Cambodia forum

2 1/2 weeks in Cambodia or Cambodia/Laos/Vietnam

hudson

newbie
Posts: 4

We have a trip planned for 16 days and are trying to decide if it should be all Cambodia or try and combine Cambodia with some Laos or Vietnam highlights. Cambodia/Angkor Wat is the must do. Any advice?

#1 Posted: 3/12/2011 - 12:45
tyler

tuk tuk driver
Posts: 114
Located in:
Private message

I would stick to only Cambodia. There is a lot to see and do here and you only have 16 days. If Angkor Wat is a must then I am assuming that you enjoy history and temples... I bought a 3 day pass last year and the time was well spent. If you go to PP (2-3 days) Kampot (2 days), Sihanoukville (2-3days) and Siem reap (3 days) That will give you time to travel between each place and your 16 days are all gone!

#2 Posted: 3/12/2011 - 12:56
hudson

newbie
Posts: 4

Thanks very much - after reading some other posts/itineraries, the other possibility would be PP for 2 days, Angkor for 4 days or so and then head to Luang Prabang. It seems there are very mixed reviews of Sihanoukville, but Kampot does sound very nice. Does anyone know if you can fly from Siem Riep to Luang Prabang?

#3 Posted: 3/12/2011 - 16:15
busylizzy

under-employed
Posts: 1468
Located in:
Private message

You can fly Siem Reap to LP via Pakse. Check out Lao Airlines. They're a bit pricey though. http://www.laoairlines.com/flights/route-map.html

If you don't want to pay the expensive rates on Lao Air, then I would tend to skip and add the extra days on to Siem Reap (4 days), Phnom Penh (3-4 days) and Kampot (3 days). There is more to do in Siem Reap besides temples, and more to do in Phnom Penh aside from the Killing fields and S-21. For example, while in PP, go check out Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue centre. This ends up being a full-day trip through villages of PP in the back of a 4WD, into the countryside and the wildlife centre is very good. I did the tour with http://www.betelnuttours.com/ - ended up with a private tour with just the two of us that day.

Kampot is a nice place to explore and chill out, too. Plenty of day trips around if you're interested.

Enjoy the places that you do get to - don't rush it otherwise your trip becomes a blur of busrides!

#4 Posted: 3/12/2011 - 17:13

------------------------------
As you grow older, you'll find the only things you regret are the things you didn't do.
hudson

newbie
Posts: 4

That is hugely helpful and I guess I'm hearing the same message - stay with Cambodia and enjoy. Today is when I need to make final decision on primary flights in and out... So just to reconfirm, if the option for a 16 day trip is either enter /exit via PP or enter in PP and exist from HoChiMinh, what's the consensus?

#5 Posted: 4/12/2011 - 08:37
tyler

tuk tuk driver
Posts: 114
Located in:
Private message

In and out of PP...

#6 Posted: 4/12/2011 - 10:06
inspiredbyk-
rissi

tout
Posts: 68
inspiredbykriss

I would suggest pick one country and experience it. Appreciate the culture, the people and its countryside. Fluttering between countries to quickly can seem rushed and tiresome.

I stayed in Cambodia for 3 weeks and I wanted more!

#7 Posted: 21/12/2011 - 00:07

------------------------------
A mindful traveller, perpetual wander, part time meditator and newbie blogger