The Ultimate Cambodia Bucket List

Cambodia is a notorious hotspot for travellers from all around the world and there are multiple reasons why. Brimming with culture and extremely affordable, there is a whole host of things to do and see, and a plethora of like-minded people to meet. As a result, you’ll be silly not to include Cambodia on your travel itinerary if you’re visiting South East Asia.

As it’s located between, and effectively connects, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, Cambodia is an extremely popular destination for tourists. Included as part of the famous Banana Pancake trail, there is no shortage of places to see throughout Cambodia. 

Our Ultimate Bucket List for Cambodia will outline all the must-see places throughout Cambodia to ensure you get the most out of your visit. Whether this is watching the sunrise at Angkor Wat or exploring the picturesque beaches of Koh Rong island, there is something for everyone in Cambodia. 

Angkor Wat

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Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world and Cambodia’s most famous travel destination. Majestic and huge in size, Angkor Wat is UNESCO world heritage listed and one of the most important sites in South East Asia.  

Built at the height of the Khmer Empire the ancient temples of the Angkor Archeological Park date back to the 9^th century. The largest and the most famous of the temples, Angkor Wat is especially dramatic at sunrise.  

Bayon Temple is another impressive monument best known for the four-sided images of the Buddha carved in stone that welcome visitors from all directions. Bantay Srei impresses with its intricate stone carvings but the most mysterious of the temples of Angkor is the jungle temple, Ta Prohm. Made famous by the film “Tomb Raider”, the stone walls of Ta Prohm are slowly being reclaimed by the trees and huge tree roots wind themselves around the ancient stonework of the crumbling temple walls. 

Set amongst the rice fields and rainforests of northern Cambodia, the Temples of Angkor Wat can be found near the town of Siem Reap. You can fly directly to Siem Reap’s international airport or to the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. For overland travel, a network of buses connects the country. 

Visiting the main Temples of Angkor Wat is usually done in 2 separate day trips from Siem Reap and a three-day temple pass costs around US$62. Tuk-tuk tours can easily be arranged in Siem Reap. In two days you’ll see the highlights of Angkor Wat but you could easily spend a week exploring the area. 

Where to stay: Siem Reap: Onederz Hostel or Treeline Urban Resort

How to book: Via tuk-tuk driver

Price of activity: $62 for a 3-day pass

Bamboo Train

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Taking the bamboo train in Battambang will be one of the highlights of any trip to Cambodia. This is as long as you pick the right one. Until a few years ago, there was only the original. Now there are two, and that is causing some confusion for tourists.

The original, run by the locals, will be the authentic experience. It has been in service for more than 35 years.

When you arrive in Battambang, you’ll need to catch a tuk-tuk or moto taxi and head to the village of O Dambong on the city’s outskirts, about 3 miles (5 km) away.

At the “train station”, you will pay your driver directly for your ticket. The cost is $5 USD per person, but if you are in a larger group, you might be able to negotiate the price. The train operates during daylight hours every day of the year.

The bamboo train takes you through about 4.3 miles (7 km) of beautiful countryside, cruising at speeds up to 25 mph (40 km). You will be seated on a bamboo platform that holds up to 4 people and rests on two sets of train car wheels. A small motor powers it down the tracks.

The entire ride takes 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on the stops. One of the unique things about the bamboo train is that because it is a down-and-back ride, you will run into other trains along the route.  When this happens, one is removed from the tracks so the other can pass.

How often do you get to speed along tracks sitting on nothing but a flat piece of wood on wheels? It honestly feels a bit like riding a roller coaster, one without a seatbelt. The entire ride is exhilarating and an experience you shouldn’t miss. 

Where to stay: Battambang: The Place Hostel or The Sanctuary Villa

How to book: Via tuk-tuk driver or book a tour of Battambang

Price of activity: $5pp

Bokor National Park

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Kampot has gained popularity among international travellers in Cambodia. Not only is this due to some of the off-the-beaten-path things to do in the country but also because of its relatively strategic location for those travelling around Indochina. 

