siem reap or jogja?
Two of Southeast Asia's best-known temple trips, each a short flight from KL. Siem Reap is all about Angkor, with dozens of temples a tuk-tuk ride from town, while Jogja has Borobudur and Prambanan plus a sultan's palace, batik and halal food everywhere.
siem reap
Dear group chat,Base camp for Angkor, plus Pub Street, night markets and fish amok.Read the guide →To: whoever’s drivingSiem ReapKH, Siem Reap
yogyakarta
Dear group chat,Borobudur at sunrise, Prambanan by afternoon and gudeg for breakfast.Read the guide →To: whoever’s drivingYogyakartaID, Yogyakarta
- From KL
- siem reapAbout 1,160 km
- jogjaAbout 1,550 km
- Best months
- siem reapNov–Feb
- jogjaMay–Sept
- Vibe
- siem reapTemple town with a busy food and bar scene
- jogjaJava's cultural capital, with a sultan's palace
- Temples
- siem reapAngkor Wat, the Bayon, Ta Prohm, close to town
- jogjaBorobudur and Prambanan, an hour or so out
- Food
- siem reapFish amok, lok lak, num banh chok
- jogjaGudeg, sate klathak, angkringan snacks
- Halal food
- siem reapNot hard to find, thanks to the Cham community
- jogjaEverywhere; it's a Muslim-majority city
- Getting there
- siem reapAbout 2 hours' flight from KL
- jogjaAbout 2.5 hours' flight from KL
- Best season
- siem reapNovember to February, cooler and dry
- jogjaMay to September, the driest months
Go siem reap if…
- Angkor Wat at sunrise has been on your list for years
- you want dozens of temples within a tuk-tuk ride of town
- you're travelling between November and February
- an evening at the circus or on Pub Street sounds fun
Go jogja if…
- you'd like Buddhist and Hindu temples in one trip
- you want halal food everywhere without having to look
- you're travelling between May and September
- a jeep ride up the slopes of Merapi appeals
The verdict
Angkor is the bigger, more famous site, while Jogja adds batik, a living palace and easier halal food. The calendar may decide for you: Siem Reap is best from November to February, Jogja from May to September. Can't decide? Go wherever it's dry when your leave is, and save the other for the next school holidays.