Self-Launched Cambodia: Siem Reap to Phnom Penh
10 days · Cambodia
G Adventures charges £800
No-markup version: ~£345 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 10-day self-launched version of G Adventures' Solo-ish Cambodia trip, running from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. Explore the temples of Angkor by tuk-tuk at sunrise, cook Khmer classics with locals, head into the Cardamom Mountains for a jungle guesthouse stay, then unwind on the beaches of Koh Rong before finishing in the capital. Everything is bookable independently — hostels and guesthouses instead of group hotels, local buses and ferries instead of private vehicles, and self-guided or small-group day tours via GetYourGuide/Klook. Ideal for solo backpackers and gap-year travellers. Costs are approximate per person in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Siem Reap + Khmer cooking class
Siem Reap
Land at Siem Reap International Airport (REP) and grab a tuktuk or PassApp/Grab ride into town (~£3-4, 20 mins). Check into a hostel or guesthouse around Wat Bo or the Old Market area. In the evening, join a small-group Khmer cooking class — most include a market tour and you'll make dishes like fish amok curry and mango sticky rice (book via Klook or GetYourGuide, ~£18-25). Swap tips with other travellers over dinner.
🚌Tuktuk/Grab from airport ~£3-4
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Siem Reap (dorm or private, ~£8-15)
- →Airport tuktuk transfer
- →Khmer cooking class with market visit
Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm & Banteay Srei
Siem Reap
Hire a tuktuk for the day (agree a full-day rate ~£15-20, split with others) and buy your Angkor pass — 1-day pass is $37 (~£29), 3-day pass $62. Morning: the smiling stone faces of Bayon Temple in Angkor Thom, then the jungle-strangled Ta Prohm (the 'Tomb Raider' temple). Lunch at a local spot near the temples. Afternoon: the exquisite pink sandstone carvings of Banteay Srei, 30km out. Evening: dinner at Spoons Cambodia (a social enterprise training at-risk youth) then an optional stroll along the Royal Garden riverfront.
🚌Private tuktuk for the day ~£15-20 (shared)
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Siem Reap (~£8-15)
- →Bayon Temple / Angkor Thom
- →Ta Prohm Temple
- →Banteay Srei Temple
- →Dinner at Spoons Cambodia
Angkor Wat sunrise + Kampong Thom village
Siem Reap → Kampong Thom
Rise early (tuktuk pickup ~4:45am) to catch Angkor Wat at sunrise — temples silhouetted against the dawn sky and mirrored in the reflection pool. Return for breakfast, then take a bus or shared shuttle east to Kampong Thom (~2.5-3hrs, ~£5-7). Visit the pre-Angkorian Sambor Prei Kuk temples and take a guided village walk in the surrounding community (local guide ~£8-12). Overnight in a simple guesthouse in Kampong Thom.
🚌Aggregated bus/shuttle ~£5-7
🛏Local guesthouse in Kampong Thom (~£8-12)
- →Angkor Wat sunrise
- →Bus to Kampong Thom
- →Sambor Prei Kuk temple ruins
- →Community village walk
Travel to Phnom Penh + city exploring
Phnom Penh
Continue by bus or minivan south to Phnom Penh (~4hrs, ~£6-9). Check in and spend the afternoon exploring at your own pace. Choose the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek for a sobering but essential look at Cambodia's recent history (entry ~£4-6 each, audio guide included), or visit the opulent Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda. Evening: sunset drinks at a rooftop bar on the riverfront.
🚌Coach/minivan ~£6-9
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Phnom Penh (~£8-16)
- →Bus to Phnom Penh
- →Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (optional)
- →Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda (optional)
- →Riverside evening stroll
Cardamom Mountains jungle trek
Chi Phat
Take a bus/minivan west towards Chi Phat in the Cardamom Mountains (~4-5hrs with a change at Andoung Tuek, ~£8-11), a community-based ecotourism village. Book a jungle trek through the Chi Phat Community-Based Ecotourism office — options range from half-day walks to multi-day treks with local guides and homestay accommodation. Look for gibbons, hornbills, and butterflies in the lush forest.
🚌Bus + shared transfer ~£8-11
🛏Ecotourism guesthouse/homestay, Chi Phat (~£10-15)
- →Travel to the Cardamoms
- →Community-based jungle trek
- →Wildlife spotting
Cardamom Mountains full-day trek
Chi Phat
Spend a full day trekking deeper into the jungle with a local guide — rivers, waterfalls, and dense forest canopy. Some trails pass former logging routes and abandoned Khmer Rouge-era sites. Pack lunch (often provided by the homestay). In the evening, dinner with your homestay family and an early night to the sound of the forest.
🚌On foot / local boat where needed
🛏Ecotourism guesthouse/homestay, Chi Phat (~£10-15)
- →Full-day guided jungle trek
- →Waterfall and river stops
- →Homestay dinner
Travel to Sihanoukville & ferry to Koh Rong
Koh Rong
Transfer back to the coast (~2hrs to Andoung Tuek, then on to Sihanoukville). From Sihanoukville pier, take the fast ferry to Koh Rong island (~45 mins, ~£11-15 return with KT or Speed Ferry Cambodia). Check into a beachside bungalow or hostel and head straight for the turquoise water. Sunset swim and a beach barbecue dinner.
🚌Bus ~£8-10 + ferry ~£11-15
🛏Beach bungalow/hostel on Koh Rong (~£10-18)
- →Bus to Sihanoukville
- →Fast ferry to Koh Rong
- →Beach time & sunset
Koh Rong island day
Koh Rong
A free day on the island. Options: a boat trip to nearby Koh Rong Sanloem for snorkelling, or a night swim to see the bioluminescent plankton (best on moonless nights). Rent a kayak (~£4-6/hr), hike to Long Set Beach, or simply relax. Note: many parts of Koh Rong have limited wifi and power — embrace the off-grid vibe.
🚌Walking / kayak / local boat
🛏Beach bungalow/hostel on Koh Rong (~£10-18)
- →Snorkelling boat trip (optional ~£12-18)
- →Bioluminescent plankton night swim (optional)
- →Kayaking / beach hiking
Ferry back + Phnom Penh night market
Phnom Penh
Catch the morning ferry back to Sihanoukville, then take a bus or shared vehicle to Phnom Penh (~5-6hrs, ~£8-12). Check in and head to the buzzing Riverside or the weekend Night Market for cheap street eats — nom banh chok (Khmer noodles), fresh spring rolls, grilled skewers, and fruit shakes (£1-3 a dish). Last-night drinks with fellow travellers.
🚌Ferry + coach ~£12-16
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Phnom Penh (~£8-16)
- →Ferry to mainland
- →Bus to Phnom Penh
- →Night Market street food
Depart Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Depending on your flight time, squeeze in a final coffee at a riverside café or a last wander through the Russian Market for souvenirs. Tuktuk/Grab to Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH, ~£3-5, allow extra time for traffic). Trip ends. Total independent cost is a fraction of the guided group price.
🚌Tuktuk/Grab to airport ~£3-5
🛏None (departure day)
- →Russian Market shopping (optional)
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£345 | £800 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £455 per person (57%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£345
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 to Phnom Penh cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £345 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £800 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £345 — a saving of roughly £455 (57%) 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 adventure, 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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