Top Siem Reap Tours & Vacations 2024/2025 [reviews & photos]

Siem Reap Tours & Travel Packages 2024/2025

330 Siem Reap trips. Compare tour itineraries from 86 tour companies. 847 reviews. 4.7/5 avg rating.

Small Group Siem Reap Tours

See all 172 Siem Reap trips
See all 330 Siem Reap trips

Top Siem Reap Attractions & Experiences

Top Siem Reap Experiences

    • Taking a cooking class after shopping for ingredients at a local market, learning traditional ingredients and meals.
    • Visiting the many temples of Angkor City after first exploring the Angkor National Museum.
    • Spending a fun night enjoying the party scene of Pub Street.
    • Shopping at the many markets and enjoying classic Cambodian street food. 
    • Learning about traditional crafts and art pieces from local artists at Artisans Angkor.
    • Renting bikes and enjoying the beautiful Cambodian countryside.

Siem Reap Tours & Travel Guide

Siem Reap Attractions & Landmarks Guide

Little more than a village when French explorers re-discovered Angkor in the 19th century, today, the city in Northwestern Cambodia is the gateway to the Angkor region and UNESCO World Heritage site, Angkor Wat. It is among the most popular destinations in Cambodia, where visitors come to discover the roots of the Khmer civilization.

While Siem Reap is often a second thought to Angkor Wat, which is about 20 minutes away, the city itself should not be discounted. Tours to Cambodia typically spend a few days in Siem Reap. Much of this time is devoted to Angkor, however within Siem Reap there are a number of cultural activities, including cooking classes and art demonstrations.

Situated in northwestern Siem Reap province, the city is one of the oldest in Cambodia, and also one of the most popular for tourists, due to its proximity to Angkor. This in turn has made parts of Siem Reap very high end, with many modern amenities, restaurants, shopping, and hotels.

The French colonial presence in Cambodia is largely to thank for the place Siem Reap holds today. When Angkor was re-discovered by French explorers in 1901, it sprang onto the world stage and never left. Siem Reap’s became a valuable touchpoint for those visiting the ancient city.

Beyond Angkor Wat: Other things to do in Siem Reap

While Angkor is absolutely something worth doing, and in fact something worth planning at least two days if not more for, there are some can’t miss sights within the town as well.

War Museum

To get a deeper understanding of the Cambodian Civil War, head to the War Museum, which covers the 30 years during which Cambodia was subjected to the Khmer Regime. An open air experience, the museum consists of old war instruments and tanks used during the regime - much of them Russian made.

Be sure to go with a guide because written information throughout the museum is scarce. And hearing personal stories help bring this terrible time into sharp focus.

Angkor National Museum

The Angkor National Museum is a great way to learn about the ancient history surrounding the impressive ruin city of Angkor, and a perfect stop before you journey to the massive temple complex yourself.

Visitors to the museum are treated to beautiful imagery depicting the life of Angkor’s inhabitants in chronological order. Hundreds of artifacts are also found here throughout 8 galleries. Plan at least an hour to enjoy your walk through and learn about all facets of Angkor before visiting the ruins for yourself.

Old Market

Southeast Asia is renowned for its markets, which showcase locally made goods, traditional food, dress, and cultural items. The Old Market is, not surprisingly, the oldest market in Siem Reap, and a popular shopping area for locals as well as tourists.

There are actually multiple markets in Siem Reap worth checking out. The night market in particular is very popular. Complete with lively bars, street food, and other vendors, the night market is often found on “must do” lists for Siem Reap. Live music completes the scene as you enjoy the vibrant atmosphere.

Artisans Angkor

This is a wonderful initiative and a tourist activity you can feel really good about. Designed to put more control into the hands of the artists who made your souvenirs and to help young budding artists get valuable training.

Many Siem Reap tours visit Artisans Angkor, which ensures that your tourism dollars remain in the country and have a direct impact on the lives of people you’ll meet during your visit. You’ll have a chance to talk with the artists and watch them at work.

