Cambodia Intro: Self-Launched 10-Day Adventure

Fly into Techo International Airport (formerly Phnom Penh International). From arrivals, take a metered taxi or pre-book a PassApp/Grab ride to your guesthouse in the city centre — expect to pay around £5–8. Spend the afternoon settling in, exploring the riverside promenade, and grabbing dinner at a local spot on Street 278 or the Boeung Keng Kang (BKK1) neighbourhood. Cambodia e-visas can be obtained in advance online for ~£30.

🚌Grab/PassApp app taxi from airport to city centre (~£5–8)

🛏Mad Monkey Hostel Phnom Penh or Sla Boutique Hostel — private twin or dorm from ~£10–18pp

• →Arrive at Techo International Airport
• →Grab/PassApp taxi or metered taxi to guesthouse (~£5–8)
• →Evening stroll along the Sisowath Quay riverside
• →Dinner at a local restaurant — try fish amok or lok lak

Start the morning with a self-guided tuk tuk tour of central Phnom Penh — negotiate a half-day tuk tuk hire at your guesthouse for ~£8–10. Visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21 Prison) independently; entry is ~£5 and audio guides are available on-site. Afterwards, take a tuk tuk to the Killing Fields at Choeung Ek (~£3 each way); entry with audio guide is ~£5. This is a profoundly moving experience — allow a full afternoon. Head out in the evening to the vibrant Bassac Lane bar street.

🚌Tuk tuk hire for the day (~£10–12 total)

🛏Mad Monkey Hostel Phnom Penh or Sla Boutique Hostel — private twin or dorm from ~£10–18pp

• →Self-guided tuk tuk tour of Phnom Penh (~£8–10 for half-day hire)
• →Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21 Prison) — entry ~£5, audio guide included
• →Killing Fields at Choeung Ek — entry + audio guide ~£5
• →Evening drinks on Bassac Lane

Catch a morning minibus from Phnom Penh to Kampot (approximately 3–4 hours, ~£6–8). Several operators depart from the riverfront including Mekong Express and Cambolink. Check into a guesthouse in Kampot's charming French colonial centre. Spend the afternoon exploring the riverside cafes and bars, then join a self-bookable kayak trip on the Kampot River — bookable direct via your guesthouse or GetYourGuide for ~£10–12. Swim in calm river spots and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere.

🚌Minibus Phnom Penh to Kampot (~£6–8)

🛏Camkids Guesthouse or Rikitikitavi Kampot — private twin from ~£12–18pp

• →Morning minibus from Phnom Penh to Kampot (~£6–8, ~3–4 hrs)
• →Explore Kampot's French colonial town centre on foot
• →Kampot River kayaking trip (~£10–12 via guesthouse or GetYourGuide)
• →Riverside cafes and evening drinks

Head to Kampot's colourful morning market to browse local produce and pick up a souvenir. Then hire a tuk tuk to visit one of the world-famous pepper plantations — La Plantation and Sothy's Pepper Farm both offer free or low-cost guided tours (~£3–5 tuk tuk return). In the afternoon, join a Khmer cooking class bookable via Klook or direct with local operators (e.g. Jasmine Cooking Class) for ~£18–22 — you'll use fresh Kampot pepper in your dishes. Round off the day with a sunset boat cruise on the Kampot River (~£8–12, bookable at guesthouses).

🚌Tuk tuk to pepper plantation and back (~£3–5)

🛏Camkids Guesthouse or Rikitikitavi Kampot — private twin from ~£12–18pp

• →Browse Kampot morning market
• →Visit Kampot pepper plantation — La Plantation or Sothy's (~£3–5 tuk tuk)
• →Khmer cooking class using Kampot pepper (~£18–22 via Klook or direct booking)
• →Sunset boat cruise on the Kampot River (~£8–12)

Take a morning minibus or shared taxi from Kampot to Sihanoukville port (~1.5–2 hrs, ~£5–7). From Sihanoukville's ferry terminal, catch a Speed Ferry Cambodia or GTVC ferry to Koh Rong Sanloem (~45 mins, ~£8–10 return available, or ~£5–6 one way). Check into a beach bungalow on Saracen Bay or M'Pai Bay — the island has a wonderful selection of independently run beach guesthouses and bungalows. Spend the afternoon swimming, hammocking, and watching one of Cambodia's most spectacular sunsets from a beach bar.