The city is only around 2 hours by car from the Vietnam-Cambodia border, and you can easily reach the city in approximately three/four hours from Phnom Penh. The Bokor National Park is one of the many activities you should include in your Kampot itinerary.

Situated around 30 minutes from the city centre, you can book a tour from your hotel/hostel for around $15. Alternatively, you can rent a motorbike to explore the national park independently. If you’re a budget-friendly traveller, joining the tour might be cheaper as it’s a half-day tour and you get to visit five of the park’s main spots. 

The first spot is Lok Yeay Mao Monument. The huge statue of the Goddess that is believed by the locals as the protector of the forest and coasts around Kampot Province.

Not so far from where the statue stands, you can also stop by the abandoned palace, Veang Khmao. It used to be the Cambodian royal family’s summer residence during the 1960s. The area was also known as a popular resort and casino for the French colonists decades ago. 

You can also visit the Buddhist monastery at Wat Samprov Pram and Bokor Old Church. These sites actually lost their function during the infamous Khmer Rouge era. The national park was once totally abandoned during this era before they finally restored the historical buildings, including the casino, a few years ago. 

Where to stay: Kampot: Karma Traders or Rikitikitavi

How to book: Through your accommodation or tuk-tuk driver

Price of activity: $15pp

Killing Fields

Located on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, the Killing Fields are a must-do for anyone who visits Cambodia. In order to understand the true history and culture of the Khmer people and Cambodia, it is important to educate yourself on their past.

Warning: The Killing Tree and surrounding mass graves are extremely upsetting when you think about what they represent and how recent everything took place. 

You can visit both the S21 Museum and the Killing Fields all in one day. Admittedly, it makes for a very heavy day so make sure to relax in the evening.

Tuk-tuk drivers know this as well so you can hire a tuk-tuk driver to take you to both places on the same day. We did this and it cost us about $15-$20 for the whole trip.

This private Viator Tour includes both the Tuol Sleng and Killing Fields and is ideal for those who don’t have much time. If you do opt for this option be sure to tip the guides at the S21 Museum as they are all directly linked to the tragedy.

Where to stay: Phnom Penh: Mad Money or PAVILION

How to book: Via tuk-tuk driver or online here

Price of activity: $15-20pp

Battambang Phare circus

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If you’re looking for a top night out in Cambodia then why not head to the Circus?

The Phare Ponleu Selpak Circus is famous for fun and exciting performances with a strong element of drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The circus performances include traditional Cambodian music and dance with stunning costumes and long-established routines. This is all alongside new choreography that reflects the lives of the young performers.  

The Phare Circus is a great night out and it also benefits the local community. 

Based in the regional city of Battambang, the Phare Circus is a private organization that trains disadvantaged young Cambodians in the performing arts. The circus program gives the students an opportunity to develop their talents through top-level tuition in circus skills, music, and dance.

In the program, they learn from professional acrobats, trapeze artists, tightrope walkers, dancers, and musicians. Moreover, the regular circus performances are an incentive for the younger students to train hard and develop their talents. It’s an exciting program that has changed the lives of many young Cambodians with limited opportunities in life.

The Phare Circus is one of many fun things to do in Battambang. Performances take place twice a week on Thursdays and Saturday evenings from 7-8PM. You can also catch a Phare performance in Siem Reap. 

Where to stay: Battambang: The Place Hostel or The Sanctuary Villa

How to book: On the day or reserve online

Price of activity: $

The Royal Palace

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Home to Cambodia’s Royal Family, including the current King Sihamoni, the Royal Palace is one of the best things to do in Phnom Penh.  Understandably, half of the palace is closed off to tourists.

Despite this, the parts that are open are well worth the visit due to their spectacular architecture. The buildings within the ground are closely reminiscent of the palaces in Thailand, with beautiful, ornate detailing and numerous monuments.

One particularly impressive monument is the famous Silver Pagoda. There are sterling silver floors, marble staircases, and between 2,086 and 9,000 diamonds, depending on who you ask.

