Cambodia Itinerary 2 Weeks: Best Travel Plan to Fully Discover

Day 1: Phnom Penh Arrival

The first destination of your trip is Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. You will go on a full-day tour and explore every corner of the city.

Welcome to Phnom Penh, the vibrant bustling capital of Cambodia, which is situated at the confluence of three rivers, the mighty Mekong, the Bassac, and the great Tonle Sap. On arrival at Phnom Penh airport, you are picked up by our friendly tour guide and then transferred to the hotel in the city center for checking in. The room is ready after 14:00, so please contact us if you want to book an early check-in.

Day 2: Full-day City Tour in Phnom Penh 

At 08:00, our tuk-tuk driver will pick you up and transfer you to embark on Kanika Cruise (Share Cruise) for 3:30 hours cruising to Silk Island, the home of Cambodian silk production that thrived since the 13th century. The know-how of craftsmen who survived the Khmer Rouge regime is perpetuated in villages of silk weavers, along the Mekong. On board inclusive of Insurance, BBQ Lunch, fresh fruits, free-flow beer & soft drinks, you will visit a silk farm and a pagoda at Prek BongKong with 2 hours of cruising on the mighty Mekong. The cruise disembarks at 12:00. Then, we will transfer you to the hotel.

At 16:00, the trip continued for 3 hours. You will be taken to to the Royal Palace, Silver pagoda, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, and the Russian Market. Each features its own beauty and story behind it. 

The Royal Palace of Cambodia is a complex of buildings where the Royal Family of the Kingdom of Cambodia was built more than a century ago to serve the accommodation and activities of the king, the king's family, and foreign guests. This is also the place where royal ceremonies, diplomatic ceremonies, and royal festivals take place.  

The Kings of Cambodia have lived in this palace since the day it was built in 1866, except for a period of hiatus when the country was under Khmer Rouge rule. The palace was built after King Norodom moved the capital from Oudong to Phnom Penh after the mid-1800s.   

Silver Pagoda - a work located in the area of the Royal Palace consists of a complex of monuments and is a combination of many other architectural works plus gardens with many precious ornamental flowers that are many years old. The Palace and Silver Pagoda form an architectural complex that is a symbol of Cambodia. The project is located facing the cool river and is an indispensable attraction in the journey to discover Cambodia.

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is a museum of genocide committed by the Khmer Rouge during its rule from 1975 to 1979. This was a high school before becoming a concentration camp of the Khmer Rouge genocidal regime. In 1975, the school was converted into a prison with the name Security Prison S21. During the four years of the Khmer Rouge rule, it held about 17,000 people (other sources say 20,000), most of them former Khmer Rouge members or soldiers convicted of treason.

After the tour, you will be let alight at the hotel to stay overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 3: Phnom Penh - Siem Reap

After breakfast, we will take the Mekong Bus to Siem Reap (314km – 6-hour drive). Upon arrival, meet our representative and he/she will bring you to check-in at the hotel and discuss your itinerary the next day. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 4: Siem Reap - Angkor Thom - Angkor Wat

Immerse yourself in the tranquility of Siem Reap. The ancient city is well-known for its historic sites and construction. Your next 3 days’ activities will be discovering the hidden charm of Siem Reap. 

You will be picked up from the hotel and drive to the World Heritage Site; visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom to Bayon temple. The South Gate of Angkor Thom is famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone. You will visit the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, and the Terrace of the Leper King. Among them, Bayon Temple and Phimeanakas are the top highlights of Siem Reap.

Bayon Temple is located in the center of Angkor Thom complex, Cambodia. This is the most impressive temple of Cambodian mountain temple architecture due to the grandeur of the scale as well as the emotion it brings to the viewer. The temple consists of 54 large and small towers, on each tower, there is a sculpture of the face of the god Lokesvara, also known as the god Avalokitesvara, symbolizing the divine observation in the four directions of Cambodia. 

Phimeanakas (Temple of Heaven) at Angkor, Cambodia is a Khleang-style Hindu temple built in the late 10th century, during the reign of King Rajendravarman II (941-968), then rebuilt in the time of Suryavarman II according to The shape of a pyramid has 3 floors. At the top of this pyramid, there is a large tower on top, it is said that it has a tower made of gold, which is the king's place to spend the night with the snake god.  

