Self-Launched Cambodia: Siem Reap, Battambang & Phnom Penh in 7 Days
7 days · Cambodia
About Cambodia Travel & Tours charges £803
No-markup version: ~£340 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Explore Cambodia's most iconic temples, floating villages, colonial towns, and powerful historical sites entirely on your own terms — no guided tour required. This self-launched itinerary follows the same Siem Reap → Battambang → Phnom Penh route as the original operator tour, swapping private guides and luxury hotel packages for budget-friendly guesthouses, shared transport, and self-bookable activities. Angkor Wat, the Bamboo Train, Tuol Sleng, and the Royal Palace are all here — at a fraction of the price. All costs are approximate estimates per person.
Day-by-day
Arrival in Siem Reap
Siem Reap
Arrive at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport and take a tuk-tuk to your guesthouse in the centre (~£3–5). Spend the rest of the day at your own pace — grab a Khmer iced coffee, wander the Old Market area, and check out Pub Street for an affordable dinner. Pick up a 1-day or 3-day Angkor pass ($37 or $62 USD) at the ticket office before tomorrow.
🚌Tuk-tuk from airport (~£3–5); walking in town centre
🛏Mad Monkey Siem Reap or Onederz Hostel — dorm from ~£8/night or private room from ~£18/night
- →Tuk-tuk from airport to guesthouse (~£3–5)
- →Explore Old Market (Phsar Chas) and Pub Street area
- →Purchase Angkor Archaeological Park pass at ticket booth (1-day $37 / 3-day $62 USD)
Angkor Archaeological Park
Siem Reap
Hire a tuk-tuk driver for the day (~£12–15) to loop through the Angkor complex — this is the standard and best way to visit independently. Start early (5:30am) at Angkor Wat for sunrise, then move through the South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon Temple with its iconic 216 carved faces, Baphuon, Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King, and the jungle-swallowed Ta Prohm. Return to Angkor Wat at dusk for sunset. Book a tuk-tuk through your guesthouse or via GetYourGuide for a half-day or full-day Angkor tour.
🚌Tuk-tuk hired for the day (~£12–15)
🛏Mad Monkey Siem Reap or Onederz Hostel — dorm from ~£8/night or private room from ~£18/night
- →Sunrise at Angkor Wat Temple
- →Visit South Gate of Angkor Thom
- →Explore Bayon Temple (216 smiling stone faces)
- →Tour Baphuon, Phimeanakas and Royal Enclosure
- →Visit Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King
- →Explore Ta Prohm Temple (Tomb Raider temple)
- →Watch sunset over Angkor Wat
Tonle Sap Lake & Local Life
Siem Reap
Head to the Roluos Local Market in the morning for a glimpse of everyday Cambodian life. Then take a shared boat tour of Tonle Sap Lake and the floating villages — bookable directly at the dock or via GetYourGuide (~£10–15). Stop by Artisans Angkor workshop (free entry) to watch silk and lacquerware being crafted. In the afternoon, visit the West Baray Reservoir and Wat Svay Lmeat Monastery. Stroll through the Royal Residence Park at dusk.
🚌Tuk-tuk for the day (~£10–12)
🛏Mad Monkey Siem Reap or Onederz Hostel — dorm from ~£8/night or private room from ~£18/night
- →Visit Roluos Local Market
- →Shared boat cruise on Tonle Sap Lake and floating village (~£10–15, bookable at dock or via GetYourGuide)
- →Free visit to Artisans Angkor workshop
- →Visit West Baray Reservoir
- →Visit Wat Svay Lmeat Monastery
- →Stroll through Royal Residence Park
Siem Reap to Battambang
Battambang
Take the morning shared minibus from Siem Reap to Battambang (~3.5 hours, ~£5–7 — book at your guesthouse or via Camboticket). Alternatively, take the famous slow boat along the river (~£10–12, roughly 4–8 hours depending on season — a beautiful but variable journey). On arrival, hire a tuk-tuk for the afternoon (~£10–12) to ride the iconic Bamboo Train (Norry, ~£3–5 entry), visit Phnom Banan Temple (small entry fee), and the Phnom Sampov temple complex where you can watch thousands of bats pour out of the cave at sunset — one of Cambodia's most spectacular natural shows.
