One week Cambodia Itinerary: In-Depth guide 2025

Looking for an action-packed and in-depth one week Cambodia Itinerary for 2025? You have come to the right place! In this itinerary we share how to see all of the main attractions and do all of the BEST bits of Cambodia in only 7 days (it really is possible!) This itinerary includes Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Koh Rong Sanloem (a beautiful island in the south).

Why trust us? We have lived in Cambodia, and we have visited many times over the years. So we have a lot of knowledge and experience to share. This article is based on our cumulative experiences – good and bad – so that we can bring you the most comprehensive and informative guide around. This article is in a step-by-step style – with helpful pictures, maps, prices and info so that you can connect all the dots and have a smooth and trouble free trip. We are very excited to share this one-week Cambodia itinerary to help you make the most of your trip.

One week is not a lot of time to see all of the best things in Cambodia; however, it is possible if you are well prepared, planned, and organized. The aim of this article is to help you plan your week-long trip to Cambodia by helping you understand the pace, order, and activities to include. We have written this article to be as helpful as possible. So grab a cuppa, sit back and enjoy reading!

Find out more – How Long Should You Spend in Cambodia?

Summary of this one-week Cambodia itinerary

• Day 1: Take a traditional Cambodian cooking course and Visit the Wake Park
• Day 2: Visit Angkor Wat and explore the night markets
• Day 3: Visit the floating village and take a night bus to Phnom Penh
• Day 4: Visit Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields
• Day 5: Travel Day – Bus to Sihanoukville and Boat to Koh Rong Sanloem
• Day 6: Enjoy some Island Activities
• Day 7: Boat to Sihanoukville, Kbal Chhay Waterfall and Night Bus to Siem Reap

Map of this one week Cambodia itinerary

How can this itinerary save you money

Following this step-by-step itinerary can save you a lot of money compared to taking a pre-booked tour. A one-week pre-booked tour to Cambodia is likely to cost you thousands of dollars, and this price does not include flights. If you are able to plan your own trip and follow this independent Intrepid itinerary, you will save lots of money compared to booking a tour. You will still need to book your own accommodation, transport, and activities, but doing it independently allows you to save thousands of dollars.

A few notes about this itinerary

Before you read on, we just wanted to share a few points about this itinerary. Firstly, if you have slightly more than seven days, that is not a problem; you can just pace yourself and take more time to rest and relax. We have chosen to start and finish this itinerary in Siem Reap because this is a common route. However, you may have a different route plan around Cambodia, and you can adapt this itinerary accordingly.

If you do have less than one week in Cambodia, then we do not recommend trying to fit everything into your trip. For example, you may just want to focus on Siem Reap or Phnom Penh. Although it is possible to fit everything in a single week, the pace of this itinerary is relatively high. So if you have a bit longer, we do recommend taking more time in Cambodia.

Day 1: Take a traditional Cambodian cooking course and Visit the Wake Park

The first day of this itinerary is designed to help you acclimatize and make any necessary arrangements for the following days of this trip. For example, you may need to find an ATM machine and withdraw money. You may also want to identify a tuk tuk driver to take you to Angkor Wat (Day two of this itinerary). Find out Everything you need to know about tuk tuks in Cambodia.

We recommend starting your day with a traditional Cambodian cooking course. This is a great way to connect with the culture and get a feel for local food. It is also a great way to meet new people and familiarize yourself with the area. Cooking courses are a lot of fun; you get the opportunity to learn about and cook several traditional Cambodian dishes, and then you can try your meals at the end of the course. Cooking courses often include a visit to a local market; this is also a great way to familiarize yourself with the culture. Cambodian cooking classes generally cost $20 – $30. Don’t miss this Authentic Cooking Class in a Local Home in Siem Reap on KLOOK.

After taking a traditional cooking course, we recommend taking a visit to the ICF Wake Park, which is situated around 5 kilometers from the center of Siem Reap. The Wake Park has a range of activities including an artificial beach, inflatable obstacle course, and a wakeboarding circuit. You do not need any experience to try wakeboarding, and the cost includes equipment rental and instruction. A return journey to the wake park (including a few hours waiting) should cost around $5 – $8.

