Angkor to the Coast: Cambodia Grand Loop

Travel from north to south covering Angkor, Battambang, Phnom Penh, Kampot, Kep, and Koh Rong.

This is a classic two-week route recommended by many travel guides: start with four nights exploring Angkor, move on to the slow-paced town of Battambang, head to Phnom Penh, transfer to the southern pepper-growing region and coast, and finish on Koh Rong. Most intercity travel consists of 3-to-6-hour overland journeys, which means frequent transfers but a manageable pace. It is perfect for first-time visitors with plenty of time. The northeastern highlands and Cardamom Mountains are not included.

Sea conditions are poor during the wet season from Jun–Oct, and ferry services to the islands may be canceled.

Day by day

Day 1 · Arrive in Siem Reap & Explore Old Town

Siem Reap（Angkor National Museum、Pub Street & Night Market）

The airport is about a 1-hour drive from the city center. After checking in, walk or take a tuk-tuk around the city.

Stay: Pub Street & Old Market

Day 2 · Angkor Wat Sunrise & Small Circuit

Siem Reap（Angkor Wat、Bayon Temple / Angkor Thom、Baphuon、Terrace of the Elephants & Terrace of the Leper King、Ta Prohm）

Charter a tuk-tuk for a full-day tour. Depart around 5:00 AM; travel time between temples is very short.

Tickets must be purchased in advance. Shoulders and knees must be covered to enter the main sanctuary.

Stay: Pub Street & Old Market

Day 3 · Grand Circuit Temples Day Trip

Siem Reap（Preah Khan、Neak Pean、Ta Som、East Mebon、Pre Rup）

Charter a tuk-tuk to loop along the Grand Circuit, covering about 30 km. You can return to the city at noon to rest.

Stay: Pub Street & Old Market

Day 4 · Banteay Srei & Tonle Sap Lake

Siem Reap（Banteay Srei、Banteay Samré、Tonle Sap Lake、Phare, The Cambodian Circus）

Charter a car to Banteay Srei in the morning (about 1 hour), take a boat tour at the lake in the afternoon, and return to the city in the evening.

Stay: Pub Street & Old Market

Day 5 · Transfer to Battambang Old Town

Battambang（French Colonial Old Town、Wat Damrey Sor、Phare Ponleu Selpak Circus）

Take a bus in the morning (about 3 to 4 hours); during high-water season, you can take a boat (about 6 to 8 hours).

The boat journey depends on water levels and usually operates from July to March of the following year.

Stay: Old Town and Central Market

Day 6 · Bamboo Train & Bat Cave

Battambang（Bamboo Train (Norry)、Wat Banan (Prasat Banan)、Phnom Sampov & Bat Cave）

Charter a tuk-tuk to tour the countryside south of the city (about 30 minutes one way), and return after watching the bats emerge at dusk.

Do not travel further west toward the border; check consular advisories before departing.

Stay: Old Town and Central Market

Day 7 · Long-Distance Transfer to Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh（Riverside (Sisowath Quay)）

Take a bus or minibus along National Highway 5 to Phnom Penh in the morning, taking about 5 to 6 hours.

Stay: Riverside

Day 8 · Historical Sites & Royal Palace

Phnom Penh（Choeung Ek Genocidal Center、Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum、Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda、National Museum of Cambodia）

Charter a tuk-tuk. The round trip to Choeung Ek takes about 1 hour in the morning, followed by city sightseeing in the afternoon.

The Royal Palace is often closed at noon; it is best to visit after 2:00 PM.

Stay: Riverside

Day 9 · Head South to Riverside Kampot

Kampot（Kampot Riverside & Old Town、Kampot Night Market）

Take a minibus or bus to Kampot in the morning (about 3 to 4 hours), and explore the old town on foot in the afternoon.

Stay: Kampot Riverside & Old Town

Day 10 · Phnom Bokor Full-Day Tour

Kampot（Bokor National Park & Hill Station、Le Bokor Palace、Bokor Old Catholic Church）

Charter a car or rent a motorcycle to go up the mountain (about 1 hour one way), and return to Kampot for a river sunset in the evening.

The mountain peak is often foggy and cool; bring a light jacket.

Stay: Kampot Riverside & Old Town

Day 11 · Pepper Farms to Kep Crab Market

Kampot（La Plantation Pepper Farm、Secret Lake (Tomnop Tek Krolar)） → Kep（Kep Crab Market、Kep Beach & Crab Statue）

Charter a tuk-tuk or car to Kep via the pepper farms (about 1 hour total), and spend the afternoon exploring the seaside.

Stay: Kep Beach

Day 12 · Via Sihanoukville to Koh Rong

Sihanoukville（Koh Touch Village & Koh Rong East Beaches）

Drive to Sihanoukville in the morning (about 3 hours), then take a speed ferry (about 45 minutes) to Koh Touch.

Allow 90 minutes between your arrival and the ferry departure. If you miss the last ferry, you will have to stay overnight in Sihanoukville.

Stay: Koh Touch (Koh Rong)

Day 13 · Koh Rong Beach Day

Sihanoukville（Koh Rong Long Beach (Sok San Beach)、Police Beach, Koh Rong）

Walk, take a boat, or ride a motorcycle to Long Beach (about 30 minutes one way), and watch the bioluminescent plankton at night.

Stay: Koh Touch (Koh Rong)

Day 14 · Return to Phnom Penh & Departure

Phnom Penh（Russian Market (Phsar Toul Tom Poung)）

Take an early ferry back to Sihanoukville port, then take a car via the expressway to Phnom Penh Airport (about 3 hours).

Evening flights are safer, as ferry schedules can be affected by wind and waves.

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