
The Perfect Month Itinerary for Cambodia in 2022
One of the most popular destinations for Western travellers before Covid-19, Cambodia is quickly getting back to the level of tourists it once had. Having travelled to Cambodia ourselves in 2022, we’d thought we’d share our The Perfect Month Itinerary for Cambodia in 2022; so YOU know where to visit and for how long.
Disclaimer: Some of the links included on our website may contain affiliate links. We may receive some commission from purchases made via these but it will NOT affect the price you pay. This is to allow this site to stay online and ensure that readers use, what we believe, are the best products possible whilst travelling.
Is Cambodia open for travel?
The short answer is yes.
At the time of writing (March 2022), Cambodia is open for tourism and is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future.
If you’re fully vaccinated, you only need to present your proof of vaccination to enter Cambodia. However, if you’re not fully vaccinated you must quarantine for 14 days at a hotel arranged by the Cambodian government OR at a pre-booked hotel of your choice. You can find further information at https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cambodia/entry-requirements
Getting a Cambodian Visa
There are two ways of getting a Cambodia visa; before entry or on arrival.
You can apply for a Cambodian visa via the Cambodian government’s website. A visa costs $30 plus a $6 processing fee per visa; it takes between three and seven days for your application to be processed.
The Cambodian government has also reinstalled the Visa On Arrival service for all international travellers. However, foreign nationals are not guaranteed a visa on arrival as the government reserves the right to deny entry to individuals that do not meet all the Cambodian visa requirements.
Check out our 13 Top Tips for Travelling Cambodia in 2022 for more information on getting a Cambodian visa in both instances.
Things you should know about Cambodia:
- Out of all the 195 countries in the world, it is the only flag to feature a building.
- The US Dollar is the unofficial second currency of Cambodia.
- 2 million Cambodians were killed during the country’s civil war from 1975 to 1979.
- Subsequently, roughly 50% of the population is under 15 years of age.
- Cambodia is one of the very few countries that doesn’t have a McDonald’s. Whilst KFC is present in Cambodia, it actually loses money being here.
- There are estimated to be nearly 6 million active landmines in the country, leftover from the civil war. As many as 30 people die a year as a result.
- Angkor Wat is the world’s largest religious building.
- Khmer is the only official spoken language in Cambodia.
The Route for your Perfect Month Itinerary in Cambodia
The time recommended at each stop below is just that, recommended. It’s based on our own experience of having visited Cambodia in 2022 and we want to help you maximise your stay in Cambodia.
In some cases, we stayed for the time recommended whilst in others we either stayed there too long or not enough time.
The total number of days below does not equate to 30 days but this will allow you to stay longer in places or take some “do nothing” days.

1st Stop = Phnom Penh
Recommended Stay: 3-4 days
- Phnom Penh is the ideal first spot for anyone who hasn’t been to Cambodia before. The capital has both developed and poorer areas, allowing you to get to grips with how different Cambodians live.
- We thoroughly enjoyed the range of cuisines on offer; meeting loads of people; and the Central Market.
How to get to Phnom Penh:
- Phnom Penh is incredibly easy to fly into as it has great links with other Southeast Asian cities (Bangkok and Seoul).
- If you’re flying from outside the region, you’ll likely have to change at one of these bigger airports to then fly into Phnom Penh.
- It is very easy to get the trans-border bus directly to Phnom Penh from Vietnam and Saigon specifically.
- Buses also run from Thailand to Phnom Penh but they can take up to 16 hours. Check out our onward travel section below about visiting Battambang and Siem Reap along the way.
Check out our in-depth Phnom Penh Travel Guide for more information about what to do, where to eat and where to stay.



2nd Stop = Battambang
Recommended Stay: 1-2 days
- Surprisingly one of our most enjoyable locations in the whole of Cambodia.
- We absolutely loved the chilled atmosphere here. It also gave us a well-needed chance to relax after a couple of non-stop weeks.
- Despite the city lacking the notoriety that other Cambodian cities possess; it is still full of beautiful cafes and amazing eateries that you MUST check out.
How to get to Battambang from Phnom Penh:
- We’d recommend taking the bus from Phnom Penh to Battambang as it is the cheapest and quickest way.
- Prices range from $9-$13 per person.
- Travel time is roughly 6-7 hours
- Departure times are normally: 7am; 7:30am; 8am; 8:30am; 9am; 12:15pm; 1:30pm; 2pm & 9pm.
Check out our in-depth Battambang Travel Guide for more information about what to do, where to eat and where to stay.



