Cambodia Self-Launched: Phnom Penh to Siem Reap Independently
10 days · Cambodia
INTRO Travel charges £880
No-markup version: ~£500 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 10-day self-launched version of INTRO Travel's Cambodia Intro: Phnom Penh's Khmer Rouge history, kayaking and pepper farms around Kampot, beach time and snorkelling on Koh Rong Sanloem, then the floating villages and Angkor temples of Siem Reap. Everything is bookable yourself — buses and speedboats instead of a private coach, guesthouses and hostels instead of boutique hotels, and local guides hired by the day. Costs are approximate backpacker rates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Land at Phnom Penh International Airport and take a tuk-tuk or the airport shuttle into the city (~£3-5; official airport taxi ~£8). Check into a guesthouse or hostel around Street 240 / Daun Penh. Spend the afternoon settling in: walk the Riverside promenade, visit the Royal Palace exterior and Wat Ounalom, and sort out a Cambodian SIM (Metfone or Smart, ~£2-3 for a data bundle). Book your overnight or daytime bus to Kampot for Day 3 and a tuk-tuk driver for tomorrow's history day. Eat dinner at a local Khmer restaurant or the night market (~£4-6).
🚌Airport tuk-tuk/shuttle ~£3-5
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Daun Penh (~£10-14/night)
- →Airport transfer by tuk-tuk or shuttle
- →Riverside walk and Royal Palace exterior
- →Buy local SIM card
- →Book onward bus to Kampot
Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields
Phnom Penh
Hire a tuk-tuk for the day (~£15-20, split between 2-3 people) or use a PassApp ride-hailing car to visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) and the Choeung Ek Killing Fields on the southern edge of the city. Entry is around £4 each, and the excellent audio guides (£3) are worth it — or join a small-group guided tour on GetYourGuide/Klook for around £20-30 including transport. Take a break for lunch back in town, then return for a self-guided afternoon. Evening: sunset drinks at a rooftop bar or a Khmer barbecue dinner.
🚌Tuk-tuk day hire ~£15-20 per vehicle
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse (~£10-14/night)
- →Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21)
- →Choeung Ek Killing Fields with audio guide
- →Rooftop sunset
- →Khmer BBQ dinner
Bus to Kampot
Kampot
Take a morning bus or shared minivan from Phnom Penh to Kampot — roughly 4 hours, £6-9 with companies like Giant Ibis, Virak Buntham or a local minivan booked through your guesthouse. Arrive early afternoon, check into a riverside guesthouse or bungalow, and rent a bicycle or scooter (~£3-5/day) to explore. Cycle out to the countryside, or lounge by the river with a coffee. Sunset at the Kampot riverside is a highlight — grab dinner at one of the expat-friendly riverside restaurants (~£5-7).
🚌Bus Phnom Penh–Kampot ~£6-9; bike/scooter hire ~£3-5
🛏Riverside guesthouse or bungalow (~£10-16/night)
- →Phnom Penh to Kampot bus
- →Riverside guesthouse check-in
- →Cycle around Kampot countryside
- →Riverside sunset
Kayaking, pepper farm and sunset cruise
Kampot
Book a half-day kayak trip through the Green Cathedral waterways or along the Kampot River (~£12-18 with a local operator, bookable via your guesthouse or Klook). In the afternoon, cycle or take a tuk-tuk to La Plantation pepper farm near Kep for a free guided tour and tasting (buy lunch there, ~£4-6). Finish the day on a sunset river cruise (~£6-8 for a shared boat) or simply watch it from the riverbank. If you want the cooking-class experience from the original tour, swap this for a half-day Khmer cooking class (~£15-20) with a local family — many Kampot guesthouses arrange these directly.
🚌Local tuk-tuk or bicycle hire ~£3-6
🛏Riverside guesthouse or bungalow (~£10-16/night)
- →Half-day river kayaking
- →La Plantation pepper farm tour and tasting
- →Sunset river cruise
- →Optional: Khmer cooking class
Kampot to Koh Rong Sanloem
Koh Rong Sanloem
Travel day: shared minivan from Kampot to Sihanoukville (~2.5-3 hours, £6-8), then the speed ferry from Sihanoukville to Koh Rong Sanloem (~45-60 minutes, £9-12 one way; book with Speed Ferry Cambodia or Buva Sea). Boats usually run morning and afternoon. Arrive at Saracen Bay or M'Pai Bay and check into a beach bungalow or hostel. Spend the afternoon swimming and acclimatising — this island is quieter and less developed than neighbouring Koh Rong. Note the island has limited ATMs, so bring cash.
