Elisif

Hi Everyone,

I'm just beginning to start on my planning for a trip to Cambodia but I'm having a hard time narrowing my focus down.

To start off here's a bit of our background. My husband and I are in our late 20s and independent travelers. We dislike going on group tours and much prefer going on our own if we can, or hiring a private guide if it's something that will greatly enhance the experience. We like to save money where we can and are generally budget travelers but I wouldn't say shoestring. We work hard so that we can play hard and aren't afraid to splurge on something if it's a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing and also will take a domestic plane flight if it saves a ton of time. We much prefer adventure to the city (our hobbies at home include rock climbing, ice climbing, and mountaineering) and we are active people. We dislike crowds but know that they are inevitable at times if we want to see the popular spots when it's not a torrential downpour

Now to the questions!

We will have ~18days in the country (this excludes travel time to and from the US (Portland)). Should we just focus on Cambodia or will we have enough time to explore Laos as well? Vietnam? Or....should we start in Laos and then head to Cambodia? Anything specific we should focus on? Where would you fly into/out of?

Options for dates are December 2nd - 21st or January 13th - Feb. 1st. There may be a slight chance of Nov. 4th-23rd as well. Is there an appreciable difference between these months? Cost? Crowds? Weather?

Oh, and one more quick note....we've spent 3 weeks in Thailand a few years ago and loved it (we would totally just go back there but want to experience new things!).

I think that's it for my first questions. I'm mainly trying to focus on plane tickets for now in order to work the rest out later.

Thank you so much for your time!

Kathie

If it were me (and it isn't) I'd probably opt for a combination of Cambodia and Laos. VN can be three weeks on its own. I think there are too many compromises in combining it with Cambodia.

Weather should be good, it will likely be a bit warmer in November than Dec and January, but all three months are fine.

Note than lodging in Luang Prabang fills up quickly. You'll want to make those reservations as soon as you can.

rhkkmk

have you researched cambodia and found that you could spend 18 days there in places that would interest you?

silverwool

Most people only go to Siem Reap (Angkor Wat) and maybe Phnom Penh. Other options that come to mind include Battangbang (the countryside not the just the town) Banteay Chhmar near Sisophon, Kampot and Kep and the North East. I want to go to the latter but would not attempt it for less than a week. There was a recent trip report here on a trip to Rattnakiri (sp) Check out www.travelfish.org for info on the less touristy parts of Cambodia. Someone is also offering eco tourism in the Cardamon mountains but I don't know much about it.

Another place to consider is Luang NamTha if you decide to go to northern Laos. Its great for trekking and is not touristy. Very cheap and laid back.

marmot

Lunar New Year will be January 23, 2012. This will greatly impact travel throughout the region. So unless you specifically want to tailor your trip around New Year's celebrations, I would favor your December dates.

If you are locked into late January travel, then you might consider a country that has less focus on Lunar New Year, like Indonesia.

offwego

I live in Cambodia but Lao is probably my favorite country in SEA, so I'm torn.

You could do the traditional Siem Reap>Phnom Penh>Luang Prabang>Bangkok circuit and "do it all" in 18 days. That kind of trip enables you to fly between points and save a lot of time.

I think the people who come to Cambodia for the standard 3 days in Siem Reap and then hightail it out have zero idea as to what Cambodia is about. Siem Reap is NOT Cambodia. The country unfolds slowly, you've got to give it some time. Then again, it's a bit rough around the edges and not everybody's cup of tea and how could you know till you get here?

I'd say go for full Cambodian immersion for all 18 days, but set it up with an exit strategy in case you're underwhelmed. Or overwhelmed.

I would do it like this:

Siem Reap and surrounds 5 days (lots to do, it's not all temples
travel 1/2 day (too bad the boat won't be possible for you in dry season, if you wanted to tempt it, count on a 9 hour journey)
Battambang 1 full day unless the norries are done by then in which case skip it.
travel 1 day
Phnom Penh 1 full day
travel 1 long day of adventurous bus travel
Ratanakiri 3 days
travel 1 long day
Kep/Kompot 3 days
1/2 day to Phnom Penh and out

No choice but bus travel between these points....Lots of interesting people, situations and things along the way to keep you entertained.

A week into this agenda you would know whether Cambodia was your cup of tea or not. If not, when you get to PP, get on a plane and get thee to Luang Prabang. You would only want to do the Ratanakiri leg if you were, by then, pretty much in love with the khmertastic way of doing things; there are some amazing trekking opportunities up there, although that time of year will be not so verdant.

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...rip-report.cfm

Elisif

Thank you all for your replies. They've given me a lot of food for thought.

I really appreciate the tip regarding the Lunar New Year. I had not even thought of that. It looks like December will be our choice as November is during the Water Festival. Process of elimination

Also, thanks so much offwego for your suggestions. I like the idea of going for Cambodia but having an escape route and I appreciate the ideas on how to do it.

Any additional ideas or suggestions are welcomed. I'm sure I'll have more questions as I continue to explore.

dogster

Why on earth would you AVOID Chinese New Year? It's great. Same during the water festival? Surely these events are pure S.E. Asia? I don't get it.

Offwego's advice is about as good as you'll get. I disagree on Siem Reap not being Cambodia - actually, it IS Cambodia - just not the Cambodia you necessarily want to see. IMHO it is NEW Cambodia - full of tomorrow - where you can watch a country re-inventing itself. She's spot on, however, on the need for time. One day in P.P. doesn't exactly fit that concept. More. If you want to know about Cambodia, you need to do that whole Pol Pot thing. One day, in, out, shlepping around the tourist circuit will just spin you out. Time.

But I defer to offwego. After all, she lives there.

Just to add a bit of confusion - I believe there is now [or soon] a direct flight from Siem Reap to Burma.