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Delhi to Cambodia: Siem Reap and Phnom Penh

Delhi → Siem Reap → Phnom Penh

Angkor Wat
"Angkor_Wat.jpg" by Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence
Phnom Penh skyline from TK district Dec 2024 (Phnom Penh)
Photo: Looppty, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Angkor & Khmer history Best season (general guide): Nov–Mar

From India's capital, Cambodia is a few hours' flying away, usually with one change in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. This short route focuses on the two places most visitors come for: the temple ruins of the Khmer Empire around Siem Reap, and the river capital of Phnom Penh.

Siem Reap comes first because Angkor needs time and an early start. With three nights you can watch the sun rise at Angkor Wat, explore the giant stone faces of the Bayon inside Angkor Thom, and see the tree roots wrapped around Ta Prohm, then rest through the heat of the afternoon. Tuk-tuks and guides are easy to hire in town, and the multi-day temple pass suits this pace. The road south-east to Phnom Penh runs through rice country and villages. In the capital, the Royal Palace and the riverfront promenade sit alongside sobering memorials of the Khmer Rouge period, which many travellers consider essential for understanding the country.

Cambodia's dry season runs from about November to April. November to March is the more comfortable part of it, as March and especially April are very hot. Khmer New Year in mid-April fills buses and guesthouses. Siem Reap's airport is now Siem Reap-Angkor International, served under the city code SAI, so flight searches start there.

Hiring a tuk-tuk driver for a whole day is the usual way to get around the Angkor temples, and a licensed guide adds a lot of context to the carvings. Dress for temple rules, with shoulders and knees covered, especially for the upper levels of Angkor Wat. In Phnom Penh, the Tuol Sleng museum and the Choeung Ek memorial are difficult visits, so plan a quieter afternoon afterwards.

Suggested outline

  1. Delhi

    Start

  2. Siem Reap

    By air · 3 nights suggested

    Three nights to see Angkor in early mornings and late afternoons.

  3. Phnom Penh

    Overland · 2 nights suggested

    Reached by road (or a short flight). Two nights for the palace, museums and riverside.

    Royal Palace, Phnom Penh
    "Le_Palais_Royal_(Phnom_Penh)_(6997773481).jpg" by Jean-Pierre Dalbéra from Paris, France, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · Siem Reap — Arrive; town· Delhi → Siem Reap (by air)
  2. Day 2 · Siem Reap — Sunrise at Angkor Wat; Bayon
  3. Day 3 · Siem Reap — Ta Prohm and other temples
  4. Day 4 · Phnom Penh — Road to the capital; riverfront· Siem Reap → Phnom Penh (overland)
  5. Day 5 · Phnom Penh — Royal Palace and memorials
  6. Day 6 · Phnom Penh — Travel home from Phnom Penh· Phnom Penh → Delhi (by air)

A suggested pace only; expedition days are set by the operator.

Flights, leg by leg

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Siem Reap

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Phnom Penh

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