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10 Days in Cambodia with Kids: The Perfect Itinerary

by Christie
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Koh Ker temple from 10 days in Cambodia trip
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Cambodia is one of those countries that captured my heart the moment we arrived. Despite a culture with a tragic past, the people were delightful, warm, and welcoming. We spent a total of 10 days in Cambodia as a multi-generational trip with our parents and daughter. I was pleasantly surprised at the diversity and beauty of each area. This comprehensive itinerary will allow you to see quite a bit of the country. We do tend to pack it all in, so if this isn’t your style feel free to customize to your liking. We’ve included some helpful suggestions along the way.

10 Days in Cambodia with Kids

This itinerary begins with the perfect introduction to Cambodia in Siem Reap. Explore and learn about the Angkor temples, discover life on the Tonle Sap at a floating village, and have a great night out along Pub Street. After Siem Reap you’ll continue on to more of the country venturing to far away places like Mondulkiri, Kampot and Koh Rong Sanloem. Come along on this journey with us and be inspired as you plan your trip here!

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In This Article
Traveling with Kids in Cambodia
Best Time to Go
Packing List for Cambodia
Angkor National Museum, Pub Street, Kompong Khleang Floating Village Tour
Angkor Wat Sunrise, Small Circuit Temple Tour, Pre Rup, Pub Street
Banteay Srei, Koh Ker, Beng Mealea, Phnom Bakheng Sunset
Siem Reap and Phnom Penh
Elephant Sanctuary and Nature Lodge in Mondulkiri
Kampot
Koh Rong Sanloem

Toddler and grandma riding in a tuk tuk in Cambodia

Taking in all of the exciting and new surroundings in Siem Reap

Traveling with Kids in Cambodia

If you’re a family reading this and on the fence about bringing your kids, I will say don’t hesitate. We found it to be quite a kid-friendly place despite the long and hot hours exploring the temples. It could get difficult without family around to help, but with some schedule adjustments you can definitely make it work. It also depends on your kids and what they can handle. With our daughter being quite the easy traveler, we can usually get more out of our day.

Helpful Tips

Overall, we recommend taking some time to visit the temples early in the morning, as it gets very hot and humid as the day goes by. Try to take a break in the afternoon to relax at your hotel and eat, then go back out to explore. We had limited time here, so there were some days we had to just keep moving onto the next site. This meant we moved a lot more slowly and took more breaks, but ultimately we still saw a lot of temples. Be willing to sacrifice any original plans with kids, you may not be able to fit as much as you had planned to!

Make sure to carry a lot of cold water and snacks. Our tuk tuk driver provided it after returning from the temples, but it’s also important to keep with you too. If you’re moving on to various parts of the country, there will be some long drives on the buses. Try booking seats towards the front, as they are cooler and more comfortable.

Sunset in the jungles of Mondulkiri Cambodia

Sunset from our jungle nature lodge in Mondulkiri

Best Time to Go to Cambodia

Cambodia has only two seasons divided into wet and dry. The wet season is typically from May to October and brings continual rain making travel more difficult to various areas. But it also has a lot less tourists with lower prices. If you’re planning to see a floating village on the Tonle Sap, this would be the time the homes would be truly submerged. However travel to Mondulkiri to visit an elephant sanctuary will be much more difficult, as road travel is not as safe. There are also more mosquitos during this time which increases risk for illness.

The dry season is usually from November through April. While we visited in February, we experienced very little rain. In Mondulkiri there was no rain at all, and barely any mosquitos in sight. Because the weather was more dry, overall it looked a lot less green. It was also high season for tourists, meaning costs were a lot higher. In the end it all depends on your preference, budget and itinerary.

Packing List for Cambodia

In an effort to be prepared for mosquitos and tropical humid weather, we did some research on what to pack. We felt most comfortable in loose-fitting and breathable clothes. For myself I wore a lot of maxi skirts, and harem pants. Our daughter wore a lot of sundresses and capri leggings. For men, just a t-shirt and shorts will do.

