I’ve been wanting to go to Cambodia for a very long time and at last I used to be capable of go to earlier than a enterprise journey to Singapore. As I don’t thoughts driving to a spot of curiosity and again once more the identical day I made a decision to base myself in Siem Reap. There had been 6-day journeys which I needed to do which might cowl most locations of curiosity close to Siem Reap. Except Preah Vihear I didn’t embody any off the overwhelmed monitor temples this time. I used to be certain I’d return at some point to do a Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap itinerary together with a Mekong Cruise. Join me on my environment friendly day journeys however remember they’re packed. If you need extra time to loosen up; simply cut up a few of them up over two days. It’s simple!
Siem Reap Itinerary Day 1 & 2 – Arrival & Planning
The first two days had been nothing however flights. Luckily I used to be capable of purchase low cost enterprise class flights from the Netherlands to Siem Reap. This makes an longhaul flight way more nice. As I arrived within the late afternoon on the Park Hyatt Hotel in Siem Reap I simply relaxed there and known as it an evening early night.
Planning this Siem Reap itinerary could be very easy. There are simply three factors I like to recommend conserving in thoughts:
- Make certain to purchase an Angkor 3-day cross immediately while you arrive. You should go personally as they take a photograph of you which ones is printed on the cross. It’s legitimate for 3 days which will be any day after the primary day you activate the cross. It’s an costly cross however provides entry to all of the temples round Siem Reap.
- Do you want a Cambodia visum? If you do like me then get one simply on-line with e-Visums. Hassle free and it makes certain you enter Cambodia easily.
- As driving in Cambodia requires an area driving allow it’s higher to rent a automobile with driver. Traffic is chaotic, so that is most likely higher anyway. A sedan with driver ought to value no more as 75 USD a day in case you negotiate it accurately.
I booked all of the vehicles up entrance which most likely prompted me to pay a bit an excessive amount of however doing it on the spot while you arrive isn’t an issue too. There are vehicles and drivers sufficient. For the day journeys near Siem Reap you may also choose to rent a tuk tuk which is less expensive in fact. I most well-liked air con over the warmth although.
Siem Reap Itinerary Day 3 – City Center & Helicopter Flight
The first day of my Siem Reap itinerary began with a scrumptious breakfast on the Park Hyatt lodge in Siem Reap. It’s situated within the metropolis heart and I walked from there to the main sights on the town. Around 3PM I took a taxi (air con!) to the airport for my helicopter flight over the Angkor Wat space. This provides a fantastic impression how massive the previous Khmer Empire truly was. In the night I went to Pub Street, as I’d all future evenings and nights. It’s loopy there!
EXTEND YOUR TRIP: Want extra time to loosen up at your motels pool or simply wander round Siem Reap? Just add days and go to simply one of many locations of curiosity in Siem Reap a day.
For detailed background info please learn my day itinerary:
CAMBODIA – A day in Siem Reap and a helicopter flight over Angkor Wat
Siem Reap Itinerary Day 4 – Angkor Wat day tour
Angkor Wat is a big complicated together with all the encompassing temples. Actually, a day isn’t sufficient to actually take pleasure in all of it. I extremely suggest visiting East Mebon on a day journey together with Kulen Mountain and Banteay Srei. It will in any other case break your day. The route I adopted is feasible in a day, however you’ll need to take a automobile or tuk tuk from one place to a different. When I look again on my go to two days on my Siem Reap itinerary for all these temples would have been a lot better.
The temples I visited are in chronological order: Angkor Thom, Bayon, Baphoun, Elephant and Leper king terraces, Preah Khan, Glimpse of East Mebon (which I visited one other day) and Ta Prohm (jungle temple the place they shot the film Tomb Raider) and final Angkor Wat (the most important Hindu temple on this planet). It was a protracted day, however each single temple was magnificent.
EXTEND YOUR TRIP: If you may have the time plan two days as an alternative of 1 for all these temples. The Angkor Wat 3-day cross permits this as you solely want it one different day on the Rolous Group.
For detailed background info please learn my day itinerary:
Siem Reap Itinerary Day 5 – Koh Ker & Ben Mealea Temple and the Garbage dump
The Angkor Wat complicated simply outdoors of Siem Reap isn’t the one place of curiosity. The outdated Koh Ker metropolis complicated and the Beng Mealea temple are each properly value a day journey. Both are within the north and type a wonderful mixed day journey from Siem Reap. I like to recommend to take a non-public automobile which is probably the most environment friendly option to get there. On the way in which again I made a cease on the Anlong Pi rubbish dump simply outdoors of Siem Reap. It’s a day filled with outdated Khmer Empire historical past and likewise a watch opener in case you see the poverty on the rubbish dump.
