Cambodia Tours Guide: Siem Reap, Angkor and the Countryside
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Cambodia is smaller than its neighbours and often gets squeezed into a two-day stop between Vietnam and Thailand. That is a shame. The temples of Angkor alone justify three days, and the countryside around Siem Reap shows a rural Cambodia that has barely changed in decades. This guide covers the tours we list on JetlyGo’s Cambodia tours page.
Siem Reap and the temples of Angkor
Angkor was the capital of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th century, and the archaeological park covers around 400 square kilometres. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important archaeological sites in Asia.
Angkor Wat is the most famous temple and the largest religious monument in the world, but it is only the beginning. Bayon has more than 200 carved stone faces. Ta Prohm has been left in the grip of giant fig roots. Banteay Srei, about 35 km out, has the finest stone carving of the whole complex.
A few practical points:
- Buy a multi-day pass. One-day, three-day and seven-day passes are sold at the official ticket office. Three days is right for most people.
- Start early. Sunrise at Angkor Wat draws crowds; the temples further out are quieter at the same hour.
- Dress for temples. Shoulders and knees must be covered at the main temples.
- Hire a driver or tuk-tuk for the day. Distances are too long to walk between most temples.
Beyond the temples: Siem Reap countryside tours
After a few days of temples, the best thing to do is get out into the rice fields. Quad bike and ATV tours are the most fun way to do it. They follow red dirt tracks past stilt houses, water buffalo, lotus ponds and village pagodas.
Choose by how much time you have:
- One hour. The short quad bike ride in Siem Reap is a good taster if you have never driven a quad before.
- Two hours. The Siem Reap countryside ATV tour goes further into the villages.
- Sunset. The Siem Reap sunset ATV tour times the ride so you finish watching the sky turn orange over the paddies. This is the one we recommend most.
- Half day. The half-day quad bike tour covers the most ground and suits anyone who already has quad experience.
All rides include a briefing and practice before you set off, and no licence is needed. Browse all Siem Reap tours and activities.
A suggested three days in Siem Reap
Day 1. Sunrise at Angkor Wat, then Bayon and the Terrace of the Elephants inside Angkor Thom. Rest through the midday heat. Evening on Pub Street or at the night market.
Day 2. Ta Prohm early, then the outer temples of Preah Khan and Neak Pean. Late afternoon sunset quad bike ride in the countryside.
Day 3. Drive out to Banteay Srei and the river carvings of Kbal Spean, or visit the floating villages on Tonle Sap lake.
When to visit Cambodia
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Cool and dry | November to February | Best weather and busiest season |
| Hot | March to May | Up to 35 to 40°C; temple visits only at dawn |
| Wet | June to October | Afternoon storms, green fields, fewer visitors |
The wet season is underrated. Rain usually falls in one heavy burst in the afternoon, the moats around the temples fill up, and the countryside tours are at their greenest.
Getting to Siem Reap
Siem Reap has an international airport with flights from Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Singapore. Overland, buses run from Bangkok via the Poipet border and from Ho Chi Minh City via Phnom Penh.
Going further
- Arriving from Vietnam? The Vietnam tours guide covers the route south to Saigon, and the Hanoi to Angkor 14 day tour joins both countries in one booking.
- Continuing to Thailand? The Thailand tours guide picks up in Bangkok.
- See how Cambodia fits a longer route in the multi-country itineraries.
Book any of these Cambodia tours on jetlygo.com.