4:30–6pm). The late afternoon crowds are thinner and the light on the sandstone is extraordinary.
• Evening: dinner at Sugar Palm Restaurant (Street 27, Khmer classics, $7–12 mains) or Mahob Restaurant on Pub Street (upstairs, atmospheric, $8–14). Cold Angkor beer: $1.50.

Day 2 — Angkor Wat sunrise and the main circuit

• 5:00am: tuk-tuk to Angkor Wat for sunrise (arrange the night before, $12–15 for the full day). The sunrise reflected in the causeway ponds is one of Asia's iconic images — arrive by 5:15am to position yourself at the front reflection pond. Peak crowd at 5:45am; it thins by 6:30am.
• 7:00am: Angkor Wat interior — the Churning of the Ocean of Milk bas-relief, apsara carvings, and the central towers. This is the world's largest religious monument: walking it properly takes 1.5–2 hours. Breakfast from the stalls at the west gate ($1–2).
• 9:00am: Angkor Thom (the ancient capital city). The South Gate causeway with 54 stone figures is photogenic. The Bayon inside — 216 stone faces on 54 towers — is as extraordinary as Angkor Wat. Allow 1 hour. Baphuon temple (30 min), Elephant Terrace (30 min).
• 12:00pm: return to town for lunch during peak heat. Rest 12–2pm.
• 3:00pm: Ta Prohm (the famous "Tomb Raider" temple where massive tree roots have split the stones). The inner corridors away from the main photographic spots are even better. 1.5 hours.
• 5:30pm: Pre Rup for sunset — a pyramid temple with 360° jungle views. The best sunset spot in the Angkor complex. Arrive by 5:30pm for a position on the upper tier.

Day 3 — Outer temples and afternoon departure to Battambang

• 7:00am: Banteay Srei (37km north, hire tuk-tuk $20–25 half-day). This is the most exquisitely carved temple in the Angkor region — small, pink sandstone, remarkably well-preserved. Often called the "jewel of Khmer art." Allow 1.5 hours.
• 10:30am: optional stop at Banteay Samré or the flooded forest of Prek Toal en route back.
• 1:00pm: lunch back in town and pack for Battambang. Giant Ibis bus departs Siem Reap for Battambang at 7am and 1pm (3 hours, $8–10). Alternatively, take the scenic boat through Tonle Sap Lake (6–8 hours, $15–20, departs 7am — truly spectacular in wet season when the lake is vast, dusty and cramped in dry season).
• Evening: arrive Battambang, check in, walk the riverside. Dinner at Jaan Bai (Street 2, social enterprise restaurant, excellent Khmer food, $6–10 mains).

Siem Reap accommodation: Mad Monkey Siem Reap (Wat Bo Road, dorm $8 / private $28); Angkor Village Hotel ($45–65); Shinta Mani Wild (luxury, $180+).

Battambang is Cambodia's second-largest city and its most underrated. The French colonial shophouse architecture along the riverfront is the best-preserved in the country, the art scene is Cambodia's most vibrant, and the surrounding countryside — with rice paddies, bamboo villages, and ancient hilltop temples — is deeply peaceful. Most visitors who come to Battambang say it was the highlight of their trip.

Day 4 — Battambang town and the Bamboo Train

• Morning: rent a bicycle ($2–3/day from guesthouses) and cycle the colonial riverside. The stretch from the central market north along the Sangkae River passes beautiful French-era buildings, local temples, and morning market activity. Stop for coffee at the Battambang Cafe (Street 2, riverfront, excellent Cambodian coffee, $2).
• 10:00am: explore the market (Phsar Nath, the covered central market) — fresh produce, local snacks, and Battambang's famous rice wine and dried fish.
• 2:00pm: the Bamboo Train (Norry). The original bamboo train track (O Dambong village, 6km east of town) was retired but has been revived as a tourist experience — a bamboo platform on repurposed railway axles, powered by a small engine, hurtling through rice fields at 40km/h. One of Cambodia's most joyful experiences. $5 per person for the ride. Book through any guesthouse or arrive and negotiate directly.
• Evening: dinner at Smokin' Pot (cooking class and restaurant, $5–8 mains, Khmer dishes) or Kinyei Cafe (social enterprise, great coffee and food, Street 2.5).