Floating Villages

Rainy seasons are heavy duty in Southeast Asia, and for this reason a number of people live in floating villages. Designed to work with the weather rather than against, these unique floating villages only cover 965 square miles during the dry season, but this increases to 4600 in the rainy season. They are incredibly self sufficient, with entire networks of canals, shops, schools, and homes all living atop the water.

Sample traditional local rice wine

Rice is one of the staple foods in Cambodia, and has many uses, including being made into wine known as “Sombai”. This fermented liquid was used in ancient Angkor times in medicinal ways. Today it is often infused with fruits. Served at local tastings, you can take a tour first to learn about the process from start to finish, which includes the intricate and delicate painting on the bottles

Pub Street

For some this may seem like a tourist trap - but that doesn’t always have to be a bad thing. Pub street is very popular among young travelers especially who are eager to take in some of Southeast Asia’s famous nightlife. And this part of Siem Reap does have a reputation for getting rowdy, especially in the early morning hours.

But even though that is the main group, Pub Street can also be very enjoyable earlier in the evening for families and older travelers. There are many restaurant and bar choices, and it can be a great place to meet other travelers exploring Siem Reap.

How to Get to Angkor Wat From Siem Reap

While Siem Reap offers all of the above activities, it is undeniable that the main tourist attraction is Angkor Wat. The temples at Angkor are numerous, and the best way to see the main sights comfortably, is to plan a few days at least.

Tours to Angkor Wat leave regularly from Siem Reap, which is about a 20 minute drive away. There are several ways you can arrange to see the site, including renting a car, renting a bike or motorized scooter, or going by hired tuk-tuk. Walking is not recommended, only because the heat can be intense, and you’ll be walking by multiple moving vehicles going at different speeds, and some places have very little sidewalk.

The fascinating ruins of Angkor became an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, though despite valiant and ongoing efforts to keep them in as good shape as possible, a continuously growing influx of tourists have made protection an enormous challenge.

There are 3 different passes you can decide between, once you arrive at Angkor. A Day Pass, A Three Day Pass, and a Week Long Pass. (The US dollar is widely accepted throughout Cambodia).

Forget any illusions you may have about Angkor Wat being empty and devoid of other people. It will definitely be full of other tourists exploring the ruins. Even the much lauded sunrise tour, to be among the first to get to the site, is a deceivingly busy activity. Though you may elect for this opportunity, you won’t necessarily be getting to the site when “no one else is there” which is how some tours sell this experience.

If you try and stay for the sunset at Angkor, be very careful when heading back to Siem Reap. Once the sun goes down, the night sky is very dark and there are no lights along the roads. A good idea is to pack a flashlight in the morning, even if you're not sure you'll stay for the sunset or not.

Photography Tips for Angkor Wat

The spires, steps, carvings, and countless pathways at Angkor Wat create unbelievable compositions for stunning photographs. Photography enthusiasts, amateur through to professional will always find something new to capture through the lens at Angkor Wat.

Here are some top tips for getting the best photos out of your Angkor Wat visit:

1. Bring multiple lenses - Angkor is one of those rare destinations that offers incredible variety for the type of photography you want to do. A telephoto lens will help you get up close with the many wall carvings and intricate designs within the temples. While a wide angle will be ideal for capturing the depth and scope of the temples and city.

2. Go on a photography tour - Especially for enthusiastic amateurs looking to bring their photographs to the next level, a photography tour is the perfect avenue to learn. Not only will you be able to visit incredible sights, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from a professional. And in a place like Angkor, where there are so many small walkways, multiple temples, and multiple views, your guide will know all the best places for photographs, including those that are “hidden.”

3. Lens cloth - in humid weather, like that you will experience in Cambodia, lens fogging is common. While this can create an interesting effect, it may not be the one you intend. Bring your camera out of it’s protective bag a good few minutes before you plan to shoot, and have a lens cloth handy throughout the day.

