Siem Reap is most famous for its UNESCO heritage site, Angkor, with dozens of temples and Angkor Wat being the most well-known of them all.

However, there are many activities to enjoy apart from visiting the temples of the Great Khmer Empire in the city of Siem Reap itself!

They will give you a good insight into the country’s current, recent and ancient times and its traditions and heritage beyond the temples.

Museums, restaurants, cultural venues, memorials – here’s my selection of things to do.

1. Watch Apsara Dance

When in Siem Reap, attending an Apsara dance performance is a must, as this dance is closely linked to the Angkor Wat and its carvings depicting Apsara!

During the Khmer Rouge regime, this tradition nearly disappeared, but now you can see it performed in many venues throughout the city.

Initially, I booked a different venue, but at the last minute, we decided to go to the Apsara Theatre.

The Apsara theatre is the oldest theatre in Siem Reap, and we were not disappointed with our choice at all! It’s recommended to reserve your slots in advance (for instance, by email). The performance takes place in a historic building, and all the ladies receive a lotus flower at the entrance.

Before the show, you can enjoy dinner (we opted for the traditional Khmer set, which was delicious).

The performance consisted of five dances, including a traditional Apsara dance, the Coconut dance, the Fishermen dance, and a story from the Ramayana.

The delicate movements of the legs and hands are essential (there are over 1,500 such movements in Apsara dance!), and the program provides explanations for some of them. It was truly an amazing experience!

2. Take a Boat Along the Tonle Sap

Taking a boat tour is one of the most popular activities in Siem Reap apart from visiting the temples, so we arranged a private boat from our hotel. Our tour began at the Siem Reap River, which flows into the Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia!

The lake changes its current direction twice a year, expanding up to four times during the rainy season, which provides fishermen with an abundance of fish (there are about 200 species in the lake).

Tonle Sap is famous for its floating villages, primarily inhabited by Vietnamese who escaped the Vietnam War. Many chose to stay in these conditions, leading a humble life on boats even though the war ended about 50 years ago. These villages have schools, shops, and even a church! Many residents are fishermen. You can spot buffalos roaming the shores, and dogs, cats, and ducks lounging in the floating houses.

During your trip, you can make a few stops, such as enjoying the sunset (which we missed due to rain), interacting with locals, dining at a floating restaurant, or visiting a crocodile farm.

Yes, crocodile skin is considered an important product in Cambodia, and you can find both crocodile skin products, like bags, and the crocodiles themselves here.

There are also other animals, such as pythons, civets, and catfish. However, the living conditions for both humans and animals are quite poor, and tourists are the main source of income for them. If you want to support locals, please consider buying souvenirs here but I’d still recommend to avoid purchasing crocodile skin items.

3. Have a Remorque Tour

We tried a Remorque ride, which is probably the most popular type of transport here! While there are motorbikes, tuk-tuks, and cars, Remorques (taxis with a trailer for passengers) are the most common form of transport. You can rent one for rides around the temples or just around the city.

4. Visit the Angkor National Museum

Of course, we simply cannot skip the topic of Angkor temples completely. So here it is: the Angkor National Museum, opened in 2007, a treasury where you can find the most precious sculptures and bas-reliefs from the Angkor temple archaeological area.

The collection is divided into several galleries, including those that tell the story of Khmer history, Angkor Wat, traditional costumes, and features 1,000 statues of Buddha. Everything is provided with detailed descriptions in English.

The museum itself boasts a beautiful colonnaded courtyard with a pool, a step-less spiral passage to the top floor, numerous video materials, and even an inverted pyramid, reminiscent of the Louvre! The museum also has a café and a shop.

5. Try Steamed Palm Cakes

You absolutely must try the delicious steamed Khmer palm cakes while in Siem Reap! The best place, as recommended by locals, is Preah Dak Village. It’s pretty touristy, and there are lots of stalls selling meat skewers, coconut, hand-woven baskets and so on.

