Private Siem Reap Tours for Unforgettable Experiences

Discover local hidden gems and experience the best of Siem Reap with a knowledgeable local host. Let them customize your tour to your interests and make your trip unforgettable!

Witness the splendor of the Angkor temples during an atmospheric sunrise or sunset. Explore secluded ruins and day trips to dramatic pyramids, jungle temples and more.

Angkor Wat

The Angkor temple complex is the main draw of private Siem Reap tour and an essential experience for first-time visitors to Cambodia. The enigmatic ruins stretch across at least 390 square miles and have been ranked as the world’s largest religious monument. To experience the full majesty of the enthralling structures, book an Angkor Wat Ancient Temples Full-Day Tour.

A day trip to Angkor Wat is a must, but it’s also worth exploring some of the lesser known temples. Take the time to see Beng Mealea, a sprawling structure with some of the finest carvings from the Khmer period.

Children are well catered for with many activities that allow them to explore Angkor’s highlights. They can pretend to be Indiana Jones at the jungle overgrown Ta Prohm temple, or enjoy riding a pony in the countryside on a trip organized by Happy Ranch horse farm. If you want to brush up on your bartering skills, make a stop at Phsar Leu Thom Thmey market. This eclectic marketplace is filled with souvenirs for the family, plus plenty of locally-made goods.

Angkor Thom

Angkor Thom is often mistaken for just another temple, but it’s actually a whole city. The complex’s four walls are each 3 kilometers long and face one of the cardinal points; a moat encircles the entire site. The causeways are lined with 54 statues that represent gods and demons carved from the sandstone, with the gods on the left side of the path and the demons on the right.

Children are not always interested in temples, but there is plenty for them to enjoy on this tour. They can feel like Indiana Jones when exploring the jungle overgrown Ta Prohm temple, or they can ride a horse at Happy Ranch in the countryside.

For a taste of local life, head to Psar Chaa, the Old Market in Siem Reap. The market is crammed with vendors selling everything from spices to silks to shoes, and even has food sections where you can try the local favorite bai sach chrouk (scrambled eggs on rice with slices of pork). Depending on your interests, you may also visit Artisans Angkor to see their impressive handicrafts.

Banteay Srei

Its intricate carvings and well-preserved state make Banteay Srei a standout temple. The temple is nicknamed the Pink Temple due to its pink sandstone, which was used for walls and structures as well as ornate decorative carvings.

It is located northeast of the main Angkor complex, around 30km from Siem Reap city center. It is an easy drive by motorbike or tuk-tuk and can also be reached by taxi.

The temple is dedicated to Shiva and was built in the 10th century. It was one of the few Angkor temples not commissioned by a king. Its construction was credited to a brahmin, who may have been the tutor of Jayavarman V.

The entrance fee for Banteay Srei is included in the Angkor complex temple pass, but many travelers choose to visit it on its own and explore the other villages, farmlands, and sights along the way. These include the superb Landmine Museum, and Kbal Spean, as well as the nearby Butterfly Centre and Angkor Conservation of Biodiversity Center.

Tonle Sap

Tonle Sap, or Boeung Tonle, is Cambodia’s largest freshwater lake and one of Asia’s most vibrant ecosystems. Its flooded forest, villages and communities are often glossed over by tourists visiting Angkor Wat, but it’s well worth spending a day or two discovering this natural and cultural wonder of Cambodia.

The villagers of Chong Kneas and Kampong Phluk make their living from the water, harvesting land crops during dry season and fishing on the lake year-round. They rely heavily on the lake’s natural bounty, but it is under threat from environmental degradation, rising temperatures and climate change. Villagers also face challenges such as overfishing, illegal logging and a lack of regulation on the dumping of agricultural waste into the lake.

It is best to visit the villages on a tour operated by a reputable organisation like Sam Veasna Conservation Tours. They do trips to Chong Kneas, the flooded forest and Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary that are considerate of the local people.