The facilities at the Wake Park are excellent; there is a changing room with showers and toilets, and they also have lockers. Plus, there is a fantastic restaurant situated at the ICF Wake Park serving a range of local and international hot meals and a very tasty selection of drinks. The Wake Park is also part of an ethical project that helps developing communities in the suburbs around the city, so not only is this a fun and enjoyable activity, it is also a great way to help out on the first day of your trip.

The inflatable obstacle course costs $8 and has no time limitations. If you are planning to go wakeboarding the prices are as follows: 2 hours: $24, 1 day: $32, 2 days: $49. The ticket cost includes an instructor, rental of one type of board (beginners wakeboard, water ski, or kneeboard), and it also includes a life jacket and a helmet. You can also pay extra to rent additional equipment: Intermediate Board $8 for 2 hours or $12 Full day. Pro Board $14 for 2 hours and $19 Full day.

Learn more on the Official ICF Wake Park website

In the evening, we recommend exploring the town and trying some of the tasty food available around Pub Street. There are plenty of bars, cafes, and restaurants around; you can also find lots of places offering very affordable and relaxing massages. Find out more – The Best Places to Eat in Siem Reap.

It is also important to make sure that you are organized for the rest of your trip; we recommend walking around the Pub Street area to find a tuk tuk driver who is willing to take you around Angkor Wat for a reasonable price ($10 – $20 is a reasonable price range depending on how many temples you wish to visit and how long you plan to spend at the temples).

If you have enough energy, you may also want to visit the ticket office to purchase your tickets a day in advance; this means that you do not need to spend time queueing in the morning. If you purchase your ticket for the next day, you can actually use it to see the sunset the day before your visit; this is a fantastic tip if you really want to make the most of your time at the temples. In order to purchase a ticket for the following day, you need to visit the ticket office between 4.45pm – 6pm (if you purchase your ticket in this window, it will be guaranteed to be a next-day ticket).

The first evening of your trip is also a good time to book your night bus from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh (Day 3). Just pop into Asia Budget Travel (ABT Bus and Tours) situated on Street 9, opposite the National Bank of Cambodia and close to the Old Market. The sleeper bus from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh costs around $12 – $18. You can barter to get lower prices. Remember – everything is flexible in Cambodia – including the prices! 

We also recommend packing your bags for Angkor Wat the night before; make sure your cameras and phone are charged and pack plenty of water and snacks. You might also be able to speak to your hotel or guest house about preparing an early packed breakfast so that you can have some breakfast when you get up early. This is pretty normal in Siem Reap so the hotel will understand what you’re asking for. 

Day 2: Visit Angkor Wat and explore the night markets

Angkor Wat tickets cost $37 for adults. A ticket enables you to enter the entire complex and explore any temples for as long as you want (in one day). Everyone aged 12 and over needs to pay the full price for an adult ticket (children under 12 years old do not need to obtain a ticket for Angkor Wat). Once you have your ticket, you need to hold on to it carefully; it will be checked throughout the day as you visit different temples. If you’re found without a ticket, you could be charged a fine, so make sure you look after your tickets carefully. The ticket office opens at 5:00 a.m. It is important to arrive early if you are hoping to see the sunrise.

Want to keep it simple? Why not book one of these Angkor Wat Tours on Klook? They are excellent value for money and include all of the BEST highlights.

This is the big day to visit the iconic and famous Angkor Wat temples. You haven’t really seen Cambodia if you haven’t seen these beautiful traditional temples. They are genuinely very impressive; we have visited the Angkor Wat temples many times over the years. We are still astounded and inspired by this stunning landmark.

If you are planning to visit Angkor Wat for Sunrise, you will need to be prepared to get a very early start. If you have not already arranged your tickets, we recommend leaving town around 4:30 a.m. You will need to queue up at the ticket office in the morning and purchase your ticket. Your driver will then take you over to the temple so that you can catch the sun rising over the main Angkor Wat temple. The sunrise in Cambodia is normally around 6 am, although there is a little bit of variation throughout the year, so we do recommend researching the exact sunrise time before your trip.

