An alternate journey to Siem Reap can be experienced by road, traveling 162 km northeast from Phnom Penh to Kampong Thom. As the road has been recently resurfaced, the journey takes a pleasant 2–3 hours to complete.

Kampong Thom is a quaint rural town and is the starting point for the Sambor Prei Kuk, a pre-angkorian complex of temples, built in 616 – 635 AD. These temples are located around 35 km north of the town, and within a 5 km radius of this site an additional 106 temples can be explored. Departing from Kampong Thom to Siem Reap is an interesting journey of 146 km. Road conditions are very Spartan and this journey will take around 5-6 hours to complete through some very picturesque countryside.