siem reap in 3 days, 2 nights

The Old Market and Pub Street on arrival, a full day at Angkor with the circus after dark, and a morning on the Tonle Sap before the flight home.

  1. Day 1

    Arrive and the old town

    Morning
    Fly from KL, about 2 hours; Cambodia is an hour behind Malaysia, and Malaysians don't need a visa for short visits. The airport is well out of town, so allow about an hour by road.
    Lunch
    Fish amok, fish steamed in banana leaf with coconut milk and kroeung spice paste.
    Afternoon
    Check in and rest through the heat. Get your Angkor pass sorted, online or at the official ticket centre, ready for tomorrow.
    Evening
    Walk round the Old Market and the French Quarter's shophouses, then Pub Street and the night markets for silk, krama scarves and street food.
  2. Day 2

    Angkor

    Morning
    Hire a tuk-tuk driver for the day. Start at Angkor Wat, early if you want the sunrise, then go on to the stone faces of the Bayon.
    Lunch
    Lok lak, stir-fried beef with a lime and black pepper dip, at one of the restaurants near the temples.
    Afternoon
    Ta Prohm, the temple wrapped in tree roots, then back to the hotel to rest.
    Evening
    Phare, the Cambodian Circus: acrobatics and theatre under a big top.
  3. Day 3

    Tonle Sap and home

    Morning
    Num banh chok for breakfast, fresh rice noodles with a green fish curry. Then, if your flight leaves late enough, head out to the stilt villages on the Tonle Sap.
    Lunch
    Lunch back in town.
    Afternoon
    Head to the airport, about an hour, and fly home.

Good to know

  • Your Angkor pass carries your photo and you need it at every temple, so buy it only from the official ticket centre or website.
  • Cover shoulders and knees on Day 2. It's enforced, especially for Angkor Wat's upper level.
  • Siem Reap has a small Cham Muslim community, and halal restaurants aren't hard to find in town.
The Siem Reap guide