Planning a trip to Cambodia but only have 7 days? This 1-week Cambodia itinerary hits the perfect balance of ancient temples, sobering history, delicious food, and unique wildlife – without spending half your time on transport. We’ve spent 2 months exploring Cambodia and curated this route to help you make the most of your limited time.
This itinerary is perfect for anyone visiting Cambodia for the first time looking to see the major attractions and experience both the food and culture of this amazing country. As Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are the main transport hubs (for flights or buses), we’ve written this itinerary point to point from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. But you could do it in reverse if that works better for you.
The route
Days 1-2: Phnom Penh
Day 3: Kratie
Days 4-7: Siem Reap
In-depth 1 week Cambodia itinerary (for first timers)
Day 1: Phnom Penh (Royal Palace, Wat Ounalom & street food)
Depending on what time you arrive into the city, you should hit the ground running by seeing a couple of the more beautiful cultural sites in Phnom Penh.
The Royal Palace is a stunning complex of buildings near the riverside and has a rich history. A couple of things to note though:
- There’s a strict dress code of no exposed shoulders, backs, or knees for both men and women
- It’s a pretty common scam for tuktuk drivers to tell you the palace is closed then offer you a city tour instead so always check for yourself first
- There isn’t much information about the history of the palace inside. If you want to know what you’re looking a, hire a guide from inside the palace
If you have time, not far from The Royal Palace is Wat Ounalom which is a stunning Buddhist monastery that’s well worth spending some time wandering around.
In the evening, dive into one of the many street food markets around Phnom Penh like the aptly named Phnom Penh Night Market. You’ll mostly find other tourists here and it’s an affordable way to try a few Cambodian dishes with that quintessential Southeast Asian dining vibe. Try lok lak (fried beef salad), lort cha (fried noodles), num pang (Cambodian baguette), or Khmer red curry.
Where to stay in Phnom Penh
There are loads of accommodation options in Phnom Penh covering all price points from cheap and cheerful hostels to bougie luxury hotels. Riverside and Daun Penh are good areas to look at as, whilst they’re more touristy, they’re close to all the main sites.
Our favourite hotels in Phnom Penh
Pooltop Phnom Penh
Walking distance to centre. All the basics + a lovely rooftop pool
Budget-friendly
Amanjaya Pancam Suites
Stunning rooms with a terrace overlooking the river, and a rooftop bar
Bougie
The Palace Gate Hotel & Resort
Facilities of a 5* hotel at mid-budget prices
Luxury for less
Day 2: Phnom Penh (Khmer Rouge History & Cooking Class)
I’ll be honest, Phnom Penh isn’t our favourite city in the world. But I also don’t think you should skip it as it’s so important to understand the recent horrors in Cambodian history by visiting the Killing Fields and Tuol Seng Genocide Museum (S21).
Trigger warning: this is a very intense tour.
There are monuments made with the bones of the victims at the Killing Fields, and very graphic photographs from the prison. So don’t plan to do too much else on this day as it’s very emotionally draining. I think it’s crucial to visit though to understand the past and how it’s shaped modern Cambodia – it’s estimated that up to 3 million people lost their lives to the Khmer Rouge regime (roughly 30% of the population)(source). If you’re anything like us, you learned almost nothing about this human catastrophe at school.
We highly recommend doing this with a guide, we did an organised tour of both places and understood so much more than if we’d gone by ourselves.
In the evening, do a cooking class, if you feel up to it. Khmer cuisine has a rich history and doesn’t include as many chillies as neighbouring countries, making it more accessible to most Western palates. We booked ours directly with Banana Cooking Class and it was excellent – just make sure you’re hungry.
Or you may just want to chill at one of the many rooftop bars and try to decompress from your morning instead.
Day 3: Kratie (Kayaking with River Dolphins)
Cambodia is one of only a couple of places in the world where you can see wild river dolphins. Specifically, the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins.
Kratie (also written as Kraceh) sits on the Mekong River where you’ll find a couple of companies offering tours to see these shy creatures. We did a half-day kayak tour with Lucky to see the dolphins with minimal disturbance to them. You can take a short motor boat too but the noise scares off the dolphins and the engines can hurt them.
Lucky was great at guiding us on the 10km kayak (!!) downstream on the Mekong. The best part was the last section: paddling around the dolphin’s area and watching them briefly surface for air, chase fish, occasionally playing and jumping. We’re not good kayakers and found the route no problem though our shoulders were feeling it the following morning!
Lucky lived up to his name, and we got to see about 20 dolphins playing around us – one even surfaced less than 1m from our kayak! They’re insanely hard to photograph though so this experience is definitely more for the memories than the photos.
For dinner, make sure to check out Street Three Eatery for the best food in Kratie. In fact, it was probably the best food we’ve eaten anywhere in Cambodia.