4. Comfortable neck/shoulder strap - Angkor Wat is full of incredible photo opps, and you will quickly get exhausted with pulling your camera out every 5 seconds. It is also typically very humid, and your generic camera strap may get itchy and uncomfortable in the heat. Fashion yourself a personalized lens strap with any kind of durable, soft, water resistant material to help with the burden of carrying your camera all day long.

5. Filters - Especially if you elect to do the popular sunrise tour at Angkor Wat, consider a filter to help display the subtle color and lighting of the sky as effectively as possible.

6. Practice shooting in shadow. Angkor provides a lot of wonderful opportunities for dramatic contrasts and sharp light shafts. Get to know your camera’s manual settings, and possibly practice with an external flash. You won’t want a strong flash, but one used with a diffuser might help bring out details in your shadowy photographs.

7. Bring a monopod - You will be walking around a lot in the hot sun, and a tripod will get cumbersome. And you don’t really need one for Angkor, as you’ll find many places to place your camera to keep it steady, or use a monopod. You’ll definitely want this option for shooting extended exposures in low light, but for the most part, it should suffice rather than a bulky and heavy tripod.

8. There will be people around. Embrace the fact that there will be a lot of crowds. You can pretty easily manage to get some pictures without people that are tight in portrait style, but your wide shots will almost certainly have people in them.

Siem Reap Reviews & Ratings

4.7/5  Excellent
847  Reviews
See all Siem Reap tour reviews
Excellent
386
Great
106
Average
7
Disappointing
1
Terrible
3
R

Radiq

Jan 2020

Written on

Thank You John Hu

We recently returned from a three week trip to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. Odynovo, and especially John Hu were recommended to us by a coworker who was very plea...

Odynovo-logo

Response from Odynovo January 2020

Dear Radiq Tallim, Thank you for your trust and support! At Odynovo Tours, we place customer sati...

T

Teresa

Jan 2020

Written on

We had a good time overall during our trip.

We had a good time overall during our trip. The only negative is the Tai Chi instructor did not show up at the Halong Bay cruise. Thank you for taking care of us and...

D

Doris

Nov 2019

Written on

All days went so fast and the trip was superb.

All days went so fast and the trip was superb. We don't know how to require more. Day tour, transportation, accommodation, constant support, etc. were great. There i...

J

Jami

Sep 2019

Written on

We could not have asked for better service from Realistic Asia

We miss your country already! We had a wonderful time! We could not have asked for better service from Realistic Asia. We felt we were treated like royalty through...

E

Erwin

May 2019

Written on

We will give you a great review on anywhere so that people can know your great work.

We are very happy we chose Realistic Asia to arrange our trip to Vietnam and Cambodia.  We made the very best choice of travel agencies! Thank you very much Min...

Write a Review

Traveling to Siem Reap, an FAQ

1. Does Travelstride have all the tour operators?

Travelstride has the widest selection of tours and tour companies. All the largest companies are on the site and most smaller local operators though we are adding new operators daily. Unlike other websites and agencies, we show you all the options, regardless of whether or not we are paid by the company.

2. How does the Member Savings program save me money?

Travelstride membership is absolutely free. You receive special benefits including saving up to $700 on select tours with top tour operators. The main requirement is to write a review after your trip to access the savings.

3. Can I trust the tour operator and trip reviews on Travelstride?

Yes. Travelstride has both expert reviews, written by Travelstride staff and local experts as well as traveler reviews written by people like you who have used the company and traveled to that destination.

4. What does ‘Stride Preferred’ mean?

Stride Preferred and Stride Premier are status categories to help you sort quickly through known and reliable travel companies. Since there are thousands of tour operators around the globe, Preferred or Premier badges are awarded to companies that Travelstride has determined meet the highest standards of professionalism, customer satisfaction, and quality.
Sign in to reveal savings up to $700 per person!