Cambodia forum

Cambodia in 11 days - what to do in between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap?

koppeu

newbie
Posts: 2

Hey guys,

so here's the deal: I'll be travelling to Cambodia in March and I'm having 11 days to spend. I'm arriving in Phnom Penh and will be staying there for two nights. Then will eventually end up in Siem Reap and stay there for three nights. In between those two places, I have a week to spend around Cambodia and was hoping to get some input from you guys.

Since I wanna avoid excessive travelling from one place to another, I thought about visiting only one extra region during that time. I was thinking about Battambang and surroundings, but then a week seems a bit much...

The coast and beaches in the south seem attractive, but I'm still unsure, where to go. I'm dreaming of white, lonely beaches and daytrips into the jungle. Maybe see some waterfalls. Shianoukville sounded very touristy, but maybe there are other viable options? Is Krong Koh Kong a good base for beach- and hiking trips or is the city still too dangerous (as mentioned in some travel guides).

Budget is average. Definitely willing to spend on or the other extra dollar if that adds to the experience of an unforgettable holiday.

Alrighty, looking forwad to your input! Thanks so much for your help

Cheers
Marc

#1 Posted: 27/1/2011 - 02:21
carl73

newbie
Posts: 1

Having spent a few months there, I would highly recommend the beaches at the coast.
How are you arriving/departing from Cambodia? By air or overland? Because it'd be ideal to build places you want to visit into the general direction you're headed.

Sihanoukville in my opinion is not nearly as touristy as most other towns/cities. 20 mins out of Sihanoukville is Otres beach, where there is hardly a soul and plenty of those 'untouched beaches'. You can stay in a beachside bungalow for $10 a night there.
Ream National Park is a great place to spend the day, and you can book a boat at most places in town..the boat isn't luxury but it's an experience, with some great beaches - that's 13-15$ if I remember correctly.

I've spent 3 days in Battambang and that was plenty in my opinion.

Getting off the beaten track is appealing, but accommodation etc get's far more difficult then.

Unless you're going overland to Thailand - which can be done via Koh Kong.. or in the north at Poipet (horror stories are over, the road is sealed now), there are plenty of other options for beaches.. such as Kep or Kampot if they take your fancy..

Carl

#2 Posted: 27/1/2011 - 11:50
koppeu

newbie
Posts: 2

Hey Carl,

thanks for your reply! Unfortunately, I'm flying into Phnom Penh and will be flying out of Siem Reap, so there's no chance to line up the destinations ot one cosy trip. But I'm ok with the fact that I might have to travel back and forth - the coast does sound too appealing to miss!

So the boat trip you were mentioning - was that from Shianoukville or are there many options in most coastal towns?

Cheers
Marc

#3 Posted: 4/2/2011 - 21:04
AbigailatPe-
nhandInk

beach masseuse
Posts: 90

......If you find Sihanoukville too busy, take a boat out to Koh Russei from there (about $10 for a one way trip). There's a few places to stay on the island - my favourite is Koh Ru resort. Accommodation is pretty basic, but waking up on the beach and falling asleep to the sound of surf, with a day of lounging, swimming, reading and eating in between, is well worth a little less luxury.

#4 Posted: 7/2/2011 - 12:25

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