Photo: Flaming Ferrari, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Four days of the temples of Angkor as history, with early starts and long breaks in the heat: Angkor Wat and the Bayon, the tree-wrapped ruins of Ta Prohm, the carving of Banteay Srei and a river carved with figures, then a stilt village on the lake and the Old Market.
The great sights of the western side, with a long rest in the middle of the day. Angkor Wat early, lunch and a break from the heat, then the face towers of the Bayon, the temple mountain of the Baphuon and a hilltop temple for the evening.
A bowl of clear pork or beef broth with rice noodles, herbs, bean sprouts and lime, a Khmer breakfast that small stalls and cafes in town serve from first light. A light start before an early morning at the temple.
Local tip Taste the broth first, then add lime or chili to suit. Tell the staff about any allergy before you order.
The largest temple of the Khmer Empire, built in the twelfth century and ringed by a wide moat. A long stone causeway leads to five towers and galleries of carved scenes. Go early: it is cooler, and the causeway is quieter before the tour groups.
Go when First thing in the morning, before the heat and the tour groups.
Local tip Cover your shoulders and knees. Walk the galleries of carved scenes slowly and take the upper stairs only if you feel steady, as they are steep. Children and sellers may ask you to buy: a smile and a calm "no thank you" is enough.
Fish steamed in a banana leaf with coconut milk and a paste of lemongrass, galangal and turmeric, soft and mild, with rice. Cambodia's best known dish, and an easy lunch in the heat.
Local tip It is made with fish and coconut, so tell the staff about any allergy before you order. Ask for it mild if you prefer.
The temple at the center of Angkor Thom, with towers carved with great smiling faces, built at the end of the twelfth century. The outer galleries show battles and scenes of daily life. Come after the midday rest, when the heat eases.
Go when Mid to late afternoon, once you have rested and the heat has eased.
Local tip Look at the faces from a few places, near and far, because they change. Walk the outer gallery for the scenes of boats, markets and battles. Mind the steps, which are worn and uneven.
An eleventh century temple mountain just north of the Bayon, reached by a long raised walkway. It was taken apart stone by stone and rebuilt over many years. The stairs are steep, and the climb is worth it only if you feel steady.
Go when Afternoon, right after the Bayon.
Local tip The walkway to the temple is long and open, so carry water and a hat. The steps up are steep, and a look from below is enough if they worry you.
A coconut cut open in front of you, with a straw, from a stall near the temples. Cool and light, and a good way to drink more water on a hot afternoon.
Local tip Drink it where you buy it, and keep a bottle of water too. Ask for it without ice if you prefer.
A temple on a hilltop between Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, from the end of the ninth century, with a view over the forest and the towers of Angkor Wat. The hill is a popular place to watch the sun go down, and it gets crowded. The climb is on a worn path and steps.
Go when Around sunset, or go earlier when it is quieter.
Local tip The hill gets crowded for the sunset, and numbers at the top may be limited, so check ahead and go early to claim a place. Keep a torch or a phone light for the walk down.
Cubes of beef stir fried quickly in a peppery sauce and served on lettuce and tomato with rice and a dip of lime and pepper. A well loved Khmer dinner.
Local tip Say if you want less pepper, and tell the staff about any allergy first, since the sauce has several ingredients.
The temples east and north of Angkor Thom, a day for slower, shadier places. The giant trees of Ta Prohm first, the quiet monastery of Banteay Kdei, then the long halls of Preah Khan and a small island temple at Neak Pean.
A twelfth century monastery left partly as the forest found it, with huge trees growing over the towers and walls. Go early, because the most photographed doorways fill up. Paths are uneven and stones can be loose.
Go when Early morning, to see the trees before the crowds.
Local tip Stay on the marked paths and do not climb on the walls or roots. Children and sellers may call out: a smile and "no thank you" is a kind and complete answer.
A large Buddhist monastery of the late twelfth century with long galleries and gateways, often much quieter than Ta Prohm across the road. A calm place to slow the day down.
Go when Midday, when the corridors are shady and quieter.
Local tip Walk the long line of gateways and galleries at an easy pace. Across the road is the pool of Srah Srang, which suits a short rest.
A mild, fragrant curry of chicken or fish with coconut milk, lemongrass and potato, eaten with rice or a baguette. Less hot than a Thai curry, and a comfortable lunch after a morning of temples.
Local tip Ask how spicy it is before you order, and tell the staff about any allergy first.
A twelfth century temple city with long, straight corridors, gateways and carved doorways, some held up by tree roots. It is a walk from one end to the other, so take it slowly and carry water.
Go when Afternoon, as the light softens in the corridors.
Local tip Walk it from one gate to the other along the straight corridors and carry water. The stones are uneven, so watch your step and keep to the paths.
Sugar palm juice and sweet cakes from stalls along the temple roads: sticky rice cooked in bamboo, small palm sugar sweets and fruit. Simple energy for the afternoon.
Local tip Eat what is freshly made and ask what is in a sweet if you avoid nuts or coconut.
A small shrine on a round island in a square pool, once part of a larger system of water ponds. The pools can be low or dry in the dry months, so check ahead. A short stop, and a quiet one.
Go when Late afternoon, as the last stop of the day.
