What’s up, guys? We’re here in Siem Reap, and we’re going to show you our top things to do here and best Cambodia guide. So I hope you enjoy it. Siem Reap located in northwestern Cambodia, Siem Reap is a bustling city known for its remarkable temples and rich cultural heritage. Visitors come here primarily to see Angkor Wat, the nation’s main tourist draw. However, thanks to the town’s increasing popularity among travelers, many other activities and attractions have emerged, offering different things besides just temple-hopping.
In this article, we highlight 10 of our favorite things to do in and around Siem Reap, including Angkor Wat and other top attractions. Now let’s dive in! We are Zac and Ine. We make helpful about destinations around the world so you can easily plan your own adventures. Siem Reap comes alive at night and there’s no better place to experience the city’s vibrant nightlife than Pub Street. Located in the heart of the town, this street is known for its bustling atmosphere, a diverse range of bars and restaurants, street performances, and food carts. It’s a magnet for tourists and locals alike.
Angkor Botanical Garden
Come here to sample local food or enjoy a happy hour deal at one of the many bars. Escape the hustle and bustle of Siem Reap and unwind at the Angkor Botanical Garden. This garden boasts an impressive collection of flora and fauna, including rare orchids and vibrant roses. Take a leisurely walk through the lush greenery and serene ponds while admiring the colorful flowers and plants. At the time of our visit, it was free to enter the gardens.
Siem Reap Floating Village
Experience the authentic rural life of Cambodia by visiting one of the floating villages on Tonlé Sap. Kompong Khleang and Kompong Phluk are two popular options where you can witness the daily lives of locals and the nearest is Chong Kneas. Take a boat ride through stilted houses and immerse yourself in the natural surroundings.
Kompong Phluk is closest to Siem Reap and it’s also the one that we visited. It is more tourist and costs $25 per person to ride on the boat. But it’s a great option if you’re short on time. You also have the option to do a little mangrove tour on a local boat with these women. But that also costs a little bit extra, it’s $5 per person.
Alternatively, if you have a bit more time, you can visit Kompong Khleang, which is a 1.5-hour drive from the city. This is the largest floating village with over 10,000 inhabitants, and it’s a lot less visited by tourists.
Preah Dak Village
We included some tour options for both villages in this article. The nearby Preah Dak Village is a famous food destination, with steamed palm cakes gaining popularity as a local specialty. To make this sweet dessert, palm fruits are first squeezed and mixed with flour dough, and then blended with coconut milk and palm sugar.
Next, they’re cut into individual cakes and steamed for about an hour. You can find many shops selling these cakes along the main road of the village. To get here, you can take a short detour from the Big Circuit in Angkor Park.
Siem Reap offers a wide range of markets, where you can find unique souvenirs, handicrafts, and food. In the heart of the historic town, you can find the Old Market, Angkor Night Market, and the Art Center Night Market. All of these places sell anything from art to clothing and Textiles.
Apsara Dance Show with Dinner
Along the river, you can also find many food stalls that serve affordable local dishes. Right outside the town center, you can shop at the Made in Cambodia Market, which sells and promotes quality crafts and goods made by a range of designers and organizations in Cambodia. For a cultural experience in Siem Reap, attend an Apsara dance performance in the evening.
Apsara is a traditional Khmer dance that dates back centuries. With intricate hand movements, elaborate costumes, and enchanting music, the dancers bring legends and stories to Life. There are a range of restaurants in town that host nightly performances. We went to Amazon or Morakot Restaurant, which combined a buffet dinner with a show. The buffet included a selection of Cambodian and international dishes.
Apopo Visitor Center
Cambodia is one of the most landmine-affected countries in the world, but for the last 25 years, APOPO has worked to clear the landmines throughout the country. This nonprofit organization trains African giant pouched rats to detect the landmines. Also called Hero RATs, these animals are super intelligent and can sniff out these explosives with amazing accuracy.
At the Visitor Center in Siem Reap, you can take a guided tour to learn about the life-saving work that they’re doing in Cambodia and other countries around the world. And after a short demonstration, you also get to meet these intelligent rats. At the end of the tour, we had the chance to talk to our APOPO guide about what the organization has meant to his community.
Kulen Mountain National Park
Another beautiful escape from the city is the majestic Kulen Mountains, located about 1.5 to 2 hours away from Siem Reap. This mountain range is a dense green canvas of jungle that covers a giant plateau. It’s considered to be a sacred site by most Cambodians and many Buddhists and Hindus come to make a pilgrimage here. But besides ancient temples and the reclining Buddha statue, there are also some picturesque waterfalls. The best way to explore this area is by embarking on a day tour from Siem Reap. We left a link here to the tour that we booked.
Angkor Archaeological Park
No visit to Siem Reap is complete without exploring the magnificent temples of Angkor Archaeological Park. Covering an area of over 400 square km, this historical park is home to the temples and other remains of different capitals of the Khmer Empire, which thrived from the 99th to the 15th centuries. The most popular way to explore the important temples in the park is by following the Small or Big Circuit.
While the Small Circuit includes the grandest temples like Angkor Wat, Bayon, and Ta Prohm, the Big Circuit takes you to more intimate and quiet temples like Ta Som and Preah Khan. Learn more about the different circuits and other things. You need to know before you visit our other full article all about Angkor Archaeological Park.
The biggest attraction of Angkor Archaeological Park is Angkor Wat. One of the best ways to experience this temple is by getting up early to witness the sunrise over the temple’s five towers. As the first rays of the sun illuminate the temple’s intricate carvings and reflect on the surrounding moat, you’ll be captivated by the magical atmosphere and sheer beauty of this ancient wonder. And even though this is the most popular activity in Siem Reap, it’s one you’ll never forget.
In Conclusion
We hope this article helps you to have a great trip to Siem Reap. If you’re planning your Cambodia travels, we recommend keeping things organized with our interactive travel planner. Find a discount trip on Visit Local Travel Website. We also included important day trips that you’ll need for your Siem Reap trip in Siem Reap, such as great places to stay as well as a map with places to eat and drink. We’ll catch you on the next adventure!
