My Two Weeks In Cambodia Itinerary (From Someone Who Spent Nearly A Month There)
How To Best Spend Two Weeks In Cambodia
A two weeks in Cambodia itinerary needs to answer one question before anything else.
What’s actually worth your limited time, and what isn’t. But let me give you the short version first rather than dragging you through the usual 500 words of throat-clearing. The islands deserve more time than most itineraries give them. So does the capital. So does Siem Reap, home to Angkor Wat.
I spent 27 nights across Cambodia, split between Phnom Penh, Koh Rong Samloem, and Siem Reap, and I fell down a proper Google rabbit hole planning that trip, trying to work out the same pacing question you’re probably asking now. Most two-week itineraries treat the country like a checklist. Mine didn’t, and it’s the reason I’d still slow things down further if I went back.
Honestly, waking up to sunrise at Angkor Wat was the highlight of the entire trip. Not a quick stop ticked off a list, a proper morning built around it.
That’s the kind of decision this itinerary is built to help you make, where to spend the extra day, and where two nights is genuinely enough.
Find out where to stay in Siem Reap.
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Here Are My Favourite Hotels In Cambodia
How Many Days Do You Actually Need?
Two weeks in Cambodia is plenty of time to see the best bits, in my opinion.
That said, I would not recommend rushing through it.
I slow-travelled through Cambodia and loved every second. If I am honest, I could have visited Battambang, Koh Rong (the bigger island), Kampot, and even Kratie during my 27-day stay, but I intentionally didn’t want to pack the trip with lots of travel – I hate minivans!
I chose a slower pace so I could go deeper and get a feel for each place I actually visited. You can include other places too, but you will need to sacrifice time on the islands and in Siem Reap.
The Route
Phnom Penh: 3 nights (arrival, lose jet lag, see the city).
Koh Rong Samloem: 4 nights (the anchor stop, still gets plenty of time of the three but scaled down from my 12)
Travel day: Koh Rong Samloem To Siem Reap
Siem Reap: 5 nights (enough for Angkor Wat properly, plus the resting time with enough time for the city sights).
💆♂️ Find The Best Spa In Phnom Penh 😎
Before You Go To Cambodia
Do I Need A Visa
Yes, you will likely need a visa to enter Cambodia.
You can get an eVisa or a visa on arrival.
I got a visa on arrival when I crossed the border from Vietnam into Cambodia. It felt uncomfortable because someone tried to bribe me, but I refused to pay more than I should have. I hope this does not happen to you.
The cost of the eVisa is KHR 145,750 ($36.00/€30.89/£26.37), which includes the processing fee. The visa on arrival costs KHR 121,459 ($30.00/€25.74/£21.98).
If you opt for the eVisa, you also need to complete a pre-arrival form within 7 days of arriving.
This is thankfully free of charge.
When To Go And When Not To
You should go to Cambodia between November and February, that’s what everyone says.
Better weather, but far more crowds.
I visited in May and June. It was busy, but nothing crazy like Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City. The weather had some rainy days, but not for too long. In my experience, during wet season in Southeast Asia, the rain comes down hard for short bursts in the afternoon, then clears.
You can decide whether it’s worth it or not.
Moving Through Cambodia
The easiest way to travel between cities in Cambodia is by minivan or private taxi.
I travelled from Phnom Penh to Koh Rong on a shared minivan, then took the ferry to the islands, followed by another minivan from the Sihanoukville pier to Siem Reap.
It works well, but it is not comfortable. Recently, I have started opting for a private taxi instead. It can be far more expensive, but it is much more comfortable and has air conditioning.
I recommend booking with 12Go, which I used all over Asia without issue.
Do I Need A SimCard?
I used a physical SIM card in Cambodia, which was a mistake.
It worked, but I later learnt the value of getting an eSIM.
I used SimLocal in Portugal and Thailand and Airalo in Vietnam, and both were excellent. I was almost always connected, and SimLocal in particular had great customer support on WhatsApp.
Fast setup, and you do not waste time asking a local person to help you set it up in a 7/11, like I had to in Thailand.
Travel Insurance
Travelling without insurance is stupid, and it is a hill I will die on.
Whether it’s a short weekend away or two weeks in Cambodia, you’ll be thankful if anything goes wrong.
I learned that after almost 17 months in Asia. I got sick in Vietnam and spent almost $1,000 on the hospital, with medication, tests, and an appointment.
Safety Wing reimbursed me within hours. Read about my experience here and check out the plan to see what your best option is.
🇰🇭 Read My Guide To The Best 10 Things To Do In Phnom Penh 🇰🇭
Why Siem Reap Gets More Time Than I Gave It
If I had two weeks in Cambodia again, I’d spend more time in Siem Reap and take some of it from the island.
Koh Rong Samloem was special, with plenty to do, but Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples are where the extra time is more valuable.
This is because of Angkor Wat. It’s one of the most impressive places I’ve ever been, and to this day I wish I’d bought the seven day ticket rather than the three day ticket.
If you stay longer on Koh Rong Samloem, you’ll relax more, but I did find myself a bit limited at times. When I knew I had three days of temples in Siem Reap, my adrenaline started to pump.
It felt like being in Tomb Raider for three full days, even with a little rain, which made it look even better as the temples turned glossy and the light shifted from dusty red brick.
