Cambodia in brief
Cambodia's story runs through two very different landscapes: the temple plains around [Siem Reap](destinations/siem-reap), where Angkor's builders worked for three centuries, and a southern coast on the Gulf of Thailand that most visitors only reach afterwards. [Phnom Penh](destinations/phnom-penh), the capital, sits between the two on the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers and carries the country's more recent history alongside its older one.
The five destinations below cover temples, capital, port town, hill country and islands — enough ground that most trips pick three rather than all five. Distances are shorter than in Vietnam or Laos, so combining Siem Reap with either Phnom Penh or the coast fits comfortably into a week.
Choose a destination
When to go
Cambodia's dry season runs November through March, with the coolest, most comfortable weather from November to January and a hotter, drier stretch through February and March. April and May turn hot before the rains break, typically by June, and the wet season runs through October with the heaviest rain in September and October. Angkor's temples are walkable year-round, but the moats and reservoirs look their fullest just after the rains — usually October and November.
How long do you need
Siem Reap alone needs three days to cover Angkor Wat, the Bayon and Ta Prohm without rushing between temples in the day's worst heat. Adding Phnom Penh brings a trip to five or six days; adding the southern coast on top of that pushes it towards nine or ten.
Cambodia currently sits inside our multi-country routes rather than a standalone itinerary — [Discovery Indochina](tours/discovery-indochina) and [Mekong Delta and Temples](tours/mekong-delta-and-temples) both build in several days around Siem Reap and the Mekong, and [Indochina Golf](tours/indochina-golf) adds courses near Siem Reap and Phnom Penh onto a Vietnam-based trip.
Getting there and around
Siem Reap and Phnom Penh both have international airports, so a Cambodia leg can start at either end depending on which country comes before it on the itinerary. The road between the two takes around five to six hours; a faster expressway has cut that closer to four on a good day, though older highway sections still slow things down near the Tonle Sap's edge.
Reaching the south coast usually means a further four to five hours by road from Phnom Penh down to Sihanoukville or Kampot, or a short domestic flight to skip the drive. From Sihanoukville, fast ferries run out to Koh Rong and the smaller islands in under an hour, weather and season permitting.
Plan your trip
Tell us your dates, your group and what you want out of the trip. We reply with a costed itinerary within one working day.
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