Siem Reap is a city in Northern Cambodia and one of the main stop off points for tourism in Cambodia thanks to the world renowned Angkor Wat template which is part of the Angkor UNESCO World Heritage site.
We visited Siem Reap in March 2023 as part of a wider tour of South East Asia.
Getting to Siem Reap
We flew in to Siem Reap airport late in the evening after a long, twelve hour layover in Hanoi, Vietnam. We managed to secure a reward booking using Delta SkyMiles which turned out to be one of the greatest use of SkyMiles we’ve ever had.
For 95,000 SkyMiles, we flew business class with lay-flat seats to Hanoi and onwards to Siem Reap. Vietnam Airlines were great to fly with – the on-demand noodle soup helped fix the hangover we’d got in London the night before.
If you have Delta SkyMiles, consider a reward booking on Vietnam Airlines from London.
Entry Requirements
You are required to obtain a visa to enter Cambodia. The easiest way is to apply for an e-visa online in advance of travelling. This is $36 USD inclusive of processing fees (this is subject to change so always check first), it is valid for three months from the date of issue for a visit of up to 30 days and is accepted when entering via Siem Reap and Phnom Penh airports. Apply at www.evisa.gov.kh.
We had no problems at the border, however I did get shouted at by a rude border agent for not having printed my electronic visa. In the end, he took a photo of it, so it’s worth printing it out in advance, despite it being called an “e”visa…
Viroth’s Hotel, Siem Reap, Cambodia – recommended
We stayed at Viroth’s hotel and the recommendation of our travel agent. The hotel was excellent and we’d highly recommend staying at the property. After a long flight, the restaurant and hotel were exactly what we needed.
Recommended Activities
- Temple hopping around Angkor
- Exploring villages
- Bike tour of Angkor
We also woke up early for the famous Angkor Wat sunrise. Unfortunately for us, it was rather hazy in the morning (not uncommon in March – check what time of year you are visiting). We managed to secure a good spot to watch the sunrise, but as it came closer, more and more tourists flooded the area. In the end it wasn’t a great experience – we agreed that it’s become too touristy and it might be best to find a better viewing spot for an early sunrise.