Siem Reap hosts the largest religious monument in the world - Angkor, The Kingdom of Wonder. here you will see the spectacular ruins of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm (the “Tomb Raider” temple.) Stepping on Siem Reap soil changes things. You will immediately sense a place time forgotten. And, below you will find five things you will want to do when you visit Siem Reap.

1.  Explore the Angkor Wat Temple Complex

Like this list would start with anything else! There is a one-, three- or seven-day pass. If you are really pressed for time, you can see all the major temples in one day. We choose to go on the three-day pass which gives us a chance to see all the major attractions within Angkor, ride a bike if we want or totally explore on foot. If we’ve had enough at the end of day two, we can choose to do something else.

No matter how many days you go, you will want to be sure and see the three main temples - Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and Ta Prohm. Another great temple is Pre Rub, which has fewer visitors.

It’s also a great idea to plan a bike ride and visit the sunrise at Angkor Wat. Yes, you’ll have to set your alarm early, but little will rival the beauty of Angkor Wat at sunrise. And, you will be ahead of most of the other visitors for the day.

You can choose a variety of methods to get around Angkor Wat – bike, tuk-tuk, or car and driver.

We will have a driver. Not only will you have air conditioning, you will also have a built-in tour guide which makes it easier to understand why such a great temple exists from the 12th and 13th centuries.

2.  stay at a local, boutique resort

As the tourism industry in Siem Reap explodes, so is the major hotel scene and variety of accomodations. There are so many options to choose from, however, we like the friendly, sustainable boutique Navutu Dreams Resort because it is an award-winning five-start resort that not only gives you a more authentic experience but also makes sure that your money goes back into the pockets of people from the local community, not hotel conglomerates.

Located on the outskirts of town, it is the only resort and wellness retreat in Siem Reap. It boasts the largest green space of all Siem Reap hotels and resorts, offering well-appointed accommodations and a rejuvenating vibe where you can fully rest, relax and get away. And, after a day of exploring you will appreciate the pool most of all to cool off and relax.

3.  Shop at the Old Market

Like most of Southeast Asia, Siem Reap has some of the cheapest prices in the world when it comes to shopping at markets for textiles, food or locally crafted treasures. And, the first price they give won’t be cheap especially if you are American! It’s always fun to haggle like a local wherever you are in the world, and if you become good at it, you can strike some amazing deals.

You can choose your strategy (which may be no haggling at all if dealing for a better price makes you uncomfortable.) One suggested rule of thumb is to start at 25% of their original asking rpice and work your way up towards 50%. Haggling is expected and it can be a fun interaction with the shop owners if you allow it to be.

Haggling is a part of the culture and is approached with a good-natured attitude. And, understand that the locals are probably in need of money more than you. Be willing to part with an extra fifty cents or a dollar and appreciate the discount you receive.

4. Eat and drink on Pub Street

Even though Cambodian food isn’t as delicious as neighboring Thailand and Vietnam, it is still delicious! One of hte best and most famous dishes in Cambodia is Fish Amok. Find a traditional Khmer restaurant for starters. And, nothing beats an all day, every day happy hour ran by many of the local restaurants. Yes, it’s touristy and gets crowded and noisy at night. That can be fun. And, if you go during the day, it’s a great place to walk around, grab a drink and people watch with a calmer crowd.

There is a wide variety of international cuisine from Mexican to Italian, so if wine or margaritas are your thing, you will find plenty on Pub Street.

5. enjoy a massage and/or facial

For the price of a cup of coffee at Starbuck’s, back home you can enjoy many massage and healing treatments in Siem Reap. Whether you like a relaxing or deep tissue massage or want to experience facials and body scrubs, you can enjoy one every day in Siem Reap without breaking the bank. There are so many options to choose from and Navutu Dreams and Resort has one of the best spas in Siem Reap and even offers local Shamanic Healing.

Go with a group

Sharing any experience with like minded people adds a great deal of depth and memories to any travel experience. At Wise Mystic Adventures, we keep our trips small (eight to ten people) and take care of the details so you can experience an worldly adventure that is YOUnique to you without any worries about the details. You just show up.

Like retreats, we typically start the day with light yoga stretches and meditation. After that, we are 100% adventure, ready to get out and explore, have plenty of time by the pool and provide the space for you to do what you love most while you are on vacation. Our groups tend to be active and love exploring so even if you aren’t that adventurous, you can tag along and expand your confort zone. This is where transformation takes place. Expect the unexpected.

Siem Reap is truly a can’t miss destination. Ask anyone who has been to Siem Reap and you will hear that Angkor Wat is one of the most incredible places in the world. You are still allowed to have free rein around most of the ruins which could change in the future as tourism to this area is growing.

If you’d like to join us on our next adventure to Siem Reap, The Kingdom of Wonder March 4-11, 2024, please contact us. We’d love to have you. You can also find more details here.

 Have you been to Siem Reap before?  If so, what were some of your favorite things to do there?