Responsible travel guide
A Responsible Travel Guide to Siem Reap
Siem Reap is the gateway to Angkor, and one of the places in Cambodia where your choices as a traveller matter most. Tourism supports thousands of local families here, but not every business shares that value fairly. This guide gives you practical tips and points you to businesses and organisations verified by Collective for Good Siem Reap.
Angkor, the smart way
- Buy your pass online the day before on angkorenterprise.gov.kh or the Angkor Pass app: $37 for 1 day, $62 for 3 days, $72 for 7 days. $2 from every ticket goes to the Kantha Bopha children’s hospital.
- Take the 3-day pass. One day only covers Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Prohm in a rush.
- Buying at the ticket office after 5pm? Your 1-day pass covers that evening’s sunset plus the whole next day.
- Beat the crowds after sunrise: most groups go back to their hotel for breakfast, so head straight to Ta Prohm or Bayon. Want jungle and roots without the queue? Try Preah Khan or Banteay Kdei.
- Cover shoulders and knees. It is strictly checked at the stairs to the upper level of Angkor Wat.
- Hire a licensed guide for at least your first day: the stories behind the carvings change everything.
- No elephant rides: they have been banned in the Angkor park since 2020.
Practical tips from people who live here
Getting around
Tuk-tuk for the temples: count around $15 to $20 for a day on the small circuit. Agree on the price and route before you leave, and expect a few dollars more for sunrise or Banteay Srei.
In town: use Grab or PassApp, from $1 to $4 a ride, with no haggling.
Feeling active? E-bikes rent for about $8 to $15 a day and are perfect for quiet early mornings in the park.
Water without plastic
Siem Reap is home to Refill Not Landfill, a campaign started by the team behind Jaya House River Park. Buy one aluminium bottle and refill it for free at stations across town, in hotels, cafés and restaurants.
Tap water isn’t drinkable, so this one habit saves dozens of plastic bottles per trip.
Money
US dollars are used everywhere, with riel as small change. Bring small notes: $1, $5 and $10.
ATMs charge around $5 per withdrawal, so take out larger amounts less often.
When to come
November to March is dry and cooler, but busiest. May to October is the green season: fewer visitors, lush temples and dramatic skies, with short afternoon showers.
Where to go
Eat and drink
All restaurants →HAVEN
A training restaurant giving vulnerable young adults a career in hospitality.
JOMNO Modern Khmer Cuisine
Fresh, locally sourced Cambodian dishes.
WILD Siem Reap
A garden restaurant and award-winning cocktail bar in Wat Damnak, five minutes’ walk from Pub Street, known for creative spring rolls.
Heartprint Hub Cafe
Fresh food and coffee in support of Heartprint, a charity building homes and offering training to families in need.
ROMIET Restaurant & Bar
A riverside restaurant in Wat Bo serving Cambodian dishes.
Where to stay
All hotels →Treeline Urban Resort
A design hotel on the banks of the Siem Reap River.
Jaya House River Park
A boutique hotel alongside the tree-lined Siem Reap River.
Babel Guesthouse
An eco-friendly guesthouse focused on responsible tourism.
Things to do beyond the temples
All activities →Phare, The Cambodian Circus
Contemporary circus whose profits support Phare Ponleu Selpak, an arts school in Battambang.
OFF TRACK Tours
A responsible local tour operator taking you into the countryside around Siem Reap.
Wellness
All spas →Lemongrass Garden Spa
A family-owned, eco-conscious spa with organic, vegan-friendly treatments.
Suri Spa
The spa of Treeline Urban Resort, using natural products made on site with organic oils grown in Siem Reap province.
Heartprint Hub Hair & Beauty Training Academy
Treatments by young Cambodians in training.
Shopping
All shops →Heartprint Hub Fair Trade Store
Handmade gifts, jewellery and homewares by Cambodian artisans.
Beyond the temples
Give Siem Reap a day or two more than you planned. These experiences show you the Cambodia most visitors miss.
Choose the right floating village
Skip Chong Kneas, the closest one, known for overcharging and crocodile farm stops. Kampong Phluk, about an hour away, has towering stilt houses and a flooded mangrove forest. For the least-visited, go further to Kampong Khleang.
Meet the HeroRATs
At the APOPO Visitor Center, on the road to Angkor, you’ll see how giant African rats are trained to sniff out landmines still buried in rural Cambodia. Open Monday to Saturday, book ahead.
An evening at Phare
Phare, The Cambodian Circus performs nightly at 8pm, with Cambodian street food from 5:30pm. From November to March, there’s also a 5pm show on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. More activities →
Birds of Tonle Sap
From December to early February, the Prek Toal bird sanctuary on the Tonle Sap lake hosts huge colonies of rare water birds. Go with a conservation-focused operator.
Travel with care
Learn to say “aw kohn” (thank you)
Say no to plastic straws and bags
Buy souvenirs made in Cambodia, not imported
Tip your guide, driver and servers directly
Travelling with children in mind
Please don’t give money, sweets or gifts to children selling at the temples, and never visit orphanages or schools as a tourist activity. All Collective members support the ChildSafe movement.
If you see a child at risk, call the ChildSafe hotline in Siem Reap on 017 358 758, or the free national Child Helpline on 1280.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need in Siem Reap?
At least three: two for the temples with a 3-day Angkor Pass, and one for experiences beyond the temples like Kampong Phluk, APOPO or a Phare show.
Is Siem Reap good for responsible travel?
Yes. Siem Reap is home to many social enterprises, from training restaurants to circus schools. Collective for Good Siem Reap verifies them so you don’t have to.
How can I tell if a business is really ethical?
Check whether it is registered, pays fair wages and is open about its impact. Or choose a Collective for Good member: each one has been checked against 12 mandatory criteria.
Should I give money to children at Angkor?
No. Support organisations working with children and families instead, and follow ChildSafe advice.
Angkor photos: Niels Baars on Unsplash
Choose places that do good
Every member has passed our standards. Find your next meal, stay or experience in Siem Reap.