Hi, yet another boring itinery question I'm afraid. Let me apologise in advance.
My dilema is this. Max time I can get off work for a holiday is 3 weeks in any one go. With a bit of wangling I could maybe arrange my shifts before leaving (and upon return) so that I have 27 days total. Have had a cursory look at flights and it's looking like a spill over into the next day leaving me with 25 full days + evening of arrival to play with.
Would it be possible in that time to see:
Siem Reap/Angkor
Koh Ker
Prasat Preah Vihear
Phnom Penh
Kampot/Kep/Bokor
Ream National Park
Kiriron National Park
Mondulkiri province
Ratanakiri province
and
Battambang and surrounds
Given that I don't want to hare from place to place without doing much more than stopping to draw breath I just can't see how to fit it all in. Also, too tight a schedule and I'm scuppered should I get delayed at any point, I much prefer to have some leeway so plans can be altered as and when the need arises. So, I must prune, but where? I think I could lose Battambang from my list without too much heartache but I doubt that'll be enough and the trouble is, the more I read about the country, the longer my list is getting.
So what would you do in the same situation? I'd be traveling around May/June time (yes, I start planning early, the anticipation helps me get through the working week) should it make any difference.
My logical side tells me better to drop Mondulkiri and/or Ratanakiri, or maybe Koh Ker/Prasat Preah Vihear, but I really, really don't want to (unless they're impossible to reach that time of year), then I could possibly strike them off without too much heartache).
All suggestions welcome, be as harsh as you please, I suspect I may need it :(
Oh, and in case I forget later..
Thank you!
I highly recommend you go to one of the northeastern provinces, but you don't absolutely have to go to both Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri.
I agree with Serotrance, choose one of the two norteasternern provinces. Mondulkiri is somewhat less time-consuming to get to.
While I have been recommending Kirirum a few times on here, looking at your itinerary and time available it may be one to skip as well, since it's a bit complicated stopping over there while on the way between Phnom Penh and Sihanukville. And as national parks go, Bokor is more impressive IMHO.
On the other hand the season you have chosen is good to reach both Preah Vihear and Koh Ker, so don't skip those. Leaving Battambang at the end of your trip is also wise. Nice place, but I wouldn't call it a must-see. Not too much heartache if you can't make it there.
SG
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