Cambodia itinerary... Help!

Hi all

I'm planning a trip to Cambodia in November, flying in to Siem Reap on the 2nd and out on the 20th. I'm planning on using Stray hop on hop off buses to get around. I know a lot of people on here don't like the idea of these buses, and I do admit they have their drawbacks, but I've used them in NZ and Australia, and as a lone female traveler who can be a little shy approaching new people they generally work pretty well for me. I'm torn between two passes, one with the itineray below:

Siem Reap
Kompong Thom
Phnom Penh
Koh Tunsay
Kampot
Battambang
Siem Reap

And a second pass which goes:
Phnom Penh
Koh Tunsay
Kampot
Battambang
Siem Reap

The second pass misses out Kompong Thom, as well as stops on the way to visit Phnom Kulen National Park and a silk farm, however based on the timetable this pass would give me a few days in Phnom Penh, as opposed to half a day with a trip to the Killing Fields and S21 the next morning. Would you miss out on visiting Kompong Thom and the national park for more time in Phnom Penh, or is it worth reducing time in Phnom Penh for?

One other question, I would ideally like to fit in some trekking/hiking activity while I'm there, is there anywhere accessible along this route? It seems like most of this is situated either in the Cardamom Mountain or Eastern Cambodia, but just thought I'd check!

Cheers!

If you are insistent on taking a pass take the second one, this will give you time to yourself and allow you build up some confidence of sorting stuff yourself. Asia is a very different animal to NZ or Aus, it is also very cheap to travel, you will find that you could do it for a fraction of the price if you did it yourself. Cambodia is very easy to get around on local buses, no need to be afraid, there will be plenty of other travelers wanting to chat. by doing it yourself you don't have to compromise on anything and will be able to see all you want to.

Thanks for your advice, I am leaning towards the second pass as I want to be able to relax and not be too pushed for time. I understand that it would be easy to get around on local transport, it's an option that I have looked into and if I was traveling with a friend it would definitely be the way I'd do it. But I've found it hard to meet people by myself in the past, groups together often aren't open to approaching lone travelers, and I'm not great at approaching people I don't know. It takes me a while to feel comfortable around new people which is why these buses work for me, even if they aren't the best option travel wise. I'd rather miss a few sights and make some new friends to have fun with, than see absolutely everything but find myself somewhat lonely.

There's also another pass option which includes Kompong Thom and the national park, but misses out a homestay and Bamboo Train ride in Battambang, would anyone recommend one place over the other, and why?

One thing with Stray, you may be locked into a route but you can be totally flexible with the timetable. Plus you arent travelling with the same people every day.

Why would any person bother with a Bus Pass ,when fares are a pittance in Cambodia.
Siem Reap to Phnom Penh from $6 to BAttambang from $5
Stray are asking $693 for a 11 day Pass
My advice to you is to only travel in a full sized Bus.

OP has said why they are tending towards this sort of pass. Its obviously NOT for the money. If Stray is as well run in SEA it is in NZ, then OP will have a good time.

When I looked at the timetable link, it seemed that a lot of the routes in those packages only run twice a week, which seems restrictive, unless I am mixed up.

Thanks for all your responses, I understand a lot of people won't understand wanting to travel on a bus pass when public transport is so cheap, but it's the way I feel comfortable doing it alone, and if it's a choice between not traveling at all and doing this way, surely it's better to do it this way, even if it is more expensive and not as authentic? I have looked at doing a full blown tour as well but I've done these before and there's too much rushing around and not enough time to do your own thing. I feel like these buses are a good compromise for me.

Could anyone please shed some light on my questions above, Kompong Thom vs Battambang, and any opportunities for hiking/trekking along the above route?

As a Kiwi, I'm glad if you had to pick a company, you picked a well known and reliable NZ one.

I would pick Battambang over K. Thom as there is more to do and see, its a chilled out small city with plenty of riverside bars and some good sights to see nearby. K.Thom has the very interesting Sambor Prei Kuk and the moto ride out there is cool, however you can do similar things in Siem Reap and obviously Angkor Wat is more impressive. For Trekking you are better off in the Cardamoms or Mondulkiri however I think there are some companies doing treks around Siem Reap although not as remote. Google the Mekong Discovery Trail.

I did the Kiwi Experience several years ago as I had just been months in the outback on my own and wanted some social, it worked perfectly, lots of new friends and booze and no responsibility, I enjoyed it but wouldn't do it again, I do understand why you want to go that way. I also see many people on here thinking how much further they can go on the same money.

If you want to get into the jungle and treck you will have to make your own way somewhere. I would suggest Chi Phat but you would have to get there from Phnom Phen

http://www.chi-phat.org/Default.htm

Looking at the first tour you will spend 6 days on the road and if you are to see anything in the places you overnight you will have to spend 3 or 4 nights in each. This will not be possible in your timeframe assuming you will be spending a few days first at Siem Reap to explore Angkor Wat

You need to do some detailed homework on the places you stop off at and decide which appeals and what you might want to do over the two or three spare days and those where you might hop on the bus the next morning

I understand your nervousness but if you chose popular guesthouses to stay in then you should not have real problems meeting people and you are very likely to find travel companions for some of the legs of the trip. You will not of course get the side trips en-route but you might get your treck

Thanks for the info, Chi Phat looks amazing! I've been looking at the travel information on the website, am I right in saying it's about a 3 hour bus journey from Sihanoukville?

