Thailand and Cambodia are neighboring countries. Many visitors who make the journey to Southeast Asia plan a combined trip and visit both countries.
In this guide, we are going to look at how to plan a travel itinerary for a tour of Thailand and Cambodia.
Which Country to Enter First?

Before the outbreak, we generally recommended entry through Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, because Bangkok has more international flight options.
However, due to the decrease in international flights during the pandemic, whether to enter from Thailand first or Cambodia depends on the international flight choices available for your departure point.
Traveling from Europe and Australia
For travelers from Europe and Australia, there are few direct international flights to Cambodia at the moment. Passengers typically need to transfer in Singapore, which is a very good airport. But direct flights to/from Thailand are available.
Thus, we usually suggest entering at Cambodia and leaving from Thailand. Taking a direct flight after your trip would give you the best chance of coming back from your holiday refreshed, and making your beachside stay in Thailand your final stop would give the optimum wind-down experience for the whole trip.
You could also choose to fly in and out from Thailand. However, you would need some extra travel time to journey from Thailand and Cambodia and back.
Traveling from the US and Canada
For travelers from the United States and Canada, currently the flight availability doesn't make a big difference to the itinerary, as either Thailand or Cambodia requires a connecting flight. Thus, you can decide according to the most convenient flight times, ticket prices, and your travel dates.
All things being equal, we still suggest Cambodia entry and Thailand exit, for a relaxing beach finish.
Get Expert Itinerary Advice
If you are still unsure of your tour arrangements, we are here to help. We will select the best tour route based on your needs to make the most of your time, avoid hassles, and make your travel experience as enjoyable as possible. Contact us.




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I have never hear of this company…
I have never hear of this company before , and after reading all these reviews ,I decided to give it a try . The professionalism and communicative skill received by one of the agent , Sharon of Asia Highlights , convince me that She was the right travel agent for my trip in Asia . Very quickly she communicated with me and got all the detail of my desire vacation . Sharon made me a great itinerary with great experiences that I am dreaming to experience and I am looking forward to it . Thanks Sharon for been so great and crafting me a dream vacation with great suggestions. More
orge alvarez,
May 2023
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Coco Yang worked tirelessly to…
From the moment I landed in Bangkok, Ms Noi Ying was there to welcome me and get me settled into my hotel. We enjoyed several days together touring Bangkok and Kanchanaburi. In Chiang Mai, Mr Ekachai took my son snd I on an amazing trip to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary and to visit a community Lanna home, gardens and a hands-on cooking class preparing an authentic Thai meal. Lisa arranged a last-minute speedboat tour of 5 breathtaking islands in Phuket. From start to finish, the guides exceeded my expectations!! Thank you, Asia Highlight!! Debbie Woods More
Debbie Woods,
May 2023
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Sharon from Asia highlights has been…
Sharon from Asia highlights has been amazing. She offered her amazing ideas to other tours I wanted. We have planned the perfect 9 day itinerary to Thailand. She worked in my budget and was very flexible when I had to change my flights. Thank you sharon. Can’t wait for the trip. More
Heather Stern Wilensky,
Apr 2023
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Ms. Ning first review 4-2023
Ms. Albee Ning has been doing a great job accommodating my requests and itinerary changes. Remember the first itinerary is a rough draft and you may modify it to suit your tastes. Remember you can not do it all and see everything in 3 weeks. If the flight wasn't so long I would visit Southeast Asia more often. I will update my review in a few months. We don't leave for 9 more months. Asia Highlights is working well for me so far! More
Chiefray,
Apr 2023
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Perfect Trip To Thailand…
We had so much fun in Bangkok with Tanni and Tom as they kept laughing at all of our silly jokes. Paul, our guide and Chiang Mai was really thoughtful, fun and full of great information about the temples and sights. Thanks so much! Brian and Michelle More
Scott Orchard,
Mar 2023
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I highly recommend Asia Highlights
I highly recommend Asia Highlights. I worked with Alisa and she is fantastic! I was planning my honeymoon trip, and I changed the destination multiple times. Each time, Alisa provided me an updated itinerary with activities that matched my interests. Whether I had a small change to an activity, a question about one of the arrangements, or a change or destination, Alisa was helpful, thoughtful, and knowledgeable, providing me with updated options in an extremely timely manner. In the end, despite the fact that I changed my mind on location multiple times, I ended up booking a 17 day trip to Thailand for this upcoming November. I am extremely excited to experience everything that Alisa planned for us. I recommend Asia Highlights to everyone and look forward to using them again on any other trips to Asia in the future. Thank you Alisa and Asia Highlights! More
Britt Rosen,
Mar 2023
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Three weeks encompassing Vietnam
A special shoutout to our last guide in Bangkok - Ms. Ka-Noon who spoiled us with her kindness and then got us through check in and security for our flight home in record time at that huge Bangkok airport. More
Deby,
Feb 2023
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Over the last 5 years we've used Asia…