If you’re planning to visit for sunrise, don’t expect a peaceful, tranquil, and serene experience. Quite the contrary, it can be very busy and intense around sunrise time; this is a very popular activity, so be prepared to share the experience with a lot of other people. The most popular spot to watch the sunrise is by the small pond in front of the main temple; this is a very beautiful location for photography. You can see a very beautiful reflection of the temple and sunrise in the pond, creating a very atmospheric and impressive photo.

After experiencing the sunrise, we recommend returning to your driver and heading on to explore some other temples. Drivers are generally very good at spotting you; however, we do recommend having a note of their phone number. It is very useful to have a little bit of mobile data on the go so that you can call your driver if you are unable to find them.

Visiting Angkor Wat may be epic, but it is also a very long and tiring day. We recommend pacing yourself. It may be worth considering a return trip to town so that you can get some lunch and rest during the hottest hours of the day. If you take an early start for Sunrise, it is still possible to see all of the main temples and also take a few hours to rest.

Here are some of the other main temples that we would encourage you to visit during your trip to Angkor Wat. Here is an example of an itinerary for visiting the temples:

• 10.30 am – 12 pm: Bayon (Temple with faces, don’t miss the stunning gate & the Elephant Terraces)
• 12.00 pm – 2.00 pm: Ta Prohm Temple (Tomb Raider Temple)
• 2.00 pm – 3 pm: Preah Khan (atmospheric ruined temple)
• 3 pm – 4 pm: Neak Poan (lake temple)
• 5 pm – 6.30pm: Bakheng Temple for Sunset (it can be busy and you may be too tired by this stage)

After exploring the temples, return to your hotel or guest house for a shower and some rest. You might also want to explore the night markets and get some tasty food around town. This is your final night in Siem Reap.

Day 3: Visit the floating village and take a night bus to Phnom Penh

On the third day of the itinerary, you will take a visit to the beautiful floating village and then take a night bus from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. The advantage of taking a night bus is that you save the cost of one night of accommodation and you also save travel time. If you only have one week to explore Cambodia, we strongly recommend using the night bus to travel to Phnom Penh.

Start your day with a trip to an authentic floating village. This is a beautiful, unique cultural experience that allows you to connect with locals and experience village life in Cambodia. There are several different floating village areas that you can visit around Tonle Sap. The floating villages are beautiful fishing villages on the edge of Tonle Sap. Although they are referred to as floating villages, they are actually villages with houses built on stilts suspended above the water. This is a traditional Cambodian architectural style which is designed to protect wooden houses from the seasonal flooding.

The most popular floating village is near Phnom Krom and is the closest floating village to Siem Reap, but it is quite scammy and we do not recommend visiting this area. For a much more authentic and genuine experience, we recommend visiting Kampong Khleang. Although this site is further from town, it is more beautiful, more authentic, and not scammy.

There are several different ways to get to the floating village. If you feel confident and able to rent and ride a motorbike, this is an affordable and fun way to explore Cambodia. You can rent a motorbike in Siem Reap for around $5 – $10 per day. Make sure that you pack and prepare for your trip well. We recommend downloading some offline maps and making sure that you have plenty of food and drink for the journey. Be aware that the roads can be quite challenging, especially during rainy season when they are muddy and slippery.

Alternatively, you could book a tour to the floating village on KLOOK. There are some very good-priced tours offering trips to a more ethical and genuine floating village. Expect to pay around $20 – $25 per person for a floating village tour. 

Alternatively, you can make a deal with a local tuk-tuk driver. The advantage of going with a driver is that you can go at your own pace, arriving and departing when you wish.

Expect to pay around $20 – $25 for a tuk-tuk trip to the floating village. You will notice the price of this trip is due to the long distance and time for visiting.