Because mosquitos are attracted to darker colors and floral patterns, I tried to wear lighter colored whites and neutrals, and stayed away from colorful prints and blacks. If you really want to be hardcore you can always wear a bug jacket.

Mosquito Repellent

I did a lot of research prior to the trip on best repellents to use on both adults and our daughter. Now after experiencing these products during the trip, we definitely vouch these Sawyer products. They were extremely effective at keeping away the mosquitos. Generally I’m pretty adamant about not using anything with chemicals, but made an exception to avoid any possible illness. We mostly used products with Picaridin, as they were safer to use on everyone. For our daughter we also used these really convenient wipes which made it easier to apply.

Comfortable shoes were also important as we did a lot of walking and exploring. I always swear by my Tevas and also my Supergas. Both are always much more comfortable for many hours of walking.

Other Important Items

Aside from these specific items for Cambodia, we also made sure to pack a full health kit for any ailment, charcoal pills to battle any sickness, and backup antibiotics in case of extreme illness. Of course don’t forget sunscreen to protect from the sun. We keep all our cash and valuables in a neck wallet, especially in bigger cities where snatching is more common. We also use an Osprey backpack that fits everything we need and allows us to carry-on only.

See more: How to Prep for Your Cambodia Trip

Busy Pub street during the daytime in Siem Reap Cambodia

Pub street life during the day

10 Days in Cambodia Itinerary: Days 1-4 in Siem Reap

The beginning of your 10 day journey in Cambodia starts in the ancient city of Siem Reap. Millions of tourists flock here every year to visit the Angkor temples. In this itinerary, you will see many main spots, as well as some off the beaten path temples. You can customize as you wish based on your travel style, but we typically pack more in.

Where to Stay in Siem Reap

Depending on when your flight arrives will determine what you do will do on your first day. Because our flight arrived later at night, we basically got to the hotel and relaxed, preparing ourselves for an early start the next day.

Mane Village Suites

There are so many great options for various budgets in Siem Reap. We ended up staying at Mane Village Suites, a mid-range option that was still a wonderful and comfortable stay. It had a great location, a nicely-sized suite which fit all five of us with so much room to spare. They had delicious Khmer cuisine with a nice outside bar near the pool. Included was free tuk tuk service to Pub street, just a quick 5 minute trip away. It was within walking distance from some great food options, and also not too far from the Angkor temples.

Bar and restaurant surrounded by greenery at hotel in Siem Reap

The gorgeous bar and restaurant area at Mane Village Suites

Other Hotel Options in Siem Reap

Golden Temple Residence: A beautiful boutique style hotel in a convenient location. Gets great reviews and perfect for families! Breakfast is included.

The Night Hotel: A great value within walking distance of several sites within the city. Breakfast is included.

Maison Kesararam: A gorgeous family-owned hotel with great service. Guests rave about how comfortable it was.

Looking for more options? See more.

Entrance to Angkor National Museum in Siem Reap Cambodia

The entrance to Angkor National Museum

Day 1: Angkor National Museum, Pub Street, Kompong Khleang Floating Village Tour

The best way to start off in Siem Reap is to first visit the Angkor National Museum. It will give you valuable insight and good foundation before touring the temples. We were able to understand more behind the history and have more context as we explored. However if you’re already well versed on the history then you can skip it. It’s easy to get here by tuk tuk and plan for a few hours here. You can purchase an audio tour for an additional cost which adds on to the time, but gives a more thorough experience. There’s also a cafe inside for snacks and drinks. The entrance fee was $12 for adults. Note: A lot of the exhibits didn’t allow photos

Lunch

After the museum tour it’ll be lunch time. Our tuk tuk driver brought us to Pub Street which has several options. He made some recommendations and we decided upon Amok Restaurant, located right in the heart of it. The food was a bit pricey for Siem Reap, but overall very delicious. The seating outside is so nice and there are a lot of shops nearby to check out while waiting for your food.

