How to Plan a 3-Week Thailand and Cambodia Itinerary (2024/2025)

Three weeks is great to have if you want to see most of Thailand and Cambodia's highlights. You could have a fairly long tropical getaway full of sunny beaches, green jungles, adorable elephants, and intricate temples...

In this article, we aim to help you get inspired with our top two highly-praised 3-week Thailand-and-Cambodia travel itineraries, specifically designed for families and couples.

How to Spend Your 3 Weeks in Thailand and Cambodia

Our clients are celebrating their family reunion in Thailand.

When exploring Thailand, your trip would not be complete without Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and an island (usually Phuket or Samui). If you'd like to see Thailand's hidden gems, extend to Chiang Rai, Kanchanaburi, and Ayutthaya.

As Cambodia is relatively small, most travelers to Cambodia typically only visit the well-known Angkor Wat via neighboring Siem Reap. However, to gain a deeper understanding of Cambodia's history and rustic life, consider visiting Phnom Penh and Battambang as well.

Thus, for a 3-week tour, you're suggested to spend around 2 weeks in Thailand and about 1 week in Cambodia. But if you want to focus on exploring Thailand more deeply, you could spend 17 days in Thailand and have a 4-day excursion to Siem Reap. Alternatively, to discover Cambodia more deeply, 13 days in Thailand and 8 days in Cambodia is advisable.

Certainly, if Thailand and Cambodia don't fulfill all your ambitions for exploring Southeast Asia, adding neighboring Vietnam to your 3-week trip is a great option.

19-Day In-Depth Tour of Southeast Asia: Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam

Itinerary 1: Explore the Best of Thailand and Cambodia in 3 Weeks

Whether you're a retired couple looking for a relaxing getaway or a family with teenagers seeking adventure, this itinerary is best for you.

With abundant 1-hour flights, you can conveniently reach Siem Reap from Bangkok. So, to keep to a winding-down tour pace, you're suggested to travel in the following sequence: Bangkok – Siem Reap – Chiang Rai – Chiang Mai – Phuket.

Here is the most-chosen itinerary for your reference. You could also let us know your interests and we would happily tailor-make your dream trip.

• Days 1–2: Bangkok, Thailand (Grand Palace, renowned temples, railway market, a longtail boat ride, a foodie tour, Muay Thai)
• Days 3–6: Siem Reap, Cambodia (Angkor Wat, Apsara Dance Show, 1-hour sunset quad bike ride, sunset cocktail on Tonle Sap Lake)
• Days 7–9: Chiang Rai, Thailand (Long Neck Karen Village, White Temple, boat trip to the Golden Triangle, free day)
• Days 10–13: Chiang Mai, Thailand (elephant sanctuary, morning almsgiving, flower market visit, zip-lining through the jungle, Doi Suthep walking tour)
• Days 14–21: Phuket, Thailand (your choice of activities: island hopping, swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, relaxing on beaches)

During your 18 days in Thailand, you'll experience bustling Bangkok, have the chance to marvel at splendid Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, unveil the ethnic cultural hub of Chiang Mai, find tranquility in Chiang Rai, and enjoy lazy or active beach days in Phuket.

You won't want to miss the mouth-watering street food as well, which is especially full of options for vegetarians. Thailand's immersive cultural activities deserve a try, such as Muay Thai, morning almsgiving, and traditional Thai massages.

While families with teenagers can have fun walking with and bathing elephants and zip-lining through jungles in Chiang Mai, retired couples usually enjoy the romantic and tranquil vibe in Chiang Rai.

Phuket is an excellent choice for beach relaxation, particularly for water sports enthusiasts and families with children. You can leisurely soak up the sun on the beach or take an island-hopping tour to surrounding islands, like Similan. However, if you're looking for a more secluded and peaceful island experience, Samui is highly recommended, particularly to celebrate romantic milestone events.

With 3 days in Siem Reap, you can visit Angkor Wat and see rustic floating-village life on Tonle Sap Lake, which are the top reasons to visit Cambodia.

Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.

