Epic Cambodia in 7 Days: A Complete 1 Weak Itinerary to Temples, Islands & Hidden Gems”
Dreaming of misty temples, golden beaches, and vibrant street life? This 7 day Cambodia itinerary is your perfect guide to explore the country’s legendary highlights and secret corners. From sunrise at Angkor Wat to the floating villages of Tonlé Sap, buzzing Phnom Penh, and the tranquil islands of Koh Rong, every stop is packed with culture, flavor, and adventure. Whether you’re a history lover, foodie, or beach seeker, these expertly planned days help you experience Cambodia’s beauty without stress. Use our detailed schedule, travel tips, and insider recommendations to plan a trip that Google—and fellow travelers—will love to discover.
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The Perfect 1-Week Cambodia Itinerary
A week might seem insufficient to travel throughout Cambodia, but its charm lies in how effortlessly its heritage, towns, and landscapes fit into the experience. This 1-week Cambodia travel itinerary marries the national wonders with the everyday and local life, starting from the riverside in Phnom Penh, crossing Angkor’s infamous temples, and Phnom Battambang’s rustic beauty, finishing this itinerary in the colonial town of Kampot. This 7-day loop is packed with history, culture, and food for every type of traveler and offers a welcome Cambodia cooling rest.
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Days 1–2: Phnom Penh – The Heartbeat of Cambodia
Begin your trip in Phnom Penh. This is where the Mekong and Tonlé Sap Rivers converge. Enjoy the scenery and the balance the city has to offer. Experience the pop culture of the city by enjoying the modern rooftop bars and taking in the view of the golden pagodas and French colonial architecture. For more history, the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda, Independence Monument, the Killing Fields, and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum are a must. Finally, in the evening, you can enjoy a variety of activities in the Riverside District, where you can have a boat ride, enjoy the lively streets, and have a drink in the open-air cafes.
How to Get From Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
The most common mode of transport is the bus, which takes about six to seven hours, during which you get to see the rural parts of Cambodia. Alternatively, flights take under an hour, and private cars or vans give you the most freedom as the journey and timings are flexible.
Where to Stay in Phnom Penh
If you’re looking for a classic stay, there’s no better choice than Raffles Hotel Le Royal. A modern, stylish, mid-range alternative is the Plantation Urban Resort & Spa, which has beautiful leafy courtyards. For more community and social activities, backpackers enjoy Mad Monkey. For a simple stay, budget guesthouses along the riverside offer simple rooms, which provide spectacular views of the Mekong, and their location is within the city.
Street Food Guide in Phnom Penh
The city’s street food culture is a vital part of Phnom Penh. Enjoy a bowl of kuy teav noodle soup, a popular morning choice. For lunch, the Russian Market food stalls serve grilled skewers and freshly pressed sugarcane juice. After sunset, stalls serve amok fish curry, spring rolls, and fried noodles. These meals can be eaten in the central market, which is a lively place bustling with people.
- After spending two days in the capital, you can continue your seven-day Cambodia itinerary and head north to Siem Reap. You can choose to take the bus, which takes about six to seven hours, or take a domestic flight, which takes less than an hour. For groups, a private van is also a flexible option.
Days 3–4: Siem Reap – Gateway to Angkor
Siem Reap is Cambodia’s spiritual gateway. Although the tourist town offers charming leafy streets, lively markets, and riverside cafés, it’s the temples of Angkor that draw visitors to Siem Reap. Start with Angkor Wat at sunrise to marvel at the carvings of Vishnu and his celestial dancers as the first light of day turns them to gold. Then, explore Angkor Thom, and the Bayon Temple, whose stone faces follow you with their gaze, and Ta Prohm, where the jungle roots embrace the ancient stones. At night, the streets of Pub Street, lined with open-air bars, become the centre of the night festivities, with music and revelers spilling onto the streets.
How to Get From Siem Reap to Battambang
Take the overland route by bus or shared taxi for a three-hour direct journey. You will enjoy the sights of rice paddies and small towns. For a memorable, although slower, experience, take the boat ride over Tonlé Sap Lake to see floating villages and wildlife.
Where to Stay in Siem Reap
Belmond La Résidence d’Angkor provides classy accommodations by the river. For those on a budget, Lub d Siem Reap offers a sleek and modern hostel. More affordable, yet mid-range, hotels such as Lotus Blanc Resort will provide value, as well.
Street Food in Siem Reap
Markets serve a variety of tasty dishes like lok lak, a stir-fried beef dish, complemented by rice and a dipping sauce, and during the night markets, lacquered pancakes and grilled skewers. For those seeking more exotic tastes, try the fried insects; the refreshing fruit shakes will help quench your thirst.
- After you are done visiting the temples, the western loop will take you to Battambang. This bus and van ride will take roughly three to four hours. You can, during the right season, take a scenic boat ride on the Tonlé Sap Lake. This will take you past floating villages, providing a more leisurely pace.
