How to Have a Fascinating Four Days in Cambodia 🇰🇭

Last month, I traveled to Siem Reap, Cambodia for four days, and had the most wonderful time exploring the enchanted temples there.

There is so much to see in just Siem Reap alone, so make sure to plan out your time there to make the most out of it.

I went solo and really enjoyed getting to take my time exploring wherever I felt led to. You can check out all of my trip pics over on Facebook 😘

Take time to lose the crowds, and get lost in the temples and really soak in all the beauty and history they have to offer.

Some #ProTips from my time there to help you have the best trip possible:

• Don’t buy any individual temple tickets — on your first day touring, purchase the three day ($62) Angkor World Heritage pass and that will get you into ALL the temples. You’ll definitely need three days to see at least the main ones.
• Bring sunscreen and bug spray for your temple exploring days.
• Get cash and exchange it for USD before you arrive, they accept USD everywhere.
• You will need to get a visa upon arrival at the airport, I used USD cash to pay.
• For the temples, you’ll need to dress properly — covering your knees and shoulders. You can purchase pants and t-shirts there for under $10 USD.
• It’s hot AF there — keep hydrated! (You’ll also sweat like crazy, and I quickly learned that a grey t-shirt is not the best sweaty look 😆)
• My Teva sandals proved to be great for exploring the temples and keeping cool in the heat.

This is how I would recommend spending four days in Siem Reap:

• This is mostly how I spent my time there, but with tweaks to make it more efficient and fun now for you that I know better. 😄

DAY 1 || SIEM REAP

• Morning arrival to the airport — you’ll have to wait in line to get your visa ($32 USD), and then the immigration line. It’s a small airport and wasn’t too bad of a process. *#ProTip: if you arrive the night before, do the temple stuff in the morning and cool off in the pool that afternoon instead! 🏊‍♀
• Ask your hostel or hotel about transportation in advance, the airport is close to the city and my hotel had one free airport transfer included in the cost. Or, just ask them to confirm how much it costs / best way to get there so you’re prepared to GTFO as soon as your passport is stamped.
• I stayed at the Lotus Blanc Resort, it has a gorgeous property, a great location, the best staff, a magical spa, the most delicious breakfast buffet, and a killer pool! *#ProTip: If you’re looking for a hostel, my go to is Hostelworld to find the best options for your budget.
• Check into your hotel and arrange your transportation. I love riding around in a tuk tuk (wouldn’t do it any other way) and it was about $15 / day. Other options are a bike, motorbike, or car. *#ProTip: there’s no point in showering upon arrival as you’ll soon be very hot and sweaty, so just get going.
• First, stop at a market (your tuk tuk driver will know one) to purchase pants and t-shirts for the temples. I didn’t spend more than $10/outfit, and they were perfect coverage for the temples plus light and airy for the heat. You’ll find these stalls everywhere around the temples. They let me get changed in one so I was ready to explore! Grab a quick lunch there before the adventures begin.

• Head to purchase your ANGKOR PASS — this will get you into ALL the temples, so there’s no need to buy individual tickets. The three day pass ($62) is perfect for this trip, but there are other options if you’re here for a longer or shorter amount of time. *#ProTip: Don’t fucking lose this thing! You’ll have to show it at every temple, so figure out a safe yet convenient place to keep it during your time there.
• Ta Prohm (AKA the Tomb Raider temple) was the first temple I went to, and it was the most magical welcome to Siem Reap. I spent several hours there roaming around, getting lost, running from tour groups, and soaking in all the history. I could spend days just fascinated and staring at those big trees growing and twisting throughout the temple.
• By 4:30pm, make your way to Phnom Bakheng. It is a temple up on a hill that is spectacular for sunset. The catch is — they only allow 300 people up there at a time, so you’ll need to get there early and wait in a line to get in before sunset. *#ProTip: I was there in June (off season) and didn’t have a problem getting in for sunset, but I can imagine the lines are a lot longer during high season, so plan ahead pending when you’re there.
• After the sun sets and they kick everyone out of the temple complex, go back to your hotel to jump in the pool, take a shower, and grab dinner. The Night Market is a popular spot to grab food and drinks.

