Cambodia – Personal Travel Studio

Cambodia is a country that can surprise you.

Most people immediately think of Angkor Wat, and there’s no question that the temples around Siem Reap are extraordinary, but Cambodia has much more to offer than its most famous sight.

There’s the energy and history of Phnom Penh, journeys along the Mekong, smaller towns and rural communities, beautiful landscapes and a wonderfully warm welcome.

It’s also a destination that works particularly well as part of a longer Southeast Asian journey.

Phillip has spent time in Cambodia, including stays in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, and we also regularly arrange river cruises through Cambodia and Vietnam.

For us, travelling along the Mekong is one of the most interesting ways to experience this part of Asia.

Our travels in Cambodia

Cambodia is somewhere Phillip has experienced on several stops, and what stands out is just how much variety there is beyond the headline sights.

Siem Reap is the obvious starting point.

Nothing really prepares you for the scale of the temples around Angkor. You might arrive thinking primarily about Angkor Wat, but once you start exploring, you realise you’re discovering an enormous historic landscape rather than a single temple.

Phnom Penh provides a completely different experience.

It’s busy, fascinating and sometimes challenging. Cambodia’s recent history is an important part of understanding the country, but Phnom Penh also shows you a modern capital moving forward, with restaurants, hotels, markets and life along the river.

Then there’s the Mekong.

Rather than simply flying between Cambodia and Vietnam, travelling by river allows the journey itself to become part of the holiday.

And that’s something we particularly like.

Why we love Cambodia

Cambodia brings together experiences that feel very different from one another, yet work naturally within the same holiday. A few days around Angkor can lead into time in the capital, a journey through the countryside or a slower passage along the river.

The contrast is part of the appeal. There is room for extraordinary architecture and important history, but also for markets, meals, conversations and afternoons without a packed programme.

We like the way Cambodia encourages you to look beyond the famous photograph. The temples may be the reason you first consider visiting, but the country deserves time beyond them.

For travellers combining several countries, Cambodia can bring a different rhythm to the journey.

The key is allowing enough time in each place to appreciate what makes it distinctive.

Our Cambodia Picks

These places and experiences offer different ways to build a Cambodia holiday. Some suit a first visit, while others can add depth to a longer itinerary.

Siem Reap and the temples of Angkor

Siem Reap is the gateway to one of Asia’s greatest historical experiences.

Angkor Wat is the name everybody knows, and seeing it for yourself is one of those genuine travel moments.

But don’t stop there.

The wider Angkor complex contains temples, ruins and ancient landscapes that deserve more than a hurried visit. Different sites have completely different personalities, from grand architectural statements to atmospheric ruins where nature has gradually reclaimed the stone.

It can be tempting to try to see absolutely everything. We wouldn’t.

Temple fatigue is real!

Give yourself enough time to explore properly, but also allow time to enjoy Siem Reap itself. There are some lovely hotels, excellent restaurants, markets and plenty of opportunities to slow down after a day amongst the temples.

For us, that balance makes a big difference.

Siem Reap and the temples of Angkor

Siem Reap is the gateway to one of Asia’s greatest historical experiences.

Angkor Wat is the name everybody knows, and seeing it for yourself is one of those genuine travel moments.

But don’t stop there.

It can be tempting to try to see absolutely everything. We wouldn’t.

Temple fatigue is real!

For us, that balance makes a big difference.

Phnom Penh

Cambodia’s capital tells another part of the country’s story.

Phnom Penh sits at the meeting point of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers and combines busy streets, markets, historic buildings, temples and a growing restaurant and hotel scene.

It is also where many visitors begin to understand Cambodia’s much more difficult recent history.

Visits connected with the Khmer Rouge period can be incredibly moving and aren’t necessarily easy experiences, but they provide important context to the Cambodia you see today.

We’d balance those experiences carefully.

Spend time understanding the history, but also experience modern Phnom Penh, walk along the riverfront, explore the markets, enjoy a good restaurant and see a city that is very much alive and looking forward.

Phnom Penh

Cambodia’s capital tells another part of the country’s story.

Phnom Penh sits at the meeting point of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers and combines busy streets, markets, historic buildings, temples and a growing restaurant and hotel scene.

It is also where many visitors begin to understand Cambodia’s much more difficult recent history.

Visits connected with the Khmer Rouge period can be incredibly moving and aren’t necessarily easy experiences, but they provide important context to the Cambodia you see today.

We’d balance those experiences carefully.

Cambodia by river

This is one of our favourite ways to incorporate Cambodia into a wider Asian journey.

A Mekong river cruise allows you to travel between Cambodia and Vietnam at a wonderfully different pace.

Instead of airports and repeated hotel changes, you unpack once and allow the scenery and everyday life along the river to come to you.

Smaller communities and rural landscapes become part of the experience, alongside the major destinations.

We arrange these journeys regularly and receive particularly good customer feedback about Scenic, which operates luxury Mekong journeys combining Cambodia and Vietnam.

A particularly appealing journey can bring together Siem Reap and Angkor, Phnom Penh, the Mekong and Ho Chi Minh City.

It creates a natural progression through two countries rather than treating them as separate holidays.

Cambodia by river

This is one of our favourite ways to incorporate Cambodia into a wider Asian journey.

A Mekong river cruise allows you to travel between Cambodia and Vietnam at a wonderfully different pace.

Instead of airports and repeated hotel changes, you unpack once and allow the scenery and everyday life along the river to come to you.

Smaller communities and rural landscapes become part of the experience, alongside the major destinations.

We arrange these journeys regularly and receive particularly good customer feedback about Scenic, which operates luxury Mekong journeys combining Cambodia and Vietnam.

A particularly appealing journey can bring together Siem Reap and Angkor, Phnom Penh, the Mekong and Ho Chi Minh City.

