Cambodia in 10 Days: The Ultimate Travel Itinerary

A 10-day Cambodia itinerary is enough time to see Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, and a beach escape while keeping travel days manageable and costs reasonable for most budgets. In 10 days you can cover Angkor’s temples, Cambodia’s recent history, and island time on the Gulf of Thailand.

Think of this Cambodia 10 day trip in three parts: Siem Reap (4 days) for Angkor Wat and floating villages, Phnom Penh (3 days) for culture and history, and Kampot & Kep or Koh Rong (3 days) for riverside or island relaxation. Buses and minivans make overland travel straightforward, with most journeys costing $12–25 in 2026.

Daily expenses are pleasantly low compared with nearby Thailand. A budget traveller can get by on $35–50 per day, mid-range on $70–120, and luxury travellers from $200+, especially if adding boutique stays and private drivers. According to Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism, the country welcomed around 5.4 million international visitors in 2023 as tourism rebounded, so infrastructure is steadily improving while prices stay competitive.

Using the Hello app makes this Cambodia travel plan easier to follow: you can buy and activate a Hello eSIM before you land so you arrive connected, then use the expense tracking tools to keep on top of tuk-tuks, temple passes, and cash-only street food without losing track of your budget.

The best way to start a Cambodia 10 day itinerary is with three days in Siem Reap, giving you time to explore Angkor Wat at sunrise, visit lesser-known temples, and ease into Cambodian culture without rushing between sights. Siem Reap is compact, friendly, and easy to navigate by tuk-tuk.

Day 1 – Arrival & Siem Reap city
Morning: Arrive at Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport. A taxi or pre-booked shuttle into town is around $10–15 in 2026; tuk-tuks are slightly cheaper at $7–10. Check into your guesthouse, then stroll the Old Market (Psar Chaa) and Pub Street area.
Afternoon: Visit the Angkor National Museum ($12 entry) to understand Khmer history before you see the real temples. Many experienced travellers recommend this sequence because it makes Angkor’s carvings and symbolism far more meaningful.
Evening: Dinner near Pub Street – expect $3–5 for a local curry, amok, or lok lak in a casual restaurant, or $10–15 in a nicer bistro.

Day 2 – Angkor sunrise & small circuit
Pre-dawn: Tuk-tuk to Angkor Wat for sunrise (tuk-tuk daily hire $15–20; Angkor 1-day pass $37).
Late morning/afternoon: Continue the small circuit with Angkor Thom (Bayon), Ta Prohm, and Banteay Kdei. Drink plenty of water and plan a long lunch break to avoid the midday heat.

Day 3 – Big circuit or countryside
Morning: Explore farther-out temples like Pre Rup and Ta Som, or opt for a day trip to Phnom Kulen waterfall (group tour from $40–60 including transport).
Evening: Relax at a rooftop bar or enjoy a massage ($8–15/hour).

Using Hello here is handy: you can connect with a Hello eSIM for Cambodia, then log tuk-tuk and temple expenses in the app with AI receipt scanning instead of juggling paper tickets and notes.

The most rewarding way to round out Siem Reap in a Cambodia 10 day trip is to visit a Tonlé Sap floating village and then travel overland to Phnom Penh, seeing both rural and urban sides of the country. This keeps your Cambodia itinerary varied without overly long travel days.

Day 4 – Tonlé Sap & Siem Reap evenings
Morning: Head to a more ethical floating community such as Kompong Khleang or Kampong Phluk. Boat tours cost around $20–30 per person in 2026, often including hotel pickup. Tonlé Sap is Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake; according to regional tourism data it can expand up to four times in size between dry and wet seasons, which is impressive to see in person.
Afternoon: Return to town, shop for handicrafts at the Made in Cambodia Market, or visit APOPO Visitor Center to learn about mine-detecting rats (tickets about $6–7).
Evening: Farewell dinner – budget $5–10 for a good meal and a drink.

Day 5 – Siem Reap to Phnom Penh
Morning: Take a tourist bus or minivan to Phnom Penh (6–7 hours; $15–25, often including hotel pickup). Flights exist but are usually less budget-friendly for this short route.
Afternoon: Check into your Phnom Penh hotel and walk the Riverside (Sisowath Quay) promenade for sunset.
Evening: Try street food along the river – skewers, noodles, and desserts for $1–3 each.

This is a good point to let the Hello app help with multi-currency tracking and expense splitting if you are travelling with friends, especially as some floating village tours and buses are cash-only and paid in a mix of USD and riel.

Spending two full days in Phnom Penh is enough to cover the key historical sites, sample the growing café scene, and enjoy sunset on the Mekong while keeping your Cambodia travel plan emotionally balanced and logistically smooth. Many travellers describe Phnom Penh as intense but deeply important to understand.

Day 6 – Khmer Rouge history
Morning: Visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) when it opens (entry about $5–6; audio guide $3).
Afternoon: Tuk-tuk to the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center (Killing Fields), about 45 minutes from the city center (return tuk-tuk $15–20; entry around $6). These sites are sobering; plan time afterwards to decompress at your hotel.
Evening: Dinner along the river or on Street 240, where many socially responsible boutiques support local artisans.

