Recommended Siem Reap Tours

1. Tour for First-timers

There are many places to visit in Siem Reap (see a full list of places to visit, click here); however for first-timers, it is a must to include Angkor Wat and Bayon in your travel itineraries as the two temples offer the most spectacular of the Angkorian arts. Consider spending 4 to 5-day stay in Siem Reap and strike a balance between temple visit and non-temple visit. It is recommended to hire a tour-guide of your own language. For temples other than the two mentioned, we recommend Banteay Srey, Preah Khan, Ta Prohm and Angkor Thom. Consider seeing sunrise at Angkor Wat or Sras Srang in the morning and sunset on the Bakheng mountain. A 2-day or 3-day pass to the temple may be sufficient.

For non-temple visit, a tour around the town and the Old Market (Psar Chas) area is a must. We suggest watching traditional dance shows in the evening at one of the many Cambodian restaurants. Try authentic Khmer food at our very own Palm Village restaurant. Spend some time visiting carving and craft workshops at Artisan d’Angkor and/or Silk Center. A boat trip on the Tonle Sap may be also a very good idea. It is also good to spend a good amount of time just to relax and do nothing. Do not forget to buy local souvenirs before you leave.

2. Tour for Season Travelers

Many travelers come to Siem Reap frequently just to relax and enjoy the slower pace of life or catch the sun and the warmer tropical weather. We assume that you had visited some major sites and the town (if not, please read the Tour for first-timers). We recommend some other sites that you might have not visited and may find worthwhile. Consider taking a boat trip on the Tonle Sap and Praek Toal Bird Sanctuary and visit the holy mountain of Phnom Kulen and Kbal Spean. Other sites worth visiting are the Rolous group, Wat Athvea, the West Baray and Beng Mealea.

And often missed by many tourists is the country side tour along villages and rice paddies. Palm Village has bicycles for rental for the purpose and if you become tired from the tour, try our Massage or Spa service. Consider also a visit to School of Arts and Beatocello concert. The whole arrangement may last from 3 to 5 days.

3. Tour for Photography enthusiasts

Photographers should take note that professional photography is prohibited inside the Angkor Archeological Park and other ancient tourist sites. This is apparently to prevent commercial exploitation of the temples, but it is still unclear how professional is professional photography. Some medium-sized SLRs or D-SLRs with small lens and small tripods seem to be fine but make sure you do not bring equipments, lens or large tripods. For more tips for photographers, click here.

Amongst the first places you should visit are no other than Angkor Wat and Bayon. Try to catch the sunrise at Angkor Wat, and visit later in the morning. The Angkor Thom gate on the way to Bayon is also a great place for photographers. Next stops should be Ta Prohm in the afternoon where there are some giant trees growing from the temple corridor and Neak Pean which look breathtaking during the wet season. On a very clear day, the sunset view on Phnom Bakheng is also the thing not to be missed. For aerial view, consider taking a balloon ride overlooking Angkor Wat, Phnom Bakheng, and the West Baray. Helicopter tour over major sites is also available from the Siem Reap airport.

Other temples worth visiting are Banteay Srey and the Rolous Group, while a boat trip to Praek Toal Bird Sanctuary in the evening before sunset offer a very scenic view of the bird park as well the daily life of nearby floating-villagers. Consider spend some time tour around the rice paddies and country side by either bicycle or Tuk Tuk. The rice paddies look best from October to February. Also remember that the smile of village children is amongst the best hightlights of Cambodia.

4. Tour for Historians, Researchers and Temple Enthusiasts

Historians and Researchers shall first consult their research project with Apsara Authority at www.autoriteapsara.org where they will find legal documents, related projects and in depth materials and resources. It is recommended to hire a tour-guide of your own language for duration of your visits to temples and the duration of your stay may vary from over 1 week to a month. Amongst the pre-Angkorian temples of historical importance are the temples of the Rolous Group, the holy mountain of Phnom Kulen, the jungle temple of Beng Mealea. For more adventurous tour, consider trips to Koh Ker, Banteay Chmar, and Sambor Prei Kuk.

For Angkorian sites, spend plenty of time Angkor Wat, Bayon, and Angkor Thom. Other temples of historically importances are Preah Khan in which there is a unique 2-story tower, Prasat Kravan which is uniquely constructed by brick, and Banteay Srey whose carvings are amongst the best. The purpose of construction of the Baray is also a subject of a great debate amongst researchers.