Book an early minibus to Kratie (around 4 hours away), to give yourself the afternoon to experience one of the most unique and magical activities in Cambodia. It’s a long way to go, but if you’re looking for something truly unique to add to your 1 week Cambodia itinerary, this is it.
Day 4: Siem Reap (Hero Rats & Cambodian Circus)
Home to Angkor Wat, spending time in Siem Reap is the main reason for visiting so it’s where we’d concentrate the bulk of your 7 days in Cambodia.
From Kratie, it’s about hours to Siem Reap by minivan, a little faster if you’re traveling by private transfer. We’d recommend asking your hotel to arrange this for you and ask for as early a transfer as possible.
When you arrive in Siem Reap, you’ll instantly notice how tourist heavy is but also how different it feels from both Phnom Penh and Kratie. The main hub of the city has a lively feeling, bustling with restaurants, bars, and tuktuk drivers offering tours of Angkor Wat.
On your first day here you should check out the APOPO Visitor Centre.
It’s a really interesting place where you can learn about (and meet) the giant Hero Rats that detect and help in the removal of landmines and other explosive material that still litters the Cambodian countryside. They’re very cute – you can even hold one, if you like. Guided tours run every 30mins, last 1 hour, and cost $10. In high season, it’s recommended to book in advance but in low season, you can just pay at the door.
In the evening you should check out Phare, the Cambodian Circus.
Circus’ always make us clench, especially in Southeast Asia, as we always worry that there will be animal cruelty involved. But this is purely an acrobatic circus with local performers from their school in Battambang. Going to the circus helps support their school which not only offers academic education but arts education for local people. Plus it’s an incredible night out filled with belly laughs and moments of ‘how are they even doing that?!’
Our favourite hotels in Siem Reap
Blossoming Romduol Boutique
Simple rooms & pool within walking distance of the centre
Budget-friendly
The Twizt
A bougie hostel/hotel with swanky communal areas & rooftop pool
Bougie on a budget
Dontrei Villa Angkor
Stunning rooms in traditional Khmer buildings with lush gardens and 2 pools
Luxury for less
Days 5 & 6: Siem Reap (Angkor Wat)
The Angkor Thom complex, which contains Angkor Wat, is enormous. Like 9km2 enormous. So unless you literally just want to see Angkor Wat then leave, we’d suggest at least 2 days to explore and get the most out of the area. We’ve actually spent 5 days exploring the full area, and still think there’s so much more to see – some people will spend a full week!
This is for 2 reasons:
- The size means it takes a lot of time to see and get between the temples
- It’s insanely hot with very little shade, and you don’t want to be walking around for 8 hours in the heat. Even in “cool” season.
You need to buy your ticket in advance for Angkor Wat and all the surrounding temples with an option for a 1-day, 3-day, or 7-day pass. You’ll need to show your tickets at multiple checkpoints and temple entrances around the complex so have a screenshot of it on your phone as signal is pretty patchy in some areas.
Angkor Wat – day one
Sunrise is THE time to be at Angkor Wat and you’ll need to arrive at the complex for opening (5am) then head straight to Angkor Wat. On either side of the temple, there are pools of water that give a dreamy reflection that’s fantastic for photos. Or you can hang out further back and get a incredible shots framing the towers between the columns of the libraries that sit on either side of the main walkway.
Just know you will not be alone.
As a bucket list moment for so many people, watching the sun rise over Angkor Wat gets crazy busy. But (and it’s a big but), if you’re not a morning person, hate crowds, or don’t like taking photos you might prefer the long lie. Matt’s parents went and got stuck behind the crowd then the sunrise was pretty underwhelming so they didn’t enjoy it.
Straight after sunrise, don’t go inside the temple or you’ll spend your day following the crowds.
Instead, head to one of the two other most famous temples – Bayon Temple (the one with all the stone faces) or Ta Phrom (the one featured in Angelina Jolie’s terrible “Tomb Raider” film). It’s also worth squeezing in The Terrace of Elephants and South Gate Bridge before they get too busy.
Later in the day, head back to Angkor Wat later, when the crowds have significantly thinned out. You should have a much more peaceful experience exploring this iconic temple around lunchtime than you would straight after sunrise.
If you still have some juice in the tank, our favourite sunset spot is Phnom Kraom. It’s just outside of town, has its own ancient temple, and 360 views across the lake and villages.
Clockwise from top-left: Ta Phrom; exterior of Bayon Temple; close up of the many stone faces at Bayon Temple
Angkor Wat – day two OR exploring around Siem Reap
On your second day of visting Angkor Wat, focus your time on the lesser know sites like Pre Rup, Neak Poan, Banteay Kdei, Ta Som and Ta Keo.
