So you’re planning a trip to Cambodia and you need to know what to do, how long to spend there and where to stay. Here is our ultimate 2 week guide to travelling around Cambodia on a budget.
My advice before you enter Cambodia is to educate yourself on the history of the Khmer Rogue. We get taught so much about tragedy’s in the world in our history lessons however for some reason this is left out. The Khmer Rouge happened between 1975 to 1979, our grandparents and even parents will have sat and watched it unfold on there television screens, yet why is it not spoken about? Why are we not educated about this genocide? It is all still very raw to the Khmer people. There is a fantastic film on Netflix ‘first they killed my father’ which I recommend watching before you visit Cambodia.
My advice before you enter Cambodia is to educate yourself on the history of the Khmer Rogue. We get taught so much about tragedy’s in the world in our history lessons however for some reason this is left out. The Khmer Rouge happened between 1975 to 1979, our grandparents and even parents will have sat and watched it unfold on there television screens, yet why is it not spoken about? Why are we not educated about this genocide? It is all still very raw to the Khmer people. There is a fantastic film on Netflix ‘first they killed my father’ which I recommend watching before you visit Cambodia.
Day 1-4: Siem Reap
What to do?
The home to the wonder that is Angkor Wat. Splash out and book yourself a private tuk tuk driver to pick you up at 4am so you can watch the sunrise displaying the spires of the towering temples, explore before the sun gets too hot and you get the most out of your visit. The old town of Siem reap is wonderful, you’ll find the river with brightly coloured glowing bridges & night market as well as the famous Pub Street. Have a wonder down and enjoy some Khmer cuisines & 50 cent beer. From Siem reap you can take a day trip to the Tonle Sap Lake home to the floating villages, take a boat ride around to see how people live there day to day lives on stilted houses surrounded by water.
Where to stay?
Siem reap is home to tonnes of back packing hostels catering to any budget most of which are in walking distance from the centre. Whilst being here we stayed in 2 different places as we decided to extend our stay but our first hostel was fully booked due to Chinese New Year. We stayed in the Bokre Angkor first of all, it was clean & had a small pool however slightly out of town so we had to get a tuk tuk each evening for a small fare of around $2. The second was 5 minutes away from town, the Angkor Pal Boutique was still nice however didn’t have the homely feel as much as the first. There is the Mad Monkey or Lub’d hostels for those of you looking to meet people or a party style vibe.
Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Day 4-5: Battambang
What to do?
You need no longer than 1 night in Battambang, get an early bus from Siam reap as it takes around 3 hours to get there due to the terrible roads on the way (they are apparently working on them). As soon as you get there find a local tuk tuk driver who will offer to take you to the bamboo train for a quick ride & the bat caves where you can watch 1 million bats (approx) swarm out of the cave at sunset. It is a truly as magical experience. Be aware the driver will tell you they will take you to a “secret” view point, it is absolutely stunning but in no means is it a secret and you will be surrounded by many other tourists. Also another thing to note is that it is a climb up a steep hill so if you aren’t able then ask to stay at the normal entrance.
Where to stay?
Battambang is the smallest town so there’s actually not many places to stay. Get on booking.com and have a look at ones with the best rating, this is the sort of place where you can find questionable accommodation. We stayed at the lucky hostel and it was ok for the night, cheap enough aswell.
What to do?
You need no longer than 1 night in Battambang, get an early bus from Siam reap as it takes around 3 hours to get there due to the terrible roads on the way (they are apparently working on them). As soon as you get there find a local tuk tuk driver who will offer to take you to the bamboo train for a quick ride & the bat caves where you can watch 1 million bats (approx) swarm out of the cave at sunset. It is a truly as magical experience. Be aware the driver will tell you they will take you to a “secret” view point, it is absolutely stunning but in no means is it a secret and you will be surrounded by many other tourists. Also another thing to note is that it is a climb up a steep hill so if you aren’t able then ask to stay at the normal entrance.
Where to stay?
Battambang is the smallest town so there’s actually not many places to stay. Get on booking.com and have a look at ones with the best rating, this is the sort of place where you can find questionable accommodation. We stayed at the lucky hostel and it was ok for the night, cheap enough aswell.
The bamboo train, Battambang, Cambodia
Day 5-9: Koh Rong
What to do?
There is no direct route from Battambang to Koh Rong however you can get to the port of Sihanoukville and catch the ferry to Koh Rong. We did not make this journey due to to outbreak of the corona virus in Sihanoukville however it was on our list. Sihanoukville currently is a building site as they are trying to build huge hotels & casinos to attract tourists so I would maybe stay for 1 night to have a look around before catching your connection to Koh Rong. Koh Rong is a beautiful relaxing island full of crystal clear waters and white sand beaches. Everyone needs a break from travelling to relax so spend some time here laying on the beach with a coconut drink catching a tan.
Where to stay?
Hostelworld or Booking.com are always a go to. Check out there reviews & ratings on the best hostels in town. You will know doubt be able to pick up a beach bungalow here for pennies so you can step out onto the sand every morning.
Day 9-12: Kampot
What to do?
Kampot was full of surprises for us, it was a place with not much to do however weirdly we didn’t get bored of exploring this small town. Set off on an evening river boat trip, watching the sun set with a can of Angkor in your hand to see the fire flies. Please be aware that they don’t appear every night so don’t be disappointed if you don’t get to see them, the boat ride itself is great. However if you are lucky enough then it’s such a magical experience. Kampot is home to the Arcadia back packers which is a complete with fun water slides and swings straight into the river, your guaranteed to have a good time. For a bit more of a costly activity you can visit the Rabbit Island where you can chill out for a day or ever walk around the entire island it’s that small.
Where to stay?
The Arcadia backpackers will let you use there facilities for free if you stay there however there is nothing around it so I would stay more in the centre of town and just visit for a few hours at the price of $7. The monkey republic is worth a visit, the price is so cheap at only £9 for a private room. The staff are awesome and will make sure you enjoy yourself and it’s also not too loud so you can get a good nights sleep.
Kampot, Cambodia
Day 12-14: Phnom Penh
What to do?
Frankly if the genocide museum & the killing fields weren’t situated in this bustling city then it would not be worth a visit. The streets are covered in rubbish & there are pigeons everywhere, if you want to see that just stay in England and visit Skegness. However you technically have to visit the capital city. The S21 Prison and the Killing Fields are something you must not miss and will open your eyes to to brutality of the Khmer Rogue and how it changed this country forever.
Where to stay?
If your looking for something aimed towards couples I would suggest the Sla Boutique hostel. Cities are usually more expensive for accommodation but we found a double bed in a dorm for £9 per night. If your looking for more fun then The Big Easy is the place for you, it has nightly activities like quiz’s to keep you entertained and it is always full so easy to meet other travellers.
Where to next?
Phnom Penh has plenty of transport options to get you into Vietnam or you can use the airport to get you to wherever the world is going to take you next. If you work your way backwards through this guide then you can easily access Bangkok or Thailand in general from Siam Reap. Visit Cambodia with an open mind and I hope you can appreciate the development taking place to try and start a fresh from the suffering the Khmer people have endured.