3rd Stop = Siem Reap
Recommended Stay: 2-4 days
- Siem Reap, more commonly known as the gateway to Angkor Wat, is one the most beautiful places you can visit in the world, let alone Cambodia. The city itself is always bustling and has loads of great eateries, bars and places to soak up true Cambodian culture.
- Obviously, Angkor Wat is the main attraction of the city and it is absolutely worth visiting; even if it is just to see the famous temple.
- Apart from having some regrets about our accommodation (see our Siem Reap Travel Guide for more info), we thoroughly enjoyed our stay here.
- It ended up getting quite hot so it was pleasing that the city’s other main attractions were all within walking distance.
How to get to Siem Reap from Battambang:
- We’d recommend taking the bus from Battambang to Siem Reap as it is the cheapest and quickest way.
- Prices range from $8-$10 per person.
- Travel time is roughly 4 hours
- Departure times are normally: 9am; 12pm & 6pm.
Check out our in-depth Siem Reap Travel Guide for more information about what to do, where to eat and where to stay.



4th Stop = Koh Rong Island
Recommended Stay: 3-4 days
- Koh Rong is absolutely beautiful with its crystal clear sea and white sand.
- Whilst it is known for being more of a “late-night” island than Sanloem, Koh Rong still has endless beaches to relax on.
- For backpackers, the main ”party” place is Nest Beach Club, the only hostel on the island. They have an official ”Nest-ival” party every Saturday but any night can turn into one and it’s a great place to meet people.
- The island’s main village on Koah Touch Beach is also great to escape your accommodation and do some laundry if you’re in need.
How to get to Koh Rong from Siem Reap:
- This is such an important and extensive piece of information, we dedicated a whole separate post which you can check out.
- However, in order to get the ferry from Sihanoukville, we’d recommend taking the overnight bus from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville as it is the cheapest and quickest method.
- Prices range from $15-$18 per person.
- Travel time is roughly 10 hours.
- Departure times are normally 8pm which means you’ll arrive in Sihanoukville at 6am. Visit the above link to know what to do when you’re in Sihanoukville.
Check out our in-depth Koh Rong Island Travel Guide (coming soon) for more information about what to do, where to eat and where to stay.



5th Stop = Koh Rong Sanloem Island
Recommended Stay: 3-5 days
- In comparison to Koh Rong, Sanloem is definitely the more “chilled out” of the two and you’ll instantly get this vibe when walking along the beachfront.
- You can easily spend nearly a week here to decompress and chill out after a long travel day/night.
- Whilst it wasn’t luxury, Onerderz Hostel was all we needed (inc hot showers) and was well priced. Conversely, there are many resort hotels you can check into if you want to treat yourself!
How to get to Koh Rong Sanloem from Koh Rong:
- Again, as this is such an important and extensive piece of information, we dedicated a whole separate post which you can check out.
Check out our in-depth Koh Rong Sanloem Island Travel Guide (coming soon) for more information about what to do, where to eat and where to stay.



6th Stop = Kampot
Recommended Stay: 3-4 days
- We found that Kampot had a very similar atmosphere to Battambang with its laid back attitude and cute cafes; no wonder we enjoyed it here so much.
- This is a great final destination as you can take some extra ”do nothing” days and enjoy being back on the mainland. Relaxing here will also give time to prepare for the hustle and bustle of Phnom Penh; the final stop on the tour.
How to get Kampot from Koh Rong Sanloem:
- To know how to get back to Sihanoukville from the Islands, check out our easy guide HERE.
- Once you’re off the ferry and in Sihanoukville, you’re faced with the hard part.
- Whilst there is a road to Kampot from Sihanoukville, half of the road there is of very poor quality (even bad for Cambodia and that’s saying something). As such, bus companies aren’t operating between the two cities at all.
- This means that the quickest option is hiring a taxi. You can choose to get a bus from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh and then another to Kampot but the journey time will be roughly 10 hours. On top of this, the price will almost certainly be $20pp; thus, the cost and length of the journey probably make this route unfeasible.
- Ultimately, the best method of transport, factoring in time and cost, is a private taxi. The fare is around $50 so the more people you have (up to four), the cheaper it will be per person.
- A simple google search will give you the contact information of numerous taxi drivers/l or companies that are willing to take you. If this does fail or the price is too high, we know people who asked at the ferry companies on Sihanoukville Port who were able to assist. They ended up getting a taxi at $10pp.
- Having coordinated travel plans with our friends, we ended up getting a taxi number from another friend and paid $50 for the trip.
- The journey took us roughly three hours and I can vouch that the roads were very bad in places!
Check out our in-depth Kampot Travel Guide (coming soon) for more information about what to do, where to eat and where to stay.



