Ultimate 7-Day Cambodia Itinerary

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Seven days is enough to cover Cambodia’s two essential stops — Siem Reap’s temples and Phnom Penh’s history and riverside — without rushing either one, plus a short beach add-on if you’re willing to keep it brief. This route starts in Siem Reap, which is where most international flights land, and works south from there.

Day 1-3: Siem Reap and Angkor

Spend your first three days in Siem Reap: two days on the Angkor temples (Small Circuit on day one, Banteay Srei and the city on day two — see Siem Reap 2-Day Itinerary: Angkor Wat Essentials), then a third day for either the Grand Circuit’s quieter temples or a Tonle Sap floating village trip if you want a break from ruins.

Day 4: Travel to Phnom Penh

Take the bus or van south to Phnom Penh, roughly 5-6 hours by road, or a short domestic flight if you’d rather save the travel time for the capital itself. Arriving by afternoon leaves time for a riverside walk and dinner along Sisowath Quay.

Day 5-6: Phnom Penh

Give the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng genocide museum a full, unhurried morning — this is heavy material and rushing it does it a disservice. Spend the rest of day 5 at the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, then use day 6 for the Central and Russian Markets, a riverside evening, and any remaining sites that interest you. See Phnom Penh Travel Guide: Where to Stay, Things to Do & Travel Tips.

Day 7: Short coastal add-on or extra Phnom Penh time

With a seventh day, a short flight to Sihanoukville and a day trip out to Koh Rong is possible but tight — most travelers instead use day 7 as a buffer in Phnom Penh, or extend the trip by a few days if the coast is a priority. If beaches matter more than an efficient itinerary, consider a 10-day version instead.

Extending to 10-14 days

Add Kampot and Kep after Phnom Penh (a further 2-3 days) for a slower, riverside contrast, or extend the coastal leg properly with 3-4 days on Koh Rong or Koh Rong Samloem rather than squeezing it into day 7.

Frequently asked questions

Is 7 days enough for Cambodia?

It’s enough to cover Siem Reap and Phnom Penh properly, which is the core of most first visits. Adding the coast and islands comfortably needs 10-14 days instead.

Should I start in Siem Reap or Phnom Penh?

Siem Reap, since it’s where most international flights arrive and Angkor is the trip’s main highlight for most visitors.

How do I get from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh?

By bus or van (5-6 hours) or a short domestic flight — see Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: Bus, Boat and Flight Options for details.

Related guides

Week structure at a glance

Days 1-4 in Siem Reap cover the small circuit, grand circuit, Banteay Srei, and a non-temple day (Tonle Sap or a cooking class), giving genuine breathing room rather than a rushed checklist. Day 5 travels to Phnom Penh (by bus, boat, or short flight), with the afternoon free to settle in. Days 6-7 in Phnom Penh cover the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields, the riverside, and the central markets, ending with a relaxed final evening.

Why this order works better than the reverse

Starting in Siem Reap front-loads the trip’s biggest single draw while energy is highest, and arriving in Phnom Penh afterward for a shorter, more urban-focused stretch provides a natural change of pace rather than temple fatigue setting in during the second city. It also aligns with how most international flights route through Siem Reap or Phnom Penh, making a one-way overland or short-flight connection between the two straightforward to book.

Budget and pacing notes for the full week

A mid-range week covering both cities, including the Angkor pass, transport between cities, and a mix of local and nicer restaurant meals, typically runs $70-110 per day per person — noticeably less than a comparable week in Thailand or Vietnam. Build in at least one genuinely unscheduled half-day, ideally around the transition between cities, since 7 days of constant sightseeing tends to leave even enthusiastic travelers fatigued by the final days.

Alternative week structures worth considering

Travelers more drawn to nature and rural experiences than urban history might swap a Phnom Penh day for an extra Siem Reap countryside day (Tonle Sap or Kulen Mountain), while those wanting to add the coast could shorten Phnom Penh to a single night and use the saved time for a short Kampot or Kep add-on, reachable by bus from Phnom Penh in about 3 hours — worth researching if a full week feels like it should include some beach or riverside relaxation time beyond the two main cities.

What to book in advance vs decide on the ground

Book your Angkor pass, initial accommodation, and inter-city transport (bus, boat, or flight) before arrival, since these have fixed schedules and limited capacity — leave specific daily activities like cooking classes, spa visits, and restaurant reservations to arrange once you’re in each city, since weather and energy levels are hard to predict precisely from home.

How this week-long structure compares to a rushed long-weekend visit

Travelers who’ve attempted to cover both cities in a compressed 4-5 day version of this itinerary consistently report feeling rushed by the final days, particularly around the Angkor temples, where a compressed schedule undermines exactly the kind of unhurried exploration that makes the site memorable — the full 7 days genuinely earns its extra length rather than representing padding.

What to do with any remaining time beyond this core week

Travelers with more than 7 days available should consider extending toward the southern coast (Kampot and Kep, roughly 3-4 hours from Phnom Penh) or Battambang before Siem Reap, both of which pair naturally with this core itinerary without requiring significant rerouting of the overall trip flow.

A final word on making the most of a full week

Seven days is enough time to see Cambodia’s two essential cities properly without racing through either, and building in the flexibility to swap a planned activity for an unplanned discovery — a restaurant recommendation from your hotel, an unexpected local festival, a temple that captivates you more than expected — often produces the most memorable moments of the entire trip.

A full week split between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh delivers a genuinely complete introduction to Cambodia, covering the country’s ancient and modern history without needing to rush either city.

Ultimate 7-Day Cambodia Itinerary Starting in Siem Reap