Cambodia: Ancient Ruins & Boat Rides (Self-Launched)
10 days · Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam (Bangkok → Siem Reap → Phnom Penh → Koh Rong → Chambok → Ho Chi Minh City)
G Adventures charges £630
No-markup version: ~£587 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 10-day self-launched version of G Adventures' "Cambodia: Ancient Ruins & Boat Rides" — Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City via Angkor Wat, Phnom Penh, island time on Koh Rong and a village homestay in Chambok. Same route, same headline experiences, but you book everything yourself: overnight buses and a shared border van instead of a group coach, GetYourGuide Angkor day tours instead of a group guide, and hostel dorms or budget guesthouses instead of tour hotels. Roughly £560–£650 per person all-in (excluding international flights), which is a big saving on the £630–£890 (US$839–1,199) group price — and it leaves room to slow down wherever you like. Costs are approximate 2025/26 backpacker rates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Bangkok — Khao San warm-up
Bangkok, Thailand
Land at Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang and take the Airport Rail Link + BTS/SRT to the old town (about 45–60 THB / £1–1.50) or a Grab bike (£5–7). Base yourself around Rambuttri/Khao San or the Riverside for easy onward transport. Spend the evening on Rambuttri Alley with street food and a beer, and sort your onward bus ticket at any Khao San travel agent (they'll book the Bangkok–Siem Reap bus or, if you prefer, a flight). Pick up a cheap Thai eSIM at 7-Eleven or the airport.
🚌Airport Rail Link + BTS/SRT ~£1.50
🛏Hostel dorm around Khao San / Rambuttri (e.g. Lub d or a small guesthouse), £8–12
- →Walk Rambuttri Alley and the riverside
- →Street food dinner on Khao San
- →Book onward Bangkok–Siem Reap transport
Bangkok to Siem Reap — overland border crossing
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Take the direct Bangkok–Siem Reap bus from Khao San (most agents sell it, ~900–1,100 THB / £20–25, 8–10 hrs) or the cheaper combo: bus to Aranyaprathet (~£4), cross at Poipet on foot, then shared taxi/minivan to Siem Reap (~£8–12). Be firm about the 'visa agent' scam at Poipet — get your Cambodian e-visa online beforehand (~£25) and ignore anyone demanding extra fees. Alternatively fly Don Mueang–Siem Reap with AirAsia (~£60–90) if you'd rather save the day. Arrive, check in near Wat Bo or the Old Market, and wander Pub Street after dark.
🚌Direct bus Khao San–Siem Reap ~£22 (or Poipet combo ~£15) / optional flight ~£70
🛏Guesthouse or hostel dorm near Old Market/Wat Bo, £8–14
- →Overland border crossing at Poipet
- →Evening walk on Pub Street and Old Market
Angkor Wat sunrise & Khmer cooking
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Book a small-group Angkor sunrise tour on GetYourGuide (~£18–25 including a licensed guide and hotel pickup; a tuk-tuk driver doing the small circuit yourself is ~£15 for the day plus the $37 one-day Angkor pass — buy at the official ticket office). Hit Angkor Wat for sunrise, then Bayon and Ta Prohm before the heat peaks. Afternoon free: the Angkor National Museum (~$12) or Tonle Sap floating village (~$25–30). In the evening, swap G's set group dinner for a Khmer cooking class (~£20–25) or the Phare Circus (~£14–20). Finish on Pub Street.
🚌Tuk-tuk / tour pickup included or ~£15/day
🛏Guesthouse or hostel dorm near Old Market/Wat Bo, £8–14
- →GetYourGuide Angkor sunrise small-group tour (~£20)
- →Angkor one-day pass ($37)
- →Optional Khmer cooking class or Phare Circus
- →Pub Street night out
Siem Reap to Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Take a Giant Ibis or Virak Buntham bus down to Phnom Penh (~$15–18 / £12–14, 6–7 hrs, book online or via your guesthouse). Sit on the left for Mekong views and grab a roadside num pang for lunch. Arrive mid-afternoon, check into a guesthouse around Street 172 / riverside, and walk the Sisowath Quay at dusk. Optional: sunset drink at a riverside rooftop bar.
🚌Giant Ibis bus Siem Reap–Phnom Penh ~£13
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel near Street 172 / Riverside, £10–16
- →Mekong-side walk on Sisowath Quay
- →Riverside rooftop sunset drink (optional)
Phnom Penh — Killing Fields, S-21 & street food
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Take a half-day GetYourGuide tour to Choeung Ek (Killing Fields) and Tuol Sleng (S-21) with an audio guide — expect ~£20–25 including transport, plus $3–5 entry each. It's heavy but essential context for the rest of the trip. Afternoon: Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda (~$10) or the National Museum (~$10). Evening: DIY street food crawl around Psar Thmei and Street 13 — try num pang, lort cha and grilled squid for under $8 total, or a Khmer BBQ on Street 310 (~£7).
