beverlya

I have 14 days for my trip to Cambodia and Laos. I would like to spend at least 5 days in Siem Reap. I would also like to visit Phnom Penh, Luang Prabang and Vientiane.Any suggestions on how many days in each place and other places to stop would be appreciated. We fly into and leave from Siem Reap. I will be travelling with my husband and while we are seasoned travelers, we are in our early 70s and need to be mindful about climbing. We would like a private guide at all of our stops. Any help with contact info for guides, itinerary suggestions and places to stay (four star hotels would be great).
Thanks! -Beverly

crellston

14 days sound like a lot but it really isn’t. you need to allow a day to get from one place to the next. Having visited all of those places several times am currently planning a return trip next year, i would suggest the following:

Phnom Penh 3 days
Kampot & Kep 3 days
Siem Reap 4 days
Luang Prabang 4 days

I would have suggested Battambang as it is on the way between PP and SR but for your comments re climbing.

Some photos and info of our time in Cambodia last year on our blog https://accidentalnomads.com/category/cambodia/

Kampot is a lovely laid back place with lots to see and do http://www.rikitikitavi-kampot.com is the best place in town in a great position on the river. excellent food!

Others will suggest places in SR, although we liked Seven Candles Guesthouse it is not the 4* you are looking for.

Guides are easy to come by in all locations. often the best way is to ask your accommodation to recommend someone as they have a vested interest in keeping you happy. expect to pay $60 per day for a car and driver in SR and half that in PP.

Kathie

I find it easier to count nights, as it is clear where you are sleeping each night and you can then tell exactly how much time you have in each place. Crellston has given you an itinerary that counts nights - so he gives you 3 nights in PP, which is two full days (it takes at least half a day, maybe more when you move from one place to another).

If you really want 5 full days in Siem Reap, you will need to stay there 6 nights. Three nights in Phnom Penh will give you two full days there. I'd suggest 3 nights in Vientiane as well. That leaves 4 nights for Luang Prabang... but you still need to get back to Siem Reap for your return flight home. You don't have time for more places, Indeed, you will need to shave some time off of one of your stops in order to return to Siem Reap the day before your international flight.

Are there other flight options? Could your return from Luang Prabang, Vientiane or Phnom Penh?

There are an abundance of hotels in Siem Reap. Some 4 star types that get great reviews from Fodorites include the FCC Angkor, the Victoria Angkor, and the Aspara Residence. There are many others - I just picked out some of the smaller properties from booking.com

If you decide you need a guide at any of these places, let your hotel recommend someone for you.

juliajane

Kathie I got the book you recommend today on angkor wat!! where did you stay in Siem Reap?I am considering Belmond and Park Hyatt.
J

Kathie

juliajane, I was in Siem Reap so long ago that there were few options. You have all sorts of options now - from clean budget places to lovely, luxe boutique properties. I have several friends who have stayed at the Park Hyatt and loved it. I like to recommend it as it is one of the hotels in town that has training programs for locals.

Enjoy your time in Cambodia!

RushBijoux

juliajane, I stayed at The Privilege Floor at Lotus Blanc last July and enjoyed my stay immensely. It's a little bit far from Pub Street so if you're looking to be within walking distance, definitely don't stay there (a short ride on a tuk-tuk will fix this, though).

However, I must say I was really impressed by their room service and dining offerings. They are not cheap per se but not astronomically expensive either. And for the kind of quality they offer, I feel like I should be paying twice or three times more than what was charged.

We got Amok, Beef Lok Lak, and Fried Spring Rolls, all heavenly, but the star was Pan-fried Tonle Sap River fish which I'm still dreaming about to this day.

beverlya

Thank you all for your thoughtful suggestions. So much to choose from and so much for me to still learn. Can anyone tell me more about Kampot and Kep? How far are they from Phnom Penh and how do you travel there? What makes them worth the visit?

No one said anything about Vientiane in Laos. Is it not worth visiting? Are there any not too far places from Luang Prabang that are worth seeing?

