Siem Reap is one of the main backpacking hubs of Cambodia.
Yet many travellers quickly pass through the city with their hearts fixed purely on seeing the Temples of Angkor. But stay a while longer and you’ll discover a charming city jam packed full of adventure, affordable hostels, and a distinctive atmosphere surrounding an array of delicious restaurants, markets, cafes and of course the infamous cheap bars on pub street.
In among the constant Tuk Tuk tour pleas, search engines full of ‘must-visit activity’ articles and a reception laced with outdated tour leaflets, finding the best day trips in Siem Reap is often an overwhelming task in the few days most travellers spend in the city.
After spending three weeks in Siem Reap alone we’ve tried pretty much every recommendation we’ve stumbled across whether it’s from articles, locals, monks, food writers, tuk tuk drivers, you name it, we’ve tried it, but now we rate it. Here is our list of the best things to do while Backpacking Siem Reap.
Angkor Wat Sunrise Tour
No prizes for guessing number one on our list
Designed to replicate the home of the Hindu gods, Angkor Wat is quite literally built to be heaven on earth. As the sun slowly paints the temples, lakes and sky every hue of orange imaginable you can’t help but agree the temple captures some sort of unearthly level beauty.
Dubbed the largest religious site in the world, the Angkor Archaeological Park spreads across more than 155miles/ 400 square kilometres. There are 70 main temples and hundreds more religious sites overgrown in the jungle all of which date back to the 9th century during the Khmer Empire.
Angkor – The crown jewels of the Khmer Empire and the main spectacle of the Angkor Wat Archaeological site, Angkor Wat attracts over 2.6 million tourists annually. Watching the sun rise over this temple is on the bucket list of every travel lover, and although budget backpackers may cringe at $36 tickets and $15 tours, missing out on visiting the temples of Angkor on your Siem Reap trip is criminal.
Jungle temple of Ta Phrom – A temple slowly swallowed by jungle this half-ruined temple is a reminder into the age of the Angkor Wat Temples. Enormous snakelike roots weave through the temple complex and lead to giant trees that tower over the site which is illuminated in a dappled light as the sun breaks through the canopy.
Bayan Temple – An iconic temple within the Angkor Wat Complex. Here giant Buddhist faces will smile down at you while you explore the 54 tours in the temple. The ancient stone is home to monkeys who create incredible photo opportunities as they clamber over the monument.
Tour the Floating Villages
Siem Reap’s tourist focus creates a comfortable and safe stay but for a flavour of authentic Cambodian everyday life you should experience a floating village day trip. There are several floating villages along Tonle Sap Lake, we visited the popular tour spot Kompon Phluk.
This rural village is made up of residential pagodas that are surrounded by a stunning landscape of countryside, river and farmland. There are a variety of tour options to explore the country lanes whether it’s by boat, quad bike or bicycle experiencing the local way of life is a must. Our favourite was the bike tour followed by a sunset boat tour where you float down the river sampling the local delicacy’s as the sun sets over the village.
It’s worth noting that the floating villages are often dried up in May. So you’ll only be able to trek, drive or pedal through the villages at this time of year.
Chase Waterfalls at Phnom Kulen National Park
Deep in the Kulen Mountains you will find the roaring waterfalls and picturesque hikes. The Kulen Mountain or ‘Mountain of Indra’ are said to have healing powers and grant blessings for those that bathe in the holy water. Local Cambodians flock to this spot and often have picnics overlooking the cascading water. Nearby you’ll find ancient temples like Prasat O’Paong and countless ruined temples where you can see the fallen rocks with clear carved engraving.
Discover the Markets
The Siem Reap Old Market, (location) – Every chef, foodie and traveller knows that a traditional market is often the best place to discover a local culture. In Siem Reap that market is The Siem Reap Old Market, or locally known as Psar Chas. Stalls filled with meat, fruit, vegetables, and fresh seafood line the walkway, but stroll down the next aisle and the offerings will change into a handcrafted haven of antiques, silks, and household items. Of course there is plenty of tourist focus gifts too from Fake branded items to carved Buddha and elephant statues.
Angkor Wat night market, (location) – This is the largest market in Siem Reap with over 200 wooden bamboo stalls selling everything from delicious street food to tourist focused merchandise. It was created to promote Khmer culture and showcases some of the best Khmer craftsmanship so be sure to check out the silk paintings, silver or brass embellished jewellery and shadow puppets. During the evenings this market turns into a lively drinking spot where you can listen to live music over a cold beer and delicious street food.
Made in Cambodia Market, (location)- Although a little pricier than other markets the stalls are full of products made by renowned locals artists and craftsmen. The quality of the materials here are also much finer and tend to last a lot longer than the products found in most markets across Cambodia!
Banteay Srey Butterfly Centre
Cambodia is estimated to have 434 species of butterfly and the sustainable butterfly farm of Banteay Srey Butterfly Centre will showcase biggest and brightest of Cambodia’s native butterflies. The entire experience is made to be interactive so you’ll be sure to get some stunning photos of giant colourful butterflies landing all over you!
Try Eating Red Ants in Siem Reap
Red fire ants in Cambodia are a popular Khmer jungle delicacy so it would be rude not to try them right? Served up to add a slightly sour and citrusy flavour it is used to add some extra flavour within some traditional Khmer jungle dishes.
But where can you eat red ants in Siem Reap? For an unforgettable dining experience visit Bug restaurant, an entire menu designed to include bugs as the star ingredients. If an entire meal made of creepy crawlies isn’t for you why not eat at Pou Restaurant and order the Khmer Mountain Sausage which is topped with red fire ants! Lou’s restaurant is a strong contender for the best traditional Khmer food in Siem Reap.
Wander Pub Street
The heart of Siem Reap’s backpacking nightlife is on the famous Pub Street. This is like a less intense version of Bangkoks infamous Khao San road. Most bars amd nightclubs are open 24/7 on this street but the party gets started around 8pm at night.
Khmer Cooking Class
New arrivals to Cambodia quickly find out that Cambodian food is severely underrated. National dishes like Amok and Lok Lak have a complex and distinctive taste that are simply delicious. So why not learn to make it yourself? There are several Khmer Cooking Classes in Siem Reap but most cost around $20-$30 for a 3 hour lesson and tasting!
Support Phare Cambodian Circus
Phare circus is a heartwarming social enterprise that dedicates all its profits to support free education, professional arts training and supportive programs of in Phare Ponleu Selpak in Battambang.
Jaw dropping stunts and acrobatics are performed in sync to an expertly choreographed narrative that creates a poignant and moving show. With prices starting at just $17 per person and every penny supporting this incredible initiative.
Go Quadbiking in Siem Reap’s Countryside
Take a more adventurous route off the beaten track by signing up to one of Siem Reaps countryside Quad Bike tours. Most tours let you speed through the dirt tracks on the outskirts of Siem Reap where you can spot local villages, active Buddhist temples, rolling farm land and lush greenery. The price costs around $25-$35 for an hour long drive.
Cooking initiative at New Hope Cambodia
A meal that really makes a difference. New Hope Cambodia is so much more than just a delicious traditional Khmer restaurant. The affordable price of your meal will fund free education, free health care and community and crisis care support for pre-school aged children and youth who come from families living in Mondul Bei Village, Siem Reap.
The fabulous Khmer cuisine cooked here is created by a team of highly trained local cooks and waiting staff that would otherwise be unemployed and struggling to live above the poverty line.
There you go, our best things to do as a backpacker in Siem Reap! We hope these help you have the best time backpacking around Siem Riep and feel free to get in touch to let us know what activities made your backpacking experience in this awesome Cambodian town.
