Travel Itinerary - 10 Days - Cambodia (24th Jan 09 - 2nd Feb 09)

[tjan]

Phnom Penh - Takeo - Kratie - Kompong Cham - Kampot - Kep - Koh Tonsay - Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh

Day 1 - Phnom Penh (24th Jan 09, Saturday)

0735 - Arrived in Phnom Penh. Transfer to River Star Hotel by the Mekong bank
1000 - Toured the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda
1330 - Toured Toul Sleng, or the S21 Prison
1600 - Back to River Star
1700 - Visited PP Main Post Office, Wat Phnom, Raffles Hotel Le Royale, PP Train Station
1830 - Dinner and grocery shopping at Sorya Department Store

Day 2 - Takeo (25th Jan 09, Sunday)

0700 - Hired a driver and car (US$60). Drove down National Highway 2 south.
0930 - Arrived at Takeo. Visited the market, the Wat and the Independence Monument
1100 - Driver brought us on a tour of the countryside of Takeo. Saw rice paddies stretching into the horizon, flocks oof ducks crossing the road, several lakes etc
1130 - He invited me to his home. Experienced great Cambodian hospitality.
1200 - We departed. Drove down the mud track back to Takeo
1300 - Phnom Chisor. Climbed the steps to the top of the hill. Great view of the plains around
1450 - Tonle Bati. Excellent Angkor-like ruins. It's like Angkor on a small scale. The lake over there is nice
1630 - The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. Very solemn place
1730 - Russian market in Phnom Penh
1830 - Dinner at Sorya Store Food Court

Day 3 - Kratie (26th Jan 09, Monday)
0800 - Phnom Penh Sorya bus to Kratie (7 hrs)
1500 - Arrived at Kratie
1600 - Strolled around the town area. Nice little riverside town with lots of French colonial architecture
1700 - Watched the sunset. Partial solar eclipse today.
1800 - Dinner at Red Sun Down Restaurant

Day 4 - Kompong Cham (27th Jan 09, Tuesday)
0730 - Bus to Kompong Cham
1100 - Arrived at Kompong Cham. Got a room in Mekong Hotel facing the River.
1400 - Strolled the river bank. Crossed the bamboo bridge to Koh Pean
1600 - Visited a Wat at the top of the bridge. Early dinner at Lazy Mekong Daze overlooking the Mekong
1700 - Strolled along the river bank. Visited the Old French Lighthouse. Watched the sunset. Spectacular!

Day 5 - Kampot (28th Jan 09, Wednesday)
0645 - Shared taxi to Phnom Penh. Lovely views of rice paddies covered in thin mist.
0815 - Arrived at Phnom Penh. Shard taxi to Kampot. Cramped!
1130 - Arrived in Kampot. Checked in to Rikitikitavi Lodge. Lunched at the lodge cafe
1400 - Strolled round the river bank. Quiet nice place. Explored the old bridge and the new bridge area

Day 6 - Kep, Koh Tonsay (29th Jan 09, Thursday)
0800 - Signed up a tour with Sok Lim Tours
0900 - Explored a limestone cave in Kompong Traach
1100 - Explored the rural farm areas around Kep Town.
1330 - Boat to Koh Tonsay. Lunch on its sandy stretch of beach. Lazed around on the beach till 1600.
1630 - Arrived back at Kep. Visited the abandoned French Villas. Strolled along the beach admiring the sunset
1730 - Saw the sunset at the salt fields.

Day 7 - Sihanoukville (30th Jan 09, Friday)
0800 - Breakfast at Rikitikitavi.
0900 - Strolled the river banks. Crossed the old bridge to the fishing village on the other side of the river
1100 - Minivan to Sihanoukville
1300 - Arrived at Sihanoukville. Checked into Hotel Palace.
1500 - lazed around on Victory Beach.
1800 - Dinner in a restaurant on Victory Hill

Day 8 - Sihanoukville (31st Jan 09, Saturday)
0900 - Occheuteal Beach. Strolled the entire length of the lovely beach.
1300 - Otres Beach. Quiet stretch of beach.
1600 - Watched the sunset on Victory Beach. Swam in the warm waters of the Gulf of Thailand
1900 - Dinner on Victory Hill

Day 9 - Sihanoukville (1st Feb 09, Sunday)
0900 - Final walk along Victory Beach
1230 - Phnom Penh Sorya bus back to Phnom Penh (4 1/2hrs)
1800 - Dinner at the Sorya Department Food Court

Day 10 - Phnom Penh (2nd Feb 09, Monday)
0600 - Taxi to airport.
0830 - Jetstar flight back to Singapore

[Recondo]

wow ! very detailed! excellent piece of contribution.

This would definitely be useful.

Cambodia and Vietnam are 2 very beautiful countries in Asia. It a pity they are ravaged by war the past decades.

[tjan]

That's why we should all visit Cambodia and Vietnam, to learn about their histories, so that our generation and future generations will not make the same mistakes again. 

[Mad About Shanghai]

Is it easy to get around Cambodia and safe?

[tjan]

It's generally safe to travel around in Cambodia. You'll have to watch out for pickpockets and bag snatchers in Phnom Penh. If you're going to the off-beaten tracks of the northeast and northwest, stick to the well trodden paths as they're still in the process of clearing mines. My advice is to go to these places, join a local day tour.

I'll probably make another trip to Cambodia, probably exploring the Siem Reap, Sisophon areas, as well as Koh Ker and Pursat Vihear.
Cheers!

[siam78]

mind to share your total damage for 10 days?

[tjan]

About S$750 for 10 days. But I didn't do any shopping.

[Recondo]

thats very reasonable...

did you try any street food? generally ok to eat?

[tjan]

I tried the Banh Mi Pate, which was the French loaf stuffed with sweet/savoury sauces together with pate. Tastes great. It's only available at roadside stalls for 3000 Riels. I didn't get an upset stomach but we have to be careful. We have to ensure that the food is hot when served, otherwise just avoid roadside stalls. There are a lot of cheap and good restaurants in Cambodia to explore.