Day 5 — Phnom Sampov and bat caves, afternoon bus to Phnom Penh

• 8:00am: hire a tuk-tuk for the morning ($15–20) to Phnom Sampov mountain (12km southwest). The hilltop temples offer views across the Cambodian plains. The mountain also contains Killing Caves — a sobering memorial to Khmer Rouge victims. The main event: at 5:30–6pm, two million bats emerge from a cave in the hillside in a long spiraling column. It is one of Asia's most spectacular natural phenomena. If you are staying for the bats, take the afternoon departure to Phnom Penh instead.
• 10:00am: Prasat Banan (22km south, accessible by bicycle or tuk-tuk). A hilltop temple with 360° rice paddy views — smaller than Angkor but genuinely impressive. 358 steps to the top. Allow 1.5 hours.
• 1:00pm: bus to Phnom Penh. Mekong Express departs at 7am, 9am, and 1pm (4.5 hours, $9–11). Giant Ibis also serves this route. Arrive Phnom Penh by 5:30pm.

Battambang accommodation: Pomme Hotel (riverfront, $20–35 private); Battambang Resort ($45–65, pool); There Boutique Hostel (dorm $8, private $20).

Day 6 — Tuol Sleng, Killing Fields, and the Russian Market

• 8:00am: Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21). The former high school turned Khmer Rouge prison is one of the most important historical sites in Southeast Asia. Hire the audio guide ($5) — the context is essential. Go early before tour groups. Entry $3. Allow 2–3 hours.
• 11:00am: Choeung Ek Killing Fields (15km south, $8 tuk-tuk return). The main execution site of the Khmer Rouge. The audio guide ($6, included in entry) is deeply moving. Allow 1.5 hours. Many visitors find Choeung Ek more affecting than S-21.
• 1:30pm: lunch near the Russian Market. Try a $3 lok lak (stir-fried beef on rice) at any of the market food stalls or Daughters of Cambodia Cafe (Street 93, social enterprise, great smoothies).
• 2:30pm: Russian Market (Phsar Toul Tom Poung). Best market in Phnom Penh for souvenirs: silk scarves ($5–15), silver jewelry, lacquerware, Kampot pepper, clothing. Bargaining acceptable — start at 70% of asking price.
• 5:00pm: Royal Palace exterior and Wat Phnom (founding hill of the city). Walk north on Sisowath Quay to see the Art Deco riverside buildings.
• Evening: dinner at Romdeng (Street 174, excellent Cambodian food with a social mission, $9–14 mains) or Malis Restaurant (Street 136, premium Khmer cuisine, $12–20).

Day 7 — National Museum, Central Market, and afternoon bus to Kampot

• 7:30am: morning market breakfast at Phsar O'Russei (bai sach chrouk, grilled pork over rice, $1) or kuy teav (rice noodle soup, $1.50). This is where locals eat breakfast.
• 9:00am: National Museum of Cambodia (Street 13, riverside, $10 entry). The world's largest collection of Khmer sculpture. Visiting after Angkor provides enormous context. Allow 1.5–2 hours. Excellent gift shop for quality reproductions.
• 11:00am: riverside walk along Sisowath Quay, Central Market (Phsar Thmei — magnificent 1937 Art Deco dome, 45 minutes).
• 1:30pm: lunch near the bus station and catch the 2pm Giant Ibis to Kampot (3 hours, $10–12). Arrive Kampot by 5pm.
• Evening: check into your guesthouse. Baraca Bar for sunset cocktails. Dinner at The Rusty Keyhole ($8–14 Khmer and Western) or Epic Arts Cafe ($7–12, social enterprise).

Phnom Penh accommodation: Mad Monkey BKK1 (dorm $9 / private $28); The Billabong Hotel (Street 158, $20–35); Plantation Urban Resort (boutique, $60–90).

Kampot is Cambodia's most beloved small town — a languid French colonial river settlement surrounded by pepper plantations and backed by Bokor Mountain. It moves slowly, the food is excellent, and there is just enough to do for two full days without feeling rushed. Many travelers arrive planning one night and stay for a week.

Day 8 — Town exploration and pepper farms

• Morning: rent a bicycle ($2–3/day) and cycle Kampot town. Cross the old French bridge to the east bank and return via the new bridge. The colonial shophouse architecture on the riverfront is beautifully intact — stop at Cafe Espresso (riverside, excellent Cambodian iced coffee, $2.50) or the Smokehouse BBQ rooftop for views.
• 10:00am: Kong Kea salt flats (3km south by bicycle). Traditional salt harvesting on the Kampot delta — workers raking salt into mounds between the river channels. An unusual and very Cambodian scene.
• 2:00pm: La Plantation pepper farm (10km north of Kampot). Free guided tours at 10am and 2pm of white, red, and black pepper cultivation. This is Kampot pepper — one of the world's most prized, with a unique terroir. Buy a bag to take home ($8–12/250g, dramatically better than at the airport). Tuk-tuk return: $8–10.
• Evening: sunset cocktails at Rikitikitavi's riverside bar. Dinner at Baraca (excellent mezze and cocktails, $8–14) or the Kampot Writers and Readers Festival cafe (when running).