It creates a natural progression through two countries rather than treating them as separate holidays.

Battambang

Battambang offers another perspective on Cambodia, with historic streets, a riverside setting and surrounding agricultural landscapes. It can add a worthwhile stop for travellers interested in smaller cities and the countryside.

It is best considered when you have time to extend your journey, rather than squeezing it between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh simply to add another destination.

Battambang

It is best considered when you have time to extend your journey, rather than squeezing it between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh simply to add another destination.

Tonlé Sap

Tonlé Sap provides a different setting from the temples near Siem Reap. The lake and its surrounding communities reveal the close relationship between water and everyday life.

An excursion here should be chosen thoughtfully, with attention to the season, the community being visited and how the experience is organised. It can add context to a stay in Siem Reap without requiring another hotel move.

Tonlé Sap

Tonlé Sap provides a different setting from the temples near Siem Reap. The lake and its surrounding communities reveal the close relationship between water and everyday life.

The coast and islands

Cambodia’s coast and islands offer the possibility of a quieter finish after temples and cities. A few nights by the sea can work particularly well for travellers who want their holiday to include time to unwind.

The right choice depends on the atmosphere you enjoy, your accommodation preferences and the onward journey. Beach time works best when the transfers and travel dates fit comfortably into the wider trip.

The coast and islands

Things to do in Cambodia

Explore the temples at your own pace

Build temple visits around your interests, with time to pause and understand what you are seeing. A knowledgeable guide can help connect the architecture and history, while a manageable programme leaves room to appreciate each site.

Varying the length and pace of visits makes the experience more enjoyable than filling every available hour with another temple.

Discover the capital

Phnom Penh deserves time for both its history and its present. Combine guided sightseeing with markets, meals and a walk beside the river, rather than using the city only as an overnight stop.

For many travellers, a varied programme helps make sense of a capital whose different sides cannot be understood through one visit or one attraction.

Travel along the Mekong

River cruising suits travellers who enjoy watching landscapes change while keeping a comfortable base. Time on board becomes part of the experience, alongside the excursions ashore.

A Cambodia and Vietnam cruise holiday normally combines sailing with hotel stays and land transfers. The precise balance depends on the selected programme, so it is worth looking at the complete journey rather than the cruise alone.

Experience rural Cambodia

Allowing time outside the main urban centres can bring a different perspective to the holiday. Countryside excursions and community visits offer opportunities to learn about the places between the better known sights.

Choose visits that respect local people and give you time to listen, rather than treating communities as another quick sightseeing stop.

Make time for food and markets

Food is an enjoyable way to bring variety to a sightseeing holiday. Leave space for a relaxed restaurant meal or a guided introduction to a local market alongside the larger historical experiences.

You do not need to turn every meal into an organised activity. Sometimes an unhurried evening provides exactly the change of pace the itinerary needs.

Add time to relax

A holiday with early starts, guided visits and moving between destinations benefits from some breathing space. An afternoon at the hotel or a few nights on the coast can make the whole journey feel more balanced.

We would consider relaxation as part of planning the trip from the beginning, rather than something to fit in only if there is time left.

Cambodia FAQs

When is the best time to visit Cambodia?

Cambodia has a tropical climate, with distinct wetter and drier periods.

The cooler, drier months are naturally popular for exploring the temples and travelling through the country, although Cambodia can be visited at other times of year too.

If you’re considering a Mekong cruise, we’d look at your dates alongside the cruise programme and the wider Vietnam itinerary rather than considering Cambodia in isolation.

How long do I need in Cambodia?

For Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, we’d allow around five to seven nights. If you’re adding a Mekong river cruise or combining Cambodia with Vietnam, two weeks or more creates a much more complete journey.

Is Angkor Wat worth visiting?

Absolutely.

It’s one of those places that deserves its reputation. But Angkor Wat is only part of the experience, the wider temple complex is enormous and contains some equally fascinating sites.

How long should I stay in Siem Reap?

We’d suggest around three nights as a minimum, particularly if the temples are important to you. Trying to squeeze Angkor into a single rushed day doesn’t really do it justice.

Is Phnom Penh worth including?

Yes. It provides a completely different perspective on Cambodia from Siem Reap. The history can be difficult, but understanding some of it adds enormously to your experience of the country.

Is Cambodia good for river cruising?

Very much so.

The Mekong is one of the most interesting ways to experience Cambodia and combine it with Vietnam. You see smaller communities and landscapes you might otherwise miss, while travelling between destinations becomes part of the holiday itself.

Can I travel from Cambodia to Vietnam by river?

Yes, and it can make a fantastic journey. We particularly like itineraries that combine Siem Reap and Phnom Penh with a Mekong cruise continuing towards Ho Chi Minh City.

Which river-cruise company would you recommend?

We arrange Scenic on the Mekong and receive excellent feedback from our customers. It works particularly well for travellers looking for a more luxurious way to explore Cambodia and Vietnam while avoiding constant packing and hotel changes.

Is Cambodia suitable for a first trip to Southeast Asia?

Yes, although we particularly like it when combined with another destination.

Cambodia and Vietnam work exceptionally well together: ancient temples, fascinating cities, difficult but important history, wonderful food, local communities and the Mekong linking the whole journey.

For us, that’s when Cambodia becomes far more than a visit to Angkor Wat, it becomes part of one of Southeast Asia’s great journeys.

How much does a Cambodia holiday cost?

The overall cost depends on when you travel, the accommodation you choose, the length of your stay and how you move between destinations. Private touring and a luxury river cruise create different budgets, even when they include some of the same places.

It is useful to compare the complete holiday, including transfers, excursions and any meals or experiences included in the price. That gives a clearer picture than comparing hotel rates or cruise fares on their own.