🚌Tuk-tuk to Killing Fields ~$10 return, or tour transfer included
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel near Street 172 / Riverside, £10–16
- →Killing Fields & S-21 half-day tour (~£22)
- →Royal Palace / Silver Pagoda ($10)
- →Evening street food crawl
Phnom Penh to Koh Rong
Koh Rong, Cambodia
Book a through-ticket (bus + ferry) from Phnom Penh to Koh Rong with a company like Giant Ibis or Virak Buntham (~$25–30 / £20–24, about 6–7 hrs including the Sihanoukville crossing). Get the early departure so you arrive with daylight to spare. Boats drop at Koh Touch or Long Set depending on the operator — pick your beach based on what you want (Koh Touch has the bars, Long Set is quieter). Afternoon swim, seafood BBQ on the sand (£5–8), sunset drinks.
🚌Bus + ferry through-ticket Phnom Penh–Koh Rong ~£22
🛏Beach hostel or bungalow on Koh Rong (Onederz-style dorm or private bungalow), £10–20
- →Speedboat/ferry crossing to Koh Rong
- →Afternoon swim at Long Set Beach
- →Beachfront seafood BBQ and sunset
Koh Rong — kayaking, hiking and plankton
Koh Rong, Cambodia
A free day on the island. Options: kayak rental to Sok San or around the headland (~£6–8 for a half day), hike the jungle trail to Long Set or Sok San waterfall (free, take water), or join a snorkelling/boat trip (~£12–18 booked direct on the beach — cheaper and more flexible than a group add-on). In the evening, take a night swim on the darker northern beaches where bioluminescent plankton actually show — remember the moon phase matters, so aim for a new moon and walk away from the pier lights.
🚌Walking; optional boat trip
🛏Beach hostel or bungalow on Koh Rong, £10–20
- →Half-day kayak rental
- →Jungle hike to Long Set / Sok San waterfall
- →Optional snorkelling boat trip (~£15)
- →Night swim with bioluminescent plankton
Koh Rong to Chambok village homestay
Chambok, Kampong Speu, Cambodia
Ferry back to Sihanoukville (morning boats, ~£8–10), then a bus or shared minivan toward Phnom Penh and get off at Chambok/Kampong Speu (~£8–12, 3–4 hrs). Chambok is a community-based ecotourism village run by the local community — book a homestay directly through the Chambok CBET office or via a Phnom Penh agent (~$10–15 including dinner and breakfast). Afternoon: walk to the Chambok waterfall and the bat cave with a village guide, then a home-cooked Cambodian dinner with your host family.
🚌Ferry ~£9 + bus/shared minivan ~£10
🛏Chambok community homestay (shared family room), £8–14 incl. dinner & breakfast
- →Ferry from Koh Rong to Sihanoukville
- →Chambok waterfall and bat cave walk with village guide
- →Home-cooked dinner with host family
Chambok to Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Breakfast with your hosts, then a shared minivan or local bus to the Bavet/Moc Bai border (~£8–12). Get your Vietnam e-visa in advance (~$25, allow 4+ days) and cross on foot — it's usually quick, but keep $1–2 in small notes for unofficial 'fees'. From Moc Bai, a minivan or local bus brings you to HCMC's District 1 in 2–3 hrs (~£6–9). Check into Pham Ngu Lao, then hit Ben Thanh Market and the Bui Vien/rooftop bar scene for a farewell night.
🚌Chambok–Bavet ~£10 + Moc Bai–HCMC minivan ~£7
🛏Hostel dorm in Pham Ngu Lao / District 1, £8–14
- →Cambodia–Vietnam border crossing at Bavet/Moc Bai
- →Ben Thanh Market souvenir shopping
- →Rooftop bar or Bui Vien evening
Ho Chi Minh City — museums and departure
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Spend the morning at the War Remnants Museum (~50,000 VND / £1.50) and the Independence Palace, or take a Grab to District 3 for a proper pho breakfast (~£2). Then it's the airport: Grab to Tan Son Nhat is ~£4–6, or bus 109/152 for under £1. If you have a late flight, a half-day Cu Chi Tunnels tour on GetYourGuide (~£15–20) fits in comfortably.
🚌Grab to Tan Son Nhat ~£5, or public bus ~£1
🛏None (departure day)
- →War Remnants Museum and Independence Palace
- →Pho breakfast in District 3
- →Optional Cu Chi Tunnels half-day tour
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£587 | £630 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £43 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.~£587
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 £587 per person for 10 days in Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam (Bangkok → Siem Reap → Phnom Penh → Koh Rong → Chambok → Ho Chi Minh City). 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 £630 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £587 — a saving of roughly £43 (7%) per person.
How long is the Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam (Bangkok → Siem Reap → Phnom Penh → Koh Rong → Chambok → Ho Chi Minh City) trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam (Bangkok → Siem Reap → Phnom Penh → Koh Rong → Chambok → Ho Chi Minh City).
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, backpacker trip through Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam (Bangkok → Siem Reap → Phnom Penh → Koh Rong → Chambok → Ho Chi Minh City), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
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