The throne hall is also open to the public and is a stunning room to visit. There is also a small room nearby where you can view a collection of King Sihamoni’s outfits.

The palace itself is conveniently located right in the heart of Cambodia’s largest city, Phnom Penh, so it won’t be hard to make your way there.  

It is also worth noting that the Royal Palace is an important place in Cambodia and visitors are expected to dress modestly. Visitors, especially foreigners, are likely to be turned away for wearing garish or revealing clothing.

The fee for entrance is $10 USD which is a little overpriced considering how affordable everything else is in Cambodia. If you are on a very strict budget this might be hard to justify, but if you can afford it the Royal Palace should definitely be on your itinerary.

You’ll want to explore the grounds and get close to the detailing. Alternatively, viewing the grounds from outside the gates is another option.

Where to stay: Phnom Penh: Mad Money or PAVILION

How to book: You can purchase your ticket at the entrance.

Price of activity: $10pp

Koh Rong Boat Tour

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Cambodia is in Southeast Asia, with loads of stunning beaches and amazing islands. If you have limited time, Cambodia is one of the best countries to visit during a two-week exploration of Southeast Asia.

The island of Koh Rong is located in the south of Cambodia and is covered with white sandy beaches, magnificent corals, diverse marine animals, and crystal clear water. Apart from its undeniably pristine beaches, the best way to explore this part of the country is by boat tour should you not have enough time to visit.

Local boatmen and tour agencies organize boat tours that features Koh Rong’s best attractions. This includes fishing, island hopping, snorkelling, waiting for the sunset, and finding those unique bioluminescent plankton. The tour usually starts around midday and the itinerary includes visiting a few islands.

Don’t get confused between Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem as they’re two different islands despite being situated in the same vicinity. Your boat tour also includes a visit to Samloem which is an amazing location for beach-seekers.

There are numerous ways to get to Koh Rong. The majority of visitors take a bus from Phnom Penh or an overnight bus from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville. It is here where you can get a short ferry to Koh Rong. The only way to travel between Kampot and Koh Rong is via taxi as the roads and so bad and there wasn’t demand during the pandemic.

You can actually book a boat tour from Sihanoukville without staying in Koh Rong or get on the tour from Koh Rong island itself. Depending on what’s included, the boat tour usually costs between $10-$25 and lasts for an entire day. There are a lot of tour agencies both in Sihanoukville and Koh Rong or you can book a tour online. 

Where to stay: Koh Rong: Nest Beach Club or BeachWalk

How to book: Either from the ticket office in Sihanoukville or on Koh Rong Island from Nest.

Price of activity: $10-25pp

Bat Caves

The bat caves in Battambang were one of our favourite activities and should be on everyone’s Cambodia bucket list.

We booked our trip via our accommodation at The Sanctuary Villa but if you ask any of the tuk-tuk drivers around the Battambang area, they will happily take you. We were very fortunate to meet our driver Sam who was super friendly and told us everything we wanted to know about the area. If you’re visiting Battambang, make sure to contact Sam on +855 87 226 973.

There are two locations you can view the bats and if you are able to climb a small hill to the lookout spot, you will not regret it! Alternatively, there is a car park at the base of the mountain where the bats do fly over and this tends to be where the prebooked tours take you.

We paid $15 for the both of us but you might be able to haggle that price down a bit.

You get driven, by tuk-tuk, to the historical landmark of Phnom Sampov where you’ll perch on the cliffside before sunset.

The sunset itself was breathtaking and our driver spent the evening pointing out parts of the landscape as you can see for miles.

Once the sun sets, thousands upon thousands of bats will emerge from the cave. The event lasts for nearly an hour and was amazing to watch.

It really is a beautiful sight and the only other must-view in Battambang. Make sure to brace yourself for the stench of bat poo; it really is quite something! 

Where to stay: Battambang: The Place Hostel or The Sanctuary Villa

How to book: Via accommodation or driver

Price of activity: $15

Koh Ta Kiev

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If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life in Cambodia, then head straight for the paradise island of Koh Ta Kiev! It’s a tiny place, less than 7km² in area! There are only a few small villages here too which means not very many people live here.

