See the best of the Khmer country — whether you have a few weeks or a few days
Cambodia has some of the best places to visit in Southeast Asia — but honestly, also a few duds. While travel is entirely subjective, let me share my impressions in this honest guide so I can highlight what I think are the real gems in Cambodia.
I’ve explored Cambodia a fair bit and consider it one of the more ‘contrasty’ countries in the region. As overwhelmingly positive as the laidback islands and impressive Khmer temples are, I found myself, umm, whelming very differently in places like Sihanoukville (a sordid seaside casino resort that I couldn’t wait to leave).
The truth is that Cambodia is always changing and some places that were once great have since faded, as I noticed when visiting the same places several years apart. In this updated Cambodia travel guide, let me share with you my thoughts to help you get the most out of your trip — besides, of course, visiting the epic temples of Angkor Wat, which is on just about everyone’s bucket list!
I’ll talk about two ways to visit Cambodia:
- As a side-trip from Vietnam, Laos, or Thailand. It’s fairly common for tourists to hit up Cambodia for a few days as an extension to a holiday in a neighboring country. If that’s you, read on for some tips on making the best of your limited time.
- Backpacking Cambodia for several weeks. If you have more time then you can invest in exploring Cambodia in much more detail. If you’re on a Southeast Asia trip and not in a rush, you’ll find many fascinating places in Cambodia, including authentic travel, ecotourism, and unspoiled islands.
Let’s jump in!
Tip 1: visit the temples at sunrise
The best way to experience Angkor Wat is at sunrise. Yeah, it sucks having to wake up at like 6 a.m., but it’s worth it!
Those dedicated enough for an early rise will gather at the main temple to see the sun emerge from behind its spires.
You can expect a bit of a crowd at this prime sunset-watching location, but you’ll still be here hours before the tour buses start arriving. This means you can then wander the temples in relative peace and avoid the intense midday heat. The early morning light also gives the ruins a wonderful glow.
Most people go to see the sunrise at the main temple, but there are many other sunset-watching locations inside the park that can give you a more serene experience.
See Angkor Wat in the best way
I recommend booking this sunrise tour that will pick you up in Siem Reap. You’ll also have a professional local English-speaking guide who will tell you everything about the temple ruins. I’ve been to Angkor Wat in mid-afternoon where I had to battle my way through a sea of selfie sticks, but I’ve also visited for sunrise when the site truly kept its mystique. Going for sunrise will definitely elevate your experience!book sunrise tour
Tip 2: explore the outer temples
My second piece of advice is not just to be laser-focused on the main temple that you see in all the photos, but to explore other smaller ruins as well.
Thanks to its huge size, there are many areas of Angkor to check out. The main temples get crowded but there are numerous ruins that are very peaceful (and often wonderfully overgrown by big-rooted trees).
Tip 3: keep at least a full day for Angkor
You can see the most important areas at Angkor in about one day or afternoon. If you really don’t have much time, 1 day will let you get a good impression.
2 days is better as this will allow you to see the more remote temples and learn more about the history of Angkor Wat.
A 1-day pass costs $37 and a 3-day pass is $62. The three days don’t have to be all in a row. Although there is enough to see for 3 days of exploration, most people will probably be a little templed out by day 2, so I think two days is probably the ideal time to spend if you’re not in a rush.