🚌Minivan ~£6-8; speed ferry ~£9-12
🛏Beach bungalow or hostel dorm (~£10-18/night)
- →Minivan Kampot to Sihanoukville
- →Speed ferry to Koh Rong Sanloem
- →Beach afternoon at Saracen Bay
Snorkelling and island time
Koh Rong Sanloem
Join a half-day or full-day snorkelling and boat trip around the island (~£12-18, arranged through your guesthouse or at the pier) covering coral reefs and the clearer water off the southern coast. Alternatively, hike the coastal trail from Saracen Bay to Lazy Beach and Sunset Beach (~1.5-2 hours, free, bring water). Afternoon free for hammock time and swimming. Dinner of fresh seafood or a beach barbecue (~£6-8).
🚌Walking and local boat
🛏Beach bungalow or hostel dorm (~£10-18/night)
- →Snorkelling boat trip
- →Optional hike to Lazy Beach and Sunset Beach
- →Beach time
Island to Siem Reap
Siem Reap
Long travel day: take the morning speed ferry back to Sihanoukville (~£9-12), then a minivan or bus to Phnom Penh (~£6-8) and connect to a night bus or late flight onward to Siem Reap. The most practical options are (a) an overnight sleeper bus Sihanoukville/Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (£12-18, ~10-12 hours), or (b) a cheap domestic flight from Sihanoukville or Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (£35-60 if booked in advance) — worth it if you want to save a day. Arrive, check into a guesthouse near Pub Street or Wat Bo, and rest up for temples tomorrow.
🚌Ferry ~£9-12; bus ~£12-18 or domestic flight ~£35-60
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Siem Reap (~£9-15/night)
- →Speed ferry to Sihanoukville
- →Onward bus or flight to Siem Reap
Tonle Sap floating villages
Siem Reap
Hire a tuk-tuk for the day (~£15-20 per vehicle) and head out to the Tonle Sap lake to visit a floating village — Kompong Khleang or Mechrey are the more authentic, less touristy choices than Chong Khneas. Boat trips run around £10-15 per person. Spend the afternoon back in town: visit the Angkor National Museum (~£8) or simply wander the Old Market. Buy your Angkor Archaeological Park pass this evening (1-day pass ~£29, 3-day ~£50) — the ticket office opens at 5pm and the pass is valid from the next day.
🚌Tuk-tuk day hire ~£15-20 per vehicle
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Siem Reap (~£9-15/night)
- →Tonle Sap floating village boat trip
- →Angkor National Museum (optional)
- →Old Market and Pub Street evening
- →Buy Angkor pass
Angkor Wat sunrise, Ta Prohm and APOPO
Siem Reap
Leave at 4:30-5am with a hired tuk-tuk driver (£15-20 for the day, or a small-group sunrise tour via GetYourGuide/Klook ~£15-25 including a guide) for Angkor Wat at sunrise. Continue to the Bayon temple at Angkor Thom, then Ta Prohm with its tree roots. If you want a deeper understanding, hire a licensed guide at the gate or book one in advance (~£25-35 for a half-day, splittable between 2-3 people). In the afternoon, visit the APOPO Visitor Centre (~£3-5 entry) to meet the landmine-detecting hero rats — book ahead on their website. Sunset from Phnom Bakheng if you have energy left.
🚌Tuk-tuk day hire ~£15-20 per vehicle
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Siem Reap (~£9-15/night)
- →Angkor Wat sunrise
- →Angkor Thom and Bayon
- →Ta Prohm temple
- →APOPO hero rats visitor centre
Depart Siem Reap
Siem Reap
Final morning: slow breakfast, a last wander through the Old Market for souvenirs, or an optional Banteay Srei / Kulen Mountain trip if your flight is late. Tuk-tuk to Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (~£15-20, it's around 50km out of town — allow 45-60 minutes). Book your airport transfer the night before through your guesthouse.
🚌Airport tuk-tuk/taxi ~£15-20
🛏None (onward travel)
- →Old Market souvenir shopping
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. INTRO Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | INTRO Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£500 | £880 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £380 per person (43%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more INTRO Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£500
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 Self-Launched: Phnom Penh to Siem Reap Independently cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £500 per person for 10 days in Cambodia. 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 INTRO Travel?+
Yes — INTRO Travel charges around £880 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £500 — a saving of roughly £380 (43%) per person.
How long is the Cambodia trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Cambodia.
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 backpacker, culture, beaches trip through Cambodia, 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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