Seeing Angkor Wat at sunrise is one of the most popular attractions, and it's definitely worth it. I mean, maybe not so much for the view since there's so many people in front of your. But because you can time it so you can beat the crowds at other temples.

After realizing how big the area around Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom was, we decided it would be better to take a tuk tuk around the temples. You can book a tuk tuk for the Small Circuit Tour for around $18 USD for the day, including sunrise. Without sunrise, it's $13 USD. This includes seeing Angkor Wat, Bayon, Takeo, Ta Prhom and Banteay Kdei.

If you want go a second day and see the Grand Circuit Tour, this will cost around $20 USD for the day, including sunrise. Without sunrise, it's $15 USD. This tour includes Preah Khan, Neak Pean, Ta Som, East Mebon and Pre Rup.

This pricing isn't so bad if you have four people with you. There's an entrance fee of $20 USD/day or 40 USD/3 days. We also heard that if you go past 5 p.m., the entrance fee is free. But you won't have too much time before sun down.

For the adventurous with time, it's worthwhile to rent a bicycle and ride there. Renting a bike costs $1 USD, so it should fit your budget. We heard it takes about an hour and a half to get there. Just keep in mind that it's better to only see a few temples a day, since they're pretty far from each other. Unless you're a biking fanatic, the heat and distance might exhaust you.

Our Experience

When you book the tuk tuk, make sure that the driver knows your route. We left at 5 a.m. and headed over to Angkor Wat to see the sunrise. Knowing how crowded these temples can get, we opted for leaving Angkor Wat after it started getting a little bright and went off to see Ta Prhom, the Tomb Raider Temple.

Just note that most temples open at 7:30 a.m. So, it helps to time it so you don't end up waiting around at the entrance. Getting to Ta Prhom early was a great decision, since it was fairly empty there. We had the chance to take pictures without crowds of people.

From here, we saw Takeo, Banteay Kdei, Bayon and then Angkor Wat again. As the day we went, the crowds started getting bigger and bigger. By noon, it was super packed. We finally templed out and called it a day.

Angkor Wat

Ta Prhom

Takeo

Banteay Kdei

Bayon

Happy Exploring!

As the capitol city of Cambodia, Phnom Penh is a bustling city.

Things to do

The Killing Fields and S-21 Prison

If you want learn more about the dark history of Cambodia, you should visit both of these places. About 30 years ago, the Khmer Rouge ruled Cambodia and carried out a genocide. The Killing Fields and S-21 Prison was where thousands of people were tortured and killed. There's an entrance fee of $6 USD for each attraction, including an audio tour. You'll need to take a tuk tuk to get there.

Royal Palace

As the residence where King Sihamoni lives, the Royal Palace is a big attraction in Phnom Penh. Spend the day walking around the Silver Pagoda or the compound with the Chan Chhaya Pavilion. The King's living area is closed off. There's an entrance fee is $6.50 USD. Remember to dress respectively (knees and shoulders covered).

Shooting Range

Ever wanted to shoot a gun? What about a bazooka? The shooting range here offers a ton of different options if you're into firearms. They also offer the option of shooting a live chicken or cow, but I really don't condone it.

Central Market & Night Market

Head here if you want to shop. The central market is opened during the day with options for clothing, souvenirs or produce. The Night Market opens around 5-6 p.m. Make sure to bargain for the best prices!

Where to Eat

Along the river

Along the river are tons of restaurants you can try out. Check out the menus at the front of each restaurant to find out the price range and type of dish. Just note that eating here is pricier. If you want a decent meal, it's roughly $5 USD.

If you're craving pizza, we noticed many restaurants here offered it. If you're itching to try Cambodian food, we loved Lok Lak! Amok is another Cambodian favourite.

Try a local Stand

Eating locally is much cheaper, but it's harder to find a place with an english menu. There are also a few vendors at the night market.

Where to Stay

Me Mates Villa

We stayed at this hostel, which is located near the Royal Palace. They offer female and mixed dorms for $6 USD with pretty big beds. They have a bar, restaurant and pool table in the hostel. We found it strange that they give you a towel, but not soap. It's not bad for the price.

One Stop Hostel

We had a friend stay at One Stop Hostel, which offers dorms for $7 USD. They offer free coffee and tea. It's located right by the river, near the speedboat dock. So, it's really convenient to stay here if you're going by speedboat.

Exploring Angkor at Sunrise