🚌Shared minibus Siem Reap → Battambang (~£5–7); tuk-tuk for afternoon sightseeing (~£10–12)
🛏Seng Hout Hotel or Bambu Hotel — budget guesthouse/hotel from ~£12–20/night
- →Shared minibus Siem Reap → Battambang (~£5–7, ~3.5 hrs) or slow boat (~£10–12)
- →Colonial architecture walking tour of Battambang town centre (self-guided, free)
- →Bamboo Train (Norry) ride (~£3–5)
- →Visit Phnom Banan Temple
- →Visit Phnom Sampov temple complex
- →Watch bat emergence from cave at sunset (free)
Battambang to Phnom Penh via Pursat & Kampong Chhnang
Phnom Penh
Catch a shared minibus or express bus from Battambang to Phnom Penh (~5–6 hours, ~£7–10 — operators include Mekong Express and Giant Ibis). Ask your guesthouse to arrange a stop-off itinerary, or book a local day-tour to break the journey at Pursat stone carving village and Kampong Chhnang pottery village (where artisans make traditional ceramics). Continue to Phnom Oudong, the former royal capital, to climb the hilltop stupas with sweeping countryside views. Arrive in Phnom Penh by evening and check into your accommodation near the riverside.
🚌Shared express bus Battambang → Phnom Penh (~£7–10)
🛏Mad Monkey Phnom Penh or Eighty8 Backpackers — dorm from ~£8/night or private room from ~£18/night
- →Shared minibus/bus Battambang → Phnom Penh (~£7–10, ~5–6 hrs via Mekong Express or Giant Ibis)
- →Stop at Pursat stone carving village en route
- →Visit Kampong Chhnang pottery village
- →Explore Phnom Oudong mountain and former royal capital (small entry fee)
- →Arrive Phnom Penh and explore the riverside promenade at night
Phnom Penh: History, Palaces & Markets
Phnom Penh
Begin with the emotionally powerful Choeung Ek Genocide Center (Killing Fields, ~£5 entry including audio guide — essential) and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum / S-21 (~£5 entry). These are among the most important historical sites in Southeast Asia — allow a full morning and go at your own pace. In the afternoon, visit Wat Phnom (£1 entry), the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda (£8 combined entry), the Independence Monument (free, exterior), and the King Norodom Sihanouk Statue. Finish at the Central Market (Phsar Thmei) for souvenirs and street snacks. Tuk-tuks are the easiest way to get between sites (~£1–2 per short trip).
🚌Tuk-tuks between sites (~£1–2 per trip); walking in central areas
🛏Mad Monkey Phnom Penh or Eighty8 Backpackers — dorm from ~£8/night or private room from ~£18/night
- →Visit Choeung Ek Genocide Center / Killing Fields (~£5 entry with audio guide)
- →Visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum S-21 (~£5 entry)
- →Visit Wat Phnom (~£1 entry)
- →Explore Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda (~£8 combined entry)
- →See Independence Monument (free, exterior)
- →See King Norodom Sihanouk Statue (free)
- →Browse Central Market Phsar Thmei (free entry)
Phnom Penh Departure
Phnom Penh
Enjoy a slow breakfast and use any remaining time for a final riverside stroll or last-minute shopping at the Russian Market (Phsar Tuol Tom Pong). Take a tuk-tuk or Grab (Cambodia's ride-hailing app) to Phnom Penh International Airport (Techo International Airport) — budget ~£5–8. Check out is typically by noon, so store luggage at the hostel if your flight is late.
🚌Tuk-tuk or Grab app to Techo International Airport (~£5–8)
- →Final breakfast and riverside stroll (free)
- →Optional: browse Russian Market / Phsar Tuol Tom Pong for souvenirs
- →Tuk-tuk or Grab app taxi to airport (~£5–8)
Self-launched vs. About Cambodia Travel & Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | About Cambodia Travel & Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£340 | £803 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £463 per person (58%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more About Cambodia Travel & Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£340
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 Self-Launched Cambodia: Siem Reap, Battambang & Phnom Penh in 7 Days cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £340 per person for 7 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 About Cambodia Travel & Tours?+
Yes — About Cambodia Travel & Tours charges around £803 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £340 — a saving of roughly £463 (58%) per person.
How long is the Cambodia trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 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 culture, backpacker, budget 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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