Cambodia: Ancient Ruins & Boat Rides (Self-Launched)
10 days · Cambodia, Thailand & Vietnam
G Adventures charges £674
No-markup version: ~£416 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An independent, budget-friendly version of G Adventures' 10-day Bangkok-to-Ho Chi Minh City run through Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. You'll sunrise at Angkor Wat, dig into Phnom Penh's heavy history, chill on Koh Rong's beaches and end in Saigon's chaotic streets — all using local buses, ferries and flights rather than a private group vehicle. Expect basic guesthouses and hostels, street food, and total flexibility over what you do each day.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Bangkok
Bangkok, Thailand
Land in Bangkok and make your way to a hostel on or near Khao San Road or in the Sukhumvit backpacker pocket (Bangkok Publishing Residence or Lub d are solid budget picks). Grab a SIM at the airport (AIS/TrueMove ~£5 for 15GB), then ease in with a pad thai and a beer. Use the BTS Skytrain or the Chao Phraya river boat to reach whatever neighbourhood you're in.
🚌Airport Rail Link to city + BTS/MRT, ~£1-2
🛏Budget hostel/hotel, Khao San or Sukhumvit (twin/dorm), ~£12-18
- →Settle in and explore Khao San Road area
- →Riverside walk along the Chao Phraya
Bangkok to Siem Reap
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Fly budget from Bangkok to Siem Reap (AirAsia/ThaiVietjet direct, book early for ~£40-60). On arrival grab a tuk-tuk to your guesthouse in the Old Market/Wat Bo area. Spend the evening exploring the night market and Pub Street. Optionally pre-book the Phare Circus (Cambodian social-enterprise performing arts show) via their own website — tickets from ~£15.
🚌Budget flight Bangkok to Siem Reap ~£45; airport tuk-tuk ~£3
🛏Siem Reap guesthouse, Old Market area, ~£10-16
- →Fly into Siem Reap
- →Night market and Pub Street wander
- →Optional: Phare Circus (book direct)
Angkor Wat Sunrise & Temple Day
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Get up at 4.45am and tuk-tuk out to Angkor for sunrise over the main temple. Buy your Angkor pass directly at the ticket office (1-day pass ~£30). Do the classic small circuit with a tuk-tuk driver for the day (~£15-18 per tuk-tuk, split between passengers) — Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm. Grab a Khmer lunch at one of the Planeterra-linked community restaurants or a local spot (~£3-5). Collapse and eat at Pub Street in the evening.
🚌Tuk-tuk for the temple circuit, ~£15-18/day split
🛏Siem Reap guesthouse, Old Market area, ~£10-16
- →Sunrise at Angkor Wat
- →Small circuit: Bayon and Ta Prohm
- →Khmer lunch stop
- →Pub Street evening
Siem Reap to Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Take a daytime bus from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh (Giant Ibis or Mekong Express, ~£12-15, 6-7 hrs). Arrive, check into a guesthouse around the riverside or Street 240 area, then do your own orientation walk along the Mekong waterfront and the Royal Palace exterior. Evenings here are relaxed — grab dinner at a street cart or a cheap local restaurant.
🚌Giant Ibis/Mekong Express bus Siem Reap to Phnom Penh ~£13 (6-7 hrs)
🛏Phnom Penh guesthouse/hostel, riverside, ~£10-16
- →Mekong riverside orientation walk
- →Royal Palace exterior at sunset
Phnom Penh History & Street Food
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
A heavy but essential day. Visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) in the morning (~£4 entry, ~£2 audio guide) and the Killing Fields at Choeung Ek in the afternoon (~£4, tuk-tuk ~£8 return split). If you'd rather a lighter day, swap in the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda (~£8). In the evening join a self-booked street food crawl via GetYourGuide or just wander the Russian Market area for skewers and noodles.
🚌Tuk-tuk between sites, ~£8 split
🛏Phnom Penh guesthouse/hostel, riverside, ~£10-16
- →Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
- →Choeung Ek Killing Fields
- →Optional: Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda
- →Street food crawl
Phnom Penh to Koh Rong
Koh Rong, Cambodia
Bus or shared minivan from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville (~£8-12, 4-5 hrs), then the ferry from Sihanoukville port to Koh Rong island (~£10-12 return with the main operators). Pick a beach bungalow or hostel on Long Set (4K) Beach or Koh Touch. Afternoon is for swimming, seafood and a cold drink as the sun drops.
🚌Bus Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville ~£10; ferry to Koh Rong ~£11 return
🛏Koh Rong beach bungalow/hostel, ~£12-20
- →Sihanoukville to Koh Rong ferry crossing
- →Beach afternoon and seafood dinner
Koh Rong Free Day
Koh Rong, Cambodia
A full free day on the island. Snorkel or take a boat trip to nearby Koh Rong Sanloem or around the bay (self-book at your guesthouse or on the beach, ~£10-15). Kayak, hike the jungle trail between beaches, or just flop on the sand. Night-time plankton kayaking is a popular low-cost add-on if you're there on a dark-moon night.
🚌Walking; optional boat trip
🛏Koh Rong beach bungalow/hostel, ~£12-20
- →Snorkelling or island boat trip
- →Jungle hike or kayaking
- →Optional sunset plankton kayak
Koh Rong to Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Ferry back to Sihanoukville, then bus overland to Ho Chi Minh City (Sihanoukville to Saigon via the border at Moc Bai; several companies run it, ~£15-20, 8-10 hrs — a long travel day). Have your Vietnam e-visa sorted in advance (~£20). Arrive in HCMC and check into a hostel in Pham Ngu Lao / District 1. Eat at a local bun cha or pho spot.
🚌Ferry to Sihanoukville ~£5; bus Sihanoukville to HCMC ~£18 (8-10 hrs)
🛏HCMC hostel, Pham Ngu Lao/District 1, ~£10-16
- →Border crossing at Moc Bai
- →Arrive HCMC, Evening in Pham Ngu Lao
Ho Chi Minh City Day
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Explore Saigon independently. Walk the War Remnants Museum (~£2) and the Reunification Palace (~£2.50), visit Ben Thanh Market, and do the Cu Chi Tunnels as a self-booked half-day tour via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£15 including transport). Evenings: Bui Vien walking street for street food and bars, or a rooftop drink for skyline views.
🚌Grab bikes/taxis around town ~£5
🛏HCMC hostel, Pham Ngu Lao/District 1, ~£10-16
- →War Remnants Museum
- →Reunification Palace
- →Cu Chi Tunnels (self-booked)
- →Ben Thanh Market and Bui Vien
Depart Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Last morning for coffee and a bánh mì before heading to Tan Son Nhat Airport. If you've got a late flight, add a Mekong Delta day trip (~£20 self-booked) or a cooking class. Grab a Grab bike to the airport (~£3-4).
🚌Grab to Tan Son Nhat Airport ~£4
🛏None (departure day)
- →Final coffee and bánh mì
- →Optional Mekong Delta day trip
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£416 | £674 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £258 per person (38%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£416
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: Ancient Ruins & Boat Rides (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £416 per person for 10 days in Cambodia, Thailand & Vietnam. 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 £674 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £416 — a saving of roughly £258 (38%) per person.
How long is the Cambodia, Thailand & Vietnam trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Cambodia, Thailand & Vietnam.
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, beaches, budget trip through Cambodia, Thailand & Vietnam, 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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