We recommend departing to the floating village nice and early in the morning before it gets too hot. This will also allow you to return to town with time to rest before you catch your night bus in the evening. Make sure that you confirm the departure time of your night bus; it may also include hotel pickup. And make sure that you are back in plenty of time so that you do not miss your bus.

The night buses in Cambodia are actually relatively comfortable. Many of the night buses have fully flat horizontal beds where you can lie flat and get a few hours of sleep. Pick up times are normally around 6pm – 7pm but always check the time and location when you book (they often include a free hotel pick up in Siem Reap). The night bus should cost around $12 – $18. We do recommend bringing a warm top because the air conditioning can be quite intense. It is also worth having a travel pillow or something to rest your head on to make the journey more comfortable.

Day 4: Visit Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields

Consider booking a Tuol Sleng & Killing Fields Tour on KLOOK (the price does not include entry – but it is a very reasonable price)

We have only recommended spending one day in Phnom Penh. In our opinion, it is worth taking some time to connect with the dark and tragic history of Cambodia. However, Phnom Penh is not a particularly attractive city, and there are not a lot of things to do. If you only have a limited time in Cambodia, we recommend spending a greater proportion of your time around Siem Reap and Koh Rong Sanloem.

Just like Siem Reap, you can use tuk-tuks to travel around this area for a reasonable price. Expect to pay around $2 – $3 for most journeys around town. As ever, you will need to be able and willing to barter if you want to get a fair price.

You will arrive in Phnom Penh early in the morning, and you will probably be pretty tired from your journey. If your hotel or guest house allows you to get an early check-in, we recommend checking into your room, dropping your bags off, and getting a shower. Alternatively, if you are not allowed an early check-in, then your hotel may allow you to store your larger bags.

Once you have dropped your bags off at your hotel or guest house, we recommend taking a trip to the Tuol Sleng prison camp. The sad paradox of this place is that it was a school before the brutal Khmer Rouge regime repurposed it to house political prisoners who were seen as a threat to the party (pretty much anyone and everyone!). The Khmer Rouge attempted to eradicate an entire generation of educated Cambodians. There is a profound antithesis between the education and values of a school and the mindless and heartless brutality of the regime.

Tuol Sleng now remains as a museum and a memorial to the prisoners who were detained and tortured within its walls. The museum still retains some of the original shackles, torture devices, and also a range of photos of the victims. This is a potentially upsetting and distressing place to visit. Some of the facts, images, and exhibits are genuinely graphic and disturbing. We do recommend taking a visit, especially if you wish to connect with the dark and sad history of Cambodia and get a better understanding of Cambodia’s present and future.

In the evening, we recommend finding some local food and taking a rest. Make sure that your bags are packed and prepared because you will be departing for Sihanoukville early the next day.

Day 5: Travel Day – Bus to Sihanoukville and Boat to Koh Rong Sanloem

TOP TIP: If you have a little more time you may want to spend a night or two in Sihanoukville. To be honest, the hotels in this area aren’t great – but hey, travel can be like that some times!

A minivan from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville should cost around $10 – $12 and you can find buses that depart around 7am – 8am and arrive in Sihanoukville by around 10am – 11am. Check out SIMA express for connections from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville.

This is a relatively long and challenging travel day. The only aim of this day is to travel to the beautiful island of Koh Rong Sanloem. This is the final destination on your one-week Cambodia itinerary.

For this section of the journey, there are night bus options, so you will need to travel through the day. We recommend getting an early start and taking the earliest possible bus; this will enable you to get a boat at a reasonable time. This will allow you to relax and enjoy the evening on Koh Rong Sanloem.

We do recommend having some snacks and drinks prepared for the journey. Buses generally stop at small shops and cafes, and they are likely to include a toilet stop or two along the way. However, having some drinks and snacks can make the journey a lot more enjoyable.

The stops on the journey are genuinely interesting and allow you to get an insight into genuine Cambodian village culture.

The bus should drop you off at Two Golden Lions Roundabout, which is approximately 500 meters from the pier (just walk straight down the road). At the pier, you will find a tour office where you can book and take your boat to Koh Rong Sanloem.

