Cambodia Trip — High-Level Itinerary (with Bangkok stopover)
Phnom Penh → Siem Reap → Bangkok · 9 days, Oct 17–25, 2026 · 2 travelers · Cambodia + a Thailand close-out, water/adventure and temples both
v4 — flipped Bangkok to the end of the trip. Bangkok is now Days 8–9, right before flying home, instead of Days 1–2 at the start. That freed Phnom Penh down to 2 days (from 3) and gave Siem Reap back a 4th day — enough to restore a flex-temple day and go back to a 3-day Angkor pass. The outbound flight reverts to the original same-day BLR→Bangkok→Phnom Penh connection (no 2-day break on the way in), and the trip only breaks a through-fare once now, on the way home.
See itinerary-overview.html for the plan with no Bangkok at all, or the Phnom-Penh-free versions: itinerary-overview-siemreap-bangkok.html (Siem Reap first) and itinerary-overview-bangkok-siemreap.html (Bangkok first — the cheaper of the two).
Feasibility & weather
Route shape: fly into Phnom Penh (via a same-day Bangkok connection), travel overland to Siem Reap (private car with a stop at Sambor Prei Kuk), fly Siem Reap → Bangkok for the last 2 days, fly home from Bangkok. One-way only, no backtracking.
Day count: 9 days = 2 nights Phnom Penh + 4 nights Siem Reap + 2 nights Bangkok, connected by one overland travel day and two short flights.
| Location | High | Low | Rain | Notes |
|---|
| Phnom Penh | ~32°C | ~24°C | Wet-season pattern, slightly less humid than Siem Reap being more open/urban | No coastal element on this route, so no rough-seas risk either way |
| Siem Reap | ~31°C | ~24°C | ~215mm over ~15 days for the month; your Oct 20–23 dates sit past the historically wettest 10-day stretch (Oct 11–20) | Tail of the wet season — bursts of rain, not all-day washouts |
| Bangkok | ~33°C | ~25°C | Tail of the wet season — Oct is one of Bangkok's wetter months (~230mm), but usually short, heavy afternoon bursts rather than all-day rain | No coastal exposure — this is city + canal terrain, not open water |
Thailand is visa-free for Indian passports right now. As of a Sept 15, 2026 policy change, Indian passport holders get 30-day visa-free entry to Thailand (down from the earlier 60-day exemption, but a 2-day close-out is nowhere near that limit) — no extra visa cost or lead time for the Bangkok leg.
No live forecast is possible this far out — the numbers above are historical climate averages. Worth a proper check 10–14 days before you fly.
Phnom Penh
2 nights
~$30/night, mid-range riverside
🚗 Private car + Sambor Prei Kuk stop~7–8h
Siem Reap
4 nights
~$40/night, mid-range 4★
✈️ SAI → Bangkok (BKK)~1h20m direct, several daily options
Bangkok
2 nights
~$55/night, mid-range 4★
Must-do
Optional
Relaxed / low-key
Travel
Day 1Sat, Oct 17Phnom Penh — arrival
- MustLand 08:50am, settle inOvernight flight via a same-day Bangkok connection lands early — you get almost a full first day
- MustRoyal Palace & Silver PagodaThe working royal residence and its temple of a floor tiled in silver — dress modestly, shoulders/knees covered. A manageable, not-too-strenuous pick for an arrival day
- OptionalNational Museum of CambodiaKhmer sculpture collection, right next to the Royal Palace — an easy pairing if you're not too jet-lagged
- ChillStreet art + sunset Mekong cruise + food tour~$39pp — walking tour of street art, a boat cruise as the sun sets, then food stops. A relaxed way to close your first evening
Day 2Sun, Oct 18Phnom Penh
- MustTuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21)Former high school turned Khmer Rouge prison — heavy, but the single most important historical site in the country
- MustChoeung Ek Killing FieldsUsually paired with S-21 the same day — the audio guide is worth it and included in the fee
- ChillDeliberately light eveningThis is a genuinely heavy morning, and there's an early transfer tomorrow — a quiet dinner is enough
Day 3Mon, Oct 19Phnom Penh → Siem Reap
🚗 Private car with a stop at Sambor Prei Kuk (~7–8h total)
- OptionalSambor Prei KukPre-Angkorian brick temples scattered through actual forest, centuries older than Angkor Wat, far less crowded — the car waits while you explore, roughly on the direct route so it costs almost no extra distance
- MustArrive Siem Reap, easy eveningPub Street for a low-key first night — save the temples for tomorrow
Day 4Tue, Oct 20Siem Reap — Angkor
- MustAngkor Wat at sunriseThe single unmissable moment of this trip — arrive before dawn for the temple silhouette over the reflection pools
- MustAngkor Thom & the BayonThe walled city and its hundreds of stone faces — paired with Angkor Wat the same morning
- MustTa Prohm ("Tomb Raider temple")Jungle roots swallowing the ruins — the most visually striking add-on to round out the core loop
- ChillApsara dance dinner show$18–40pp — classical Khmer dance with a buffet dinner, ~90 min, tuk-tuk transfer usually included. The classic cultural wind-down after a big temple day
