2 days in Siem Reap

Day by day

1. Day 1: Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm

   Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, Phnom Bakheng and Bayon and Angkor Thom, then Phare, The Cambodian Circus in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Angkor Wat

      A broad moat and causeway lead to galleries of bas-reliefs, including the Churning of the Ocean of Milk on the east side, and steep stairs climb to the central towers of the upper level, the Bakan.

   2. Late morning

      Ta Prohm

      Wooden walkways guide visitors through the collapsed courtyards, and several corners became famous after the film Tomb Raider was shot here.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Fish amok

      Khmer restaurants around the Old Market and Wat Bo; most cooking classes in town teach it.

   4. Afternoon

      Phnom Bakheng

      The summit gives a wide view over the jungle canopy towards Angkor Wat and the West Baray, and it has long been the most famous sunset point in the park.

   5. Late afternoon

      Bayon and Angkor Thom

      At its centre the Bayon carries more than 200 serene stone faces on its towers, and its outer galleries show scenes of battles, markets and daily life.

   6. Evening

      Phare, The Cambodian Circus

      Book a seat near the front for the acrobatics; arrive early to eat at the on-site café.

2. Day 2: Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King and Baphuon

   Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King, Baphuon, Banteay Srei and Preah Khan, then Pub Street in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King

      The Terrace of the Elephants is carved with life-size elephants and garudas, while the Terrace of the Leper King hides a narrow inner passage lined with layers of carved deities and nagas.

   2. Late morning

      Baphuon

      A long raised causeway leads to the temple, and the western face is shaped into a huge reclining Buddha added in later centuries.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Lok lak

      Almost every Khmer restaurant menu in town, from Pub Street to local canteens.

   4. Afternoon

      Banteay Srei

      It is included in the Angkor Pass and pairs well with Kbal Spean or the Cambodia Landmine Museum on the same road.

   5. Late afternoon

      Preah Khan

      Long, partly ruined corridors run east to west under trees, past the Hall of Dancers with its carved apsaras and an unusual two-storey building with round columns.

   6. Evening

      Pub Street

      The pedestrianised strip of bars and restaurants by the Old Market, loudest after 9pm, with long happy hours on draught beer.

Before you go

• Angkor Wat: Buy your Angkor Pass online or at the official ticket centre before the first morning; it carries your photo and is checked at temple entrances.
• Phnom Bakheng: Numbers on the summit are capped at sunset; arrive well before sunset if you want to get in.
• Phare, The Cambodian Circus: Shows can sell out in the December–February high season; reserve a day or two ahead.

If it rains

• Swap in Angkor National Museum (Road to Angkor (Charles de Gaulle Boulevard)): Visit on your first afternoon to make sense of the temples, or use it as a midday break from the heat.
• Swap in Artisans Angkor (Old Market and Pub Street): Take the free workshop tour before shopping; prices are fixed and higher than the market, but quality is consistent.
• Swap in Cambodia Landmine Museum (Road to Banteay Srei): Read the personal stories on the walls; they make the visit more meaningful than the hardware alone.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 12–15 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11.3 hours in December to 12.9 hours in June.

Getting between stops: Tuk-tuk. A tuk-tuk (remork) and driver hired for the day is the classic way to tour the temples, following the small circuit, the grand circuit or a custom route; drivers wait at each temple.

More or fewer days

• One day in Siem Reap
• 3 days in Siem Reap

Questions travellers ask