Angkor Wat 3-Day In-Depth Travel Guide

Day 1: Fly to Phnom Penh, Take a Night Bus to Siem Reap Arrive at Phnom Penh Airport at 10 PM and head to Larryta Bus Station. For those arriving at night, it’s recommended to take the night bus to Siem Reap. The night bus offers a comfort level of about 8/10, allowing you to sleep for six hours and arrive in Siem Reap at 5 AM the next morning. Day 2: Classic Angkor Wat Highlights + Massage and Rest The hotel arranged a temporary massage room for us to freshen up and rest. If you’re energetic, you can head straight to Angkor Wat to catch the sunrise. After resting, go to the Angkor Wat ticket office to purchase tickets (booking online in advance is recommended). A 3-day pass costs $62, the same as the online price. Recommended small circuit highlights: Prasat Kravan → Royal Bath → Banteay Kdei → Ta Prohm Temple ⭐⭐⭐⭐ → Ta Keo Temple ⭐⭐⭐⭐ → Bayon Temple ⭐⭐⭐ → Baphuon Temple ⭐⭐⭐ → Angkor Wat ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Day 3: Grand Circuit + Outer Circuit Temples + Tonle Sap Lake Village Experience Spend the morning resting at the hotel. After lunch, visit the popular local café Kanmu Coffee, which offers great flavors. Grand Circuit + Outer Circuit route: Preah Khan Temple ⭐⭐ → Neak Pean → East Mebon → Terrace of the Elephants → Banteay Srei ⭐⭐⭐⭐ In the afternoon, explore Siem Reap city casually. In the evening, head to Kampong Phluk village on Tonle Sap Lake to take a boat ride and experience the local floating lifestyle. 🛵 Transportation Tips For two travelers, it’s recommended to use Grab or tuk-tuks for the entire trip. This is more flexible and convenient than renting or hiring a car. After visiting one site, call a ride to the next destination directly. Daily transportation costs are approximately $25. 📍 Travel Suggestions and Tips Explore the small circuit counterclockwise, saving Angkor Wat for last to experience a gradual sense of awe. Angkor Wat is the only temple facing west, so enter from the east and exit from the west. Many temples can be passed by; focus on key ones and don’t push yourself to visit all in the hot weather. The sunset viewing spot at Phnom Bakheng can be crowded during holidays. Instead, find an unobstructed viewpoint or watch the sunset from a resort hotel—it’s equally beautiful. Temple preference ranking: Angkor Wat > Bayon Temple > Ta Keo Temple > Banteay Srei > Ta Prohm Temple. Banteay Srei is smaller in scale but features well-preserved and exquisite carvings. On the way, you can see Cambodian stilt houses and pass through Preah Dak village, which has many grass-weaving shops and handicrafts. 📍 Shopping Recommendations After visiting temples during the day, head to Siem Reap’s Old Market at night. It’s close to the popular Pub Street and sells various local specialties. Check for similar items on Taobao first and bargain for at least half the price on-site. The Made In Cambodia store recommended online has limited product variety and higher prices. For those who enjoy local vibes, Old Market and Leu Market are better options.