The boat journey to Koh Rong Sanloem is around 20km and takes around 40 minutes. Boats depart every 1 – 2 hours from around 8am until 5pm. Boats cost around $10 – $12 per person. You should be able to get a boat within an hour or two of arriving in Sihanoukville. Once you have sorted your boat ticket, you can find plenty of restaurants around Sihanoukville pier. There is also a nice section of beach next to the pier. 

If you get an early start, you should be able to arrive on Koh Rong island by mid-afternoon. We recommend that you check into your room and explore the area. There are lots of small cafes around; you can also find bars and some more expensive restaurants around too.

Day 6: Enjoy some Island Activities

This is the day to enjoy some relaxing island activities. Whether you want to sit at a cafe and read a book, sunbathe on the beach, or snorkel around the crystal-clear waters, there are plenty of things to see and do in the area. Here is a list of ideas to help you get inspired and prepare for your trip:

• Take a jungle trek to the beautiful and isolated Clear Water Bay. This is a long golden sand beach with a chilled-out Hippy Guest House and bar. The walk is very beautiful and Intrepid and follows a lovely jungle trail. The beach itself is also very beautiful and has a remote isolated feel.
• Take a dive. The beautiful crystal-clear waters are filled with coral reef and tropical fish. This is a beautiful destination to try scuba diving, whether you are a beginner wanting to do a discovery dive or whether you are an advanced diver. The waters around Koh Rong Sanloem offer fantastic diving. There are also several diving shops and diving schools situated around Koh Rong Sanloem.
• If you are not interested in diving, you may wish to explore the waters snorkeling or free diving. The crystal-clear waters are the perfect environment for snorkeling and freediving.
• Try climbing. You can try rock climbing with Sunset Adventures, which is situated on Sunset Beach. They offer guided rock climbing instruction and equipment rental. This is a beautiful and invigorating environment to try some rock climbing.
• Explore the coast by sea kayak. Sunset Adventures (situated on Sunset Beach) also offer sea kayak rental. You can rent a sea kayak and paddle around the beautiful coastline. Bring along a snorkel mask and fins.

The return boat from Koh Rong Sanloem to Sihanoukville can get very busy; sometimes, these boats are fully booked if you try to get your ticket on the same day. We recommend popping into the boat office at least a day before you plan to travel and making sure that you book a ticket. We also recommend that you book the earliest boat to ensure a smooth journey.

Day 7: Boat to Sihanoukville, Kbal Chhay Waterfall and Night Bus to Siem Reap

Take the earliest boat to Sihanoukville; make sure that you arrive at the pier at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time. This will allow time for you to get your tickets checked and board the boat.

When you arrive back in Sihanoukville, we recommend that you ask whether you can leave your large bags at the tour office where you booked the boat. There are plenty of small tour operators around where you can book a night bus back to Siem Reap. Once you have sorted out your night bus ticket and confirmed a time and pick-up destination, you can find some food and explore Sihanoukville.

You should have time to visit a local attraction such as the Kbal Chhay waterfall. This is genuinely a very fun, unique, and local experience. Lots of local families and couples visit this waterfall to relax, have picnics, and paddle in the water. You can walk around the area and find different viewing decks and platforms.

There are places where you can sit and eat, and there are also plenty of spots where you can get a photo of the impressive waterfalls. This is a surprisingly enjoyable and fun activity. You only really need a few hours to visit these waterfalls. You can either rent a motorbike for the day and ride there yourself, or you can pay a local Tuk Tuk driver to take you. We recommend offering around $8 for a return journey, including a few hours of waiting. As ever, you will need to be able to barter if you are hoping to get a fair price.

There are plenty of night buses which travel from Sihanoukville to Siem Reap; just like the previous night bus, they are actually relatively comfortable.

We have designed this itinerary to return back to Siem Reap because this is a very common travel route around Cambodia. However, you may wish to take a journey elsewhere at the end of this itinerary. For example, you can take buses to Phnom Penh; alternatively, you can travel to Thailand or Vietnam overland, or you can return to Phnom Penh where you can take a flight.