Already been out to marvel at the incredible Angkor Wat temples and now looking for more things to do in Siem Reap? Read on to check out our top 5 activities that we think you might love. Of course we all enjoy different things, but we’re sure you’ll find something on this list to make your trip to Siem Reap Cambodia even more special!
There’s so much to see and do in Siem Reap so our views on the top 5 activities are always changing (especially as 5 is such a small number!), but here’s our current favourite things to do in Siem Reap for September 2024, in no particular order!
Learn about landmines in Cambodia and the HeroRATs at APOPO Siem Reap
The APOPO HeroRATs Visitor Centre is one of the best things to do in Siem Reap. Cambodia is one of the most landmine affected countries in the world and for the last 25 years, APOPO has worked tirelessly to clear landmines and make the world a safer place, not just in Cambodia, but all over the world. People always come back and tell us how much they enjoyed visiting here and wish they’d known about it sooner!
The APOPO Visitor Centre, located within the town itself, is a fantastic way to learn all about these magnificent animals and the amazing people who train them. A perfect, informative, and family friendly day out. You can take a tour of the training centre where you’ll also be treated to a demonstration of the rats in action. You’ll even have a chance to hold one of the life saving rats! For more information about this, CLICK HERE to view our full article about APOPO Siem Reap.
Visit Phnom Kulen National Park for waterfalls, scenery, and ancient Khmer history
Phnom Kulen (often referred to as Kulen Mountain or Kulen National Park) is located 48km from Siem Reap centre. Phnom Kulen roughly translates to “Mountain of the lychees” in English, which gets its name from the large amount of lychee trees that used to be in the area. An important part of the history of the Khmer Empire and historic sites which pre-date Angkor Wat itself, Kulen mountain is now an brilliant day out for all the family.
Kulen Mountain is one of our top things to do in Siem Reap because of how much there is to see and do here. You can easily spend a full day in the park and it’s a great day out for all the family. While most popular for it’s beautiful waterfalls, Phnom Kulen is also home to several other attractions such as Kbal Spean (the 1000 lingas) and Preah Ang Thom Pagoda. Pack some swimshorts and have a swim under the waterfall or learn all about Khmer history.
To read all about Phnom Kulen National park and everything it has to offer, including information on how to get there and what to do, CLICK HERE for our full article.
Spend a day at Angkor Wildlife and Aquarium
A one of a kind addition to our list of things to do in Siem Reap, Angkor Wildlife and Aquarium’s incredible $70 million marine animal and wildlife complex opened it’s doors in Siem Reap in November 2022 much to the joy of residents and tourists. Adding to the roster of Siem Reap’s attractions, this is the perfect place to bring your family or friends for a fun day of entertainment, and you might actually learn a thing or two! Kids will for sure have an especially brilliant time here, but it’s fantastic for everyone!
The air conditioned Aquarium, located along National Road 6, around 25km from Siem Reap town and the Angkor Wat temple complex, leads out into an incredible wildlife park which will show you some of the amazing animals that can be found in Southeast Asia. For our full article on Angkor Wildlife and Aquarium, CLICK HERE, or visit their official website by CLICKING HERE.
When you’re looking for things to do in Siem Reap, what’s better than a fun and educational day out at a venue that prides itself on ensuring it’s commitment to responsible practices and sustainability? Whether you’re interested in sea creatures, native Southeast Asian sun bears, or checking out the beautiful butterfly garden, don’t miss out!
Head out to the Tonle Sap Lake for sunset, or take a tour of the Floating Villages
The Tonle Sap lake is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. It’s also home to one of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems. If that’s not impressive enough, it’s also a fantastic day out and without a doubt one of the best things to do in Siem Reap, especially if you enjoy beautiful sunsets, relaxing boat cruises and taking in the sights of rural Cambodian life.
One of our favourite family friendly evening activities is to take a sunset cruise out onto the Tonle Sap while enjoying some cold drinks or even a full dinner spread, depending on which type of cruise you take. On your way from Siem Reap town to the boat docks at the lake, you can take in the refreshing scenery of the Cambodian countryside. Once on the lake itself, you’ll be in awe at the size of the lake, you won’t believe you’re not out to sea!
If you’d like to see how the local Cambodians have impressively adapted to life by inhabiting floating villages on the Tonle Sap lake and it’s tributaries, get yourself on to a floating village tour. You’ll also be able to board a small canoe and be taken round the flooded forests. Water levels fluctuate depending on the season, and October-February is often recommended as the best time of year to see the floating villages. However, you can still do this activity at any time of year!
Go fishing or hang out in hammocks over the water at Bamboo Bridge
After visiting Angkor Wat and all the other amazing attractions in Siem Reap Cambodia, you might find yourself wanting a relaxing day with your friends or family that doesn’t involve walking or sweating too much!. Bamboo Bridge is the perfect spot for tasty food, a relaxing atmosphere, or a cold beer with peace and quiet! That’s what makes it one of our favourite things to do in Siem Reap.
Built on stilts around the edge of a manmade lake, and with bamboo walkways (hence the name – Bamboo Bridge!) leading right into the centre of the lake is plenty of comfortable bamboo huts that have been built for you to relax in while you go fishing. The huts themselves are all stocked with floor mats, swinging hammocks and soft cushions for you to sit on.
The ambiance and scenery here is incredibly beautiful. Even if you’re not planning to fish, we highly recommend still checking out this awesome spot and spending an afternoon chilling out in a hammock and enjoying some delicious food while taking in the scenery away from the buzz of Siem Reap town and Pub Street.
For our full article on Bamboo Bridge, one of our favourite things to do in Siem Reap when we want to get out into the countryside, CLICK HERE.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our list of the top 5 things to do in Siem Reap! As we said before, there’s so much to do in Siem Reap town so we’ll publish some bigger lists soon that include all of our other favourite activities!
If you want to talk to us about YOUR favourite things to do in Siem Reap, use the comment box below or get in touch!
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