Tonle Sap Floating Village in Kompong Khleang Cambodia

A view of some of the houses along the Tonle Sap

Kompong Khleang Floating Village Tour

After lunch you’ll head back to your hotel to relax a bit. Around 2pm, our guide for the floating village tour picked us up. We booked the tour through Community First, a lovely organization that is ethical and sustainable. You’ll be in a comfortable minivan with a group of around 8 people total. It was such a wonderful experience and one of the highlights to our time in Siem Reap.

Sticky Rice, Cambodian Bakery

During the tour you’ll stop by a roadside vendor to try some sticky rice. Next up you’ll visit traditional Cambodian bakery where you’ll see how some of the desserts are made and take a brief tour. You’ll also get to snack on some of the sweets.

Bridge of Life School, Tonle Sap Boat Cruise

Then you’ll arrive in Kompong Khleang and drive into the village. First up is a tour of the Bridge of Life School, which helps local children get a good educational foundation. This will allow you to see how the tour cost is utilized to help the community. Finally the tour will end with a sunset boat cruise along the Tonle Sap, and a visit to a Vietnamese floating village. The group tour is a total of 5-6 hours and costs $35 for adults, and $25 for children under 12. You can book private tours as well for a higher cost.

See more details here: Tonle Sap Floating Village Tour

Dinner

We arrived back from the tour around 7pm, just in time for dinner. Since we were quite exhausted from the day we decided to eat at the hotel. However if you’re feeling up to it you can head to Pub Street. With a full day of temples the next day it was best to head to bed early.

Alternative Option
If you’re not interested in seeing a floating village you could do a cooking class like this one. In this 3 hour tour you’ll visit with a local family within a village and learn how to make a traditional meal. It’s another great family activity and way to have an authentic experience.

Inside of Angkor Wat during early morning

Exploring one of the wings of Angkor Wat

Day 2: Angkor Wat Sunrise, Small Circuit Temple Tour, Pre Rup, Pub Street

Angkor Wat Temple and Sunrise

The next day starts extremely early with the sunrise at Angkor Wat. You’ll be picked up at your hotel around 4:30am and either head straight for the gate, or to get the tickets. The temple opens promptly at 5am and the earlier you get there, the better chance you have at getting a spot in front. Our tuk tuk driver picked us up at 4:20am since we still had to get tickets. We arrived to Angkor Wat around 4:45am and although we didn’t get to be in front, we still got a decent spot. Read more on how to capture sunrise at Angkor Wat.

After the sunrise you’ll have some time to explore Angkor Wat. We had some quiet time inside the temple before the real crowds began to arrive. There were some parts where nobody was around. Seeing the bas reliefs that we learned about at the museum was so unreal to see in person. It really is a spectacular place to see and it’s no wonder that millions of tourists come here every year.

Breakfast

When you finish taking your tour of Angkor Wat it’ll be time for breakfast. Our hotel packed some breakfast boxes so we went to one of the restaurants nearby and ordered some drinks to sit and eat. It saved a lot of time having our food already so we could move onto the next temple.

Optional Temple Tour
For those who like to have everything planned out, this 2 day temple tour including Angkor Wat Sunrise is a great option. You’ll get to see a lot of the temples we are covering in this itinerary with a guide and vehicle transport at an amazing value!

South Gate of Angkor Thom

Next up starts the Small Circuit temple tour. The South Gate of Angkor Thom is a beautiful entrance to the complex. Along the right and left side you’ll see the devas (gods) and asuras (demons) which you’ll learn about during your museum tour. Although it wasn’t even 10am, this area was already quite busy. Our tuk tuk driver dropped us off near the entrance so that we could walk through, then drove us to our next stop. It’s a lovely place for photos with the bridge, and the entrance itself is so detailed.

View of Bayon temple face carved into the rock

A glimpse of one of the many faces of Bayon

Bayon Temple

One of the most popular temples in Siem Reap is definitely Bayon, the temple with over 200 faces. We ended up spontaneously booking a tour guide here who gave us a wonderful photo tour and some history. It was one of our favorite temples in this complex and pretty amazing to walk through. It does get quite crowded unless you go early in the morning. We spent around 2 hours here which was perfect, but you can adjust as you wish.

