Architecture on the Road
2 WEEKS IN CAMBODIA TRAVEL ITINERARY
In February 2019 we had the chance to travel to Cambodia for 2 weeks, during the spring break for Chinese New Year (we are currently employed in China).
Since Cambodia is relatively small, 14 days were enough to plan a satisfying itinerary that allowed to cover the most important cultural attractions of the country as well as include some relaxing time in some of its beautiful beaches.
Here is my 14 days to Cambodia travel itinerary:
DAY 1: PHNOM PENH
- morning: arrive in Phnom Penh at check-inn
- afternoon: Wat Phnom Temple and Park
- Wat Ounalom Temple
- night: colonial neighborhood of Phnom Penh
- dinner at Phnom Penh night market
In Phnom Penh we stayed at Grand View Guesthouse, decent enough hostel for a short stay, but well located close to the riverside, at a walking distance to many restaurants and bars and the Phnom Penh night market.
Next to the hostel we rented a motorbike, important tool to navigate the city freely.
DAY 2: PHNOM PENH > SIEM REAP
- morning: Royal Palace
- Silver Pagoda
- Wat Botum Temple
- Wat Botum Park
- Indipence Monument
- Wat Langka Temple
- afternoon: National Museum
- Wat Sarawan Temple
- Central Market
- night: dinner at Phnom Penh night market
- 23.00 night bus to Siem Reap, 6h – 15$ with Ibis Giant Bus (ticket booked online here, night tickets tend to sold out in high season)
DAY 3: SIEM REAP
- full day: Angkor Wat Archaeological Park
in Siem Reap we stayed at YI Family Homestays, simple and cozy guesthouse located in the quiet outskirts of Siem Reap, with possibility to rent a scooter.
DAY 4: SIEM REAP
- full day: Angkor Wat Archaeological Park.
DAY 5: SIEM REAP
- full day: Angkor Wat. Ride to Banteay Srei Temple (located 35km north of Angkor Wat)
DAY 6: SIEM REAP> BATTAMBANG
- morning: 8 am bus to Battambang, 3h – 7 $
- afternoon: bamboo train
- night: Battambang city center and riverside
In Battanbang we stayed at Blue Diamond Hostel, probably one of the best hostel we ever stayed. Very affordable price, great atmosphere and food, scooter rental and a swimming pool.
DAY 6: BATTAMBANG
- morning: Wat Ek Phnom Temple
- Battanbang city center and colonial architecture
- Boeung Chhouk Market
- afternoon: Phnom Banan Temple
- Phnom Sampov hill
- Bat cave (sunset time – 17, 30)
DAY 7: BATTAMBANG>SIEM REAP>KAMPONG KHLEANG FLOATING VILLAGE
- morning: 8 am, bus to Siem Reap. 3h – 7$
- afternoon: Kampong Khleang floating village and boat ride (60 km far from Siem Reap city center)
DAY 8: SIEM REAP> SIHANOUKVILLE> KOH RONG
- morning: 7.55 am flight to Sihanoukville. 50 min flight- around 50$
- 11.30 am, ferry to Koh Rong Island, 45 min – 22$
- afternoon: Koh Rong Coconut Beach
in Koh Rong island we stayed Coconutbeach Bungalows, nice hotel on the beach where is possible to rent bungalows or tents.
DAY 9: KOH RONG
- full day: Koh Rong Coconut Beach
DAY 10: KOH RONG
full day: boat trip to Koh Koun Island, Snorkeling and Long Beach.
Booked through our hostel. 10 $, 10am-7pm
DAY 11: KOH RONG > SIHANOUKVILLE > KAMPOT
- morning: 9.00 ferry to Sihanoukville
- afternoon: 1.00 pm, bus to Kampot, 2h – 8$
- night: Kampot city centre
Arrived in Kampot we rented a scooter at the Tourist Information Center along the river, which is where the intercity bus arrives and depart.
In Kampot we stayed at Man’Groove kampot, chill hostel made of Bungalows on the river, located few kilometers outside of Kampot.
DAY 12: KAMPOT
- morning: ride to Mount Bokor National Park
- afternoon: Kampot city center and colonial architecture
- night: ride to Kep (30 minutes)
DAY 13: KAMPOT> PHNOM PENH
- morning: Kampot city center and riverside
- afternoon: 16.00 bus to Phnom Penh. 5h – 6$
DAY 14: PHNOM PENH
- Fly out of the country
CONCLUSIONS, THOUGHTS, IN HINDSIGHT CONSIDERATIONS
I believe that 2 weeks in Cambodia are a fair enough time to plan a great itinerary.
The 2 weeks we spent there left us really satisfied, as we had the chance to see almost all the main attractions that we were interested in without the feeling of missing out.
Of course 2 weeks is quite a short time to visit an entire country, so we included only the must-see, and had to be on the road quite a bit.
The first week of this itinerary in particular was hectic; we had great fun in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Battanbang, but after this first half of the trip we really much needed some total relax in Koh Rong island and some lazy time in Kampot.
The fact that we were travelling in the dry season blessed with great weather, yet really hot in the middle of the day. A super early start was the way to beat the crowds and survive the dreadful heat in many places, especially in Angkor Wat.
Two days in Phnom Penh and two days in Battambang were just the perfect amount of time to enjoy both the cities at a relaxed speed. Fundamental was the choice of renting a scooter to navigate the city freely and efficiently.
Another great side of having our own transportation was that we could explore some of the beautiful Cambodian countrysides and learn about the traditional rural way of life and architecture.
Siem Reap was doubtless the highlight of the trip. I felt that the visit of Angkor Wat Archaeological Park spoiled every other ancient Cambodian temple. It has a charm that is hard to describe with words, and totally worth it the 3 tiring but enchanting days we spent riding around the park on our scooter.
Kampong Khleang floating village was also a very interesting destination where to spend one afternoon. It was a great lesson about the way that human life can adapt to the environment through architecture and lifestyle, yet an eye opener about the condition of life on the Tonle Sap Lake.
We found Koh Rong Island absolutely wonderful, but also a lot more expensive compared to everywhere else we been in Cambodia (like two or three times the price).
In particular we had some issues with the ferry system, which left us quite unsatisfied. The ferry we booked in Sihanoukville was in fact supposed to make a stop at Coconut Beach, but we learned the bad way that this happens only when the ferry captain is in the mood. Once in Koh Rong main pier we eventually bargained a moto-taxi to Coconut Beach, but the ride on those sketchy roads was not something I remember with pleasure.
The main transportation we used during the trip to move between the various destination was bus. Prices were affordable, but we found important to pick reliable bus operator, especially for the night rides.
Even if distances were not so big, most of the roads were in bad conditions, causing considerable delays for every bus ride we had.
Another thing to take in consideration is that often minibus pick up passengers directly from their hotel… this mean that before actually departing, passengers has to wait for all the other passengers to be picked up, which can be really time consuming (in Sihanoukville this took almost 1h!)
In conclusion, we have been really happy with the way we planned these 14 days, and wouldn’t really change anything of what we did (maybe only booking an accommodation closer to Long Beach in Koh Rong…).
I sincerely hope that this already tested itinerary can be of any help to fellow travelers!
cheers!
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