Bangkok and Chiang Mai In Bangkok, our guide Ann and driver "Mr. Ot" (I don't know how to spell his name) were very friendly and professional. You simply can't underestimate the value of having an English speaking guide to show you around, and a driver with a comfortable, sizeable, air-conditioned van take you from place to place. Ann taught us so much about Thailand's history, food, and religion. Mr. Ot always opened our door with a smile, and had cool towels and ice-cold bottled water for us. More , Apr 2024

Very great experience our driver D was… Very great experience our driver D was never late and always had waters and a cold towel for us and our tour guide Som was very informative and had amazing English I recommend them both highly for anyone else traveling More Rylan Coache, Feb 2024

Excellent guide in Siem Reap Our recent time spent in Siem Reap was made even more memorable by our expert guide, Som Piseth. Som was knowledgeable, attentive, flexible and super helpful - we learnt so much about Siem Reap and Cambodia in our 3 days with him. His English was excellent and his knowledge of, and pride in, his country was outstanding. We would highly recommend Som for anyone wanting an excellent guide in Siem Reap! More Sharon Townshend, Feb 2024

Itinerary 2: Going Beyond the Popular Paths in Thailand and Cambodia in 3 Weeks

Lovely girls in Long Neck Karen Village

If you're looking for a more off-the-beaten-path experience, this itinerary is for you. In addition to the well-known attractions in Thailand and Cambodia, you can also venture off onto the seldom-trodden paths and explore lesser-known destinations like Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi, and Battambang.

You could check out the following carefully-crafted itinerary for inspiration, or click Create My Trip to customize your ideal trip based on your preferences.

• Days 1–2: Phnom Penh, Cambodia (cyclo trip in Phnom Penh, blessing ceremony by local monks, visit the Killing Fields and Genocide Museum, Khmer Puppet Show)
• Days 3–4: Battambang, Cambodia (rustic life, Bamboo Train, the Killing Caves and Phnom Sampeau Killing Fields, Bat Caves)
• Days 5–7: Siem Reap, Cambodia (Angkor Wat walking tour with a Khmer scholar, 1-hour sunset quad bike ride, Tonle Sap Lake)
• Days 8–10: Bangkok, Thailand (city sightseeing with palaces, temples, and markets, a day trip to Ayutthaya, a free day)
• Days 11–12: Kanchanaburi, Thailand (bridge over the River Kwai, Erawan Falls, overnight stay at a floating house)
• Days 13–16: Chiang Mai, Thailand (elephant sanctuary, trekking through the local villages, Thai massage)
• Days 17–21: Samui, Thailand (5 days of beach time, your choice of activities)

In this itinerary, you'll have a deeper exploration of Cambodia. Beyond the celebrated Angkor Wat, you would extend your explorations to visit Phnom Penh and Battambang.

In Phnom Penh, participating in a blessing ceremony by local monks would create special occasions for couples or families. The Killing Fields and Genocide Museum top bucket lists for history buffs. Do let us know your interests for customizations.

You would see rustic life and take a ride on the famous Bamboo Train in Battambang. At sunset, how cool it would be to witness the spectacle of thousands of bats emerging from the Bat Caves!

In Thailand, some exclusive activities could be customized for you, too. You would take a day trip to Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Thailand, to see the ruins of the old city. Staying at a floating house is an excellent option to enjoy quality private hours during sunsets/sunrises in a hidden valley.

A trekking tour is suggested for outdoor adventures in Chiang Mai. Traveling through the bamboo groves and rainforest, you would meet people of the hill tribes along the way. A traditional Thai massage would definitely be a revitalizing treat after trekking. The photogenic Yi Peng Festival is an added bonus for those travelling on a certain night in November. Contact us to create your own exclusive activities>>>

15-Day Best of Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam Tour

How Much Does a 3-Week Thailand-and-Cambodia Tour Cost?

For families or couples traveling in Thailand and Cambodia, a private tour customized to your preferences can provide an exclusive and stress-free experience.

Typically, the private tour cost is around US$200–250 per day per person, which includes airfares within Thailand and Cambodia, 4-/5-star hotels, lunches, attractions, private guides, and private transfers. Children under 10 can receive discounts between 30% to 50%.

Thus, for a 3-week private Thailand-Cambodia tour, you would usually need to pay US$14,000–17,000 for a family trip with 2 adults and 2 kids or around US$8,000–10,000 for a couple's trip, excluding the international airfares to and from your home country.

To minimize the expenses, it is advisable to contact us to book at least 6 months in advance for the dry season (November–April) to secure the best deals and enjoy maximum availability. Additionally, inviting family or friends to share costs can result in more savings during the festive/high seasons.

The rainy season (May–October) offers the lowest prices and fewest crowds, with flexible private tours still providing exciting exploration opportunities that dodge the rain and the heat.

28-Day Grand Indochina Tour Myanmar - Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia - Thailand

Contact Us for Bookings/Inquiries

You are warmly welcomed to have us customize your own trip based on your group size, interests, budgets, and other needs. Sit back and use our Create My Trip service.

In addition to the above itineraries, we also have other itineraries you may be interested in:

• 11-Day Best of Thailand and Cambodia Tour
• 14-Day Vietnam and Cambodia Family Tour
• 15-Day Best of Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam Tour
• 19-Day Highlights of Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam

You can find yet more travel itineraries on our Most Popular Southeast Asia Tours page.