Trip highlights
- 1Sunrise at Angkor Wat
- 2Angkor Thom and the Bayon
- 3Ta Prohm 'Tomb Raider' temple
- 4Siem Reap Pub Street and Old Market
- 5Tonle Sap Lake floating villages
Daily spend
Where you're going
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In pictures
Photos: Unsplash
Language preparation
15 min/day for 8 weeks ≈ 672 useful words and phrases
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Day-by-day plan
Arrival & Angkor Wat Sunset
Tuesday, January 12
Est. spend
$118
per person
🌅 Morning
Arrive at Siem Reap International Airport (SAI)
Siem Reap International Airport
Taxis or tuk-tuks connect to central Siem Reap in about 15-20 minutes.
Arrange a tuk-tuk driver through your hotel for the full Angkor visit in advance — many offer flat daily rates and become a helpful fixture of the trip.
☀️ Afternoon
Angkor Archaeological Park pass purchase
Angkor Enterprise Ticket Centre, Siem Reap
Purchase your Angkor Pass (1-day, 3-day, or 7-day) at the official ticket centre before entering the park — required for all temple visits.
The 3-day pass (valid for any 3 days within 10 days) offers the best balance of flexibility and value for a 4-day trip.
🌙 Evening
Angkor Wat sunset viewpoint
Angkor Wat, Siem Reap
Watch the sun set over Angkor Wat's iconic towers from across the moat or a nearby hill, a quieter alternative to the more crowded sunrise visit.
🍽️ Meals
Airport or hotel breakfast
Cambodian · $5
Siem Reap town lunch
Cambodian · $6
Pub Street dinner
Cambodian · $15 · Try fish amok, Cambodia's signature steamed curry dish.
Angkor Wat Sunrise & Angkor Thom
Wednesday, January 13
Est. spend
$83
per person
🌅 Morning
Sunrise at Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat, Siem Reap
The classic Angkor experience — arriving before dawn to watch the sun rise behind the temple's five iconic towers, reflected in the front pools.
Arrive at least 30-45 minutes before sunrise to claim a good spot by the reflecting pools, which fill quickly with visitors.
☀️ Afternoon
Angkor Thom and the Bayon
Angkor Thom, Siem Reap
The last great capital of the Khmer Empire, centred on the Bayon temple with its 216 enigmatic, serene stone faces carved into dozens of towers.
Continue on to the Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King, both within walking distance of the Bayon.
🌙 Evening
Dinner with traditional Apsara dance show
Siem Reap
A dinner show featuring classical Khmer Apsara dance, an ancient court dance form depicting celestial nymphs, performed to traditional music.
🍽️ Meals
Pre-sunrise light breakfast
Cambodian · $5
Angkor Thom area lunch
Cambodian · $8
Apsara dinner show
Cambodian · $25
Ta Prohm & Tonle Sap Lake
Thursday, January 14
Est. spend
$98
per person
🌅 Morning
Ta Prohm temple
Ta Prohm, Siem Reap
Famous for the massive silk-cotton and strangler fig tree roots that have grown directly into and over the ruins, left deliberately unrestored to preserve its dramatic, overgrown atmosphere — featured in 'Tomb Raider.'
Visit mid-morning after the sunrise crowds at Angkor Wat have dispersed but before the midday heat sets in.
☀️ Afternoon
Tonle Sap Lake floating villages
Tonle Sap Lake, Siem Reap
Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake, home to floating villages where entire communities live on stilts or boats — a boat tour offers insight into a way of life shaped entirely by the lake's seasonal rise and fall.
Choose a tour operator with good reviews — some lower-cost boat tours have been criticised for exploitative practices at staged floating shops.
🌙 Evening
Dinner and shopping at Old Market (Psar Chas)
Old Market, Siem Reap
Siem Reap's atmospheric old market, surrounded by restaurants, bars, and shops selling silk scarves, carvings, and local handicrafts.
🍽️ Meals
Ta Prohm area breakfast
Cambodian · $5
Lakeside lunch
Cambodian · $8
Old Market dinner
Cambodian · $20
Banteay Srei & Departure
Friday, January 15
Est. spend
$73
per person
🌅 Morning
Banteay Srei temple
Banteay Srei, Siem Reap
A smaller, exquisitely detailed 10th-century temple about 25km from the main park, known for its intricate pink sandstone carvings — widely considered among the most beautiful at Angkor.
The drive out to Banteay Srei passes through rural Cambodian countryside, offering a glimpse of village life beyond the temple complex.
☀️ Afternoon
Final lunch and Angkor National Museum
Angkor National Museum, Siem Reap
A relaxed final lunch followed by a visit to the Angkor National Museum, which provides helpful historical and artistic context for the temples visited over the previous days.
🌙 Evening
Transfer to Siem Reap Airport
Siem Reap International Airport
Allow at least 2.5 hours before a domestic or international flight.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Cambodian · $5
Siem Reap town lunch
Cambodian · $10
Airport food
Cambodian/International · $10
Before you go
📅 Best time to visit
November–February (dry, cooler season) offers the most comfortable temperatures for full days of temple visits. March-May is hot and dry; June-October is wet season with the lush green landscapes that also make Ta Prohm's overgrown ruins especially atmospheric.
🛂 Visas
Most nationalities can obtain a Cambodia e-Visa online in advance or a visa on arrival at Siem Reap Airport — check current requirements and bring passport photos for visa on arrival.
💱 Currency
Cambodian Riel (KHR), though US Dollars are widely accepted and often preferred for larger transactions — small change is typically given in Riel.
🆘 Emergency numbers
police: 117
ambulance: 119
💬 Things you won't find in a guidebook
- A 3-day Angkor Pass valid over any 3 days within a 10-day window offers the best flexibility for a 4-day trip, allowing a rest day or flexibility around weather.
- Arrive at least 30-45 minutes before sunrise at Angkor Wat to claim a good spot by the reflecting pools, which fill quickly with visitors.
- Hire a tuk-tuk driver for the full Angkor circuit rather than booking separate transport each day — many become genuinely helpful guides for the duration of the visit.
- Choose a Tonle Sap Lake tour operator carefully — some lower-cost tours have been criticised for staged floating shops; opt for ones with strong recent reviews.
- Dress modestly when visiting temples — shoulders and knees should be covered, particularly at Angkor Wat's central sanctuary.
One thing worth not skipping
A 4-day trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia without insurance is a gamble. Medical emergencies, cancelled flights, lost luggage — cover yourself before you leave.
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