Day 5: Battambang - Countryside Charm
Battambang is the artistic and agricultural heart of Cambodia, where French colonial streets meet rice fields and creative spaces. It is quieter than Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, and is perfect for a little slow pace. For a fun countryside ride, visit the Bamboo Train, then wander the art galleries, and explore the Phnom Sampeau caves, which have spiritual shrines and poignant wartime history. No other place offers the sunset over the rice paddies. Rural beauty and Battambang are rarely found elsewhere.
How to Get From Battambang to Kampot
It is a seven to eight-hour bus trip, and there is usually a transfer in Phnom Penh. For more comfort, you can hire a private van. For the more adventurous, there is a combination of buses and trains, which is scenic and longer.
Where to Stay in Battambang
You could choose from different hotels in Battambang. You could check out La Villa Battambang if you would like to stay in a boutique colonial hotel. If you would like a hotel to stay in if you are a bit more on a budget, you could check out Bambu Hotel, which is also a bit more towards the middle in budget hotels. Budget travelers and backpackers also enjoy Here Be Dragons hostel, which is a community-oriented hostel located on the riverside.
Street Food Guide in Battambang
Street food vendors serve you Khmer all-time classics like num banh chok, which is rice noodle soup, and also serve you some savory spring rolls. You can also find local markets that serve fresh tropical fruits, sticky rice, and grilled fish. These simple snacks are very satisfying, which reflects the countryside of Cambodia.
- From Battambang, you could head south to Kampot. Normally, you would go through Phnom Penh, and a bus or a minivan would get you to your destination in about 8 to 9 hours. It’s a bit longer, but worth it to head to Kampot for a break to complete your week's itinerary.
Day 6: Kampot – Riverside Colonial Town
Kampot is a small town on the banks of the Praek Tuek Chhu River, with the Bokor Mountains to the north and the French colonial town to the south. It is famous for the best pepper in the world and is a great place to chill. Feel free to walk the riverside promenade, take a bike to the salt fields and pepper plantations, and enjoy a sunset with a river full of drifting boats. It is all about the ambiance – slow, creative, and refreshing.
How to Get From Kampot to Siem Reap
It is a long bus ride of 10 – 12 hours with a transfer in Phnom Penh. Most people choose to break the journey in the capital for a night and move on the next day. This can be done with a bus or a flight. It is more convenient but also more costly to do private transfers.
Where to Stay in Kampot
You can enjoy the best food and stay at Rikitikitavi, a boutique riverside guest house. For mid-range prices, The Columns Hotel is a great place to stay. It offers colonial style and elegance. Budget travelers enjoy the Karma Traders Hostel, which is famous for its rooftop bar and is a backpackers’ hangout.
Street Food Guide in Kampot
Gastronomy embodies the riverside ecoscape. Delight in the taste of newly prepared crab from Kep seasoned with Kampot’s famous crab pepper. Riverbanks rice porridge, stir-fried morning glory, and sweet coconut desserts are available at the roadside stalls. There is something special about half of the riverine dining pleasures in the glow of luminous lanterns floating within the lanterns at night.
- Bus itineraries from Phnom Penh take about 4-5 hours, and most travelers will arrange their transport with the expectation of a final sunset at Angkor Wat. The route is long, with connections to Siem Reap, or allows the traveler to fly from Siem Reap. Most will arrange their transport from Phnom Penh to have a flighty connection, or a bus. Most travelers will take a bus from Phnom Penh, and expect their time to Siem Reap to have a final sunset at Angkor Wat.
Day 7: Angkor Wat – Cambodia’s Timeless Wonder
Return to Siem Reap for your final day and dedicate it fully to Angkor Wat. Even if you visited earlier in the trip, this last day lets you slow down and experience the temples with fresh eyes. Sunrise over Angkor is unforgettable, the towers mirrored in the lotus pond. Spend the day exploring smaller temples often overlooked by tourists, such as Banteay Srei with its intricate pink sandstone carvings. As the sun sets, climb Phnom Bakheng hill for panoramic views — a fitting farewell to Cambodia.
Where to Stay in Angkor (Siem Reap Base)
Reverting to using Siem Reap as a base is best. For a bit of luxury, there’s Belmond La Résidence d’Angkor. Mid-range travelers will be happy with Tara Angkor Hotel. Old Market is home to plenty of inexpensive guesthouses and hostels, not to mention the proximity to the temples. Very suitable for budget travelers.
Street Food Guide in Angkor/Siem Reap
When adventure meets comfort after hours of temple hopping, there is street food. Amok curry, grilled squid skewers, and fresh fruit shakes are just a few of the options. The Old Market is also a great place to finish your day with barbecued meat, dessert, and a week of discovery with Khmer sweets and desserts.
Yes—it’s very much possible to experience Cambodia’s highlights in 1 week, though the country does reward longer stays. This is a well-balanced itinerary, covering the cities, temples, and countryside, all within a week.
The highlights are Phnom Penh, Siem Reap with Angkor Wat, Battambang, and Kampot. Each place offers a different piece of the country’s history and culture.
Travelers can take a bus (6–7 hours), fly (under 1 hour), or take a privately booked transfer.
A minimum of 1 week is recommended, but 2 weeks will allow for additional, leisurely stops, like the coastal towns and national parks, and more relaxed travel overall.
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