7th Stop = Phnom Penh
Recommended stay: 1-3 days
- Having now visited all the must-see locations in Cambodia, you now return to Phnom Penh to mop up anything you didn’t get to do the first time around OR do again.
- This will also provide you with valuable relaxing time and to catch up on some sleep before your next adventure or flight home. As a result, this maybe an ideal time to stay in a comfortable hotel if, like us, your social battery dies.
- Conversely, this could be your last ever few nights out in Cambodia so why not make the most of it?!
How to get Phnom Penh from Kampot:
- We’d recommend taking the bus from Kampot to Phnom Penh as numerous bus companies operate this journey.
- Prices range from $6-$8 per person.
- Travel time is roughly 3-3.5 hours
- Departure times are normally: 7am; 7:30am; 8am; 8:30am; 9:15am; 9:30am; 10:30am; 12pm; 12:30pm; 1:30pm; 1:45pm; 2pm; 2:30pm; 3:30pm; 4pm; 4:30pm; 4:45pm; 5pm; 5:45pm & 6pm.
Onward Travel:
As a result of each respective government’s Covid-19 containment strategy, land borders between Cambodia and Thailand, Vietnam & Laos have been closed. That has meant the only way in and out of the country has been by plane at the heavily controlled Phnom Penh airport. Cambodia’s borders with Thailand and Laos are still currently close (as of March 2022) but there have been recent murmurings that these land borders will open in the near future so watch this space.
Conversely, the Cambodia-Vietnam border has recently opened but securing a Vietnam visa at the border has been particularly difficult for some foreign nationals. Buses are now running between Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City; just be wary of being scammed as guards are working with bus drivers to coax foreigners out of more money just to have their passports returned.
Obviously, the route out of Cambodia depends entirely on your arrival and departure locations which, in turn, are impacted by the land border situation. If you’re entering from Thailand, we’d recommend starting in Battambang before ending in Phnom Penh; from here you can then fly or take the bus to Vietnam.
Conversely, if you’re arriving from Vietnam and then heading into Thailand, due to the closed Cambodia-Thailand land border, we’d recommend doing the route above and then flying from Phnom Penh to your destination in Thailand.
Is one month in Cambodia too much time? Why not check out our Perfect Two Week Itinerary for Cambodia in 2022 to make sure you visit Cambodia’s main attractions?
There you have it, The Perfect Month Itinerary for Cambodia in 2022; outlining where you need to visit and how long to stay in each place. Make sure to let us know what you think of our recommendations in the comments below!
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Disclaimer: Some of the links included on our website may contain affiliate links. We may receive some commission from purchases made via these but it will NOT affect the price you pay. This is to allow this site to stay online and ensure that readers use, what we believe, is the best products possible whilst travelling.


