WHEN TO GO ?

The dry season in Cambodia runs from November to April. Although, if you want to experience a monsoon go for it!

First, buy a ticket to Angkor watt!

1 Day– $37
3 days – $62

7 days – $73

A 3-day ticket is valid for 10 days, so you don’t feel like you have to cram everything into 3 consecutive days.

Arrange a tuk-tuk driver with your hotel. A Tuk Tuk driver for the day: $18-$20 (for the whole day).

It’s up to you if you want to get a tour guide. Tour guides cost $25 per day.

Personally, we like to take our own pace, exploring on our own, taking lots of pictures without feeling pressured to move on.

We would not recommend going to Angkor Wat the same day you arrive in Siem Reap, as you may want to recover from your journey, but pre-buy a ticket for the next day at the ticket office. A tuk-tuk driver can take you there from your hotel. This way you can experience the sunrise and have a full day the next day. We planned ahead for this, so the first day we arranged to be taken to the fishing village after a rest at the hotel.

Go to a fishing village and see the real Cambodia

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We did our research and this is the village tour to go to If you’re planning on going to a floating village during your trip. Fewer tourists as it is further out, we were the only ones there!

We purchased the ticket in the morning and then went on a tour to Kompang Khleang Floating Village Tours with Community First, an organisation that gives all of the profits back to the community to help build schools.

It was a great and more relaxing way to start the trip, the people are lovely, respectful and don’t harass you.

HOW TO BEAT THE CROWDS

Leaving early is key and the fact that you already have your ticket will mean that you get the best spot at the lake to see the sunrise. We left the hotel we woke up at 4 a.m and left at 4:30 a.m

Most people don’t know that there are two lakes that you can see the sunrise from. Most people being the crowd that you desperately want to avoid will take a left and go to the main lake. DON’T FOLLOW THEM!!! When they go left, you need to take a right instead. There is another lake where you can see the sunrise and take the same photo.

When we got to the lake there was only one other person there, so we had a great spot right at the edge of the lake and a perfect view of Angkor Wat.

After you’ve watched the sunrise, go straight to see Angkor Wat temple. This is the best time to see it without there being a ton of people EVERYWHERE!

The great thing about hiring a tuk-tuk driver for the whole day is that you can also go back to your hotel to recharge. We went back to my hotel mid-day ate lunch and had a dip in the pool before heading back out for round 2pm.

2. ANGKOR WAT TEMPLE

We headed for Angkor Thom temple. This temple was a highlight for us and at this time of day, it isn’t too crowded because most people will still be looking around Angkor Wat.