Siem Reap itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Siem Reap

1. 01

   Day 1: Angkor highlights

   Buy or collect your Angkor Pass at the official ticket office the day before if possible. Start early with Angkor Wat, either at sunrise or after the sunrise crowd has gone, then continue to the Bayon in Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm. Break for lunch and a rest at the hotel in the hottest hours. In the evening, go to Phare, The Cambodian Circus, or walk around the Old Market and have dinner away from the busiest part of Pub Street.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Angkor Wat	3 to 4 hours for the galleries; longer if you climb the upper level	Demanding	Sunrise for the atmosphere, or after about 1 pm for lighter crowds; November to February for comfortable weather
   Ta Prohm	1 to 1.5 hours	Moderate	Early morning, soon after opening, for light and fewer people; November to February
   Phare, The Cambodian Circus	About 2 hours including the pre-show	Easy	Evening; shows run nightly at 8 pm, with changing matinee days
   Old Market (Psar Chas)	1 hour	Easy	Morning for local life, late afternoon for browsing; avoid midday heat

   Pace: Angkor Wat involves a lot of walking or steps — do it early, and keep the rest of the day light.

   With parents at Angkor Wat: The causeway and outer galleries are level but long and fully exposed to sun. The steep stairs to the upper level have a queue and a strict dress check, and many older visitors stay on the lower galleries. Bring water and a hat, and rest in the shade between galleries.

   With parents at Ta Prohm: Paths are mostly level but uneven, with stone thresholds, rubble and wooden boardwalks. Entry is only from the east and west gates. Shade from the trees is welcome in the heat, and there are places to sit, but the crowds can be slow-moving in the narrow corridors.

Plan 02

2 days in Siem Reap

1. 01

   Day 1: The big three

   Visit Angkor Wat early, then the Bayon and Ta Prohm in the morning. Return to town for a long lunch and rest. In the afternoon visit the Angkor National Museum, which is cool and level and gives context for what you have seen.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Angkor Wat	3 to 4 hours for the galleries; longer if you climb the upper level	Demanding	Sunrise for the atmosphere, or after about 1 pm for lighter crowds; November to February for comfortable weather
   Ta Prohm	1 to 1.5 hours	Moderate	Early morning, soon after opening, for light and fewer people; November to February
   Angkor National Museum	1.5 to 2 hours	Easy	Afternoon, during the heat of the day; any month

   Pace: Angkor Wat involves a lot of walking or steps — do it early, and keep the rest of the day light.

   With parents at Angkor Wat: The causeway and outer galleries are level but long and fully exposed to sun. The steep stairs to the upper level have a queue and a strict dress check, and many older visitors stay on the lower galleries. Bring water and a hat, and rest in the shade between galleries.

   With parents at Ta Prohm: Paths are mostly level but uneven, with stone thresholds, rubble and wooden boardwalks. Entry is only from the east and west gates. Shade from the trees is welcome in the heat, and there are places to sit, but the crowds can be slow-moving in the narrow corridors.

2. 02

   Day 2: Quieter temples

   Spend the morning at Preah Khan, then drive out to Banteay Srei for its pink-red carvings. Return for a rest. In the evening, see the Phare circus, or browse the Old Market and have dinner at Haven or another quiet restaurant.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Preah Khan	1.5 hours	Moderate	Morning, for shade and fewer visitors; November to February
   Banteay Srei	1 hour	Easy	Morning, before the tour groups; November to February
   Old Market (Psar Chas)	1 hour	Easy	Morning for local life, late afternoon for browsing; avoid midday heat

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Preah Khan: The route is long and runs through uneven corridors, with stone thresholds and rubble. It is mostly level and shaded in places, but it asks for steady footing. Choose a single entrance and return the same way if energy is limited.

Plan 03

3 days in Siem Reap

1. 01

   Day 1: Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom

   Angkor Wat in the morning, the Bayon and Angkor Thom gates in the late morning, a long rest after lunch, and the Angkor National Museum in the afternoon.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Angkor Wat	3 to 4 hours for the galleries; longer if you climb the upper level	Demanding	Sunrise for the atmosphere, or after about 1 pm for lighter crowds; November to February for comfortable weather
   Angkor National Museum	1.5 to 2 hours	Easy	Afternoon, during the heat of the day; any month

   Pace: Angkor Wat involves a lot of walking or steps — do it early, and keep the rest of the day light.

   With parents at Angkor Wat: The causeway and outer galleries are level but long and fully exposed to sun. The steep stairs to the upper level have a queue and a strict dress check, and many older visitors stay on the lower galleries. Bring water and a hat, and rest in the shade between galleries.

2. 02

   Day 2: Temples and carvings

   Ta Prohm and Preah Khan early, then Banteay Srei. Fit travellers can add the forest walk at Kbal Spean. Rest in the afternoon and see the Phare circus in the evening.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Ta Prohm	1 to 1.5 hours	Moderate	Early morning, soon after opening, for light and fewer people; November to February
   Preah Khan	1.5 hours	Moderate	Morning, for shade and fewer visitors; November to February
   Banteay Srei	1 hour	Easy	Morning, before the tour groups; November to February
   Kbal Spean	2 to 3 hours with the walk	Demanding	Morning, just after the rainy season (November) when water is clear

   Pace: Kbal Spean involves a lot of walking or steps — do it early, and keep the rest of the day light.

   With parents at Ta Prohm: Paths are mostly level but uneven, with stone thresholds, rubble and wooden boardwalks. Entry is only from the east and west gates. Shade from the trees is welcome in the heat, and there are places to sit, but the crowds can be slow-moving in the narrow corridors.

   With parents at Preah Khan: The route is long and runs through uneven corridors, with stone thresholds and rubble. It is mostly level and shaded in places, but it asks for steady footing. Choose a single entrance and return the same way if energy is limited.

3. 03

   Day 3: Roluos or Beng Mealea

   Choose between the easy Roluos group, with three early temples about 13 km from town, or a longer day trip to Beng Mealea, an overgrown temple about 40 km east of the main park. Finish with a market walk and a quiet dinner.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Beng Mealea	1.5 to 2 hours plus the drive	Moderate	Morning; November to February
   Roluos Group	2 to 3 hours	Easy	Morning or late afternoon; November to February

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Beng Mealea: Boardwalks cross the worst of the rubble, but there are uneven stones and steps in the unrestored areas. Shade is good under the trees. The road journey is the main discomfort, so plan a comfortable vehicle and water.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Siem Reap trip for parents and children

• Start temple visits at opening time and be back at the hotel by late morning. The heat is stronger than it feels.
• Choose a hotel with a lift or ground-floor rooms and a pool for the afternoon break.
• Hire a car with a driver rather than tuk-tuks if heat or dust are a concern, and ask the driver to wait at the temple.
• Angkor Wat's upper level, Phnom Bakheng and Kbal Spean involve steep steps or walks; Roluos, Banteay Srei and the Angkor National Museum are easier.
• Carry water, a hat and a light scarf for shoulders. Wear closed shoes with grip for uneven stone.
• Take out travel insurance that covers medical evacuation, and note the nearest private hospital to your hotel.

Siem Reap with elderly parents: the full guide →