DAY 2 || SIEM REAP

• Set that alarm for 4AM — and arrange for a tuk tuk ride the night before! Be prepared to leave your hotel or hostel at 4:30AM so you can get a good spot for the sunrise. Arrive to Angkor Wat around 5AM, use the flashlight on your phone to navigate in the dark, find the lake to the front left of the temple, and post up there until daylight breaks. *#ProTip: My hotel recommended leaving at 5AM, but it’s better to get there earlier to get a good spot.
• My Sunrise Story: I arrived to Angkor Wat a little before 5AM, couldn’t find the lake in front of the temple, and ended up getting lost in the dark inside Angkor Wat. At first it was terrifying (it was empty / spooky / bats flying around), but then it was the coolest fucking thing ever to have it to myself and I was so glad I got lost. I ended up coming back early a second time to properly watch the sunrise from outside the temple, but if you’re looking for a real adventure, it’s worth it to (respectfully) wander in super early.
• Some folks headed back to their hotel after the sunrise for breakfast, but I opted to stay while I was there early to make the most out of the morning. There are plenty of food stalls near the temple to grab breakfast and lunch while you’re on the go!
• I spent about four hours wandering and climbing around, soaking in all the magnificent details that Angkor Wat had to offer. Take time to just sit, soak it all in, and be grateful that you are there. For a donation, you can get a blessing from a monk in the temple, along with a red string that he ties around your wrist with it. (I still have mine on 📿)

• Head to Banteay Srei (AKA the pink temple) next. This one is around an hour away by tuk tuk, so it was a great break to cool down, relax, and observe the countryside after an early morning. It is farther away than the other temples — but it was so worth it! It is INTRICATE AF and I couldn’t stop staring at every stunning detail. There are more tourist and food stalls here as well, I enjoyed a very tasty fried rice meal with my tuk tuk driver before we left.
• On your way back from Banteay Srei, I insist that you stop at the Cambodian Landmine Museum. It’s on the way, and is very important to learn about landmines, the history of Cambodia, and what impact you can help make there as a traveler.
• Back to the hotel for some well deserved pool time to cool off, relax, and reflect on everything you have done and seen so far!
• Grab dinner, stay hydrated, have fun. If you dare, stop by the Bugs Cafe at the Night Market to try some delectable crickets, scorpions, or spiders… 👩‍🍳 🐜 🦂

DAY 3 || SIEM REAP

• I recommend starting early to avoid the crowds —the temples open at 7:30AM and I found that this is the best time to get started and experience Siem Reap without the tour groups.
• Start off at Bayon Temple. This was one of my favorites! Lots to see and climb around on here. The stone carved faces are absolutely fascinating.

• After a couple hours at Bayon, head across the street to the large Buddha statue. It’s beautiful. I gave a $1 donation and got another blessing there. (Can’t have too many blessings, right?!)
• From there, you can walk to Baphoun temple, and to the Terrace of the Elephants from there. I spent about an hour lost wandering around in that area.
• Meet your tuk tuk driver, and head to Preah Khan temple — stopping at the North Gate of the temple complex on your way. I thought these were so beautiful, and climbed up the side of walls to get a face to face look at them.

• Preah Khan temple wasn’t on my list, but my tuk tuk driver recommended it, and I’m so glad I went! It huge and pretty empty — tons of door ways lined up throughout it made me feel like I was Alice in Wonderland.
• Enjoy the rest of your afternoon swimming in or hanging by the pool with a drink.
• I took advantage of the spa at my hotel — got a great deal on a massage / facial package and it was incredible service too. If you don’t have a spa at your hotel, check out the Lotus Blanc Spa that I went to, I highly recommend it!

DAY 4 || SIEM REAP

• Your three day temple pass is up, so you can spend your last morning however you please, enjoying more food, soaking in the sunshine, and checking out whatever you may have missed in the past few days before you go.
• The Angkor National Museum would be a great educational experience to wrap up everything you’ve done on the trip!
• Arrange for your last tuk tuk ride to the airport — it’s small so you don’t need to get there more than two hours in advance. I stayed in the pool for as long as possible before leaving!