Baphuon, The Terrace of the Elephants and Leper King, Phimeanakas in Royal Palace

There are many temples close to Bayon which makes it easy to see more. Baphuon is a 3-level temple built for the god Shiva. It looks a bit like a pyramid and you can climb to the top. We briefly walked to the entrance, but due to lack of time we chose not to climb. Right in front of the temple are the Terrace of the Elephants and Leper King. These can be seen in a short amount of time. Next to it is Phimeanakas in Royal Palace and we did all 3 in less than an hour. The beauty is you can customize this tour as you wish, this is merely just a guide and overview of what we saw.

Ta Keo and Pre Rup

On the way to Ta Phrom we stopped at Ta Keo and Pre Rup. Ta Keo is a really tall temple and the climb up is quite scary. The stairs are still rustic and not very wide, so you almost have to climb up while holding onto the side. It’s not very kid-friendly so our daughter did not go up with us. Once at the top though it truly does have some wonderful views!

After Ta Keo we briefly stopped at Pre Rup. This is a great one to see during sunset, since it has a reddish color from the brick. We did not get to spend as much as we’d like to here, an hour would have been perfect.

Exploring Ta Prohm Temple

Inside a more quiet part of Ta Prohm temple

Ta Prohm

The last temple of the day is Ta Prohm aka the Tomb Raider temple. We made a brief stop for lunch at one of the restaurants nearby, then started our tour. We spent around 2-3 hours here which was sufficient and didn’t feel rushed. The tree interweaving throughout the temple structure was so interesting to see. All of the famous photo spots get overwhelmingly crowded, so we recommend actually walking around and discovering some off the beaten path areas. They are just as intriguing to see and without all the tourists waiting to take the perfect shot.

Pub Street

We wrapped up our full day temple tour around 5pm. You could head somewhere to watch the sunset, Sra Srang and Pre Rup are a few options. Or you could head to Pub Street to eat and shop the night markets. Since we were pretty templed out for the day, we decided to check out one of the night markets within Siem Reap. We also grabbed some pizza at Flying Zebra Pizza, a perfect casual place for families. Walking the street is an experience in itself, with the markets, fish massage places, vendors selling street food like bugs, and an overload of neon decor. You must stop here at least once during your time here!

Banteay Srei Temple structure

The beautiful pink sandstone and details of Banteay Srei

Day 3: Banteay Srei, Koh Ker, Beng Mealea, Phnom Bakheng Sunset

After a few days in Siem Reap, you’ll be ready for the temples further away. With these ones you’ll need a car since they are outside the city. Our tuk tuk driver included the transportation in our 3 day package after customizing what we wanted to see, but you could also book a separate tour just for this day.

Banteay Srei

The day starts around 8am where you’ll head to Banteay Srei, one of my favorite temples out of all that we’ve seen. Nicknamed the “Citadel of Woman,” it’s made out of pink sandstone with intricate Khmer artisan details all throughout. It takes about 30 minutes to get here by car and is a lot less crowded than the temples within the main Angkor park. We spent about 1.5 hours here which was the right amount of time.

Koh Ker

The next temple stop of the day is Koh Ker, located within a remote jungle in Preah Vihear. The drive there is another 1.5 hours, but it’s definitely worth the trip. There is still a lot undiscovered in this temple complex due to landmines still prevalent around some parts. It’s a bit of a walk through ruins in order to reach the 7-tiered main pyramid structure, and a steep walk up several flights of stairs to the top. Along the way you’ll hear nothing but the sounds of the jungle all around, so it feels like quite an adventure. Luckily since we had family with us, our daughter stayed behind to rest. We spent a little over an hour here and felt it was sufficient, although it’s always nice to have more time!

The ruins of Beng Mealea Temple

Overview of the ruins of Beng Mealea temple

Beng Mealea

After our time at Koh Ker we had lunch nearby the next spot. Another temple that feels straight out of a movie is Beng Mealea. It feels very similar to Ta Prohm, with overgrown tree roots vines overtaking the temple ruins. There has not been much renovated here except a walkway to guide you through this mysterious maze. Inside the temple it’s very green with a lot of moss and trees growing within. It’s a spectacular sight to see and one you don’t want to miss here. We truly enjoyed these further temples even more so than the usual ones, especially with less people.

