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<\/p>\nWhether you\u2019re a backpacking couple, solo wanderer or travelling with a group of friends, you\u2019ll find that Siem Reap is an awesome city that has more to offer than its most famous attraction, the majestic Angkor Wat. I\u2019ve sought out 15 of the coolest things to do in Siem Reap to make your experience extra special, from hot air ballooning to swimming in waterfalls. If you\u2019re up for discovering way more to this epic destination, I\u2019ve got you *fist bumps*.<\/p>\n
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@whoisflo<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n The largest religious monument in the world is mostly likely the main reason you\u2019re in town, and there\u2019s nothing clich\u00e9 about this incredible piece of history that belongs on everyone\u2019s bucket list. Jump into a tuk-tuk with some friends and hire an expert guide at the entrance to the temples, who\u2019ll explain the fascinating stories behind this marvellous ancient civilisation.<\/p>\n @gbrochetto<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n There are many more reasons to visit the Angkor National Park\u2026 over 400 more reasons in fact! You could easily spend several days exploring these hundreds of temple ruins. One not to miss is Banteay Srey, a working monastery where monks can be heard chanting. Other popular ones include Bayon (featuring the famous smiling Buddha faces), Ta Prohm (Where Angelina Jolie\u2019s Tomb Raider was shot) and Angkor Tom (the largest of all the temples).<\/p>\n Make sure you catch at least one sunset over the magical complex from Phnom Bakeng temple. Get there before 5:30pm when they cut off access to the sunset viewpoint at the top.<\/p>\n @kyndal.rayne.travels<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n After soaking up the ancient architecture, history, culture and scenery, it\u2019s time to put on your dancing shoes for a bucket-filled night at Siem Reap\u2019s party centre, Pub Street. From 5pm onwards, the street gets closed off to traffic and becomes a backpacker\u2019s oasis. Neon lights flash, street performers grace the road and a lot of fun is had by everyone. Head over to The Angkor What? bar and create punny graffiti all over their walls (you\u2019ll probably end up here anyway as they\u2019re usually the last bar to close).<\/p>\n Get off the beaten track, literally, on a dirt bike adventure to some of the most remote areas of Siem Reap. Whether you\u2019re an adventure lover or an experienced rider, this activity is one of the most fun things to do in Siem Reap. Go full throttle to some rural areas that millions of travellers who visit the city will never venture to. In addition to this off-road adventure through pristine countryside, if you fancy yourself a bit of a Hell\u2019s Angel you can also choose to tackle week-long trips through the country where you\u2019ll camp in Cambodian jungles.<\/p>\n 15km south of Siem Reap lies the Tonle Sap; the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. It\u2019s home to long boats and three fishing villages; Chong Khneas, Kampong Phluk\u00a0and\u00a0Kampong Khleang. Chong Khneas is the busiest due to its proximity to Siem Reap, while Kampong Phluk is larger and consists of 3 smaller villages.<\/p>\n The buildings in Kampong Phluk rise as high as 10 metres from the ground to avoid lake swell during the wet season. The Tonle Sap can expand to over 7400 square metres during the wet months of June to December, with waters reaching depths of 10-40m. The fluctuation between the seasons is quite dramatic and the water subsides to around 1-3m during the dry months of December to July, making this an ideal time to visit.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s be honest, your flight into Siem Reap could never give you enough time to soak up the panoramic views of this bustling city from above, but a hot air balloon ride could! Glide upwards and take in a bird\u2019s eye view from a slower, quieter, serene vantage point. The sunset ride offers a magnificent view of the city and its surrounding picturesque scenery. Flying in a hot air balloon over temples and jungle as the sun sets is the stuff dreams are made of\u2026 that\u2019s why it should be high up on your list of things to do in Siem Reap!<\/p>\n @_actually_<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n After a long day at high altitudes, head over to Temple Town to give your feet some TLC. Here you can dip your feet in a fish tank and let the little creatures rush to nibble on dead skin from your toes, while you can\u2019t help but giggle. Getting used to this ticklish sensation may require a few attempts.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve seen a video of a backpacker dunking his head (eeeew) in the tank. Don\u2019t be that guy.<\/p>\n The only canopy tour in Cambodia is located inside the Angkor National Park, and you\u2019ll need the Angkor Pass Ticket to access it. You\u2019ll get to soar through the jungle tree tops, maybe even spotting gibbons as they swing into the jungle. The course is about 2.5 hours long with 10 ziplines and 21 platform stations to let you absorb the views. I\u2019m talking suspension bridges, abseiling and insurance included in the price, need I say more?