There is no WiFi, and the power is limited so immerse yourself in the beaches and snorkel in the pristine waters. Make sure to trek through the small jungle but ultimately this is a great place to wind down. There aren’t many places left like this in the world, so visit now before the beauty of Koh Ta Kiev is spoiled by mass tourism. There are no ATMs, no rowdy pub crawls and no Ubers; just pure peaceful bliss and natural beauty.

You can take a direct boat from Otres Beach on Sihanoukville and is best to book via your accommodation on Koh Ta Kiev. Tickets cost $13pp or you can take a day trip boat that includes snorkelling and lunch; just ask them to drop you off on the island and pick you up a few days later!

We’d highly recommend booking your accommodation in advance because there are very limited options on the island. Expect to pay around $10 pp, per night and remember that the rooms will be basic. Think wooden huts, bucket showers and generator power that’s turned off in the early evening. Don’t let this put you off though! The vibes, the people, and the sunsets will make it incredibly hard to find anything to complain about!

Koh Ta Kiev is truly a special place that you cannot miss on your trip to Cambodia!

Where to stay: Koh Ta Kiev

How to book: Via accommodation

Price of activity: $13 for a boat tour

Phnom Penh Night Market

The famous Phnom Penh night market is located right in the centre of the city near to the riverfront.

It is open every night over the weekend and is bustling with locals and tourists alike. It is an ideal spot for souvenir shopping and the perfect place to try some of Cambodia’s street food. This is another bucket list item altogether!

The market has hundreds of stalls so if you are looking for the perfect pair of elephant trousers or Gucci pyjamas, the night market is the place to go!

Where to stay: Phnom Penh, Mad Money or PAVILION

Price of activity: Free

Pub Street

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Whether you’re visiting Siem Reap for one day or staying for weeks at a time, making a stop at Pub Street must be on your Cambodia bucket list. 

Pub Street (also called “Street 08”) is essentially Cambodia’s answer to Bangkok’s famed backpacker haven, Khao San Road.

From 5pm onwards, this street is transformed into the buzzing nightlife district. As the road is closed to motor traffic, street vendors offer killed street food, whilst bars offer beer pong and throbbing music. To top it off, massage parlours offer $5 deals that include a beer and foot massage!

Even if you’re not in the mood to eat or drink, it’s the perfect place to watch street performers or people watch in general. There is even the opportunity to have fish nibble at the dry skin on your feet in a tank of water.

Although Siem Reap is one of Cambodia’s main tourist attractions, the city itself isn’t very large. To explore Pub Street, simply call one of the omnipresent tuk-tuks and ask them to take you to “Pub Street” or even “Bar Street”. From here, you can explore the frenetic street packed with bars, restaurants, and nightclubs.

Try and visit Pub Street during happy hour, where you can get a beer for as little as $0.50! Even if you don’t come during happy hour, you can usually score pretty cheap bottles of Angkor, Cambodia’s national beer.

Where to stay: Siem Reap, Onederz Hostel or Treeline Urban Resort

Price of activity: Free to walk down and cheap to drink!

Swim with bioluminescent plankton

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We’ve all seen the videos on TikTok talking about the infamous “Sea of Stars” in the Maldives, but did you know you can experience something very similar in Cambodia? 

On the island of Koh Rong, located around 25km from the coast of Sihanoukville, your dreams of seeing something avatar-like will come true. 

There are five ferry companies operating boats from Sihanoukville, so getting to Koh Rong Island is no challenge. Each trip costs around $20 and is roughly 45 minutes long. 

This natural phenomenon is only visible at night, in places where there is little to no light pollution. Watch the sea light up with star-like bioluminescent plankton as you swim and swirl in the water. 

One of the best spots to swim with the plankton is on Coconut Beach, which is only a 30-minute boat ride from Koh Touch, the main tourist area on Koh Rong. You can walk it, but it will take you around 2 hours. If you are looking to unplug on Koh Rong, then you may want to stay on Coconut Beach and save yourself the journey.  