Phnom Bakheng Sunset

To finish off a busy day exploring the temples you’ll watch the sunset at Phnom Bakheng temple. Because we had to drive from Beng Mealea temple, which takes about 1.5 hours, we could not get here too early. It’s recommended to start lining up on the mountain at 4:30pm in order to be in the group of 300 people that can go up at a time. We got here around 5pm and just made it in time to watch the last bit of the sunset. Although this is quite touristy, it was definitely one of those things you’ll want to do here. Some great alternate sunset spots are Sra Srang, Pre Rup, and even Angkor Wat.

Explore more: A Guide on Siem Reap Temples

Pub street in Siem Reap at night

The energy of Pub street at night

Last Night in Siem Reap

The full day of temples had us pretty exhausted, but we wanted to make the most of our last night in Siem Reap. So we headed out to Pub Street again for food and check out more of the nightlife. If you’re feeling up to it you could do a street food tour like this one. In the tour you’ll get to sample authentic snacks (including bugs!), desserts, and Khmer cuisine.

    Looking for more ideas on what to do in Siem Reap? Here are a few options!

  • Phnom Kulen Waterfall Day Tour: A 6 hour tour to the “Holy Mountain” of Phnom Kulen National Park where you’ll see the River of a Thousand Lingas and the statue of the Grand Reclining Buddha. You’ll also get to relax in the pools by Phnom Kulen Waterfall. A relaxing escape from the city!
  • Phare Circus Show: This came highly recommended and we are sad to have missed it. It’s a performance of modern theater and traditional Cambodian performing art, and proceeds help to support local artists. A great family activity for the evening!

Day 4: Siem Reap and Phnom Penh

The morning of Day 4 wraps up our time in Siem Reap. We had a bit of time in the morning, so we decided to head back to Angkor Wat to explore some of the parts we missed. You could do whatever you’d like with this time, even explore another temple you haven’t seen! During our second visit we were lucky to be able to be blessed by a monk. It happened to be a Buddhist holiday, so there were a few monks within the temple giving blessings. It was a nice surprise and unique experience to have.

Toddler posing in corridors of Angkor Wat
Terra enjoying the corridors of Angkor Wat
Morning light shining over Angkor Wat temple
The back area of Angkor Wat

Afterwards we said our goodbyes to Roben, our amazing tuk tuk driver who took care of us all three days. The rest of the day was basically travel to Phnom Penh by bus. If you’d like to save some time you can fly, but we decided to take the bus for the experience and to see a bit more of the country. We booked a Cambodia Post VIP minivan which went pretty smoothly without issues. Booking transport in Cambodia is a bit of a hit or miss, but we only had good experiences with this company. You can book online through BookMeBus.

See more on our adventure here: 3 Days in Siem Reap

Farm to Table restaurant interior in Cambodia

Farm to Table restaurant interior

Arrival in Phnom Penh

Since we arrived in Phnom Penh around 6pm, we really didn’t get to see much. If you want to adjust this itinerary you could add an extra night here. For us it was merely a stopping point to get to the next location. The Killing Fields and S21 Prison are two important parts of Cambodian history. Although we really wanted to visit, since we had our daughter with us we did not feel it was appropriate to take her at such a young age. Therefore we have saved more of Phnom Penh for a return trip.

Where to Eat in Phnom Penh

We did have a lovely dinner while here. A local had recommended Farm to Table, a rather eclectic spot with locally sourced food that was healthy and fresh. It was a nice change from all the usual cuisine we had on the trip so far. Around the restaurants were chickens freely roaming about, which made for an interesting meal. The seating was super comfortable since we chose a set of couches around a table. It almost felt like dining in someone’s charming backyard. Definitely recommend for something that isn’t traditional Cambodian cuisine.

