Blog · 6 November 2026
Cambodia from India: Angkor Wat, Phnom Penh and Kampot, how many days, and what a trip costs
Cambodia is the home of Angkor Wat, the largest temple complex in the world, and for many Indian travellers it feels close to home: the temples were built for Vishnu and Shiva, and you'll see scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata carved into the walls. Hotels, food and drivers cost little, so most of the money goes on the flight. It also pairs well with Vietnam or Thailand if you want a longer trip.
How many days do you need?
Plan on five to seven days. Siem Reap, the town next to Angkor, needs three days: one for Angkor Wat at sunrise and the big temples around it, one for the outer temples such as Banteay Srei, and one for the Tonle Sap lake and an evening show. With five or six days, go on to Phnom Penh, the capital, for two days of the palace, museums and the history of the Khmer Rouge years. With a full week, add Kampot near the south coast for pepper farms, Bokor mountain and the crab market at Kep. Siem Reap to Phnom Penh is about six hours by road, so many people fly between them or fly home from Phnom Penh.
What a trip costs
For a couple flying from Delhi and staying in a midrange hotel, a 4-day Cambodia trip in December comes to about ₹2,00,200, or ₹1,00,100 per person. That covers return flights, a car with driver between towns, the hotel, food, local transport, the attractions we pick for you, the visa, travel insurance and a 10% buffer. Daily costs are low, so flights are a big share of the total, and the month you fly changes it the most.
You can change the dates, travellers, hotel, places and attractions on our Cambodia trip cost page and see every line update.
Attractions worth paying for
- Angkor Wat sunrise with a 1-day temple pass: about ₹3,511 per adult. Children under 12 go free. Multi-day passes cost less per day if you want to see more temples.
- Banteay Srei and Kbal Spean: about ₹2,847. Banteay Srei is small, pink and has the finest carvings at Angkor; Kbal Spean has lingas carved into a riverbed in the jungle.
- Tonle Sap floating village boat: about ₹2,373, to see villages built on stilts over the great lake.
- Phare, the Cambodian Circus in Siem Reap: about ₹2,373. It's acrobatics and theatre rather than animals, and children love it.
- Apsara dance dinner show: about ₹2,373, for classical Khmer dance with a buffet.
- Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda in Phnom Penh: about ₹949.
- Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields: about ₹2,373. It's a hard visit but explains modern Cambodia; it's not suitable for young children.
- Bokor mountain tour from Kampot: about ₹2,847, and a Kampot pepper farm: about ₹949.
Free and cheap things to do
Pub Street and the night markets in Siem Reap are free to wander and good for cheap food and souvenirs. In Phnom Penh, walk the riverside promenade in the evening and look round the Central Market, a big yellow domed hall. Watch the sunset over the river in Kampot. The Mekong sunset cruise in Phnom Penh costs only about ₹1,424.
When to go
November to February is the best time: dry, with cooler mornings, and the busiest and most expensive season. March and April are very hot, often above 35°C, so start temple visits at dawn. The monsoon runs from May to September, with afternoon rain, green fields, fewer visitors and lower prices; the mornings are usually fine for sightseeing. Siem Reap stays warm all year, with nights around 20°C even in December and January.
Visa for Indians
Indian passport holders need a visa for Cambodia, but it's easy to get. You can get a tourist visa on arrival at the main airports for US$30, or apply for an e-visa online before you fly, which saves time in the queue. Both allow a stay of up to 30 days. Carry a passport photo and the fee in US dollars cash for the visa on arrival, and use only the official government site for the e-visa.
Tips that save money
- US dollars are used everywhere alongside the Cambodian riel, so carry clean, untorn dollar notes; small change comes back in riel.
- Hire a tuk-tuk driver for the day at Angkor rather than a car; it's cheaper and you feel the breeze.
- Cover your shoulders and knees for the temples, or you may be turned away at the upper level of Angkor Wat.
- Vegetarian food is easy to find, and Siem Reap and Phnom Penh both have Indian restaurants.
Want the numbers for your own dates and group? Plan your Cambodia trip and send it to us for live flight and hotel prices.