Yes about that to the turn off for Chi Phat and there are also buses from Phnom Phen that take about 4 hours. The bus drivers are used to tourists going to Chi Phat. There are a number of companies that do the route but you may be best if you are on your own to use Virak Buntham. make sure you book the night before and make sure you check bus departure time and from where it is leaving from

I am a regular visitor to Chi Phat and usually stay for 3 weeks so happy to answer any questions that are not covered by the web

Thank you for the information. I have looked into changing my itinerary around but it just doesn't seem feasible to make a trip to Chi Phat, as amazing as it looks. I'm looking instead at a trip to Koh Rong from Kampot as I really want to have some chill out time on the beach. I can see that there are opportunities for trekking here, and although I'm sure it's not on the same scale as Chi Phat I might have to compromise on that. I guess there's always next time!

If in Kampot take a trip to the top of Bokor mountain, you will get get great views. Just keep going past the dreadful new casino to the old historical french buildings.

Ok, I think I've figured out an itinerary that works for me, what do people think?
Fly into Phnom Penh
Day 1: Bus from Phnom Penh to Koh Tunsay (This includes a trip to the Killing Fields and S21 in the morning.)Over night stay on Koh Tunsay.
Day 2: Koh Tunsay to Kampot
Day 3 Kampot to Sihnoukville (either as a Stray side trip or organised independently.)
Day 3: Sihnoukville to Koh Rong
Day 4: Koh Rong
Day 5: Koh Rong
Day 6 Koh Rong
Day 7: Koh Rong to Sihnoukville and back to Kampot
Day 8:Kampot
Day 9: Kampot to Battambang (including a stop at Udong, Kompong Chhang and homestay in Battambang)
Day 10: Battambang to Siem Reap (including ride on the Bamboo Train)
Day 11: Siem Reap
Day 12: Siem Reap
Day 13: Siem Reap
Day 14: Siem Reap
Day 15: Siem Reap
Day 16: Siem Reap to Kompong Thom (Including trip to Phnom Kulen national park)
Day 17: Kompong Thom to Phnom Penh (including a trip to a silk farm and a spider farm.)
Day 18: Phnom Penh & fly home

The only thing I'm worried about (apart from not being able to fit some proper trekking in) is that I don't have enough time in Phnom Penh. The Killing Fields and S21 trip will be done on a travel day, so I will have half a day on the day I travel from Kompong Thom, and most of the following day If I fly in the evening. Is that enough time, at a push? What do you think about the itinerary, am I planning enough time in places, or too much in others?

Sorry if I'm asking too many questions, I really wish I could've convinced a friend to come with me so we cold have planned together, guess I'm using this as kind of a substitute.

Yes, I would try have at least 2 full days in Phnom Penh that are not travel days. I would also try and have at least one full day in Battambang that is not a travel day. Its a long trip from Kampot to Battambang (9hrs+). I would have thought Phnom Kulen is best done as a day trip from Siem Reap, rather than on the way from Siem Reap to somewhere else.
Koh Tunsay is close to Kep. which is where the ferry leaves from.

I don't fly out until late in the evening so I'll have virtually the whole day, plus the previous afternoon in Phnom Penh. Plus a morning for the Killing Fields and S21. I'm hoping that'll be enough to fit in most of the main sights as I can't really work my schedule any other way. The trip to Phnom Kulen is included in the bus pass, which is why it's being done en route to somewhere else. I'm hoping to spend a bit of time in Kep either when I return from Koh Tunsay or during my stay at Kampot.

Grab a tuk tuk and use him to take you round the sights. I dont know what they charge now but its definitely worth it. You'll always miss things so it pays not to stress over it. We've had many trips to SEA but there are still things I'd like to see but with husband in tow who doesnt, c'ie la vie.

Thanks Westwood. I think I need to remember this is a holiday, not the big trip I did a few years back when I had all the time in the world. It's as much about chilling out with a book and getting a tan as it is exploring a new country, and if I don't get to see everything, it's not the end of the world! I'll definitely take your advice about hiring a driver, seems like the best way to see a lot in a short space of time as they know where they're going.

have you checked out your schedule with the Stray bus schedule to make sure everything works?

Yep, all planned around the bus schedule. So glad I've finally got it sorted! :)

enjoy

I would pick Battambang over K. Thom as there is more to do and see, its a chilled out small city with plenty of riverside bars and some good sights to see nearby. K.Thom has the very interesting Sambor Prei Kuk and the moto ride out there is cool, however you can do similar things in Siem Reap and obviously Angkor Wat is more impressive. For Trekking you are better off in the Cardamoms or Mondulkiri however I think there are some companies doing treks around Siem Reap although not as remote. Google the Mekong Discovery Trail.

I did the Kiwi Experience several years ago as I had just been months in the outback on my own and wanted some social, it worked perfectly, lots of new friends and booze and no responsibility, I enjoyed it but wouldn't do it again, I do understand why you want to go that way. I also see many people on here thinking how much further they can go on the same money.

Hi! so are you saying it's pretty safe to travel single in cambodia (as a girl) and meet friends?
i will only have 3 days to spend there so i don't see the necessity to join any tour. but travel companions would defntly make a difference. :)
angkor wat is a must see. what else would you suggest to put in my 3-day schedule?

thanks a lot!

zxliu - it might be better for you to start a new thread specific to your trip, and you will probably get more replies.

thanks! yes i do have my own thread :)

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