🚌Minibus to Sihanoukville (~£5–7) + ferry to island (~£5–6)

🛏Sunset Beach Bungalows, Lazy Beach, or The Cove — bungalows from ~£15–25pp

• →Morning minibus/shared taxi Kampot to Sihanoukville (~£5–7)
• →Speed ferry to Koh Rong Sanloem (~£5–6 one way)
• →Check into beach bungalow and relax on white-sand beach
• →Sunset drinks at a beach bar

Book a shared longtail boat snorkelling and island-hopping trip through your bungalow or a local boat operator on the island — expect to pay ~£12–18pp for a half-day trip visiting secluded coves, snorkel spots, and nearby beaches. Snorkel gear is typically included. Spend the afternoon lazing on the beach or paddleboarding (boards hire from ~£5/hr). After another incredible sunset, enjoy a relaxed evening on the island.

🚌Longtail boat trip (~£12–18)

🛏Sunset Beach Bungalows, Lazy Beach, or The Cove — bungalows from ~£15–25pp

• →Shared longtail boat snorkelling and island-hopping trip (~£12–18pp)
• →Snorkelling at coral reef spots around the island
• →Afternoon beach relaxation or paddleboarding (~£5/hr)
• →Bioluminescent plankton swim after dark (free — just wade in!)

Enjoy a final morning swim before catching the midday or afternoon ferry back to Sihanoukville (~£5–6). Grab dinner in Sihanoukville — the waterfront has plenty of options. Book an overnight VIP sleeper bus from Sihanoukville to Siem Reap in advance via Bookmebus, Giant Ibis, or Cambolink (~£12–16) — these comfortable coaches have fully reclining seats or pods. You'll arrive in Siem Reap early the following morning, saving on a night's accommodation.

🚌Ferry to Sihanoukville (~£5–6) + overnight sleeper bus to Siem Reap (~£12–16)

🛏Overnight sleeper bus (replaces hotel night)

• →Final morning swim and farewell to the island
• →Ferry back to Sihanoukville (~£5–6)
• →Dinner in Sihanoukville waterfront area
• →Board overnight VIP sleeper bus to Siem Reap (~£12–16 via Giant Ibis or Bookmebus)

The bus rolls into Siem Reap early morning. Take a tuk tuk from the bus station to your guesthouse (~£2–3) and check in or drop your bags. Spend the morning resting by the pool or exploring Siem Reap's café-lined streets near Pub Street. In the afternoon, book a floating villages tour to the Tonlé Sap Lake — join a shared boat tour of Kampong Phluk or Chong Kneas floating village (~£10–15 via GetYourGuide or local operators), a fascinating insight into traditional Cambodian life amid lotus fields and rice paddies. Get an early night — you're up before dawn tomorrow!

🚌Tuk tuk from bus drop-off (~£2–3)

🛏Onederz Hostel Siem Reap or Pavillon Indochine Guesthouse — private twin from ~£12–20pp

• →Tuk tuk from bus station to guesthouse (~£2–3)
• →Morning rest and explore Siem Reap's café district
• →Afternoon floating villages boat tour — Kampong Phluk or Chong Kneas (~£10–15 via GetYourGuide)
• →Early dinner and early night before Angkor Wat sunrise

Wake up at 4:30am and hire a tuk tuk driver for the full day (~£15–20 for a full-day Angkor tuk tuk, negotiated the evening before). Purchase your Angkor Archaeological Park pass at the gate — a 1-day pass costs ~£37. Arrive at Angkor Wat before sunrise for the iconic reflection shot in the moat. Explore the temple complex self-guided (download the free Rick Steves or Tuk Tuk app for audio commentary) or join a shared guided tour bookable via Klook or GetYourGuide (~£15–20 including guide). Visit Ta Prohm (the 'Tomb Raider' temple), Bayon, and the Terrace of the Elephants. In the afternoon, visit the APOPO HeroRATs visitor centre in Siem Reap (free entry, donations welcome) to learn about life-saving landmine detection. Celebrate your last night on Pub Street!

🚌Full-day tuk tuk hire for Angkor (~£15–20)

🛏Onederz Hostel Siem Reap or Pavillon Indochine Guesthouse — private twin from ~£12–20pp

• →Pre-dawn tuk tuk to Angkor Wat for sunrise (~£15–20 full-day tuk tuk hire)
• →1-day Angkor Archaeological Park pass (~£37)
• →Self-guided or shared guided tour of Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm & Bayon (guide via Klook ~£15–20 optional)
• →APOPO HeroRATs visitor centre — free entry, donations welcome
• →Final night out on Pub Street, Siem Reap

Check out of your accommodation and grab a final Cambodian breakfast — try a baguette with eggs from a street stall (~£1–2) or sit down at a local café. Siem Reap International Airport is a short tuk tuk ride from the town centre (~£3–5). Allow plenty of time for check-in. Safe travels!

🚌Tuk tuk to Siem Reap airport (~£3–5)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final Cambodian breakfast — street baguette or local café
• →Tuk tuk to Siem Reap International Airport (~£3–5)
• →Depart Cambodia