But if you want to slow down on this trip and protect your time on the island, you can spend more time there.
Three days in Siem Reap cover most of the highlights. Then I’d say jump into the temples if that’s your thing. Watch documentaries and films before you go to immerse yourself in the history, and visit the Angkor National Museum, which I did before visiting the Angkor Wat complex.
This was invaluable for making sense of the temples around the Angkor region.
🏝️ Discover Lazy Beach On Koh Rong Samloem 🏝️
3 Nights In Phnom Penh
Start your first day at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh.
However, I never got in.
I turned up with the wrong clothes (showing my knees and shoulders), then on the way back to change, we decided to do something else and never made it back. Even from the outside, it looks beautiful, and there’s loads to see inside.
The National Museum of Cambodia was very impressive.
The architecture and the inside were full of ancient statues.
I even got a few photos with monks who were friendly and smiling the whole time. One thing that didn’t live up to the hype was the frog. I will never eat frog again. It is a delicacy in Phnom Penh, apparently.
You can also visit S21 Prison. It’s mentally challenging, and the Killing Fields are the same, but they’re important for understanding the history of the Cambodian genocide.
Our receptionist at the hotel was almost brought to tears talking about it when we asked about the prison and the Killing Fields. These are powerful historical events that you should see.
Doing a Silk Island tour was a fun, busy day. Get a tuk-tuk tour that includes some temples too. Mongkol Serey Temple and Wat Phnom Daun Penh are worth your time.
The temples are golden and beautiful, and it is said Wat Phnom Daun Penh is where the city was founded.
☕️ Find The Best Coffee In Phnom Penh ☕️
4 Nights In Koh Rong Samloem
The water on Koh Rong Samloem was so clear, it made the boat look like it was floating on nothing.
I wrote a full post about Koh Rong Samloem.
It was one of my favourite islands in Southeast Asia. The stone carvings, beaches, boat tours, and night BBQs made it special. I recommend staying at Sara Resort, which was wonderful.
The rooms are small but have a smart TV, there’s a huge swimming pool, a bar right on the beach, and the restaurant was great.
I visited the fishing village of M-Pai and watched the sunset there. I got chased by moths on the way to Lazy Beach.
I explored the dirt roads through the island, which made me feel like I was on the set of Cast Away.
If I am honest, it is not an overly exciting island, and that is the appeal. Stay on the beach or, at most, explore the jungle and stone carvings.
It is a place to slow down and enjoy the surroundings.
Travel From Koh Rong Samloem To Siem Reap
I took a ferry back to Sihanoukville, then a shared minivan to Siem Reap.
It’s not the best way to travel, but it’s the most affordable and convenient. It took us almost 11 hours to make that trip, and it was tough, long, but manageable. I arrived early in the morning and then got a taxi to the hotel.
Book your minivan or bus to Siem Reap now.
5 Nights In Siem Reap
I mentioned the Angkor National Museum earlier.
When I visited, a school tour of around 50 kids kept joining me.
It is very important for understanding the history of Angkor Wat. I also loved visiting the Royal Independence Gardens, Wat Preah Prom Rath, and Angkor Botanical Garden.
It’s small, but when you consider its proximity to Angkor Wat and Tonlé Sap Lake, there is plenty to do.
One thing to consider is whether you will walk through the town or take a tuk-tuk.
It is so small that we walked most places, which helped us feel the vibe of the city even more.
Conclusion
This is how I’d spend two weeks in Cambodia if I had to do it all over again.
I would keep as many days for Siem Reap and Angkor Wat as possible. It’s surreal and worth every second. If I return, I will consider the 7-day ticket for Angkor Wat because it’s the crown jewel of Cambodia for me.
If you enjoyed this post, check out my guide to the 10 best things to do in Siem Reap.
Any questions? Just drop me a message.
Thanks for reading,
James
FAQs
Is 2 Weeks Enough For Cambodia?
Yes, two weeks is plenty of time to see the best bits of Cambodia. You can see Phnom Penh, the Koh Rong islands, Siem Reap, and even visit Kampot and Battambang if you want to. Cambodia is a great country, and you can fit a lot into a 14-day trip.
What Is A Good 14-Day Itinerary For Cambodia?
A good 14-day Cambodia itinerary can be done in many ways. I recommend starting in Phnom Penh for 3 days, then spending 4 nights on Koh Rong Samloem and 5 days in Siem Reap. This way, you will experience the best of the capital, the white-sand beaches on the islands, and the beautiful temples of Angkor Wat.
Which Is Better, Siem Reap Or Phnom Penh?
Siem Reap is better for temples and a slower pace of life. Phnom Penh is the capital, with a big-city feel, interesting museums, and a few worthwhile day trips. For me, Siem Reap was better, mainly because of Angkor Wat. I was not bored in Phnom Penh, though, and I enjoyed the S21 Prison, the National Museum of Cambodia, and the riverboat cruise.
- My Two Weeks In Cambodia Itinerary (From Someone Who Spent Nearly A Month There)
- How To Visit Angkor Wat In 2026
- Best Restaurants In Siem Reap: Where To Eat And What To Order
- Where To Stay In Siem Reap In 2026 (Neighbourhoods And Hotels)
- 3 Days In Siem Reap, Cambodia (And What I’d Skip)