According to legend, the king spent his first watch every night with a Naga girl in the tower, and even the queen was not allowed to enter there. Only on the second shift did the king return to the palace with the queen. If Naga was the supreme landowner of the Khmer land for not even one night, if the king was not present, disaster would fall on his land.

Next, we will move to the jungle intertwined with Ta Prohm, made famous in Angelina Jolie’s Tomb Raider movie. Ta Prohm, one of the popular temples in the area Take a leisurely stroll through this wondrous site, with giant fig and kapok trees strangling the ancient stonework in a photogenic interplay of man and nature. Continue to see the architectural masterpiece of Angkor Wat. We stroll around this massive monument, exploring the many galleries with columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards, and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple. Sunset can be visited depending on the weather and season! Back to the hotel around 17:30 hrs and overnight at a hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 5: Siem Reap - Koh Ker - Beng Mealea

At 8:30, you will be picked up from the hotel and departure to the remote and less tourist area by visiting Beng Mealea temple (65km northeast of Siem Reap), the temple built By Jayarvaman VII in the style of Angkor Wat. Its scale is huge; being well over one square Kilometer within its moat.

Approached by four causeways, Beng Mealea appears to be a huge pile of rubble partially hidden in the trees. Once you get closer to the high walls, the ancient Khmer Architecture reveals itself. Cloaked in vegetation and with few concessions to tourism; the Capital of the Khmer Empire for a very brief period between 928 and 944 AD. After the Khmer empire had been established in the Angkor area (Roluos), Jayavarman IV moved the capital almost 100km northeast to Koh Ker. 

Here a vast number of temples were built under his reign until his successor returned to the Angkor area about twenty years later. The Koh Ker site is dominated by Prasat Thom, a 30-meter-tall temple mountain rising high above the plain and the surrounding forest. Great views await the visitor at the end of an adventurous climb. Garuda, carved into the stone blocks, still guard the very top, although they are partially covered now. 

When the tour finishes, the shuttle bus drops off at your hotel around 16:00 and overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 6: Siem Reap - Kampong Phluk - Tonle Sap Lake

At 8 am, you will be picked up from Hotel for visiting Les Artisans D'Angkor - Chantiers Ecoles", this center works with young artisans; the team creates, produce and market a unique collection of ornamental sculpture, lacquer, silk weaving, and silk painting. The company promotes fair and sustainable development in order to provide benefits to rural communities. 

Then continue to Kampong Phluk Floating Village, located 16 km north-south of Siem Reap. The villages are primarily Khmer and have about 3000 inhabitants between them. A flooded mangrove forest surrounds the area and is home to a variety of wildlife including crab-eating macaques. 

During the dry season when the water level is low (March – July), the buildings in the villages seem to soar atop their 6-meter stilts exposed by the lack of water. At this time of year, many of the villagers move out onto the lake and build temporary houses. In the wet season when the water level rises (Aug – February), the villagers move back to their permanent houses on the floodplain, the stilts now hidden under the water. Kampong Phluk's economy is, as one might expect, based on fishing, primarily in shrimp harvesting.

Day 7: Siem Reap - Sihanoukville

You will have free time in the morning until check-out time at 12:00. At 19:30, our representative will pick you up and transfer you to the bus station to take the night bus to Sihanoukville. The bus will leave at 20:00 hrs and arrive at Sihanoukville at 6:00 - 7:00 the next day.

Day 8: Sihanoukville Arrival

At 06:00, the bus arrives in Sihanoukville and takes you to the hotel for check-in. Afterward, you will have a free afternoon to take a break and prepare for the next experience.

Sihanoukville is a port city in southern Cambodia, named after former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk. It has the only deep-water port in Cambodia and owns beautiful beaches surrounding the city such as Victory Beach, Lamherkay Beach, Koh Pos Beach, Independence Beach, Sokha Beach, Serendipity Beach, Ochheuteal Beach, and Otres Beach. Therefore, your last experience during 14 days in Cambodia will be immersed in the cool water and relaxing on the shore. 