Local tip A short walk leads to the island shrine. The pools can be low or dry in the dry months, so do not count on water, and check ahead.
Whole fish grilled over charcoal, served with rice and a tart salad of green mango, herbs and dried shrimp. A relaxed dinner in town after a day of temples.
Local tip The salad is made with fish sauce and dried shrimp, so tell the staff about any allergy first.
A long day by road out to the foothills, so start early. A forest walk to a river carved with figures first, then the finest carving at Banteay Srei and a museum about landmines on the way home. Take two of the three if the day feels long.
Pork marinated in coconut milk and grilled over charcoal, served on rice with pickled vegetables and a little broth. A Khmer breakfast from street grills, and a good fuel for a long day.
Local tip Eat it hot. Tell the staff about any pork or egg allergy before you order.
A river that runs over its sandstone bed, carved long ago with figures and rows of lingas. A forest path climbs to it, and the walk is uphill and uneven, so go early while it is cooler. Check ahead that the path is open and what the water is doing.
Go when Early morning, so the walk uphill is in the cool.
Local tip Wear shoes with grip and carry water, as the path is uphill and uneven. Cambodia still has unexploded mines in some countryside, so stay on the marked path and do not wander off it. Check ahead that the path is open.
A small tenth century temple of pink sandstone, famous for its deep, fine carving of gods and leaves. It is small, so a short visit is plenty, and it is best before the tour buses arrive.
Go when Late morning, or earlier if you can, before the tour buses.
Local tip Look closely at the carving on the doorways and the walls: the detail is the whole point. The temple is small, so a short visit is plenty.
Noodles fried with vegetables and egg or meat, from the simple restaurants and stalls near the temple. A filling, plain lunch on a long road day.
Local tip Ask for it without egg or meat if you prefer, and tell the staff about any allergy before you order.
A small museum near Banteay Srei about the landmines and unexploded bombs left by the wars, and the work to clear them. A serious place that explains why the paths in the countryside matter.
Go when Afternoon, on the way back toward town.
Local tip Take it at your own pace. It is a good reminder to stay on marked paths in the countryside and never to pick up or touch anything unfamiliar.
A clear, tangy soup of fish or chicken with tamarind, pineapple, herbs and vegetables, served with rice. Light and refreshing after a hot, long day.
Local tip Tell the staff about any allergy before you order, since the base stock can contain fish.
A day around the town. A stilt village on the edge of the lake in the morning, a museum that gathers the history of Angkor in the heat of the day, a working temple in the afternoon and the Old Market in the evening.
Rice porridge with pork or fish, sticky rice cakes, fried dough and iced coffee with condensed milk, from the counters around the Old Market. Busy early and the way many local families start the day.
Local tip Choose a counter with a steady stream of customers. Say if you want it without chili, and tell the staff about any allergy first.
A village on the edge of the Tonle Sap lake, with houses built on tall stilts. The water level changes with the seasons: in the wet months boats can run among the flooded trees, and in the dry months the stilts stand high above dry ground. Check ahead what the water is doing.
Go when Morning, when it is cooler on the water.
Local tip The water level is seasonal and decides what a boat can reach, so ask in advance. Families live and work here, so keep your voice low and ask before taking a photo.
A museum of the Khmer story in Siem Reap, with galleries on Angkor, the Hindu and Buddhist faiths and a hall of Buddha images. A good, shaded place for the middle of the day, and a way to see the temples in context.
Go when Midday, as a rest from the heat.
Local tip Go before or after the temples and let it tell the story in order: the faiths, the kings and the carving. Pick a few galleries rather than every one.
Fresh rice noodles under a green fish curry made with lemongrass and turmeric, topped with a pile of herbs, banana flower and cucumber. A classic Khmer noodle dish, eaten in the morning or at lunch.
Local tip The curry is made with fish, so tell the staff about any allergy first. Add the herbs a handful at a time.
A working Buddhist temple near the river and the Old Market, with a quiet courtyard where monks live and study. A calm place for a short visit, dressed to cover shoulders and knees.
Go when Afternoon, when the courtyard is quiet.
Local tip Cover your shoulders and knees, take off your shoes where others do and keep your voice low. Ask before photographing a monk.
The Old Market of Siem Reap, a maze of stalls with fruit, spices, silk, carvings and small food counters. Busy and noisy, and a good place to see ordinary life. Bargain with a smile.
Go when Late afternoon into the evening, when the lanes are busy and cooler.
Local tip Bargain with a smile and a fair offer, and say a kind "no thank you" when you do not want to buy. Keep your bag zipped and in front of you in the crowd.
A shared meal of rice, a soup, a stir fry of greens and a grilled or curried main, eaten family style. A calm last dinner after the market, without needing to choose a single dish.
Local tip Order a few dishes to share, and tell the staff about any allergy before the food comes.
It covers 4 days in Siem Reap, planned for november to February. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
Each day has about 5.9 to 22.8 kilometers between its stops, and 55.0 kilometers in all across 4 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
11 days in Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai and the islandsAbout 470 km away
6 days in Hoi An and Da NangAbout 550 km awayMake it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.
A trip idea · Updated October 2026
Want your own days planned like this? Plan your own trip on the web or get the Archie app.
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