Many people choose to observe the plankton from the shoreline on Long Set Beach, but the best way is up-close and personal. 

If you do decide to swim in the water, you need to keep your wits about you and be wary of other marine life such as jellyfish or octopus. 

Although you are able to swim with the plankton independently, it is a very popular option to take one of the many tours and trips that are available, in particular, the snorkelling trips.  Tours range from £5-20 and some even include snorkelling, fishing, BBQs, and a sunset. 

Where to stay: Koh Rong, Nest Beach Club or BeachWalk

How to book: Through accommodation

Price of activity: $10-25pp

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FAQ for Cambodia

How long should you spend in Cambodia?

Two weeks is thought to be the ideal amount of time to stay in Cambodia. This gives you enough time to see all the highlights of the country, without feeling too rushed. Check out our Two Weeks in Cambodia Itinerary to see a great route around the country.

That being said, you can easily spend longer in Cambodia. We actually spent a whole month in Cambodia and felt it was the perfect amount of time. We were able to see everything we wanted but also got the chance to relax when we needed. If you want to spend longer in Cambodia, make sure to check out The Perfect Month Itinerary in Cambodia.

Where is the best place to stay in Cambodia?

If you are looking to go on day trips instead of traveling around Cambodia, the perfect base for your trip would be either Phnom Penh or Siem Reap. Both of these cities have great transport links to other locations around the country and have plenty of things to do!

When is the best time to go to Cambodia?

The best time to go to Cambodia is between May and November. This is when the country gets the least amount of rain and the temperatures aren’t too hot.

Cambodia tends to be quite hot and humid all year round so as long as you don’t visit during the rainy season, the temperature is likely to be the same.

We visited Cambodia in February and while we found it extremely hot, the weather wasn’t unbearable and we had a great time!

Is Cambodia safe?

While Cambodia is considered a very safe country it is probably the country where we personally saw the most crime.

We didn’t have any issues ourselves and found it safe to walk around. However, we met several people during our time in Cambodia that had been robbed of all their belongings.

Be vigilant, and keep a close eye on any valuables and you shouldn’t have an issue.

Check out our Top Tips for Travelling Cambodia for some more tips on how to stay safe in Cambodia.

Can you drink the water in Cambodia?

Generally in Cambodia, tap water isn’t safe to drink but this does vary in different areas. To be safe, we would recommend drinking only bottled water or buying a filtered water bottle.

Where to go after Cambodia?

Cambodia is a great starting point to explore the rest of Southeast Asia. You can cross the land border and go on to either Vietnam, Laos or Thailand.

What should I avoid in Cambodia?

The only area in Cambodia I would say to avoid would be Sihanoukville. While it used to be a huge tourist destination, it is now mainly just a building site and has an increasing crime rate.

It is safe to go in order to access the islands but we would recommend avoiding an overnight stay if possible.

Can I book a tour of Cambodia?

While you cant book a tour of the whole of Cambodia (as far as we know)! There are some popular tours within Cambodia:

• Sunset Cruise
• Phnom Penh Full Days Private Tours
• Full-Day Angkor Wat Sunrise Private Tour
• The Killing Field and Toul Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) Tour

If you are planning on booking a tour online for S21, please be sure to donate to the museum itself.

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We hope some of these bucket list activities in Cambodia have given you an idea of some of the amazing things to do during your stay in the country.

We really enjoyed our time in Cambodia and we are sure you will too!

Let us know in the comments what your favourite things to do in Cambodia are and if we have missed anything.

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Check out our other posts on Cambodia and other countries in south-east Asia!

• Pai Canyon: A Complete Guide to Northern Thailand’s Most Epic Sunset Spot
• What to Pack for Cambodia: The Ultimate Packing List for Every Traveller
• How to Get to Koh Rong: The Ultimate Travel Guide to Cambodia’s Paradise Islands
• Where to Stay in Siem Reap: Best Areas & Hotels for Every Budget
• The 11 Best Brunch and Breakfast Spots in Siem Reap