Left: Ta Som; Right: Pre Rup
There’s so much to see we really do think you need at least 2 days. However, if you feel that 1 day was plenty ancient temples and Tomb Raider/Indiana Jones vibes, there are other things to do near Siem Reap instead.
Phnom Kulen is a small national park around 1 hour from Siem Reap with stunning views, a lovely waterfall, and some beautiful ancient temples of its own. It’s far less frequented than other places near Siem Reap, but still far from a “hidden gem”. You can easily find day tours, drive yourself by tuktuk or scooter, or hire a driver for the day.
Tonle Sap Lake dominates the centre of Cambodia and is home to many communities that rely on it for their livelihood. You can visit the lake, some of the communities and enjoy a stunning sunset from a long tail boat. We recommend booking directly with Kompong Khleang Floating Village Tours to ensure your visit invests in the local community. Be aware there are many unethical tours to floating villages on the lake which do not contribute to the community.
Getting around Angkor Wat
You need transport to visit the complex – you choose to rent bicycles, tuktuks or scooters to drive yourself. Or hire a tuktuk / car with a driver to take you around.
Most recently, we drove ourselves in a tuktuk (we HIGHLY recommend this for Cambodia in general – here’s how). For a short-term rental, it’s around $22 per day so not much cheaper than getting one with a driver but does give you freedom. As part of a longer trip, the rental price goes down to $18 per day. (PLUS, you can get a cheeky 5% discount with this link).
On our first visit to Angkor Wat, we also hired a tuktuk with a driver. This cost us $25 per day (in 2024) and he also gave us ice-cold water and cold towels after each temple which, in the heat, felt like gifts from the heavens!
Scooters start at around $10 per day, electric bicycles are around the same, and push bikes can be as cheap as $2 per day.
It really depends on your budget and how much time you want to spend exploring the various temples, but we’d advise against bicycles on account of the aforementioned crazy heat. Plus, Angkor Wat isn’t that close to the centre of Siem Reap to start with. Unless you love cycling and are very fit… both things we are not.
Day 7: And… relax
If you didn’t have time for the APOPO Visitor Centre on your first day in Siem Reap then make sure to visit before you fly out (or take the bus).
Otherwise, we’d recommend taking time to enjoy the city at a slower pace. There are so many cafes, cocktail bars, and boutiques that you can check out. Some of our favourites are:
- Fern Cafe for coffee or smoothies in a green oasis that feels like a breath of fresh air against the bustling city
- Angkor Hand-Pulled Noodles & Dumplings for noodles and dumplings, obviously. Chef taught himself to cook using YouTube after he had to drop out of school following his father’s death
- Wild – a great bar that goes hard on spring rolls. Order several to share
- Bar43 for really creative cocktails
You can stay in some really amazing hotels in Siem Reap for very reasonable prices, by Western standards, with beautiful pools to relax in. If you plan on having a little bit of down time then it’s worth looking at what you can get if you spend a few extra dollars a night.
Best time of year for your 1 week Cambodia trip
The coolest part of dry season (December to February) is the best time to visit Cambodia. While it is never actually “cool” in Cambodia, this is the most pleasant temperature with clear blue skies that are perfect for exploring and relaxing.
This itinerary is possible year round, you’re not relying on perfect weather for most activities. Just be aware that the Mekong river gets very high and fast flowing in the depths of wet season (July to October) so seeing the river dolphins may not be possible at that time.
Getting around Cambodia
Shared minivans are the most cost-effective way to do this 7-day itinerary. You can easily book online to get from Siem Reap or Phnom Penh to Kratie – you might get more choice going onwards from Kratie by speaking to your hotel though.
If you’re looking something more comfortable and a little faster, you can book private transfers instead but these will be a lot more expensive.
On a shorter trip like this, it isn’t really worth renting a motorbike or tuktuk. It will take longer to get between the cities and you don’t have time to get the full benefit of the freedom they provide. Renting a scooter or tuktuk in Siem Reap to explore Angkor Wat and the surrounding area could be a good idea though.
How much to budget
Overall, Cambodia is a very affordable place to travel although it shocks some people who are used to prices in neighbouring countries like Vietnam or Laos as most are more expensive.
Your budget will be totally personal depending on whether you eat at local restaurants and street vendors, or fancier restaurants and how nice a hotel you pick.
As a rough guide though (per person, per day):
- Budget travel: $40-50
- Mid-range: $70-90
- Luxury: $120+
Final thoughts
This 1 week Cambodia itinerary is designed to give you a little of everything without skipping the most famous sites. We have also tried to minimise travel so you can spend the maximum amount of time enjoying yourself.
Ideally, you’d have a little longer to really get to grips with Cambodia – we didn’t even get to the incredible mountains, jungle, and beaches that the country has to offer. But 1 week is enough to have an incredible, life changing experience.
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