Cambodia Adventure: Phnom Penh & Siem Reap Hangouts — Self-Launched
4 days · Cambodia
G Adventures charges £269
No-markup version: ~£251 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 4-day self-launched version of G Adventures' Phnom Penh–Siem Reap hostel trip. Same route, same stops — cyclo ride in the capital, deep-fried spiders at Skun Market, the silk farm at Santuk, the forest-encased pre-Angkor ruins of Sambor Prei Kuk, and Siem Reap's pub street — but booked yourself. Catch a Mekong Express or Giant Ibis bus instead of a private van, sleep in the same style of hostels, join a shared Angkor sunrise tour via GetYourGuide, and come in around £250 versus roughly £275 for the discounted group departure. Costs are approximate backpacker rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive Phnom Penh & cyclo spin at sunset
Phnom Penh
Land at PNH, grab a $8–10 (£6–8) tuk tuk into the centre and check in around the riverside/Sisowath Quay area — hostel dorms cluster near Street 172 and Street 240. Sort a local SIM at the airport (Metfone or Smart, ~£2 for data), then wander to Wat Phnom and the colonial post office on your own. Late afternoon, hire a cyclo driver directly on the street (or ask your hostel) for a 1–1.5 hour loop past the Royal Palace, National Museum and riverside — negotiate ~$10–15 (£8–12) and tip. Dinner at a local Khmer spot near Street 240 or the night market; a plate of fish amok and a beer runs £4–6.
🚌Airport tuk tuk ~£7 return leg; cyclo tour ~£10
🛏Mixed or female-only dorm in a riverside hostel (e.g. Onederz or Mad Monkey Phnom Penh), ~£10/night
- →Self-guided walk: Wat Phnom, post office, Royal Palace exterior
- →Independent cyclo tour along the riverside
- →Dinner at a Khmer restaurant or night market
Skun spiders, silk weaving & Sambor Prei Kuk on the road to Siem Reap
Phnom Penh to Siem Reap via Kampong Thom
Book a Giant Ibis or Mekong Express bus Phnom Penh–Siem Reap online the day before (~$15–18 / £12–15, 6 hours). Ask the driver to drop you at Skun (Skuon) on the highway — the infamous insect and spider market, an easy 20-minute stop for deep-fried tarantula and crickets (a few dollars). From Skun, a moto or tuk tuk up to Santuk Silk Farm (~£8 return) gets you the weaving demonstration and a souvenir stand. Then negotiate a tuk tuk (~£12–15) the final 30 km to Sambor Prei Kuk, the UNESCO-listed 7th-century Chenla temple complex that predates Angkor — quieter and wrapped in forest, entry ~$10. Continue into Siem Reap by local bus or shared taxi (~£6). Check into a hostel near Pub Street, dinner on the lane for £4–6.
🚌Giant Ibis/Mekong Express bus ~£14, local tuk tuk hops ~£20, shared taxi final leg ~£6
🛏Dorm in a Siem Reap hostel near the Old Market/Pub Street, ~£10/night
- →Skun insect and spider market
- →Santuk Silk Farm weaving demonstration
- →Sambor Prei Kuk UNESCO temple complex (self-guided)
Angkor Wat sunrise, Ta Prohm & Phare Circus
Siem Reap
Book a shared Angkor sunrise small-group tour on GetYourGuide or Klook the night before (~£22–28 including an English-speaking guide and hotel pickup; the temple pass itself is separate at $37 / ~£29 for a one-day ticket — buy it online in advance). You'll catch sunrise at Angkor Wat, the faces of the Bayon, and the tree roots swallowing Ta Prohm. Back by early afternoon for a nap and a bowl of num banh chok. Late afternoon, grab a tuk tuk to Tonle Sap floating village (Kampong Khleang or Kompong Phluk, ~£15–18 including boat) or keep it cheap and stay in town. In the evening, book Phare Circus tickets direct online (~£15–18 for the good seats) for a socially-conscious acrobatics show, then hit Pub Street or the night market.
🚌Shared tour minibus pickup; tuk tuk ~£8
🛏Dorm in a Siem Reap hostel, ~£10/night
- →Angkor sunrise small-group guided tour (GetYourGuide/Klook)
- →Angkor one-day temple pass
- →Phare Circus performance (book direct)
Temple breakfast & depart Siem Reap
Siem Reap
Sleep in, then a slow breakfast at a Khmer coffee shop near the Old Market (£2–3) and a last wander through Psar Chas for souvenirs. If your flight is later, rent a bicycle (~£3/day) and ride out to Wat Athvea or the rice fields. Airport tuk tuk to REP runs $8–10 (£6–8); if you're continuing overland, buses to Bangkok (~£15) and Battambang (~£6) depart through the day.
🚌Tuk tuk to Siem Reap airport ~£7
🛏None — check out
- →Old Market browsing
- →Optional bicycle loop through the rice fields
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£251 | £269 |
| Duration | 4 days | 4 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £18 per person (7%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£251
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 Cambodia Adventure: Phnom Penh & Siem Reap Hangouts — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £251 per person for 4 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £269 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £251 — a saving of roughly £18 (7%) per person.
How long is the Cambodia trip?+
This itinerary runs 4 days, covering 4 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, foodie, budget 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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