How should a first-time traveller plan Cambodia without overpacking it?
Cambodia looks easy on the map, but the trip still needs editing. Build around Siem Reap and Angkor, decide whether Phnom Penh’s history belongs in the route, then add coast or countryside only if the days are real.
Answer
Start with Angkor, because it is the reason many travellers come and it deserves more than a temple sprint. Phnom Penh gives the trip political and historical weight, but it is not a soft decompression stop. Kampot, Kep and the islands change the mood again, with more transport and weather dependence than the map suggests. The mistake is treating Cambodia as a small country that should be easy to complete. It works better as a focused route with one clear spine, then one carefully chosen contrast.