Over the last 5 years we've used Asia highlights twice. And both times we've had fantastic vacations. Would not want to do it any different when we travel to Asia from now on. Sharon was fantastic. She was a wonderful agent who helped us nail down our trip and make everything go as smooth as possible. More
Todd Atwell,
Feb 2023
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Family Trip to Thailand
Our trip to Thailand comprised three generations of the family , ten people and an age range of 4 to 70 so a potentially difficult brief.Our itinerary over two weeks involved four locations, and a number of different trips and tours.From out arrival at an extremely busy Bangkok airport Asia Highlights were terrific.In each location we were met by a smiling , knowledgeable and professional guide who simply made everything easy and stress free for everyone.Our transportation was clean and comfortable . Transport was always ready for us at the agreed time and the drivers were excellent.There were so many highlights enjoyed by all the age groups. The floating houses , railway market and elephant sanctuary were particular favourites.We had one minor glitch with the accommodation in Phuket which was immediately dealt with by Tip. I think we would have struggled to resolve the problem by ourselves. So, thank you Asia Highlights , Cathy, Tip and tour guides Tanny, Sam and Lisa. It was a memorable holiday and we will be back. More
Roger Pyle,
Feb 2023
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Trip of a lifetime from Asia Highlights!
I recommend highly Asia Highlights as a travel company. Our travel consultant Albee took the time to connect with us during the planning process to make sure we were comfortable with our itinerary. When we arrived, we were met by our guide and all the details were attended to. They picked great hotels and tours. I often describe our trip as the trip of a lifetime! Would definitely use them again when we come back to Asia More
Nancy Parker,
Feb 2023
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Asia Highlights and Albee - highly recommended
Asia Highlights is very reliable agency and Albee is an amazing representative of the company. From the moment when we contacted her until our departure, the whole support we received was 6* level. She prepared our trip offer within few hours and afterwards she was extremely flexible to adjust as per our needs. In the period between the offer and the trip, Albee was always available for all our questions and supported us on the best possible way. During the trip she was again flexible to add new activities/transfers and this went on the smoothest possible way. Thank you, Albee and Asia Highlights. Definitely we will approach you again for our next Asian trip More
AZ,
Feb 2023
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5 STAR CUSTOMER SERVICE BY MONICA
Monica is a very sweet young lady who speaks excellent English via email/WhatsApp, and knows the importance of excellent customer service. More
Trent,
Jan 2023
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We had an awesome experience with Asia Highlights
We started our trip in Bangkok, where Mr. Prassert our tour guide, met us. He was on time and the van was clean and well-maintained. Mr. Prassert was our guide for the 4 days we spent in Bangkok. He was helpful, kind, and willing to accommodate our pee and coffee breaks. The driver was safe and punctual. Next, we went to Chiang Mai.Gemma exceeded every expectation we had for our tour of Chiang Mai! She had a great attitude that made exploring the city fun and exciting, as well as an abundance of knowledge and experience. She was always spot on with figuring out logistics and coming up with unique ideas that suited our interests and schedules. Gemma was incredibly generous with her time and even walked us to security at the airport to make sure we could carry all of our luggage. That’s just one example of how far out of her way she went to make our trip easier and more enjoyable. Gemma was sincerely interested in making every minute of our trip count. We’re very grateful to have met her and feel like we have found a friend in Gemma! Our driver in Chiang Mai was also great and very accommodating to our changes in schedules. More
Lois Paskow,
Dec 2022
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Thailand & Cambodia 2022
Albee went above and beyond to make our trip perfect. She rearranged flights due to a mistake of mine. She made sure we were still picked up and escorted to the airport. I felt comfortable and safe with all our reps. She did an excellent job and I highly recommend her booking your next trip. Thank you, Albee. More
Karen Brooks,
Dec 2022
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Perfect vacation thanks to Albee we…
I can’t say enough about how much we appreciate all the efforts, attention to details and immediate responses to all questions that Albee and her team provided. The Asia Highlights team deserves more stars than the maximum allowed because of continually going above and beyond all expectations. Thanks Albee for making our vacation through south east Asia absolutely perfect!!! More
Michael Sharp,
Dec 2022
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2023 Chiang Mai CAD Yipeng Festival
We got early bird ticket and Bella was assisting us through whatsapp. Easy, competitive price, front row tickets. Thanks Bella, for being patient explaining everything to me. Highly recommended. More
lily hartati,
Dec 2022
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Bella has been an outstanding customer service rep
Bella has been an outstanding customer service rep. She was responsive and knowledgeable. Buying tickets from their website was super easy and the whole process was straightforward. Highly recommended. More
Khai,
Nov 2022
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I was ever so grateful to have a point…
I was ever so grateful to have a point of contact while in a foreign country for the first time, alone, that helped me through the Ins and outs of getting to and from my destination. Albee was readily available which brought me much comfort and feeling of safety. If in this part of the world again, I will not hesitate to use your services.. More
Omega,
Nov 2022
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Memorable Experience!!!
