Region
Northwest Cambodia
Sleep in Siem Reap; do Angkor Wat at sunrise, Bayon and Angkor Thom the next morning, and add a farther temple only with a fourth day and a car.
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Key facts · Cambodia
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- Currency
- US dollar for most prices
- Language
- Khmer (own script)
- Plugs
- A · C · G · 230 V
- Time zone
- UTC+7 all year
Rules in force · 5Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Cambodia ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal; lookalike sites charge extra. Some nationalities can also get a visa on arrival.
- Cambodia ↗Angkor Wat and other active temples enforce a dress code: shoulders and knees covered, or you are turned away at the gate.
- Cambodia ↗US dollars are used for most tourist prices; carry clean, undamaged small notes and some riel for change under one dollar.
The northwest is one town and one park. The park is big and hot: three short outings in the cool hours beat one long day in the sun. Keep the Siem Reap room, go out by tuk-tuk or car with a day pack, and come back for the middle of the day.
Where to sleep
Sleep base
- Siem ReapTrip line
Old Market area for first-timers, the river's east bank for quiet nights.
Best Nov–Feb
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Day trip
- Banteay SreiGuide: planned
Small carved temple about 35 km (22 mi) north; 1 h each way by car.Small carved temple about 22 mi (35 km) north; 1 h each way by car.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
- Phnom KulenGuide: planned
Waterfall and hill; about 1.5 h each way.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
- Tonlé Sap floating villagesGuide: planned
Boat half-day; water level changes what you see.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
Plan the nights
How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags
Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags
Night sequences
- 3 nights
- Siem Reap 3: Angkor Wat, Bayon, town
- 5 nights
- Siem Reap 4 + one farther temple day by car
- Angkor + Phnom Penh + the coast in 5 days is mostly road.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banteay Srei | Siem Reap | 60 min | unknown | Go early; combine with a pair of smaller temples on the road. |
| Tonlé Sap floating villages | Siem Reap | 45 min | unknown | Boat operators differ; agree the price and the boat before you pay. |
Bags between cities
No luggage-forwarding culture: leave the big bag at the Siem Reap hotel and take a day pack.
When to go
Months and weather
Open When to goClose When to go1 partSeasons
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Siem Reap | go | go | ok | × | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | go | go |
| Angkor | go | go | ok | ok | ok | go | go | go | ok | ok | go | go |
| Cambodia (country-wide) | go | go | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | × | ok | go | go |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Eat and move on
Regional food and where to go next
Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on1 partGo next
Go next
Phnom Penh and the south
planned3–5 nights
Phnom Penh, Kampot and the coast
Northwest Cambodia: what we know, and what is coming
2 of 5 places open
On this page
- 5 places with their role: where to sleep, what to do as a day trip
- How to split 3 or 5 nights
- 2 day trips with door-to-door time
- Seasons month by month, from the cities’ own tables
- What to do with the big bag between beds
Coming as the guide grows
- Climate strip by zone, with the storm and haze months
- Get in: airports and stations with door-to-door times
- Regional passes and cards, with a buy / skip verdict
- Regional food: what, where and when it works
- A page for Banteay Srei — Small carved temple about 35 km north; 1 h each way by car.
- A page for Phnom Kulen — Waterfall and hill; about 1.5 h each way.
- A page for Tonlé Sap floating villages — Boat half-day; water level changes what you see.
Meanwhile
Planning aids
Built from this guide's own data
Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids3 partsIn numbers · Trips here · Local time
Region in numbers
- Where to sleep
- 1 base
- Day trips
- 2, 45 min to 1 h
- Nights suggested
- 3–5 nights
Trips that stop here
Angkor, 4 nights
4 nights here
siem-reap
Angkor and the capital
7 days · 4 nights here
Siem Reap → Phnom Penh
Temples, countryside, capital
10 days · 4 nights here
Siem Reap → Battambang → Phnom Penh → Kampot
The full loop with a beach
14 days · 4 nights here
Siem Reap → Battambang → Phnom Penh → Kampot and Kep → Koh Rong Sanloem
Local time
What time it is there now, compared with the clock on your device.
Siem Reap
…
Checking your clock…Asia/Phnom Penh
Ask about Northwest Cambodia
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