Can anyone recommend the best route between the major cities (flying probably)? I do have to return to Siem REap for my flight home. Thanks again!

crellston

If you click on the link to our blog in my post above, there are a lot of photos of Kampot and Kep. There are regular buses between the PP and Kampot taking 3-4 hours and costing approx $5 PP. There were four of us so we chose to get a car arranged by the hotel which cost $40 and took around two hours.

Kampot is a very pleasant and pretty riverside town. Take a sunset boat trip upriver into the countryside, rent bicycles to visit the temples. The Bokor mountains and hill stations are within striking distance and well worth a visit. Some people stay a day or two in Kep on the coast but we just took a day trip by tuk tuk. A very pleasant day out via the renowned pepper farms, the salt fields, the killing fields and some great little villages along the way. A crab amok for lunch at or near the crab market is a must IMO!

Visited Vientiane a couple of times. Liked it the first time, not so much the second time around. Some people do like it but it is not the most enchanting of SE Asian cities. With the time you have available, I would say adding another destination would be one too many.

Around LP there are some weaving villages across the river, the Pak Ou caves reached by boat in an hour or two and the Kuang Si waterfalls which many people seem to visit but personally I think are a little overrated (unless you are desperate for a cooling swim!).

LP is very small so you can get around and see most of the temples in a couple of days. A nice contrast is a stay in the countryside one of the jungle lodges which are only an hour or two from the town.

If at all possible, I would suggest flying between destinations. Definitely PP to SR. Getting to Laos may be a little problematic (and expensive). I think it may be easier and cheaper from SR rather than PP as there are a few direct flights. You don't mention where your international flight arrives, but if Bangkok, it may be worth investigating a Bangkok Air air pass. I think you only need a min of three flights.

There are buses and luxury minibuses between PP and SR but it is a long journey. We used Mekong Express who were te most comfortable we could find.

Kathie

I mentioned Vientiane in my response to you and recommended 3 nights (2 days) there. If you opt for Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Luang Prabang and Vientiane, which were the four places you list in your original question, you do not have time to add in anywhere else. Indeed, you'll have to shorten one stay to make this plan work. So unless you are adding another week or are willing to trade one destination for another don't be looking at other places. From Luang Prabang, I recommend the day trips that crellston does: Pak Ou caves, weaving villages and the two sets of waterfalls outside of town. But in LP, you want to give yourself time to wander the streets and markets, visit temples and monasteries. The problem is that you have relatively little time there. Crellston suggested 4 nights which gives you three full days. Having spent a week there when we visited, that seems like not enough time to me. And you have to cut a night somewhere in order to return to Siem Reap for your flight home.

Decide what your priorities are for this trip, and choose the time in the various destinations based on your priorities.

Vientianeboy

Vientiane is certainly worth visiting. After living there for 11 years I am still not bored. There is interesting colonial architecture and many wats. I also like the quirky museums. The food is far better than what is available in Cambodia. Most people who say they don't like Vientiane have actually seen very little of it.

zoso

If I may add...
Please remember PLEASE do not ride Elephants when u travel here in SE Asia.
They suffer horribly by the hand of the owners and mahouts.
They push this riding for money. Do your home work.
They r treated like tractors.
BUT,
Tractors are given gas. Elephants are given no water all day...no food,
Beaten by hooks and stabbed with knifes. Forced to work with broken hips, backs.
Chained forced bred....

Important.....There was a Elephant that died in Siem Reap Ankor Park Cambodia a few months ago. She had two people on her back.
It dropped dead right there.
People on its back.Given no water all day and forced to give rides all day in the heat of the day.
You can Google this Elephant died in Ankor park Siem Reap Cambodia.
Pleaser sped the work have a heart no riding.

KWP

We just departed Siem Reap after an 8 night stay at the Victoria Angkor Resort. It was perfect for my husband and me. I have to admit I'm picky about hotels, but I don't like "stuffy overly trained staff". I like staff with "heart".

Staff warm & friendly
Perfect size...not so big
Clean
Great location
Recommend requesting Room 218
Do pay upgrade for a pool view room.
Linens & towels very nice
Fresh flowers in the room each day
Beautiful large swimmable pool
Pool food & beverage service
Large towels available at the pool
Delicious & included breakfast buffet
Car & Tuk Tuk service available upon request. Guides too if desired.

This was a wonderful "home away from home" to come back to each day.