For detailed background info please learn my day itinerary:
CAMBODIA – A day journey to Koh Ker & Beng Mealea complicated from Siem Reap
Siem Reap Itinerary Day 6 – Preah Vihear Temple, Pol Pot and Lon Nol
The Preah Vihear Temple is an historic complicated within the north of Cambodia near the Thai border. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site so a spot I couldn’t skip after I was in Siem Reap. The drive from Siem Reap takes a couple of hours however is properly value a day journey. I mixed the journey with a go to to the Pol Pot grave and Lon Nol home that are additionally situated within the space. You can even fly there by helicopter if you need, however after my helicopter flight over Angkor Wat my price range didn’t enable that anymore. I went in a non-public automobile, which was probably the most environment friendly.
For detailed background info please learn my day itinerary:
CAMBODIA – The Preah Vihear Temple is a should do day journey from Siem Reap
Siem Reap Itinerary Day 7 – Kulen Mountain, Banteay Srei & East Mebon
The seventh day of my Siem Reap itinerary concerned once more a protracted drive into the nation facet. It’s an ideal journey if you’re bored with Angkor Wat or Siem Reap. The first cease is the farthest away on the Kulen Mountain vary. There is a wonderful Buddhist temple complicated and numerous waterfalls within the lush jungle round it. In the river, there are stunning carvings of varied Hindu and Buddhist non secular scenes.
After lunch, I continued to Banteay Srei which has probably the most stunning carved decorations of all of the temples I’ve seen in Cambodia. From there it’s a brief drive to the Cambodian Landmine Museum which is a must-see place to study concerning the historical past and all of the landmines which might be nonetheless discovered at this time. The final cease was at East Mebon, a temple most well-known for its elephant statues. It’s a day with completely different locations of curiosity and leaves time within the afternoon to loosen up on the pool.
For detailed background info please learn my day itinerary:
CAMBODIA – Tired of Angkor Wat? Go to Kulen Mountain, Banteay Srei & East Mebon
Siem Reap Itinerary Day 8 – Local life at water village, silk farm and Rolous temple complicated
This day of my Siem Reap itinerary was all about native life and meals. The first cease was on the Tonlé Sap lake to go to the water villages. Local markets, youngsters that go to a floating college by boat, crocodile farms and way more native life. The second cease was at an area silk farm the place I discovered how silk is processed from harvest till the finalized product.
In the afternoon, I finished by an area orphanage the place the kids promote their work and I completed the day on the Rolous Group. The Rolous Group is only a little bit of the overwhelmed monitor however, particularly within the afternoon, you may see way more locals across the complicated. I had dinner at an area restaurant outdoors of Siem Reap the place locals go, I had turtle and uncooked turtle eggs. Delicious!
For detailed background info please learn my day itinerary:
CAMBODIA – Must do: Siem Reap native life at water village, silk farm and Rolous temple complicated
Siem Reap Itinerary Day 9 – Departure
As I needed to proceed to Singapore for enterprise and from there I flew residence so I needed to e-book a single approach ticket. These are usually costly on essential flag carriers, however Jetstar was additionally flying the Siem Reap to Singapore route. Unfortunately, they’re a bit choosy on carry-on and checked baggage, however I managed with my 22 kilo hand baggage. Tickets had been low cost!
This Siem Reap itinerary consists of most must-do day journeys from Siem Reap for a primary timer. There are extra day journeys extra off the overwhelmed monitor to Banteay Chhmar, Prasat Preah Khan Kampong Svay and Sambor Prei Kuk. I visited these after I returned to Siem Reap 5 years after my first journey. See my Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap itinerary with Mekong Cruise for extra info. I’m certain you discover it helpful too.
If you need to join one other nation to this Siem Reap itinerary I like to recommend studying my 2-weeks Vietnam itinerary, 2-3-weeks Thailand itinerary for inspiration. They are nice extensions for a South East Asia journey.
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Gallery Siem Reap Itinerary
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Please discuss with the assorted day journey articles to see a bigger assortment of pictures. These pictures date from earlier than my skilled pictures carreer and are all made with a digital compact digital camera and never edited. Contact me with picture requests and I’ll be joyful to retouch any of the pictures.