Day 5Wed, Oct 21Siem Reap
- OptionalPhnom Kulen National Park$20pp — waterfall you can swim under, the River of a Thousand Lingas carved into the riverbed, a giant reclining Buddha. Morning-only (vehicles barred after noon) — the closest thing to a real water/adventure activity on this trip
- OptionalBanteay Srei ("Citadel of Women")~35km out, close enough to Phnom Kulen that some tours combine both in one day — intricate pink sandstone carving, covered by the Angkor pass
- OptionalTonle Sap floating villages (Kampong Phluk or Kampong Khleang)An alternative to the temple pairing above if you'd rather skip more ruins — Kampong Phluk (~30km, flooded forest) is the more scenic pick
- MustPick one pairing, not everythingPhnom Kulen + Banteay Srei combine well as one day; Tonle Sap would be the alternative if you want a change of pace from temples
Day 6Thu, Oct 22Siem Reap
- MustAngkor National MuseumGood context-setting for everything seen so far — best as a wind-down rather than a starting point
- OptionalOld Market (Psar Chas) shoppingTextiles, crafts, souvenirs
- ChillEvening street food tour by tuk-tuk$35–69 for 2, 2.5–3hrs — ~20 tastings across 8 stops with a local guide, hotel pickup included
Day 7Fri, Oct 23Siem Reap — last morning
- ChillSlow morning — Khmer massage/spa or Angkor Silk FarmWidely available, cheap — a deliberate easy morning before an afternoon flight
- OptionalAngkor Night Market + Phnom Pleung (Cambodian BBQ), if flying laterOnly fits if your Siem Reap → Bangkok flight is a late one — check the flights table before planning this in
Day 8Sat, Oct 24Siem Reap → Bangkok
✈️ Fly SAI → Bangkok (BKK) — ~1h20m direct, dep 16:00 · arr 17:20
- MustArrive Bangkok early evening, settle inLands 17:20 — enough time to check in and head out for the evening, not enough for a full day of sightseeing first
- MustWat Arun by nightLit up after dark, best viewed from across the river — a low-effort, high-payoff first evening rather than rushing a full temple visit
- ChillYaowarat (Chinatown) street food & seafood crawlGrilled prawns, crab curry, bird's-nest soup stalls — Bangkok's best-known seafood strip, especially lively after dark
Day 9Sun, Oct 25Bangkok — departure
- MustGrand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew500 THB (~₹1,210) pp — dress modestly, shoulders/knees covered. Go early; this is your only full day here
- MustWat PhoRight next to the Grand Palace — the Reclining Buddha, an easy same-morning pairing. ~300 THB (~₹730) pp
- OptionalFree afternoon — markets, a canal boat, or just restingKeep this loose rather than booking anything fixed; you need to be back with bags packed well before a 21:50 flight
- NoteAmphawa Floating Market doesn't fit this versionIt needs a 3–4h round trip plus market time — workable when Bangkok is Days 1–2 with no flight that night, not workable on a departure day. If you want it, it belongs on the Bangkok-first version of this trip instead
- MustFly Bangkok → Bengaluru, 21:50Nonstop THAI flight — see the flights table below for why this (not the cheaper afternoon options) is the pick for this version
Flights — actual fares
| Leg | Route & timing | Price (2 pax) | Notes |
|---|
| Outbound | BLR→KTI (Phnom Penh), THAI TG326+TG586 via Bangkok, same-day connection
Dep 00:55 · Arr 08:50, 1 stop, 70-min connection | ₹59,210 | Live fare, single airline both legs, checked bags through. This is a same-day connection (not a stopover), reverting to the original routing since Bangkok is no longer at the start — fares move day to day, so re-check closer to booking |
| Siem Reap → Bangkok | SAI→BKK, Cambodia Airways KR721, direct
Dep 16:00 · Arr 17:20 Sat Oct 24, ~1h20m | ₹27,562 | Cheapest option and deliberately picked over pricier morning departures (e.g. Bangkok Airways 09:40, ₹48,588 for 2) — since the last day (Day 9) already carries the real Bangkok sightseeing, there's little to gain from an earlier, costlier SR→BKK flight |
| Return | BKK→BLR, THAI TG325, nonstop
Dep 21:50 · Arr 00:05 (+1 day), ~3h45m | ₹60,480 | Checked deliberately for timing: the cheapest BKK→BLR option (Air India via Mumbai, ₹34,426 for 2) departs 14:45 — that forces leaving Bangkok by early afternoon on Day 9, gutting the Grand Palace/Wat Pho morning. This nonstop 21:50 THAI flight costs ~₹26,054 more for 2 but keeps essentially the whole last day. Worth the premium given the whole point of this version is a proper Bangkok close-out |
Total flights: ₹59,210 + ₹27,562 + ₹60,480 = ₹1,47,252 for 2 — about ₹1,916 less than the Bangkok-first version's ₹1,49,168, and ₹21,256 more than the no-Bangkok plan's ₹1,25,996. Only one through-fare gets broken here (the return), versus breaking the outbound in the Bangkok-first version — the two end up costing about the same either way.