Day 9 — Bokor Mountain and river cruise

• 7:30am: Bokor National Park (30km from Kampot, entry $5). The French colonial hill station in the clouds — abandoned casino hotel ruins, Buddhist pagoda, jungle, and dramatic views across the Gulf of Thailand to the Vietnamese coast on clear days. Rent a motorbike from town ($8–12/day if you have experience) or hire a tuk-tuk ($20–25 return, 3 hours). The road is well-paved. Allow 3 hours for the round trip including time at the ruins and viewpoints.
• 1:00pm: lunch back in Kampot. Try a Kampot pepper crab at La Plantation's restaurant ($12) or a wood-fired pizza at the Rusty Keyhole.
• 5:00pm: sunset river boat cruise. Tours depart from the old bridge at ~5:30pm ($8–12 per person, including soft drinks). The light on the Phnom Bokor range as the sun sets is magnificent. Book at your guesthouse or walk to the bridge to find departing boats.
• Evening: dinner at Rikitikitavi (downstairs restaurant, Khmer and Western, $7–12). Their fish amok is one of the best in Cambodia.

Kampot accommodation: Rikitikitavi Guesthouse (riverfront, dorm $6 / private $20–35); Mea Culpa (boutique, $35–50); Magic Sponge (hostel, dorm $7).

Kep is 28km from Kampot and easily done as a long day trip or a half-day with an overnight stay. A former French resort town, Kep is famous for one thing above all: its crab market, where boats unload fresh crabs that are cooked immediately in Kampot pepper sauce. It is the definitive Cambodian coastal food experience.

• 8:30am: hire a tuk-tuk from Kampot to Kep ($20–25 return for the day). The road passes salt flats, mangroves, and small fishing villages. Journey time 40 minutes.
• 9:30am: Kep Crab Market. The seafront market scene — women selling live crabs, open-air restaurants with buckets of pepper sauce, plastic chairs, cold beer. Order Kep crab with Kampot pepper sauce ($12–18 per crab) and a side of morning glory stir-fried with garlic ($3). This is the meal you will talk about for years.
• 11:00am: Kep National Park. A short (1.5–2 hour) jungle walk from the gate near the crab market. The trail loops through the forested hill behind Kep with views across the Gulf of Thailand. Birdwatching is excellent (bee-eaters, hornbills, paradise flycatchers). Entry $2.
• 1:00pm: Kep Beach — a small crescent of sand with sun loungers ($2–3 hire). Calm water, good for swimming. More popular with Cambodian domestic tourists than foreign visitors, which gives it an authentic feel.
• 2:30pm: Rabbit Island (Koh Tonsay) ferry, if time allows. A 15-minute boat from Kep pier takes you to a quiet island with a long beach, hammocks, and simple bungalows. Return boats until 5pm. Ferry: $5 return.
• 5:00pm: tuk-tuk back to Kampot. Pack for Sihanoukville (for the Koh Rong ferry). Mekong Express bus or shared taxi from Kampot to Sihanoukville: 1.5 hours, $6–8. Evening arrival in Sihanoukville — stay near the ferry pier for the next morning's departure to Koh Rong.

Kep overnight option: Knai Bang Chatt (luxury villa resort, $120–180/night); Tree Top Bungalows ($30–50). One night in Kep is pleasant but not essential given the tight 14-day schedule.

Koh Rong is Cambodia's largest and most popular island — 43km² of jungle, 43 beaches, and some of the clearest water in Southeast Asia. It is not the "undiscovered paradise" it once was, but it remains dramatically less developed than Thai or Philippine islands, and the bioluminescent plankton in the bay at night is one of nature's most memorable shows.

Day 11 — Ferry to Koh Rong and beach arrival

• 7:30am: ferry from Sihanoukville to Koh Rong. GTVC and Speed Ferry Cambodia both run morning ferries (8am and 9am, 1.5 hours, $15 each way). Book at your hotel or online the night before. The ferry drops you at Koh Touch Village on the northwest tip of the island — a backpacker hub with bungalows, bars, and beach restaurants.
• Arrive, check in, swim. Koh Touch beach is long, white, and immediately fronts the village — convenient rather than spectacular. Hire a kayak ($5–8/hour) to explore the bay.
• Afternoon: snorkeling trip from Koh Touch (organized from the beach, $10–15 per person including gear, 2 hours). The reef off the south coast is the best snorkeling around the main village, with reef fish, sea turtles, and hard coral formations.
• Evening: the famous bioluminescent plankton night swim. Wade into the sea after dark — the water glows bright blue-green with every movement. Best on moonless nights (check the lunar calendar). Simply walk into the sea from the beach.

