Travellers from all across the world make their journey to Siem Reap to behold the grandeur of the Angkor Wat, which easily takes a day or two. If you still have more time on your hands in Cambodia, or you’re just looking for some place new and fun to explore, here’s Angkor Wat and more in our guide to day trips out of Siem Reap!
Angkor Wat
Feast your eyes on the magnificence of the Angkor Wat, Cambodia’s massive 12th century Buddhist temple complex. Most travellers venture to Siem Reap for the sole purpose of visiting these relics, and it’s not hard to see why once you get up close and personal. The UNESCO World Heritage Site was formerly the capital of the Khmer empire and holds an important place in Cambodian History.
A visitor’s pass starts from US$37 for one day - you’re likely to take anywhere from 3 hours to half a day exploring the temple. Some travellers also buy 3- or 7-day passes that will take them to other smaller temples around Siem Reap. Be sure to dress appropriately, as Angkor Wat is a sacred site. The complex is about 6km from Siem Riep. Once you’re done here, you can also consider checking out other Angkor temples like Ta Prohm and Angkor Thom, which are full of heritage and beautiful in their own ways.
Koh Ker and Beng Mealea
Get away from the crowds in Siem Reap and Angkor Wat by taking a trip to Koh Ker and Beng Mealea, which are about 40km away from the city. You’ll get to pass by the countryside on your way there, which should give you a brief but eye-opening glimpse of the authentically Cambodian way of life.
Here in these towns, your Angkor Pass can gain you access to the less packed Beng Mealea Temple, a beautiful temple complex in ruins. The seven-tiered Koh Ker is also worth visiting. A former ancient capital of Cambodia, it has now been abandoned, and the appearance of the overgrown greenery both alludes to and shields its former glory. If you’re looking for a deeper understanding of Khmer history, this is where you’ll find it.
Tonle Sap
Situated 17km away from Siem Reap, the Tonle Sap lake offers you a retreat from the city that isn’t too far away and is not plagued by droves of tourists. The lake is Cambodia’s lifeblood, and is actually the largest lake in Southeast Asia! It’s about 250km in length and at its widest, 100km across. There’s no other way to comprehend the significance of this lake than to visit this UNESCO biosphere yourself. Don’t expect too many souvenir shops and stores selling local snacks, though. Many residents are fishermen just trying to get by doing their daily routine. If you’d like to follow a group, tourist boats usually stop at catfish and crocodile farms, which can be interesting experiences too if you’ve always wondered about the creatures that live in the lake!
Kompong Phluk
If you’re eager to visit more of such floating villages, Kompong Phluk - or “Harbour of the Tusks” - is a good choice. Schools and houses here sit on stilts, and though it looks unassuming, the village is home to about 3000 people. You’ll be surprised at the different pace and way of life that villagers experience every day. During the dry season, you can see how the houses and schools are clearly built on 10m tall stilts, while in the wet season the village appears to be floating on the water due to the high sea levels. No matter when you visit, we guarantee you’ll have a rewarding time.
Kompong Khleang
Kompong Khleang sits 35km away from Siem Reap and has a population about ten times the size of Kompong Phluk. It’s the largest community in the area, so you’ll be sure to encounter many locals on your trip there. As it’s further away from the city, this place hosts fewer tourists than the Chong Khneas and perhaps even Kompong Phluk - there’s usually less than 20 tourists daily. An organisation founded by locals, Kompong Khleang Floating Village Tours, was founded to help support local villagers by bringing tourists around. If you head over in the dry season, you may even get to have a walking tour of the village! Otherwise, you’re good as it is just admiring the schools and pagodas that float by you.
Phnom Kulen National Park
While many are aware of the appearance of Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm in the movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, not many know that the Phnom Kulen waterfall located in this park also makes a brief appearance in the movie! If you’re a nature lover, or just a Lara Croft fan, a trip to the waterfall, which is the park’s main attraction, is totally worth making. The waters aren’t deep, and are in fact great if you want to just dip your toes in the cool water and escape the tropical heat for a bit. If you’re with family and friends, there are some spots where you can lay out a picnic mat and just chill around!
Apart from that, there’s Preah Ang Thom, the main temple at the site. You’ll find a huge reclining Buddha statue, reportedly the largest in Cambodia. If your feet are itching for a hike, try hiring a local guide - many hang out around there - and heading to Srah Damrei, or Elephant Pond! You’ll find several stone-carved animal sculptures there that make your hike worth it.
Banteay Srei
Banteay Srei, or ‘Citadel of the Women’ is built of sandstones that are of a more pinkish hue than the other temples you’ll visit around Cambodia, and the carvings are rumoured to be done by women due to their intricacy. Interestingly, it is the only major Angkor temple to not be constructed by a king. Instead, it was built by a courtier, who was one of the king’s counsellors. Some carvings you can find at this temple include some scenes from the epic Ramayana, as well as some scenes of women holding lotus flowers. About 20km away from the main Angkor Wat complex, this temple is smaller and less imposing than the massive Angkor Wat. You can use your Angkor Pass to explore this temple too.
Chansor Village
Kick back and relax on your tour to Chansor Village, about 40km away from Siem Reap. Here, you can ride on ox-carts as you are led through this peaceful village. Admire the humble thatched homes and glean a deeper understanding of how local villagers live. You can also get a chance to try your hand at making some local handicraft - a great souvenir for you to take back home! Exploring the village on foot will also lead to some fantastic experiences - if you’re lucky, you can even participate in daily activities with the locals and go fishing and farming with them, depending on the season you’re visiting. This is surely one of the best ways to live like a local, even if just for a couple of hours.
Ang Trapaing Thmor Crane Sanctuary
Who says beautiful cranes only exist in Japan? Right here in Ang Trapaing Thmor Crane Sanctuary, the protected forest houses the eastern sarus crane, of which there are thought to be less than 1000 of in the world. These are the world’s tallest flying birds with slender bodies and elegant red and gray plumage. It is always awe-inspiring to witness animals roaming about carefree in their natural habitat like these cranes do. If you’re in luck, you’ll also get to see other species here in this huge freshwater marsh and plain, such as the Asian turtle, long-tailed macaque and Eld’s deer! Do take note that the best time to go to see these rare cranes is from January to May.
Phnom Bok Mountain Temple
Phnom Bok Mountain Temple rests on the top of the highest hill in the Angkor area, with the site being selected for the temple due to its religious value. Built in the late 9th to early 10th centuries, this temple is one of the three mountain temples erected on the hills of the Angkor area. As it is about 25km away from Siem Reap and located atop a 235m hill, the temple is often tranquil and quiet, free from the high volume of tourists that Siem Reap usually sees. This makes it the perfect place to visit if you’re looking for something that’s off the beaten track. You’ll also get a fair bit of exercise on the way, as you’ll have to climb your way up to the summit!
Battambang
77km away from Siem Reap lies the town of Battambang, the second largest town in Cambodia. Though it’s big, it has kept much of its quiet charm as it is more often than not overlooked in favour of Siem Reap. Nonetheless, this town offers plenty to those who seek it. Here, you can get a ride on the well-known bamboo train, which was a method of transport invented by locals to cope with the lack of regular train services. The journey will take about 30 minutes to complete, and though there isn’t much to do at the station you’ll reach, the experience of riding this interesting contraption is worth your time. The town is also great to explore on a bicycle, on which you can access smaller paths and villagers much more easily.
As you can tell, the day trips you can make out of Siem Reap vary widely - some are more crowded with tourists like for Angkor Wat and others, like Battambang, offer a more peaceful alternative. With so many to cater to anyone’s interest, make Siem Reap your next Southeast Asian destination!