Where to Stay in Phnom Penh

There are so many options for hotels in Phnom Penh that it can be a bit overwhelming to choose just one. But after many hours of digging around reviews, I ended up choosing TeaHouse Asian Urban Hotel for it’s location and value. Since we had a 7am bus trip the next morning we wanted to be close enough for a smoother morning. The hotel itself wasn’t luxury by any means, but definitely a solid choice for those who are looking for a budget option. They even packed our breakfast super early so we could eat during the ride.

    Staying in Phnom Penh longer? Here are a few options for what to see!

  • Phnom Penh Half Day Tour: A 4 hour tour of the Royal Palace, National Musuem and Wat Phnom including an English speaking guide.
  • Mekong Islands Bike Tour: 4.5 hour half day tour exploring rural communities by bike gaining insight into the lives of locals. Includes transportation, bottled water and lunch.
Mondulkiri Project protected forest in Cambodia

The Mondulkiri Project main building and protected forest

Days 5-7: Elephant Sanctuary and Nature Lodge in Mondulkiri

The next morning begins the long 6 hour journey to Mondulkiri Province, all the way on the eastern part of the country bordering Vietnam. Although it’s out of the way, it was definitely one of the most memorable travel experiences we’ve had.

How to Get to Sen Monorom

From Phnom Penh

I booked the first TCT Mondulkiri Express bus from Phnom Penh through BookMeBus so we would arrive in Sen Monorom around 1pm. The cost was around $10 USD per person for a one-way ticket. The trip takes between 5-6 hours and is rather bumpy. In Cambodia you’ll notice there are a lot of accidents along the way, we witnessed a few just in this trip! I read many bad reviews from bus companies here, but TCT got the best reviews overall.

From Siem Reap

You can also go straight to Mondulkiri from Siem Reap. The trip is between 8-9 hours and costs around $20 USD per person. We highly recommend not booking an overnight bus as it’s not the safest with road conditions. Try to book an early time so you can get there by afternoon.

Getting to Your Hotel

Once you arrive in Sen Monorom, you can take a tuk tuk to the eco lodge. Just let them know the name of the place or show the address and they should know it.

Bungalow surrounded by trees at Tree Lodge Cambodia

Bungalow at the Tree Lodge

View of eco lodge in jungle of Cambodia
View of the bungalows from the main terrace
Path at eco jungle lodge during sunset
Walking the lodge path during sunset

Where to Stay in Sen Monorom

Lodging is pretty slim in Sen Monorom, but definitely a unique experience. We booked with Tree Lodge Cambodia, a totally awesome eco nature lodge within the jungle. Since the owner of this also manages the elephant sanctuary, it was very convenient, especially with kids! We got a bit of extra sleep and enjoyed breakfast before they drove us straight to the sanctuary.

Our bungalow wasn’t fancy by any means, but the perfect relaxing experience with sounds of wildlife all around. The sunsets here were glorious, and we loved spending our evenings watching it from the main terrace. We had geckos join us for dinner, avocado and banana trees right outside our place, and breathed in the freshest forest air. This will definitely be a highlight of your trip and one you’ll never forget.

Looking for additional options? See more.

Feeding an elephant at a Mondulkiri Project in Cambodia

Terra and dad feeding the elephant

Closeup of elephant waving his trunk in Cambodia
Up close and personal with one of the elephants
Elephant bathing in the river of a jungle in Cambodia
Giving one of the elephants a bath, she loved it!

Mondulkiri Project

The main reason we came all the way to Sen Monorom was to see an elephant sanctuary. But I wanted to make sure it was an ethical one, so after some research I came across the Mondulkiri Project. They have five elephants that roam a protected forest area. They also employ locals and help the community rather than cause harm. The owner, Mr. Tree, is very passionate about conservation and taking care of wildlife. You will learn more about this organization and the local Bunong tribe at the beginning of the tour.