I booked tickets to the Chiang Mai Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Nov 2022. Bella was extremely responsive and helpful!! More
Bowen,
Nov 2022
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Personalized
It is the attention to detail and what we specifically wanted to see that made the reservation experience so exciting. More
Peter Bongiovanni,
Nov 2022
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How Do I Travel Between Thailand and Cambodia?
By far the most convenient way to travel between Cambodia and Thailand is by air. Bangkok has direct flights to Phnom Penh (Cambodia's capital) and Siem Reap (most famous tourist city). Both journeys take just over an hour.
You can also travel by land between Bangkok and Siem Reap. Poipet (Cambodia) / Aranya Prathet (Thailand) port on the Cambodian/Thai border is the most popular port for tourists. The journey takes about 6–9 hours. You can purchase the bus tickets on the travel agencies in Bangkok's Khao San Road and Downtown Siem Reap.
How Many Days are Needed?

A trip to Thailand and Cambodia with all the must-sees takes at least 10 days. Most people arrange 10 days to 2 weeks: spending 3–5 days in Cambodia and 7–9 days in Thailand.
Thailand is bigger than Cambodia and has more attractions. So, most travelers set aside more time to visit Thailand.
For a tour to Thailand, the popular combination is Bangkok (capital city), Chiang Mai (the largest city in northern Thailand), and an island in southern Thailand (usually Phuket or Koh Samui). Phuket is the most popular, while some couples prefer Koh Samui's romantic vibe.
Cambodia is a small country. Siem Reap (the second largest city in Cambodia) is a must-visit for its incredible Angkor Wat. Phnom Penh (its capital city) is an option if you have time. Its temples and local markets are popular features.
Extending reading: How Long to Spend in Southeast Asia (for First Timers)
10-Day Thailand and Cambodia Itinerary
A 10-day trip allows you to see the most popular attractions of both countries. Here's a favorite way to organize the itinerary:
- Days 1–2: Siem Reap sightseeing
- Day 3: Fly to Bangkok
- Day 4: Visit Bangkok
- Day 5: Bangkok to Chiang Mai
- Days 6–7: Explore Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai to Phuket
- Days 8–10: Phuket beach time
A 2-Week Thailand and Cambodia Itinerary
Compared with only two days in Siem Reap during the 10-day itinerary, you can leave yourself plenty of time to explore Siem Reap with 2 weeks' touring time.
- Day 1-5: Siem Reap tour in depth
- Day 6: Fly to Bangkok
- Day 7-8: Bangkok sightseeing
- Day 9: Fly to Phuket
- Day 10-13: Explore Phuket
- Day 14: Back to Bangkok
For more detail on this 2-week Thailand and Cambodia tour plan, see our 9-Day Thailand Tour with Elephant Encounter and Island Escape and 5-Day Siem Reap in Depth Tour.
All our tours can be adjusted to suit you. We can make a trip based on your interests, group size, and other requirements. Feel free to contact us.
>>>How to Plan 2-Week Southeast Asia Itineraries for Honeymoons, Families, and More
3-Week Thailand and Cambodia Itineraries
In three weeks, apart from five days in Siem Reap, you can spend 1 or 2 days to explore Phnom Penh. You will also have more time for exploring Thailand's temples, palaces, national parks, and island hopping.
