Cambodia gives you one of the great wonders of the world, the temples of Angkor, plus a moving, fast-changing capital, warm people and very low prices. This 5 day Cambodia itinerary spends three days around Angkor from Siem Reap and two in Phnom Penh, and shows exactly what it costs in your own currency.
See every price in your money. Pick your home country below and all the costs on this page update instantly.
Quick facts before you book
Best time to go: November to February, the cool dry season, is the most comfortable. March to May gets very hot, and the June to October wet season is green and quiet but humid, with short downpours.
Daily budget: around 60 US dollars a day for comfortable mid-range travel, or about 38 US dollars a day on a tighter budget. The three-day Angkor pass is the one big fixed cost.
Visa: Indian passport holders need a visa, easily arranged as an e-visa online for about 30 US dollars, or as a visa on arrival at Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville airports for a similar fee. Both give a 30-day stay. Air arrivals also fill a free online e-Arrival card before the flight. Confirm the latest rules in the GlobeDude Explorer.
The route at a glance
Three days in Siem Reap for the temples of Angkor, then a short flight or bus to Phnom Penh for the Royal Palace and the country’s powerful recent history. A classic, well-trodden loop that needs no 4×4 and little planning.
Day by day
Day 1: Arrive in Siem Reap
Land and settle into Siem Reap, the laid-back town that is the gateway to Angkor. Ease in with pool time or a cheap spa to beat the heat, then head to Pub Street and the sprawling night market for dinner, a fish amok curry and a cold Angkor beer.
Day 2: Angkor Wat at sunrise
Start before dawn for sunrise over Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument on earth, as its towers reflect in the pond. Continue to the walled city of Angkor Thom and the Bayon, with its 200 giant stone faces, then finish at Ta Prohm, the temple wrapped in jungle roots. Buy the three-day Angkor pass, which covers all of this.
Day 3: Outer temples and a floating village
Drive out to the delicate pink carvings of Banteay Srei and the quieter, less-crowded outer temples. In the afternoon, take a boat through a floating village on the Tonle Sap lake, then catch a traditional Apsara dance show over dinner.
Day 4: Travel to Phnom Penh
Take a short domestic flight or a comfortable bus to Phnom Penh. Spend the afternoon at the glittering Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda, then stroll the riverside where the Tonle Sap meets the Mekong, and eat along Street 240.
Day 5: Phnom Penh history and fly out
Give the morning to Cambodia’s recent history at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Choeung Ek Killing Fields, sobering but important. Shop for silver and silk at the art deco Central Market, then head to the airport for your flight home.
What this trip actually costs
Per person for a mid-range trip. Pick your home country above and the flight row updates with live return fares from your nearest hub:
| Expense | Per person |
|---|---|
| Accommodation, four nights | 150 US dollars |
| Food | 70 US dollars |
| Transport, bus or flight | 70 US dollars |
| Angkor pass, tours and entries | 120 US dollars |
| Est. flights from your country | Pick your country above |
| Total for the trip, with flights | 410 US dollars |
Compare it to your income in the Salary Goes Furthest tool.
Where to stay
Stay near the Old Market and Pub Street in Siem Reap for easy evenings, and along the riverside (BKK1 or Daun Penh) in Phnom Penh. Both have excellent budget and mid-range hotels with pools. Find hotels in Cambodia on Agoda.
Getting around
In Siem Reap, hire a tuk-tuk driver for the day to tour the temples, it is cheap and flexible. Between cities, short domestic flights or air-conditioned buses both work. In Phnom Penh, use the PassApp or Grab ride-hailing apps.
Book ahead
Reserve a guided Angkor tour with a driver and a sunrise start to make the most of the three-day pass. Browse Angkor tours and day trips on GetYourGuide.
Stay connected
A travel eSIM gets you maps and ride-hailing the moment you land, and lets you fill the Cambodia e-Arrival card on the move.
Pay at the real rate: a Wise account helps you spend US dollars, which Cambodia uses everywhere, without markup. Cover the trip with SafetyWing, and compare flights to Siem Reap across dates.
Plan it your way
Build a custom day-by-day plan with the AI Itinerary Builder, and if you are weighing up the region, see our best countries in Southeast Asia guide.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for Cambodia?
Yes, but it is easy. Indian passport holders can get an e-visa online for about 30 US dollars, or a visa on arrival at the main airports for a similar fee. Both give a 30-day single-entry stay. Air arrivals also fill a free e-Arrival card online before the flight.
Is 5 days enough for Cambodia?
Yes for Angkor and Phnom Penh. Three days covers the temples properly and two the capital. Add two or three days if you want the beaches of Sihanoukville or the islands of Koh Rong.
How much does a Cambodia trip cost?
Around 410 US dollars per person for a mid-range five-day trip excluding international flights, covering hotels, food, transport and the three-day Angkor pass. It is one of the better-value trips in Southeast Asia.
What is the best time to visit Cambodia?
November to February, the cool dry season, is ideal for the temples. March to May is very hot, and June to October is wet but lush and much quieter, with lower prices.
This itinerary is AI assisted and reviewed before publishing. Costs, opening hours and visa rules change, so confirm current details before you book. Some links above are affiliate links that support GlobeDude at no extra cost to you.
