Cambodia in 10 days: Angkor, Phnom Penh and the south coast
A realistic 10-day Cambodia itinerary: Angkor, Phnom Penh and the south coast around Kampot and Kep, with travel times, where to stay and variations.
Stone faces of the Bayon, Angkor
Illustrative itinerary: researched, not a trip we have run
In short
Ten days is enough for Cambodia’s classic combination at a comfortable pace: three nights in Siem Reap for two full days at Angkor, two nights in Phnom Penh, and three nights on the south coast around Kampot and Kep, ending back in Phnom Penh. Swap the coast for Mondulkiri if wildlife matters more than beaches and pepper farms.
The route, stage by stage
This is a researched planning example, not a fixed package and not a trip we have operated. Road times come from published sources and vary with weather and traffic; provider days, availability and prices are confirmed for your dates before anything is booked.
- Day 1
Arrive in Siem Reap
Siem Reap Angkor International Airport is about 45 km from town, roughly an hour. Settle in and buy your Angkor pass online from the official seller.
- Days 2 and 3
Angkor
Two days with a licensed guide: Angkor Wat, the Bayon and Ta Prohm on the first, Banteay Srei and quieter temples on the second, with a break in the midday heat.
- Day 4
Siem Reap to Phnom Penh
About 316 km: 5.5 to 6 hours by bus or a little less by private car, or a short flight. Evening by the riverside.
- Day 5
Phnom Penh
The Royal Palace in the morning session, the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, and the Choeung Ek memorial in the afternoon.
- Day 6
Phnom Penh to Kampot
About 3 to 4 hours by road, or the slower train. Sunset on the river.
- Day 7
Pepper farm and the Kep crab market
A pepper farm in the morning and a seafood lunch at the crab market in Kep, about 25 km away.
- Day 8
Bokor or Kep National Park
The drive up Bokor mountain, just under an hour from Kampot, or a forest walk in Kep National Park and a boat to Rabbit Island.
- Day 9
Kampot to Phnom Penh
Back to Phnom Penh by road for a final evening, close to the airport for the next day.
- Moving on
Onward travel
Fly out of Techo International Airport on day 10, about 26 km from the centre. Avoid long road transfers on the day of an international flight.
Where to stay
- Siem Reap (3 nights)
- Near the river or on the north side of town towards the temples; quieter than around Pub Street
- Phnom Penh (2 nights + 1)
- Riverside and Royal Palace area, or the quieter streets south of the centre
- Kampot (3 nights)
- Near the river in Kampot, or in Kep by the coast if you prefer quiet
Arrange well ahead
- A licensed Angkor guide and car for days 2 and 3
- Bus seats or private cars for days 4, 6 and 9
- Accommodation in Siem Reap in the busy months, December to February
Arrange the parts
- Angkor in two or three days with a licensed guide2 or 3 days (full or half days) · Guide and car quoted for your dates; Angkor pass US$37 to 72 extraOn request
- Phnom Penh in a day: palace, museum and memorial sitesFull day (or two half days) · Guide and transport quoted for your date; entry fees extraOn request
- Kampot and Kep: pepper farm, crab market and BokorFull day · Driver and guide quoted for your dateOn request
Why this shape
Every stop gets at least two nights, and every long road day is followed by a day without one. Phnom Penh appears twice, which is no accident: it is the hub, it has the airport, and spending the last night there removes the risk of a missed flight after a long drive.
Bookable parts
The parts that benefit most from arranging ahead are the Angkor days with a licensed guide, the Phnom Penh day and the Kampot and Kep day. Transport between regions is booked for your dates; see getting around Cambodia.
Questions travelers ask
Can I add the islands?
Yes: spend days 8 and 9 on Koh Rong or Koh Rong Sanloem instead of Bokor, via Sihanoukville (about 2 hours from Phnom Penh by expressway, then a 30 to 45 minute boat). Return to Phnom Penh the evening before your flight, allowing for weather delays on the boat.
Can I see wildlife instead?
Replace days 6 to 9 with four days in Mondulkiri: a gibbon trek in Keo Seima and a day at the Elephant Valley Project. See the four-day Mondulkiri route.
Sources and checks
Time-sensitive details on this page (prices, schedules, travel times, access) were last checked against the sources below on 12 October 2026. They change, so any proposal reconfirms them with the provider first.
Tell us what you want from eastern Cambodia
Share your dates, what you hope to see and how you like to travel. We reply with a first view of the route and, when you are ready, a written proposal with the price, what it includes and who provides each part of the trip.