48 Comments
Gloria
I was in Cambodia ages ago and plan to go back sometime, so happy to read tips about visiting now
leahtierney14
We hope you had as good a time as we did!
Angela
I only managed a 4-night stay in Siem Reap during my trip to Cambodia and want to return one day to see more of the country so this itinerary is a perfect starting point.
leahtierney14
Glad we’ve been able to help Angela. We really enjoyed our time there alot!
Taylor
I wouldn’t know where to start in Cambodia- thank you Alex and Leah
leahtierney14
Glad we’ve been able to help Taylor! Let us know what you think when you visit.
Nina
I’ve always wanted to go to Kampot! Now I know what else to do along the way. Thanks!
leahtierney14
Great to hear we’ve been able to help Nina; Kampot is a must!
Ashlee Fechino
This is the perfect Cambodia Itinerary! Thanks for sharing. Someday, I would love to visit with a slow travel experience.
Krista
I would love to spend a month exploring Cambodia. There are so many historical places here that are on my list. Thanks for sharing your itinerary!
Erin
Looks like an amazing trip, and you have gorgeous photos! I have never been to Cambodia, and now I have some great ideas. Thanks so much for sharing!
leahtierney14
It has really surprised us how much we like Cambodia and we’d definitely recommend it. Glad we’ve been able to help Erin.
Lasma
Cambodia seems such a charming place! the territory and the temples are just stunning! thanks for this guide! I will definitely be inspired!
leahtierney14
It really is a beautiful place! Thanks for your kind words Lasma.
Alaina Thomas
I have not yet traveled to Cambodia, but it is definitely on my lise! Thanks for sharing this itinerary and tips.
leahtierney14
Glad we’ve been able to help Alaina; Cambodia is definitely worth visiting, even for only two weeks.
Venaugh
Sucha great itinerary, it’s always so hard trying to figure out how to plan your time in a country abroad when you dont know much about it so I really appreciate this. Also, I really enjoyed the facts at the beginning, I can’t believe there are active landmines!
leahtierney14
Thanks Venaugh, you’re very kind. I know; we were just as shocked!
Megan
Relaxing in Battambang and then heading to Siem Reap to see the temple sounds like the perfect stops if I had a shorter time. Though it’s hard to choose because it all looks incredible!
leahtierney14
Battambang really surprised us, we loved it there.. we totally agree!
Lana
I absolutely love this itinerary, it really shows a mix to Cambodia! My favourite is definitely Koh Rong, I swam with the bioluminescent plankton and it was incredible!!
leahtierney14
Really glad the itinerary has been useful Lana! Seeing the plankton was also a great favourite of ours, so pretty!
Jami
Thank you for this! Cambodia is tops on my travel list- Angkor Wat is a big reason why. I’m so glad to have the information about what else we should see. I doubt we’ll have a month but fingers crossed!
leahtierney14
So glad we’ve been able to help Jami; Angkor Wat is definitely a must-visit! You can still see everything in Cambodia in two weeks if that’s all the time you have? Do drop us a message if you need any further tips on Cambodia!
Amy
So many great things to do and see! What are the must dos if you only have 2 weeks?
leahtierney14
Angor Wat definitely; the Koh Rong Islands are beautiful and Kampot is a hidden gem… the hustle and bustle of Phnom Penh is great too!
Wayfaring Munchkin
Like a few others, I’ve been to Cambodia but that was more than a decade ago. The photos you took show a different Cambodia than the one in my hazy memory. Might revisit just to jog my memory and retread my old itinerary.
leahtierney14
It’s absolutely worth visiting again! Hopefully, Cambodia has come a long way since you last visited.
Melissa
Such a detailed itinerary, thank you! I always find that the tiny transportation details are the hardest to figure out, so knowing this info is so helpful
leahtierney14
Thanks for your kind words Melissa; glad we’ve been able to help.
Hannah
Great and detailed itinerary! I have never really thought to go to Cambodia but I definitely want to go to Thailand (because my mom was a flight attendant and was stationed there back in the day, and I love Thai food). I should consider a stop in Cambodia too!
leahtierney14
Thank you Hannah. You should definitely take time to visit, even if it is for a couple of weeks. We’re currently in Thailand now and its amazing; the food here is so nice (and affordable).
kmf
This is a great guide and itinerary on how to spend a month in Cambodia. It’s such a beautiful country.
leahtierney14
Thank you so much, really appreciate your kind words. It is honestly a beautiful country and well worth visiting.
Gaynor
Siem Reap definitely peaks my interest. It’s a pity you guys were disappointed with the accommodation:-(
leahtierney14
It was a really amazing city! I know, hopefully others won’t make the same mistake as us!
Shafinah
This makes me miss Cambodia so much – absolutely gonna take this as a sign to return! 😭
leahtierney14
You should definitely go back; we really enjoyed our time here.
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Kat
Oh my gosh this is so amazing!! I have only heard of Siem Reap and Angkor Watt before when I’ve looked into Cambodia travel. Thank you for sharing, there is so much more to see!
leahtierney14
Thanka for your kind words Kat; it shocked us how much more there was to see in Cambodia as well!
Anushka
This is the perfect month long itinerary for Cambodia, I would love to go and spend a month there 🙂
leahtierney14
Thanks Anushka, that’s really kind of you to say!
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