The filling of the palm cakes is made from coconut milk, and the dough is perfectly sweet and fruity. Enjoy them while they’re hot, and don’t forget to add some coconut flesh! These are easiest to find on your way to the Banteay Srei temple.

6. Adopt a Rat at the APOPO Centre

As you may know, Cambodia is still heavily contaminated with landmines planted during the conflicts of the late 20th century, and locals continue to lose limbs and lives when they step on these mines. In some areas, farmers cannot return to their land because it is unsafe. At APOPO Visitor Center (Anti-Personnel Landmine Removal Product Development), as well as in other mine-contaminated countries, they train African giant pouched rats to detect mines using their unique sense of smell!

Mines do not react to animals because they are too small, but these specially trained rats can sniff out explosives and attract human attention to the exact location of a landmine. The training method involves clicks and rewards with bananas or peanuts. Such trained rats scratch the earth above a landmine to identify it, and then another team clears the area.

This method is cheaper and quicker than traditional techniques, and yes, these rats are saving lives! APOPO was founded in Belgium as an NGO in 1997 by Bart Weetjens and his co-founders and now operates in 60 countries. In Cambodia, they cooperate with the Cambodian Mine Action Center and the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority. The rats began their life-saving work in Cambodia in 2015.

Once you visit the museum, you join a guided tour with a rat finding a ball with explosives’ traces showcased, watch an educational video and you can even hop a giant rat too! Every purchase from the shop and donation helps clearing the mines in Cambodia too. If you’re interested in this topic, be sure to visit the Cambodia Landmine Museum, located closer to the Banteay Srei temple.

7. Explore the Cambodia War Museum

The Cambodia War Museum has a collection of weaponry primarily used during the Civil War in Cambodia in the 1970s. The exhibits are displayed outside and are unfortunately not in very good condition: the museum was founded in 2001 but has experienced periods of abandonment.

Most of the exhibits are from the Soviet Union, with some from the US, as older USSR weaponry was predominantly used here. There is some information about the war, the victims of unexploded ordnance (UXO), and a few exhibits, but the information is quite limited. However, if you are interested in this topic, a visit here would be time well spent.

8. Pay Respects at the Killing Fields of Siem Reap

Overall, about one-quarter of the Cambodian population perished under the Khmer Rouge regime, and the sites of execution and prisons across the country have been turned into memorials and museums. If you’re into ‘dark tourism’ during your trip, make sure to witness some of the memorials commemorating the victims of that time.

The most visited memorial is probably in Phnom Penh, but you can also explore this aspect of Cambodian history in Siem Reap.

Visit Wat Thmey for an educational experience to see a temple built on the site of the killing fields, with a few pavilions housing photos, paintings, and even graves of the victims. People used to be taken here after being accused of treachery, links with KGB or CIA, tortured and executed.

9. Enjoy Night Markets and Pub Street

When in Siem Reap, don’t miss an opportunity to explore the city itself as well! There are quite a few walkable areas, where you can stroll around, admiring the architecture, shopping, popping into cafes and walking along the river.

There are several locations for night markets: eating areas along the river, the Old Market, Pub Street, Angkor Night Market, and more.

Here, you can buy paintings, clothes, souvenirs, local crafts, try to get a pedicure from tanks with fish (personally I wouldn’t go there) and try food stalls offering ice cream, fresh fruits, and fried local delicacies. There are lots of more traditional restaurants and cafe in this area too if you’re not ready for Cambodian street food yet!

For nightlife and bars, head to Pub Street, a vibrant and colourful area close to the river.

10. Have Dinner at the Raffles

Siem Reap is known for its colonial French architecture, and one of the finest examples is the Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor.

This luxury hotel is located in the heart of the city. We visited 1932 Restaurant for dinner to enjoy their amazing Khmer dishes. Check their menu здесь. 1932 refers to the year when the hotel was established.

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С уважением, Анна
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