High-level budget (2 travelers, 9 days)
Rate used: $1 ≈ ₹87, 1 THB ≈ ₹2.42. Hotel, food, and tour figures are sourced benchmarks, not specific bookings.
| Category | Basis | Cost (2 pax) |
|---|
| Flights | Actual fares — see table above | ₹1,47,252 |
| Phnom Penh → Siem Reap transfer | Private car + Sambor Prei Kuk stop, whole car (not per person) | ~₹9,570 |
| Hotels, 8 nights | 1 room — Phnom Penh riverside (~$30/night, 2 nights) + Siem Reap 4★ (~$40/night, 4 nights) + Bangkok (~$55/night, 2 nights) | ~₹28,710 |
| Cambodia e-visa | $30pp, 3 business days, evisa.gov.kh, both travelers | ~₹5,220 |
| Thailand visa | Visa-free for Indian passports (30-day exemption, effective since Sept 2026) | ₹0 |
| Food, 9 days | ~$15/day/person, both travelers | ~₹23,490 |
| Local transport (tuk-tuks, BTS, taxis) | ~$5/day/person | ~₹7,830 |
| Angkor Wat pass | 3-day pass (restored — Siem Reap has 4 days now), $62pp, both travelers | ~₹10,788 |
| Killing Fields + S-21 | $6pp + $8pp (with audio guide), both travelers | ~₹2,436 |
| Royal Palace (Phnom Penh) | ~$10pp, both travelers | ~₹1,740 |
| Phnom Penh sunset cruise + food tour | $39pp, both travelers | ~₹6,786 |
| Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew | 500 THB pp, both travelers | ~₹2,420 |
| Wat Pho | ~300 THB pp, both travelers | ~₹1,450 |
| Siem Reap street food tuk-tuk tour | ~$50 for 2 (group pricing) | ~₹4,350 |
| Apsara dance dinner show | ~$25pp average, both travelers | ~₹4,350 |
| Travel insurance | Bare-floor headline rate, 9 days across 2 countries, both travelers | ~₹420 |
| Total | | ~₹2,57,302 |
| + Phnom Kulen (optional) | $20pp, both travelers | +~₹3,480 |
| + Angkor Night Market BBQ (optional) | Both travelers | +~₹1,740 |
| + Massage/spa (optional) | Both travelers | +~₹2,000 |
~₹2,57,302 for 2 (~₹1,28,651 per person) — slightly cheaper than the Bangkok-first version (~₹2,60,088) despite the pricier nonstop return flight, mostly because the Angkor pass and hotel nights land more efficiently with Siem Reap back at 4 days instead of 3. Still ~₹43,776 more for 2 than the no-Bangkok plan (~₹2,13,526). The genuine loss versus the Bangkok-first version: no Amphawa floating market, since it doesn't fit around a same-day departure flight (see Day 9's note).
Why Bangkok moved to the end, and what changed
- Phnom Penh: 3 nights → 2 nights. The Royal Palace visit moved to the arrival day (Day 1) rather than getting its own day, freeing up a full day elsewhere.
- Siem Reap: 3 nights → 4 nights. That freed-up day restores the flex-temple day (Phnom Kulen / Banteay Srei / Tonle Sap) and lets the Angkor pass go back to 3-day from 1-day.
- Bangkok: still 2 days, just at the end. But because Day 9 has a flight to catch that night, it can't absorb everything the Bangkok-first version could — Amphawa Floating Market specifically doesn't fit (see Day 9).
What's genuinely optional
- Phnom Kulen, Banteay Srei, Tonle Sap (Day 5) — pick one pairing at most.
- National Museum of Cambodia (Day 1) — only if you're not too jet-lagged after landing; skip it without guilt.
- All the "Chill" tagged evenings are flexible — swap, skip, or reorder any of them; none are load-bearing.
What isn't optional
- Angkor Wat + Angkor Thom/Bayon in Siem Reap, S-21 + Killing Fields + Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, and the Grand Palace in Bangkok — these are the trip's reasons to exist
- The Cambodia e-visa — required for Indian passports, no visa-on-arrival option (Thailand itself needs no visa for this stay)
- Booking the 21:50 nonstop return, not the cheaper afternoon one, if a real last day in Bangkok matters to you