CAMBODIA ITINERARY: 3 days in Siem Reap

If this is your first time to Cambodia and you want to explore every single corner of this wonderful country, then you probably need more than 3 days. However, this itinerary will not make you disappoint because there will be a lot of discovering, adventure and exploring. You will be guaranteed to have many unforgettable memories.

But first of all, there is some general information you might need to consider before hand:

Accommodation

For backpackers with a tight budget, a bed in a dorm will be perfect. It will cost you from only $3 USD per night, a great place for socializing. If you want space, you can spend from $20 USD for a comfortable private hotel room with free breakfast. You should also book the airport transfer service unless you know exactly how to get to your hotel safely.

Food

If you have street food or food in inexpensive restaurant, $3 to $5 USD can cover you for a day. A three – course meal in a mid – range restaurant can cost you around $15 USD each.

Transportation

You can rent a motor bike to get around town with you own interest. A motorbike can cost you from $5 to $15 per day, just for one bike, you will have to buy gas on your own. If you can’t ride a motorbike, taxi and tuk – tuk is perfect for you. Average taxi fare starts from $1 USD per kilometer, tuk – tuk is slightly cheaper. Weather is also important, you can have a look here.

Day 1: Siem Reap arrival – Bayon Temple – Tonle Sap Lake

Entrance fee: The whole Angkor Archaeological park
Angkor pass: $37 USD full day, three days pass: $62 USD, one week pass: $72 USD.

I would like to suggest you buy the three days pass because 1 day will certainly not enough to discover a single corner.

Arriving at Siem Reap international airport, you adventure begins. First let’s go to the antique capital of Angkor Thom. Angkor Thom was the last and most enduring capital city of Cambodia. It was established in the late 20th century by King Jayavarman the VII. It covers the area of 9 square kilometers with many monuments inside. At the centre of Angkor Thom is Bayon temple. This is a must – visit destination. Being the heart of Angkor Thom, The Bayon’s special feature is the multitude of serene and over 200 smiling stone faces of Avolokitesvara, the Phemeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, the elephant terrace and the terrace of the Leper King.

Angkor Thom and Bayon Temple will probably take the whole morning. In the afternoon, you can go 16km to the South East to reach Kompong Phluk, which is the best destination for you to visit a village on the lake. You can go to Kompong Phluk only by boat. It’s a small village that provides very good insight into the village life on Tonle Sap. Houses here are built up to 10 meters high and the village is surrounded by flooded forest.

After a full day of exploring and learning about Cambodia’s culture, you can spend your night chilling, watching Aspara show or get some sleep to recharge you energy for the next day.

Day 2: Ta Prohm – Grand Circuit – Angkor Wat – Bakheng Hill

After breakfast, you should warm up your day by visiting Ta Prohm Temple which embraced by the gigantic roots of enormoust fig trees. It was built in the Bayon style in the late 12th century and originally called Rajavihara. Unlike many Cambodian temples, Ta Prohm is very well preserved since it was found. The photogenic and atmospheric combine with jungle surrounding have made it one of the most popular temple for visitors in the world. The place was used as the location to film the famous Hollywood movie “Tomb Raider”. Today, Ta Prohm temple is one of the most visited destinations of Cambodia.

Next, the Grand Circuit is an extension of the shorter Small Circuit loop, taking a couple more sites. The main temples of the Grand circuit are Preah Khan, Neak Khan, Ta Som, East Mebon and Pre Rup. You should take note these names in order not to get lost during your trip. After Ta Prohm and the Grand Circuit, you should go find some lunch at the local restaurants, get some rest and prepare for the afternoon adventure.

In the afternoon, it’s time for you to explore the legendary Angkor Wat, the most famous temple on the ground of Angkor. The complex covers 81 hectares, the same size of Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive 5 flowers are emphasized on the Cambodian flag and it is considered to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Lastly, after a day full of adventure, you should reward yourself with a wonderful sunset view on top of Phnom Bakheng hill.

You will probably feel a little tired at the end of the day. Chill, have a drink is not a bad idea.

Day 3: Siem Reap – Free day

After 2 days of adventuring, exploring, trekking and learning, the last day will be your reward. It’s up to you to stay up late or go out to explore the city, walk around the hotel’s surrounding, laze at the swimming pool or go around to look for some souvenirs. Day 3 is a relaxation day, prevent you from being overloaded.

As I said, 3 days will not be enough because Angkor Archaeological park itself is super wide, over 800 square kilometers! But this itinerary suggestion covers pretty much everything you should pay attention to. So if you have more time, it’s great, get yourself a one – week pass and feel free to dive in. But if your time is limited, this one is for you. Good luck and have fun in Cambodia.

This article was written by Tyler Nguyen.

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