The Elephant Sanctuary

They also offer 1-2 day elephant sanctuary packages. One option is just spending the day with elephants. You’ll first be introduced to all of them and hear a little about their personalities. Then you’ll be able to feed and interact with them a bit in their natural surroundings. After this will be a brief lunch break of Khmer cuisine. Then you’ll get an hour to rest in the hammocks with beautiful views of the jungle. The day ends with bathing the elephants and taking a final walk through the forest.

This was an unforgettable experience and learning experience for us. It was refreshing to see the passion involved with caring for the elephants and forest. Read more about our experience at this ethical elephant sanctuary in Cambodia.

Tree Lodge Cambodia

After spending a long and incredible day at the elephant sanctuary, we headed back to the lodge for another night. Because there was a restaurant right there we were able to eat and enjoy the sunset over the terrace. They had a combo of both Khmer and Western cuisine which was a nice variety. Also available were fresh fruit shakes and other drinks at such a great price! We loved our lazy nights here hanging in the jungle with nature.

Beautiful sunrise at Fish Island Bungalows in Cambodia

Beautiful sunrise at Fish Island Bungalows

Days 7-8: Kampot

The next morning we left around 7am on a bus back to Phnom Penh. We had planned to transfer to another bus there to head to Kampot, all the way on the opposite side of the country. However the bus was cancelled. Thankfully I had some backup options and contacted the same taxi driver who would be driving us to Sihanoukville the following day. Fortunately he came to the rescue and we made it there! Kampot was another stopping point on the way to Koh Rong Sanloem, and we wished it was more than that. In a mere 24 hours here we saw a lot and instantly fell in love.

Where to Stay in Kampot, Cambodia

There are a lot of great options of places to stay in Kampot. I had a hard time choosing, but ended up booking Fish Island Bungalows. It’s a family-owned place with exceptional service. They also made the best home-cooked food with a delicious breakfast included. If you love charming places with an authentic flavor, then you’ll definitely enjoy your stay here. You’ll be well taken care of by Mr. Leng and his family. He even brought us into town and helped us buy some pepper at a local market, and also to see the salt fields.

How to Get to Kampot

The easiest way to get to Kampot is by bus from Phnom Penh. You can also take a private taxi, which is what we ended up doing. Since buses are not fully reliable, we recommend going by private car. It’ll be most comfortable too. There’s also a train that goes from Phnom Penh, but it takes much longer and is on a restricted schedule. It does offer some nice views of the countryside though along the journey.

Entrance to the golden Wat Traeuy Kaoh on Fish Island, Cambodia

Entrance to Wat Traeuy Kaoh on Fish Island, Cambodia

What to Do in Kampot

Kampot is a rather sleepy town, but still has a lot to see and do. There is a lot of French colonial influence in the architecture here. You can see a lot of it while visiting the old market. Since this region is known for their pepper, visiting a pepper plantation is a must if you’re here for longer than a day. You can also go on a sunset and firefly cruise along the river, and rent a motorobike to visit Kep.

There are salt fields here as well and catching a glimpse before they harvest during sunrise or sunset is the best way to see them. Bokor National Park is just a short trip away with beautiful forests, Buddhist wats, and stunning views from Bokor Mountain. Along the river is lively with street food, shops and floating restaurants. These are just a few ideas of what to do while here. See how we spent less than 24 hours in Kampot.

Blue boat along the beach in Cambodia

Blue boat along the beach in Cambodia

Days 8-10: Koh Rong Sanloem

After spending the night in the relaxing Fish Island area of Kampot, we departed for our final destination. Ending this super packed 10 days in Cambodia with some beach time is the perfect way to wind down. Luckily the trip from Kampot only takes less than 2 hours, and in no time you’ll set foot in paradise.

How to Get to Koh Rong Sanloem

It’s fairly easy to get to the islands of Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem. There are ferries that depart from the pier in Sihanoukville quite frequently. Depending on where you are staying will determine which ferry to take. Most dropoff in Saracen Bay, the most busy and easily accessible part of the island. We recommend staying here if you have kids for the ease and convenience.

We ended up taking Speed Ferry Cambodia which dropped us off at Paradise Pier, a few minute walk from our resort. Some other ferries to take are Island Speed Ferry, GTVC Speedboat, and Buva Sea. You can also take the slow boat, although this takes much longer and we do not recommend.

