Ultimate Guide To Siem Reap On A Budget

Siem Reap has been on my travel list for a long time now and it was a mixed experience. There are things that I loved and some I could do without. I think location is key on where you stay in Siem Reap. I was traveling from Thailand when I got into Cambodia so I thought that staying close to the sights would be cheaper in transportation…That was not the case. Scroll down to find out my Do’s/Don’ts of staying and exploring Siem Reap on a budget.

*My flight was $24 from Surat Thani, Thailand to Siem Reap, Cambodia. You will need to purchase a visa upon entry which was $36 when you land in the airport.

Where To Stay

Staying in Siem Reap on a budget works just fine by using Airbnb! Plenty of places to choose from. I would recommend staying in town or as close to it as you can. Like I said I was coming from Thailand and if you stay close to the sights it’s usually packed with restaurants, shops, convenient stores, etc. This was the opposite. The hotel I booked was great and the staff was very friendly. However, it was like an island in the middle of chaos. You couldn’t walk the street it was so packed and there are no restaurants, shops, etc around expect the hotel’s.

In the city you can walk around easily vs staying close to Ankor Wat. I could say it was a very local experience but it was hard to do anything without a tuk tuk. I did love our airbnb though so if you don’t mind staying in an Oasis and taking transit everywhere I would recommend it!

Transportation

Most people that travel to Siem Reap just come for the Temple Tours and the tuk tuk price for a day is basically the same no matter where you are staying. That’s why it didn’t matter how close we were to the action. It was about $18 for the entire day for a tuk tuk and I split that with 2 other people so it ended up being pretty cheap on my end. Transportation can be cheap but depending on where you stay it can add up quick!

What To Do

Temples, Temples, Temples! That’s pretty much all there is to do and the main attraction in Siem Reap. I would recommend staying for no more than 3 days. One day to get in and get settled and maybe walk around in the city. Day 2 and 3 can be Temple days. There is a One day($37) or Three Day($62) Pass available at the ticket office for Ankor National Park. You can now use a credit card to pay for the pass.

Sunrise At Ankor Wat

GET THERE EARLY!! We left our hotel at 4:30am to get to the ticket office at 5 when it opened. There was a large crowd of people but they have plenty of lines open for each pass to get you in and out quickly. They will take a pic of you for your pass and you can’t get into the park or each temple without it. THEY CHECK at every temple on the tour!

Make your way in the dark to the LEFT reflection pond in front of Ankor Wat. This has the best angle of the temple. Our sunrise wasn’t until 6 but I waited an extra 30 minutes at the pond to get that sun beam! If it’s a cloudy day you might not get the dramatic sunrise you are hoping for but fingers crossed!

Small vs Big Temple Tour

I went on the Small Temple Tour and that’s all I needed. It covered Ankor Wat, Ankor Thom, Bayon Temple, Ta Phrom, Ta Keo, and Banteay. Start with sunrise at Ankor Wat then make your way through the other temples.

Bayon is most famous for all of the carved faces, Ta Phrom is now famous for the set location of the Laura Croft Tomb Raider movie, and the Elephant King can be seen at Banteay.

The only difference between the two tours is the big tour covers temples on the outskirts of town. Smaller temples but also very beautiful. I didn’t have time or the desire to see those temples but I know others that have and loved it.

And that’s it. That is pretty much what there is to do in Siem Reap. You don’t need to stay for a long time if the temples are the only thing you are coming to see. Take a tour, relax by the pool, stay in town and you’re set!

Oh and my last piece of advice….FLY to your next destination! I took a bus from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh and got there 8 HOURS LATER. We picked up everyone and their mom on the side of the road on the way. I’m not kidding! Everyone…and their mom. So if you are planning on seeing more of Cambodia and have the option to fly there DO IT!!

For a guide on Phnom Penh check out my Vegan Guide to the City!

You don’t have to break the bank to travel! When it comes to staying in Siem Reap on a budget there are so many ways to save and have a blast!

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