Cambodia walking route: Royal Palace to Angkor Wat
Explore Cambodia's cultural and historical landmarks across 34.5 km starting from Phnom Penh's Royal Palace and National Museum, then venture to the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. The route extends to Siem Reap's iconic Angkor Wat and Bayon Temple, includes Battambang's Bat Cave of Phnom Sampeau, and returns via Central Market, Silver Pagoda, Sisowath Quay, and Diamond Island.
- Distance
- 34.5 km
- Duration
- 6 h 54 min
- Mode
- route
- Start
- Welcome to Cambodia
- End
- Diamond Island
- Stops
- 12
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Welcome to Cambodia — Southeast Asian nation known for ancient Khmer temples, vibrant culture, and rapid development offering diverse experiences from colonial architecture to modern urban centers.
- Royal Palace — The first and most obvious place to start in Phnom Penh
- National Museum of Cambodia — Located within walking distance from the Royal Palace
- Killing Fields — Historic site and memorial documenting the tragic aftermath of the Khmer Rouge regime, serving as a solemn reminder of Cambodia's 20th-century history.
- Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum — A former secondary school used as a security prison during the Khmer Rouge regime
- Angkor Wat — Majestic ancient temple originally constructed as a Hindu Temple dedicated to Vishnu in the 12th century
- Bayon Temple — Famous for its 216 stone carved faces on the temple's towers
- Central Market, Battambang — Colonial-era art deco marketplace where locals and visitors browse fresh produce, textiles, and handicrafts reflecting authentic provincial Cambodian commerce.
- Bat Cave of Phnom Sampeau — Sacred limestone cave sanctuary home to thousands of bats, accessible by steep climb and offering panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
- Silver Pagoda — The most impressive building in the palace complex
- Sisowath Quay — A scenic boulevard along the intersection of Tonlé Sap and Mekong Rivers
- Diamond Island — One of the districts of Phnom Penh featuring modern skyscrapers
Useful for your trip
- Transport
- Foreigners can only rent a car in Cambodia if they have a Cambodian driver's license; consider hiring a driver instead.
- Transport
- Use tuktuks, taxis, or cyclos to get around Phnom Penh; cyclos are a fun but slower option for tourists.
- Timing
- Visit Angkor Wat at sunset rather than sunrise; sunrise requires waking at 4:30 AM and is less reliable than sunset.
- Save money
- Angkor Wat pass for 3 days costs around 60 USD; prices in Cambodia are often quoted in US dollars but you can pay in local currency too.
- Food
- Cambodian signature dish is Lok Lak (wok-fried beef filet with oyster gravy, Kampot pepper, egg and rice); costs around 6.75 USD.
- Tip
- Visit Tonlé Sap Lake floating villages from Siem Reap, just 30 minutes away; it's the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia.
- Timing
- Best time to visit Phnom Penh is December-January when temperatures are cooler; most of the year reaches 37°C and is very hot and humid.
- Tip
- Cambodia New Year is a 3-day public holiday starting April 13-14, marking the end of harvest season with celebrations and festivities.
- Tip
- Visit the Bat Cave of Phnom Sampeau near Battambang; 15 million bats emerge around 6 PM nightly to hunt for mosquitoes in rice paddies.
- Timing
- When visiting Killing Cave near Battambang, arrive around 4 PM so it's not too dark; combine with Bat Cave visit afterwards.
- Transport
- Take a bamboo train (Nori) ride near Battambang to see the countryside; it's a bamboo flatbed on wheels powered by a motorcycle engine.
- Avoid
- Avoid gambling in Sihanoukville; Cambodian nationals are not allowed to gamble—casinos are exclusively for foreigners.
Video on this route
Cambodia. Amazing Country with Huge Potential!