Some people like their 2-to-3-week tours to combine Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Check out our How to Plan a Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam Tour.
How Much Does a Cambodia and Thailand Trip Cost?
Cambodia and Thailand are not expensive countries. They can match a wide range of budgets. The cost of traveling in Cambodia is slightly lower than in Thailand by US$10–30 per day.
Travel Costs in Thailand
- For backpackers, the budget is around 30 USD/day per person (hostels, street food, local public transportation).
- For a medium budget, it will cost around 50 USD per day per person (3-star hotels, sit-down restaurants, tuk-tuks, taxies sometimes).
- For a higher standard and a more refined experience, US$100–150 per day per person is needed (4/5-star hotels, nice meals, taxies or private transfers).
Travel Costs in Cambodia
- For backpackers, the budget is around 15 USD/day per person (hostels, street food, local public transportation).
- For a medium budget, it will cost around 25–35 USD per day per person (3-star hotels, sit-down restaurants, taxies sometimes).
- For a higher standard and a more refined experience, US$70–150 per day per person is needed (4/5-star hotels, nice meals, taxies or private transfers).
Visa and Entry Requirements for a Thailand and Cambodia Trip
Thailand allows visa-free entry from 64 countries, including Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Norway, the USA, and the UK. (If you do not qualify for the visa-free policy, you will need to apply for a visa to visit Thailand.)
However, Cambodia requires you to obtain a tourist visa, which can either be obtained online, or when you arrive at Phnom Penh or Siem Reap Airport. >>> How to Apply for a Cambodia Visa
Thailand and Cambodia reopen to all inetrnational travelers (whether you're vaccinated or not) without quarantine. See more on our 10+ Asia Countries Open for Tourism without Quarantine in 2022
Best Times to Visit Thailand and Cambodia
Thailand and Cambodia enjoy similar climates because of their close proximity. November to April is the best time to visit Thailand and Cambodia with the sunny and dry weather.
One of the busiest times is around Christmas/New Year holiday. As international travel continues its recovery, during the Christmas & New Year holiday season, hotels in popular cities/islands such as Bangkok, and flights between popular destinations such as Siem Reap - Bangkok are likely to be sold out in advance. Be sure to plan ahead and make reservations in advance. Let us know your interests and requirements, and we'll take care of everything.
We promise you enjoy 100% refund of any payments made to China Highlights prior to 3 weeks before departure (detail⇒).
August to early October sees the heaviest rains in both countries. Usually, there are short afternoon/dusk downpours, so it won't affect your trip too much.
Festival Tips
If you want the best festival experiences, consider visiting in April or November:
- Cambodia and Thailand's New Years both fall in April (usually April 13–15). It's one of their biggest festivals.
- November is the month of Thailand's Lantern Festivals. It is one of the top reasons for tourists to come to Thailand.
Travel Tips
- Thailand and Cambodia are both Buddhist countries. Dress in an appropriate way when you visit temples: cover your shoulders and knees.
- Though Cambodia's national currency is the Riel, US dollars are accepted in most hotels, restaurants, and shops. But Thailand only accepts the local currency, the baht.
- Tipping is common in Cambodia and Thailand, both to show appreciation and to receive better service. A tip of one to two dollars is appropriate.
Related Articles
- How to Plan a 3-Week Southeast Asia Itinerary
- How to Plan a Trip to Cambodia and Vietnam
- Vietnam vs Thailand: Which to Visit (A Helpful Comparison for You)
- How to Plan a Thailand and Vietnam Trip (2023/2024)
Contact Us for Bookings/Inquiries
All our tours can be adjusted as much as you like. We aim to create an ideal itinerary based on your interests, group size, budget, and other requirements. Feel free to contact us.
- 11-Day Best of Thailand and Cambodia Tour
- 12-Day Essential Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam Tour
- 15-Day Best of Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam Tour
You can find yet more Thailand travel itineraries on our Most Popular Thailand-Cambodia-Vietnam Tours page.
Why Travel with Asia Highlights (98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+)
- Unique experiences tailored to your interests: Enjoy a premium trip that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions.
- Hassle-free travel and peace of mind: Every aspect of your trip will be carefully planned and organized by your 1:1 travel consultant.
- Experienced and knowledgeable guides: Your guides will be local and love to work for travelers' smiles.
Get Inspired with Our Sample Itineraries
At Asia Highlights, we create your kind of journey — your dates, your destinations, at your pace. You can have any trip tailor made for your travel.