Phnom Penh Hostel
Hostel, homestay or tent, shared
9 days, planned by Slow Compass
Nine days through the west and the south — the parts of Cambodia the Angkor trip does not reach.
| LANDMARKS |
|---|
| Sisowath Quay |
| Royal Palace |
| Wat Phnom |
Several million free-tailed bats leave the cave at Phnom Sampeau every evening in a stream that takes half an hour to pass. The same hill holds a Khmer Rouge killing cave, and both are on the same short walk.
| LANDMARKS |
|---|
| Battambang shophouses |
| Phnom Sampeau |
| Killing caves |
| Bat exodus |
The bamboo train is a bamboo platform on two axles with a small engine, and when two meet the lighter one is lifted off the track.
| LANDMARKS |
|---|
| Rice paper villages |
| Bamboo train |
| Wat Banan |
Kampot pepper was the standard in French kitchens before the war, the plantations were destroyed under the Khmer Rouge, and they have been rebuilt since.
| LANDMARKS |
|---|
| Kampot |
| Praek Tuek Chhu |
| Old market |
The French built a hill station up here in the 1920s with forced labour and hundreds died. It was abandoned twice and the shell of the casino is still standing.
| LANDMARKS |
|---|
| Bokor Hill Station |
| Old casino |
| Popokvil falls |
| Pepper farms |
Koh Rong is large enough to have empty beaches and a village that still fishes. The quiet end is a walk or a boat from the pier.
| LANDMARKS |
|---|
| Koh Rong |
| Long Set beach |
| Sok San |
The plankton needs a dark night, so it is scheduled near the new moon and it is never promised.
| LANDMARKS |
|---|
| Long Set beach |
| Bioluminescent plankton |
| Jungle crossing |
Leave a night in Phnom Penh — the ferry cancels in weather and it is the only way off the island.
Tuol Sleng and the killing fields are harrowing and entirely optional. Nobody is hurried through either and nobody is pressed to go.
Day 1 · Fri, 18 Sept, 2026
Most of these can be added to your booking later — the operator confirms within a day.
Published by the operator. Nights on the ground can move with weather and permissions.
Hostel, homestay or tent, shared
Hostel, homestay or tent, shared
Hostel, homestay or tent, shared
Hostel, homestay or tent, shared
8 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 3 dinners across 9 days, at camp. It opens with dinner on day 1 and closes with breakfast on day 9.
12 meal services named in the itinerary. Vegetarian and vegan covered; Jain, gluten-free and allergies on notice at booking
Too much time on the coach and not enough at the places we'd come for.
Thank you for travelling with us — glad the route worked out.
Well paced over 9 days with enough free time to not feel herded. Meals were good throughout and the vegetarian options weren't an afterthought. Solid operator.
Battambang done well. The itinerary had room to breathe. Good value for what's included.
Thank you for travelling with us — glad the route worked out.
Everything was arranged properly — transfers, entries, all of it. Solid operator.
Well paced over 9 days with enough free time to not feel herded. Hostel nights are basic but clean, and that's what the price says. Food was plentiful and hot, which counts for a lot at altitude. Would book with them again.
Thank you for travelling with us — glad the route worked out.
Well paced over 9 days with enough free time to not feel herded. Guides answered every question, including the daft ones. Would book with them again.
Battambang done well. The itinerary had room to breathe. Crew were professional without being stiff about it. Would book with them again.
Good mix of the obvious things and a few places we'd never have found.
They are offered on the last morning and they are genuinely optional. They are among the most distressing places open to visitors anywhere, and plenty of people decide not to go. Neither operator prices them in or applies any pressure either way.
One other operator runs this trip. See all 2 side by side →