Best of Cambodia: Self-Launched 7-Day Phnom Penh to Siem Reap Adventure
7 days · Cambodia
Asia Focus Travel charges £495
No-markup version: ~£335 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, budget traveller's version of Asia Focus Travel's "Best of Cambodia 7 Days 6 Nights" — covering the same itinerary, landmarks and experiences from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, but arranged independently. Book your own hostel/guesthouse rooms, hop the Giant Ibis or Mekong Express bus between cities, hire a tuk-tuk driver for the Angkor temple circuits, and join small-group or shared day tours for the Royal Palace, Tuol Sleng and the floating villages. Roughly two-thirds the cost of the packaged tour, with total flexibility. All costs are approximate per person in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Land at Phnom Penh International Airport and make your own way into the city — a metered tuk-tuk or Grab ride to the riverside/Daun Penh area costs around £4-5 (30-40 min). Check into a budget guesthouse or hostel near the Royal Palace. Spend the late afternoon wandering the riverside promenade and grabbing a first bowl of fish amok or kuy teav (noodle soup) at a local stall for £2-3. Sort your onward bus ticket to Siem Reap tonight so Day 3 is worry-free (Giant Ibis or Mekong Express, book online or via your guesthouse).
🚌Airport tuk-tuk/Grab into city ~£4-5
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Daun Penh (dorm ~£6-8, private twin ~£14-18)
- →Riverside promenade walk
- →Street food dinner
- →Book onward bus to Siem Reap
Phnom Penh Highlights — Royal Palace, National Museum & S-21
Phnom Penh
A full day of Phnom Penh's key sights, all doable independently by tuk-tuk (negotiate a half-day driver for ~£12-15) or a mix of Grab rides. Start at the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda (combined entry ~£8, open mornings). Walk next door to the National Museum of Cambodia (~£4) for Khmer art and sculpture, then continue to Wat Ounalom Pagoda and Wat Phnom temple. In the afternoon visit the sobering Tuol Sleng Prison Museum (S-21) (~£4, add ~£2 for the excellent audio guide). If time allows, browse the Art Deco Central Market. Note: site entry fees are payable in cash (USD or riel) at the gate.
🚌Half-day tuk-tuk hire ~£12-15 (or Grab rides)
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Daun Penh (dorm ~£6-8, private twin ~£14-18)
- →Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda (~£8)
- →National Museum of Cambodia (~£4)
- →Wat Ounalom Pagoda (free)
- →Wat Phnom temple (~£1)
- →Tuol Sleng Prison S-21 (~£4 + audio)
- →Central Market browse
Bus from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
Siem Reap
Travel day north to Siem Reap. Reputable coach services (Giant Ibis, Mekong Express or Virak Buntham) run several times daily and take roughly 6-7 hours including a rest stop — a one-way ticket is about £10-13, book online in advance. Alternatively, if you'd rather save the day, a domestic flight (Cambodia Angkor Air) takes ~1 hour for £45-70. Arrive in Siem Reap, take a short tuk-tuk (~£2) to your guesthouse near Pub Street or the Old Market, and spend the evening exploring the night market and a cheap dinner. Buy your Angkor pass this evening if you want an early temple start (1-day ~£30, 3-day ~£50; passes are sold in the late afternoon for the following day).
🚌Public coach Phnom Penh-Siem Reap ~£10-13 (or flight ~£45-70)
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Siem Reap (dorm ~£5-7, private twin ~£12-16)
- →Scenic northbound coach journey
- →Siem Reap night market & Old Market
- →Buy Angkor temple pass
Angkor Thom, Bayon, Ta Prohm & Angkor Wat Sunset
Angkor Archaeological Park
Classic small circuit day. Hire a tuk-tuk driver for the full day (~£15-18 — split it with other travellers at your hostel to cut the cost) and set off early to beat the heat and crowds. Enter the Angkor Thom complex through the South Gate, explore the serene faces of Bayon Temple, then the Terrace of the Elephants and Ta Prohm — the atmospheric 'Tomb Raider' temple wrapped in tree roots. Have lunch at one of the simple restaurants inside the park (~£4-6). Spend the late afternoon at Angkor Wat itself, then climb Phnom Bakheng for sunset views over the complex (note the 300-person sunset cap — arrive well ahead). Bring water, sun protection and your pass at all times.
🚌Full-day tuk-tuk hire for the small circuit ~£15-18 (shareable)
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Siem Reap (dorm ~£5-7, private twin ~£12-16)
- →Angkor Thom & South Gate
- →Bayon Temple
- →Ta Prohm (Tomb Raider Temple)
- →Angkor Wat
- →Phnom Bakheng sunset
East Angkor Temples — Banteay Srei, Pre Rup, Preah Khan & More
Angkor Archaeological Park
Head out on the 'grand / outer circuit' today with the same or a new tuk-tuk driver (~£18-22, as Banteay Srei is farther out — about 30-40 min beyond the main park). Highlights include the intricately carved pink sandstone of Banteay Srei, the pyramid temple of Pre Rup, East Mébon, Ta Som (with its strangler-fig gate) and the sprawling Preah Khan. Lunch at a nearby local eatery serving Khmer curries, soups and stir-fries (~£4-6). If you're on a 3-day pass this is your second temple day; keep the pace relaxed and make the most of the quieter outer temples away from the crowds.
🚌Full-day tuk-tuk hire for the outer/east circuit ~£18-22 (shareable)
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Siem Reap (dorm ~£5-7, private twin ~£12-16)
- →Banteay Srei Temple
- →Pre Rup Temple
- →East Mébon Temple
- →Ta Som Temple
- →Preah Khan Temple
Rolous Market & Tonlé Sap Floating Villages
Siem Reap / Tonlé Sap
A gentler day away from the temples. Stop first at Rolous market (~£2-3 tuk-tuk from the centre), a lively local market where you can sample Cambodian snacks and watch everyday Khmer life. Then head to the Tonlé Sap lake for a boat trip through the floating villages of stilt-houses — Kompong Khleang and Kompong Phluk are the more authentic, less-touristed options, while Chong Kneas is closest to town. A shared boat trip or small-group tour costs roughly £15-25 per person, bookable the day before via GetYourGuide, Klook or your guesthouse. In the afternoon, visit a local pagoda to learn about Buddhist practice. Back in Siem Reap for your last evening.
🚌Tuk-tuk to Rolous & lake ~£8-12; shared boat trip included in tour
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Siem Reap (dorm ~£5-7, private twin ~£12-16)
- →Rolous market
- →Tonlé Sap floating villages boat tour (~£15-25)
- →Visit a local pagoda
Siem Reap Departure
Siem Reap
Final morning at leisure — perhaps a last wander through the Old Market for souvenirs. A tuk-tuk to Siem Reap International Airport (REP) takes ~20-30 minutes and costs about £4-5. If you have time before your flight, a visit to the excellent Angkor National Museum (~£9) or a Khmer cooking class makes a good send-off. Independent travellers fly onward from REP or continue overland toward the Thai border (Poipet) or on to Battambang.
🚌Tuk-tuk to Siem Reap airport ~£4-5
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Old Market souvenir shopping
- →Optional Angkor National Museum
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Asia Focus Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Asia Focus Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£335 | £495 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £160 per person (32%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Asia Focus Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£335
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Best of Cambodia: Self-Launched 7-Day Phnom Penh to Siem Reap Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £335 per person for 7 days in Cambodia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Asia Focus Travel?+
Yes — Asia Focus Travel charges around £495 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £335 — a saving of roughly £160 (32%) per person.
How long is the Cambodia trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Cambodia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, budget, backpacker trip through Cambodia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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