Day 12 — Long Set Beach and jungle trekking

• Morning: hire a boat ($10–15 one way, or join a shared boat $5) or walk the jungle path (1 hour) to Long Set Beach on the east coast. This is one of Cambodia's most beautiful beaches — 3km of white sand backed by jungle, with a fraction of the visitors of Koh Touch. Bring food and water as facilities are minimal.
• Afternoon: jungle trek to the highest point of Koh Rong (150m) with views across the island. The path starts near Koh Touch and takes 1.5 hours each way through dense rainforest. A guide is recommended ($15–20) — trails are unmarked. You may see hornbills, monitor lizards, and the occasional slow loris (rare).
• Evening: dinner at the TropX Beach Club (Koh Touch, $10–16 for seafood platters) or a sunset BBQ on the beach organized by most guesthouses ($8 all-in).

Day 13 — Koh Rong Sanloem day trip and final night

• Morning: take the inter-island ferry to Koh Rong Sanloem (15 minutes, $5 return, boats run morning and afternoon). Saracen Bay on Sanloem is a perfect horseshoe bay with calm turquoise water and a more upmarket atmosphere than Koh Rong. The snorkeling off the bay's headlands is excellent. Return by 3pm ferry.
• Afternoon: back on Koh Rong, a final swim and hammock afternoon. Buy souvenirs from the small shops along the village path (sarongs, rattan goods, sea glass jewelry).
• Evening: final bioluminescence swim or a sunset cocktail at Nest Sky Bar (Koh Touch, elevated over the beach, sunset views, $5–8 cocktails).

Koh Rong accommodation: Paradise Bungalows (Koh Touch, $20–40); Island Boys Resort (beachfront, $35–60); Vagabonds Hostel (Koh Touch, dorm $10). Book ahead in peak season (Dec–Feb).

The final day is a travel day, but a manageable one. Most international flights from Phnom Penh depart in the evening, which gives you a full morning to enjoy the island before heading back.

• 7:00am: morning swim and final breakfast on Koh Rong. Many visitors walk the beach at dawn for one last bioluminescence paddle in the shallow water — the plankton lingers until the sun rises.
• 9:00am: morning ferry back to Sihanoukville (GTVC or Speed Ferry Cambodia, $15, 1.5 hours). The 9am departure gets you to Sihanoukville by 10:30am.
• 11:00am: bus from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh (Mekong Express or Giant Ibis, 3.5–4 hours, $10–12). Alternatively, take a taxi for ~$40–50 for the car if you are in a group (faster and more comfortable).
• 3:30pm: arrive Phnom Penh. A last bowl of kuy teav at any riverside noodle shop. Shower at your hotel (book a late checkout or a hotel close to the airport).
• 5:30pm: tuk-tuk to Phnom Penh International Airport via PassApp ($7–10). Allow 45 minutes for check-in and security. Most international routes connect through Bangkok, Singapore, or Kuala Lumpur.

Two weeks in Cambodia means you will move between climates (dry interior, humid coast, mountain), activities (temple visits, beach, jungle), and social settings (formal restaurants, beach bars). Pack light and versatile:

• Clothing: 5 lightweight tops, 2 pairs of shorts, 1 pair of long trousers (required at temples and for Phnom Penh evenings), 1 light long-sleeve shirt (temple cover-up and mosquito protection), swimwear, 1 sarong (temple cover-up, beach towel, and picnic blanket).
• Footwear: comfortable walking sandals with ankle strap (temples), flip flops (beach and guesthouse showers), 1 lightweight trainer for jungle treks.
• Health: sunscreen (buy locally — expensive at home, cheap in Phnom Penh), DEET insect repellent (essential for Kampot and Koh Rong evenings), oral rehydration salts, basic stomach medication (Imodium, antibiotics prescription), hand sanitizer.
• Tech: power bank (10,000mAh minimum — island power cuts are common), universal adapter, waterproof phone case for island activities.
• Documents: printed e-visa confirmation, travel insurance documents with emergency number, passport photocopies stored separately from original.
• Useful apps to download before arrival: PassApp (tuk-tuks), Grab (also works), Giant Ibis (bus booking), Google Maps (works offline with Cambodia downloaded), XE Currency.