Self-Launched Cambodia: Phnom Penh to Angkor Wat in 5 Days
5 days · Cambodia
Best Vietnam Tours charges £550
No-markup version: ~£397 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of Best Vietnam Tours' 5-day Cambodia private tour, running from Ho Chi Minh City into Phnom Penh and on to Siem Reap for the Angkor temples. You'll do the same sights — Tuol Sleng, Choeung Ek, Russian Market and the full Angkor complex including Ta Prohm (the "Tomb Raider" temple), Angkor Thom, Bayon and Angkor Wat — but booking your own guesthouse, taking the public Giant Ibis bus between cities, and hiring a tuk-tuk driver or joining a small-group tour for Angkor. Costs are approximate backpacker rates in GBP and assume a solo traveller sharing where possible; dorm beds are cheapest, private budget rooms a little more.
Day-by-day
Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Cross the border overland the way locals and backpackers do. The Giant Ibis bus from Ho Chi Minh City's District 1 to Phnom Penh takes around 6 hours including the border stop and costs roughly £15-18 — book online a day or two ahead. The company handles the visa-on-arrival paperwork at the Moc Bai/Bavet crossing; have a passport photo and USD cash ready for the Cambodian visa fee (~£25-30). Arrive in Phnom Penh in the afternoon, check into a guesthouse in the riverside or Tonle Bassac area, and take a sunset stroll along the Mekong promenade. Eat at one of the cheap Khmer or Indian spots near Street 240.
🚌Giant Ibis bus Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh, ~£15-18, ~6 hrs incl. border crossing
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel private room, riverside/Chaktomuk area (~£14-18/night)
- →Overland border crossing at Moc Bai-Bavet
- →Sunset walk along the Mekong riverside promenade
- →Dinner at a local Khmer or Indian restaurant
Phnom Penh: Tuol Sleng, Choeung Ek and Russian Market
Phnom Penh
A heavy but essential day. Start at Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21 prison) — entry around £4, and take the excellent audio guide (~£2-3). Then hire a tuk-tuk for the 40-minute ride out to the Choeung Ek Killing Fields, entry ~£4 including audio guide (~£10-12 return by tuk-tuk; agree the price first or use PassApp). Break for lunch at a local spot, then spend the late afternoon at Russian Market (Psar Tuol Tom Pong) for cheap souvenirs, silk and street food. Evening free — a good night for a rooftop beer and a plate of lok lak.
🚌Tuk-tuk to Choeung Ek and around town via PassApp/Grab, ~£10-12 for the day
🛏Same budget guesthouse, Phnom Penh (~£14-18/night)
- →Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21), ~£4 + audio guide
- →Choeung Ek Killing Fields, ~£4 incl. audio guide
- →Russian Market browsing and street food
Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
Siem Reap
Take the morning Giant Ibis or Virak Buntham express bus from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap — around 6 hours, ~£12-14, with a rest stop en route. Alternatively, night buses run for roughly the same price if you want to save a night's accommodation. Arrive in Siem Reap mid-afternoon, check into a guesthouse near Pub Street or Wat Bo Road, and orient yourself with a walk along the Siem Reap River and the Old Market. Buy your Angkor pass in the evening online (angkor.gov.kh) — a 1-day pass is $37 (~£29) and 3-day is $62 — or at the ticket office if you plan a sunset start tomorrow.
🚌Giant Ibis or Virak Buntham bus Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, ~£12-14, ~6 hrs
🛏Budget guesthouse in Siem Reap, Wat Bo or central area (~£15-18/night)
- →Siem Reap Old Market and riverside wander
- →Buy Angkor pass online or at the APSARA ticket office
Angkor Complex: Sunrise, Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm
Siem Reap
Hire a tuk-tuk driver for the full day (agree ~£18-22 for a small circuit including sunrise — drivers gather outside most guesthouses or book via your hotel). Leave around 5am to catch sunrise over Angkor Wat, then explore the temple itself before the heat and crowds build. Continue to Angkor Thom: Bayon with its stone faces, Baphuon, Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, Elephant Terrace and Terrace of the Leper King, all within walking distance of each other. Lunch at a local restaurant in the temple area, then finish at Ta Prohm (the 'Tomb Raider' temple) in the afternoon light. If you'd rather have a guide, book a small-group Angkor sunrise tour on GetYourGuide or Klook for ~£18-30 including park transport — a good solo-friendly option.
🚌Private tuk-tuk day hire for the small circuit incl. sunrise, ~£18-22 (or small-group tour ~£18-30)
🛏Same budget guesthouse in Siem Reap (~£15-18/night)
- →Angkor Wat at sunrise
- →Bayon Temple and Angkor Thom (Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, Elephant Terrace, Terrace of the Leper King, Baphuon)
- →Ta Prohm temple
- →Angkor 1-day pass, ~£29
Depart Siem Reap
Siem Reap
A slow morning — wander the Old Market for last-minute shopping, grab a cheap breakfast and iced coffee, or add an optional early Banteay Srei or Tonle Sap floating village trip if your flight is late. Tuk-tuks to Siem Reap Angkor International Airport take around 45-60 minutes and cost ~£10-14 (shared shuttles are cheaper). Book an afternoon flight out to leave buffer time, and remember to sort any onward Vietnam visa in advance since a single-entry visa won't cover re-entry.
🚌Tuk-tuk to Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, ~£10-14, ~45-60 min
🛏Check out — no overnight
- →Old Market shopping
- →Optional Tonle Sap floating village or Banteay Srei side trip
Self-launched vs. Best Vietnam Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Best Vietnam Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£397 | £550 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £153 per person (28%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Best Vietnam Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£397
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 Self-Launched Cambodia: Phnom Penh to Angkor Wat in 5 Days cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £397 per person for 5 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 Best Vietnam Tours?+
Yes — Best Vietnam Tours charges around £550 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £397 — a saving of roughly £153 (28%) per person.
How long is the Cambodia trip?+
This itinerary runs 5 days, covering 5 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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