Day trips and short excursions from the cities of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos
Cities · Cambodia
What fits in a day from Siem Reap
Siem Reap is the one city on this site where the main sight starts twenty minutes from your hotel. The question here is not distance but how many days of pass to buy, and how to spread the temples so that the heat does not decide for you.
At a glance, as a starting point
Sources: Angkor Enterprise — available tickets; Angkor Enterprise — explore · checked .
What this base really is
Siem Reap is a small town that exists, for visitors, to serve Angkor. UNESCO describes the Angkor site as about 400 km² of Khmer capitals from the 9th to the 15th centuries — inhabited, wooded, and far larger than the handful of temples most people see. The town is close, the temples are spread out, and the heat from March to May is the real limit on a day.
The official ticket seller lists the Angkor park as open from 05:00 to 18:30. A guide source lists the upper level of Angkor Wat as 07:40–17:00, closed on Buddhist holy days, with no entry for children under 12. Plan around those three facts and most of the day falls into place.
Sources: UNESCO — Angkor; Angkor Enterprise — available tickets; The Map Cambodia — Angkor Wat (guide source) · checked .
What fits in one day
| Day | What it covers | Start | Back by | Our page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Sunrise at Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm | 04:30–05:00 | 13:30–15:00 | Sunrise and small circuit |
| Day 2 | Big circuit: Preah Khan and the eastern temples | 07:30 | 13:00–14:00 | On request |
| Day 3 | Banteay Srei (about 25 km) and Kbal Spean | 07:00 | 14:00–15:00 | On request |
| Extra day | Beng Mealea or Koh Ker (separate passes) | 06:30–07:00 | late afternoon | On request |
The pattern is the same every day: early start, temples before noon, rest after lunch. The 3-day pass covers days 1 to 3 if you use them within seven days.
When to go
Cambodia has a dry season from about November to April and a wet season from about May to October. November to February brings the coolest mornings; March to May the hottest. In the wet season the moats fill, the stone turns green, and showers tend to come later in the day than temple plans run.
3 cool and dry · 2 dry and very hot · 1 wet. General climate pattern; not a forecast.
How many nights to leave
Three nights matches a three-day pass: sunrise and small circuit, big circuit, Banteay Srei. Two nights means one Angkor day and one travel day — enough for Angkor Wat and the Bayon, not for much else. With a seven-day pass and five nights you can add the outlying temples without rushing.
Getting here and getting in
Siem Reap has an international airport with regional flights. The Angkor Pass is personal: buy it online from the official seller, Angkor Enterprise, or at its ticket office in town. An agency source notes that a pass bought after 17:00 can be used for that evening's sunset as well as the next day; confirm when you buy.
Sources: Angkor Enterprise — available tickets; Visit-Angkor.org — Angkor Pass details (agency source) · checked .
What things cost
The Angkor Pass costs USD 37 for one day, USD 62 for three days within seven, and USD 72 for seven days within thirty, according to the official seller. Koh Ker is USD 15, Beng Mealea USD 10 and Kbal Spean USD 5, each on its own pass. Check before you travel. Our Angkor day quote covers vehicle, guide and meals but not the pass; the pricing page explains why.
Sources: Angkor Enterprise — available tickets · checked .
Dress and conduct
- Shoulders and knees covered; guide sources say this is required for the upper level of Angkor Wat and when buying the pass.
- Hats off on the Bakan stairs and in the upper sanctuary.
- Do not climb on fallen stones or carvings; follow the marked paths.
Sources: The Map Cambodia — Angkor Wat (guide source); Visit-Angkor.org — Angkor Pass details (agency source) · checked .
When to skip Angkor days
- March to May with no tolerance for heat: shorten every day to the morning.
- Children under 12 who want the Angkor Wat upper level: they are not admitted.
- One night only: you will see Angkor Wat and little else, at a run.
- You expect empty temples at sunrise: the reflection is shared with many others.
Photos
Common questions
Questions travellers ask most
Which Angkor Pass should I buy?
One day if you have one day. Three days (USD 62, used within seven) suits most visitors and lets you spread the temples across mornings.
What time do the temples open?
The official seller lists park entry from 05:00 to 18:30. The upper level of Angkor Wat opens later and closes on Buddhist holy days.
How far is Banteay Srei?
About 25 km north-east of the main group of temples, according to the official seller. It makes a half day or pairs with Kbal Spean.
When is it too hot?
March to May. Plan to be out of the sun by early afternoon.
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Example journey
Angkor sunrise and small circuit
Angkor from Siem Reap: pickup 04:30–05:00, sunrise at Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Prohm, back 13:30–15:00.
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Plan
Day-trip planner
The planner table: one-way travel times, pickup and return windows and seasons to avoid, with sources.
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Cities
Starting cities
The starting-city guides: Hanoi, Hoi An and Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap.
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Excursions · Prices
Prices
How excursion quotes are built: party size, boat type, pickup time and the entrance fees inside them.
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Excursions
Excursions
All excursions in one table: length, pickup window, travel each way, return time.
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Dates, party size and the places you care about are enough to start. You get a draft route and an indicative price, not a brochure.