Where to Stay in Koh Rong Sanloem

Koh Rong Sanloem has several areas to stay with different vibes. The most popular area is Saracen Bay, which is the easiest to get to. There is also Lazy Beach on the other side of the island which requires an additional boat service, or a walk through the jungle to get to. Sunset Beach is another area with more secluded Robinson Crusoe type feel. M’Pai Bay is another area popular with budget travelers and backpackers. It’s a great choice for those looking for more of a party scene.

We stayed at Sky Beach Resort, a fairly new place with only five bungalows. They arrange a variety of tours for snorkeling and glowing plankton and had free stand-up paddle boards to use. They had basic lounge chairs on the beach, but would have been nice if they had hammocks as well. There’s a restaurant and small mini-mart here which was very convenient. Overall we loved our stay and it was very easy to get to from the pier.

What to Do in Koh Rong Sanloem

Other than relaxing on the beach, there’s a lot to do on the island. You could do many water activities like kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, or snorkeling. There are several hikes to do around the island and to other parts. Certain resorts have seafood BBQ dinners which is fun and delicious. You can also go on a glowing plankton tour at night after dinner. We did a day long boat tour to M’Pai Bay Village and spent time there watching the sunset. Either way you’ll have an amazing time on this remote paradise! See more details in our guide to Koh Rong Sanloem island.

Toddler jumping on the beach of Cambodia

Terra jumping for joy on the beautiful beach of Koh Rong Sanloem

The Best 10 Days in Cambodia

Cambodia is a wonderful country with a lot of beauty to discover. This 10 day itinerary covers a lot of different areas, but there is still so much more to see. Next time we would love to explore Battambang, Phnom Penh, Kratie and the northern parts near Thailand. It’s such a kid-friendly place and your kids will enjoy the mix of everything. The warmth and kindness of the people shines through and will forever change you. There are many reasons to go to Cambodia, and we hope this guide helps to inspire your next trip!

Have you been to Cambodia? If so, we’d love to hear more about your trip!

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6 comments

Ferny October 29, 2019 - 12:16 pm

Hard to decide if the dry or wet season, I’m sure it looks fabulous anyway. I’d love to see the sunrise in Angkor Wat, great that it wasn’t extremely crowded and you could explore a lot of places.
I didn’t imagine enjoying the beach in Cambodia, but it looks like 10 days are perfect to see the best, not only historic but also natural places!

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Christie October 29, 2019 - 9:47 pm

I’m sure both seasons have great things! I’ve read the temples look so much more green and lush during wet season, which would be nice to see. There really is a lot of variety even I didn’t know about until we went. I know you will love it 🙂

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Lupe January 15, 2020 - 5:59 pm

Hi Christie!
Great post I have enjoyed a lot since I am planing my trip to Cambodia with my family. My son is 7 and my husband and I are a little concerned about malaria in the jungla area of Sen Monorom. How did you manage it?

Best,
Lupe

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Christie January 18, 2020 - 10:18 am

Hi Lupe! Thanks so much for stopping by and reading. That’s exciting you’re planning a trip. Honestly we went there in February and didn’t notice any mosquitos. We all took the malaria pills too as a precaution. We also used some really good bug repellent and covered up as much as we could. And also wore pretty neutral colors to keep them away. Hope that helps!

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Vanessa November 16, 2022 - 4:05 am

Hello! I am going to Cambodia with my 4-year-old in February! Your blog is helping us a lot with the planing. With so much road travel involve, did you bring a booster seat for your daughter? Or can you ask the transfer company to get one for you? Thnaks!

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Christie November 17, 2022 - 12:12 am

Hi Vanessa! So glad it’s helpful 🙂 We used the Ride Safer Travel vest, it was easier to travel with. It worked out fine! I’m not sure about the transfer company, since we brought our own. I would definitely bring something though because the roads were rough and the drivers were pretty crazy there! Hope you enjoy it 🙂

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