Country breakdown
- Siem Reap
- Angkor Wat
- Phnom Penh
- Koh Rong
- Tonle Sap
- Sihanoukville
- Chambok Homestay
The trip from Bangkok into the first part of Cambodia started at 6 am with a bus ride to the border. But the day wasn’t over yet—after crossing into Cambodia, we continued our journey deeper into the country. Along the way, we made various pit stops at roadside stations and stopped for a local lunch. Later, we had a G Adventures-organized dinner with a family.
After settling in and relaxing, the evening was spent watching a circus act and exploring the night markets in Siem Reap.
Siem Reap
Day 15 – July 19th
This one was a tough day. It started with a 4 am wake-up call to view the wonder that is Angkor Wat Temple at sunrise. The day included a guided tour by a local and visits to the temples where the Tomb Raider films were shot. I saw many monks, received a blessing, and promptly broke the wristband he gave me—but still had good luck for the rest of the trip.
Angkor Wat // Siem Reap
Angkor Wat // Siem Reap
After returning to the hotel after a long day, I decided to add an extra activity—quad biking in the countryside while watching the sunset. Our guide took us for miles, stopping along the way to show us some rice fields and demonstrate how people harvest the crop. That evening, as a group, we headed to the famous YOLO Bar in Siem Reap.
Day 16 – July 20th
This day involved traveling by minibus to Phnom Penh. The roads were incredibly bumpy the entire way—hours and hours of it. I’m not talking about minor bumps; I mean incomplete roads and huge potholes, with the bus rocking the whole time. We stopped for lunch at a floating restaurant and village.
Phnom Penh
Back on the road again, after another pit stop, we came across a roadside food market selling fried bugs—not for the faint of heart.
Day 17 – July 21st
This was a really strange day. It began with a visit to the Tuol Sleng Prison and the Killing Fields, where we reflected on one of Cambodia’s darkest periods. On top of that, news spread worldwide that Chester Bennington, a major figure in the music community, had passed away. What a whirlwind of emotions.
Phnom Penh
After the events of the day took their toll, leaving us unsure of what had just happened, the group headed to what seemed like a dodgy backstreet alley for a bare-knuckle boxing match in a shed. I had no idea what was going on, and the fighters looked almost too young to be competing, but it was still pretty entertaining to watch. After the matches, we went to Skybar for some drinks on the rooftop.
Day 18 & 19 – July 22nd-23rd
After the heavy days at the Cambodian Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng Prison, our next stop was Sihanoukville. Given all the travel I’d done since Thailand, I decided to take the next two days for myself while the group went on organized tours. I can’t remember exactly what the options were or what the others did, but the break was much needed and appreciated. I spent my time walking around, taking pictures of the local village and the coastal beachline.
Sihanoukville