Day 9 - 13: Sihanoukville - Freeday on the Beach

In these 5 days, the itinerary is at your disposal. You can relax on the beach and explore the city on your own.  

Because there are a lot of places to visit and have fun in Sihanoukville, you will surely be confused because this place has too many attractive destinations. It's hard to make a choice, but if time is limited, you should prioritize going to the following places:

Serendipity Beach

Serendipity Beach is the main beach in Sihanoukville – you can't miss it. Nestled right next to the pier, you'll find a boardwalk lined with beachfront restaurants and sun umbrellas. Each restaurant has seating inside with sea views and loungers where you can sip a fruity cocktail while enjoying your tan.  At night, the boardwalk comes alive with music, flashing lights, and a young crowd of both tourists and party-loving Cambodians.

Independence Beach

Independence Beach is right in front of visitors, but somehow, tourists never see the opportunity to explore this place. This charming little entrance is to the right of the main pier with crystal clear water and the most unique rocky shore in the area.  Follow the dirt path under shady trees to discover a quiet little hideaway.

Although not very large, this quaint cave still has some lovely restaurants, a small fishing pier and large rocks to test your climbing ability. You can have lunch at a nearby restaurant or buy a beer from the local store and go for a walk by the beach.

Otres Beach

Otres is a beach that still retains its original wild beauty and does not seem to be affected by commercialization. The fine white sand in the semicircle shape is up to 3km long, the clear blue water blends with the deep blue sky. On the beach, there are also sailing, kayak and windsurfing rental services for you to experience. 

There are many small fishing villages located close to the sea, if you are interested you can visit to learn about the life of fishermen. 

The Port of Independence 

The Port of Independence has a greater protrusion to the sea than in other areas. From here you will have the feeling of getting closer to the fiery sun that is slowly setting in the distance. Independence Harbor is said to be the most beautiful sunset spot in Sihanoukville.

Kbal Chhay waterfall

After a couple of days lounging in the sand, changing locations gets us even more excited! Visit Kbal Chhay waterfall and let the fresh waters refresh you. Rest under the powerful waterfall for a back massage and soak in the lake to let the pure currents revitalize your body.  When you're tired of swimming in the lake, you can relax in the traditional Khmer bamboo huts. Imagine swinging in a hammock and strolling on the straw mat beneath your feet. There are street vendors with snacks and drinks as you cross the bamboo bridge.

Koh Rong Island and Koh Rong Samloem 

It is really a pity if during your Sihanoukville trip you forget to visit Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem islands. Both these islands possess beautiful unspoiled seascapes with crystal clear blue water and smooth white sand shores. You can experience a night on the island because it has many beautiful resorts. What's more poetic than watching the sunrise and diving to see the corals here?

The Led Zephyr

For years, The Led Zephyr has been the go-to destination for live music and delicious food. Musicians and comedians cruise through Sihanoukville, stopping to amuse the stage with their presence several times a week. With a great sound system and professional lighting setup, this is a very lively place. 

As if entertaining by the sea wasn't enough, you'll also find local draft beer live at the tap, delicious grilled pork chops, comfortable seating and even a pool table. Led Zephyr is a great way to spend a night out with a group of friends. In addition, the prices here are also reasonable and the portions are quite large.

Phsar Leu Market

Try the daily life of local Cambodians when you go to this vast flea market in Sihanoukville. Located in the center of town is a large square with nearly 100 vendors selling a variety of goods. You can find stalls selling baby clothes, stalls with bathing suits, stalls selling watches and gold jewelry, and of course, stalls stocked with food.  

The outside of the market was bustling with locals who came to pick up fruit, vegetables, and bread to feed their families – it was quite a lively scene to watch. Sample local delicacies like jackfruit or the infamous durian.

Day 14: Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh Departure

Transfer by private car to Phnom Penh International Airport for departure to the next destination. Your traveling is 230 km with 4 hour drive. 2-3 hours of arrival at the airport is a must! Our tour ends.

Above is our Cambodia itinerary for 2 weeks. If you have any further questions, please visit our website to get your answer. We are also providing Cambodian tours for foreign visitors. You can refer to some of our tours here.