Day 7 – Royal Palace & city highlights
Morning: Visit the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda (combined ticket around $10). The Silver Pagoda’s floor is famously covered in thousands of silver tiles.
Late morning: Explore the National Museum of Cambodia next door, home to some of the best-preserved Angkor-era sculptures, which complements what you saw in Siem Reap.
Afternoon: Coffee in BKK1 or a sunset drink at a rooftop bar overlooking the river.
Evening: Try a river cruise (from $10–20) for a relaxed view of the city lights.

Per Cambodia’s National Institute of Statistics, the capital region has seen a strong post-pandemic tourism recovery, so you’ll find plenty of modern cafés, international ATMs, and ride-hailing. Use Hello’s budget tracking to set a daily limit here, where it’s easier to splurge on shopping and dining than in smaller towns.

The most relaxing way to end a 10 day Cambodia itinerary is to spend your last three days in Kampot & Kep or on Koh Rong, swapping city noise for riverside sunsets or island beaches before returning to Phnom Penh to fly out. Both options are reachable in half a day by road and boat.

Option A – Kampot & Kep (quieter, riverside)
Day 8: Bus or minivan Phnom Penh → Kampot (3–4 hours; $10–15). Check into a riverside bungalow. Rent a scooter ($6–8/day) or hire a tuk-tuk to explore French-colonial Kampot town.
Day 9: Day trip to Bokor National Park, pepper farms, and sunset on the Kampot River (tours from $25–40).
Day 10: Morning in Kep for crab market and coastal walk, then return to Phnom Penh (4–5 hours) for your evening or next-day departure.

Option B – Koh Rong (livelier, beachy)
Day 8: Bus Phnom Penh → Sihanoukville (4–5 hours; $15–20), then speedboat to Koh Rong or Koh Rong Sanloem ($15–25 return).
Day 9: Snorkelling, boat trips with beach BBQs, or simply enjoying white-sand beaches.
Day 10: Boat back to Sihanoukville and bus to Phnom Penh.

Typical daily spending here is $35–60 (budget), $70–120 (mid-range), and $150+ (luxury) depending on activities and accommodation. This is also where being online with a Hello eSIM for Cambodia helps: island schedules change, so checking boat times and messaging guesthouses over data is much easier than relying on spotty Wi‑Fi.

Most travellers can plan a Cambodia 10 day itinerary around $350–1,200 total excluding flights, depending on their style, because accommodation, food, and transport remain affordable compared with many regional destinations. The key is understanding realistic daily costs and tracking them as you go.

Here’s a rough daily budget comparison for 2026:

Typical transport costs: intercity buses $10–25 per leg; tuk-tuks around town $2–4 per ride or $15–25 for a full day of temple-hopping; domestic flights (when used) typically $60–120 one way.

This is where the Hello app becomes a genuinely useful travel companion rather than just another app on your phone. You can:

• Use AI receipt scanning in riel or US dollars to log restaurant bills.
• Import bank statements or Gmail receipts to see your total spend across the entire Cambodia itinerary.
• Split tuk-tuks and tours with friends using multi-currency expense splitting and automatic exchange rates.

Set a trip budget in Hello before you go, then check the dashboard each night – it keeps your Cambodia 10 day trip on track without boring spreadsheet work.

Most travellers planning a Cambodia 10 day trip want to know if it’s enough time, how much they’ll spend, and whether they should focus on Siem Reap and Phnom Penh or squeeze in the islands too. With smart routing and realistic budgets, 10 days is a great first-timer itinerary.

Is 10 days enough for Cambodia?
Yes – if you focus on Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, and one extra region (Kampot/Kep or Koh Rong). According to Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism, the average length of stay is often under two weeks, so 10 days fits how many travellers already visit.

How much does a 10 day Cambodia itinerary cost?
Roughly $350–500 (budget), $700–1,000 (mid-range), and $1,500+ (luxury) per person in 2026, excluding international flights. This includes accommodation, food, intercity buses, and typical sightseeing like Angkor passes and museum fees.

Should I start in Siem Reap or Phnom Penh?
Most first-timers start in Siem Reap because it’s a gentler landing and Angkor is a highlight, then head south to Phnom Penh and the coast. Starting in Phnom Penh can work better if your flights are cheaper into the capital.

Do I need an eSIM or local SIM?
An eSIM from Hello is the easiest option: you can buy a data plan for Cambodia before you depart, activate it on arrival, and immediately order rides, message guesthouses, and navigate offline-friendly maps without searching for a SIM kiosk.

Is Cambodia safe for solo travellers?
Yes, overall Cambodia is considered safe for tourists, especially on the classic Siem Reap–Phnom Penh–Kampot/Koh Rong route. Use usual city precautions, avoid very late solo walks down dark alleys, and store valuables securely in guesthouse safes where possible.