<\/p>\n @thinspacesproductions<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n With an estimated 4-6 million land mines and other unexploded remnants left behind after three decades of conflict, it\u2019s important to take care when exploring rural Cambodia. Former child soldier Aki Ra founded the Cambodia Landmine Museum after he returned to the villages where he had planted thousands of mines as a soldier. Aki cleared thousands of mines by hand, defusing them with homemade tools before adopting safer methods. The museum is a sad but important place to witness how landmines have affected millions of Cambodians, especially children.<\/p>\n Some 50km from the city centre is Cambodia\u2019s most sacred mountain: the Kulen\u00a0Mountain, or Phnom\u00a0Kulen. This holy site welcomes lots of locals who come to pray, leave offerings or take casual strolls through the park. Escape the Siem Reap heat and rest beside one of Kulen\u2019s gushing waterfalls. The area is home to a national park, in which lies The River of a Thousand Lingas, engraved with carvings of Hindu gods and symbols. Be a respectful backpacker and remember to cover your shoulders and knees when you come here.<\/p>\n Bring out your inner chef at a traditional cooking class and let your taste buds do the exploring. A great man once said that food will tell you a lot about people\u2026 or something like that. Don an apron and immerse yourself in a Khmer culinary experience, the best part being that you get to\u00a0Reap<\/em>\u00a0the fruits of your labour \ud83d\ude09. The classes are kept small and while the chef will teach you cooking techniques and ingredient usage, you\u2019ll do the actual cooking. Over a few hours, you\u2019ll whip up a 3-course gourmet meal. This is usually accompanied by a village tour.<\/p>\n Back in the Angkorian days, goddess-like girls who were said to have supernatural powers used to perform the Aspara (meaning beautiful girls) Dance for the royal family only. Now, you\u2019re probably not royalty, but you can and certainly should see this mesmerising performance. The show lasts for over an hour and the incredible costumes, dancers and lighting make the ticket worthwhile. A true one of a kind experience that you can only have in Siem Reap!<\/p>\n Locally known as \u201cPsah Chas\u201d (good luck trying to pronounce that) and located in the heart of the city, the Old Market was built in the 1920\u2019s and is where hungry locals buy their fresh produce and meat. The market is open to everyone and divided into different sections selling clothes, handcrafts and fruits. Expand your fruit palette by trying mangosteen, a native Southeast Asian fruit that\u2019s absolutely delicious. If crispy fried tarantulas tickle your fancy, they\u2019re up for grabs too.<\/p>\n @good_citizen<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Eat street food, grab a drink and take a walk through the stalls (huts) at Cambodia\u2019s oldest night market, which opens daily from 4pm until midnight. The huts selling goods are of a traditional Khmer style and are built from natural materials like bamboo. There\u2019s loads to choose from, including clothing, silk, paintings, spices and jewellery. Watch as the market lights up the night and treat yourself to some unique souvenirs.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Crawl down the rabbit hole to a funky Alice in Wonderland themed hostel. Every room in this artsy spot has a different theme. Take a cooling dip or play beer pong in the shallow end of the pool,\u00a0before taking part in the daily activities like regular pub crawls, Trivia Thursdays and BBQ Saturdays!<\/p>\n These are my favourite things to do in Siem Reap \u2013 why don\u2019t you tell us about yours in the comments below?<\/b><\/p>\n Afrika Mdolomba is an adventure backpacker from South Africa. He\u2019s swum with whale sharks, camped on the Great Wall of China, learned Mandarin and dipped into the Devil\u2019s Pool at Victoria Falls. You can follow him on Instagram:\u00a0@afrika_insta<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udf1f\u00a0The ultimate Cambodia backpacking guide<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udf1f\u00a0The best hostels in Siem Reap for every type of trip<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n1. Visit Angkor Wat<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n2. Explore the other temples too<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n3. Get LIT on Pub Street<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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<\/h2>\n4. Get dirty<\/h2>\n
5. Visit a floating village<\/strong><\/h2>\n
6. Fly high<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n7. Get a fishy pedicure<\/strong><\/h2>\n
8. Zipline past Angkor Wat<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n9. Visit the <\/strong>Cambodia Landmine Museum<\/strong><\/h2>\n
10. Take a dip on Kulen<\/strong><\/h2>\n
11. Take a cooking class<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n12. Watch an Aspara Dance<\/strong><\/h2>\n
13. Wander the Old Market<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n14. Stroll through the Angkor Night Market<\/strong><\/h2>\n
15. Stay at <\/strong>White Rabbit Hostel<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nAbout the author:<\/h2>\n
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