6 Days in Siem Reap: First-Timer Plan
Six days gives you the full spread of Angkor: both circuits at a relaxed pace, the two big far temples on their own separate tickets, an ethical Tonlé Sap village, and enough slack to work around the midday heat. Buy the 7-day Angkor Pass ($72, any 7 days within a 30-day window) from Angkor Enterprise, and set aside a day for Beng Mealea and Koh Ker, which need their own tickets regardless of your pass.
Day 1
Start in town with the Angkor National Museum for background on the Khmer Empire, then spend the afternoon at Psar Chas, the Old Market. For sunset, head to Phnom Bakheng - it caps at 300 visitors on the summit, so arrive by 4pm in peak season or you won’t get up.
Day 1 tip: buy your Angkor Pass today so tomorrow’s early sunrise start isn’t delayed at the ticket office.
Day 2
Start at 4:30am for sunrise at Angkor Wat. If you want to reach the Bakan, the upper level, wear real sleeves and long pants or a skirt - a draped scarf gets turned away at the dress-code check there. Move to Angkor Thom: the South Gate, the Bayon’s 216 carved faces, and the Terrace of the Elephants, then Ta Prohm for the tree-root ruins in the afternoon.
Day 2 tip: hire a tuk-tuk driver for the full day (around $20-25) rather than negotiating rides between stops.
Day 3
Head to Banteay Srei, about 37km out, for the pink sandstone carving widely considered the finest at Angkor, then work back through the Grand Circuit: Preah Khan, Neak Pean, and Ta Keo. In the evening, book Phare - The Cambodian Circus ($18-35), staffed by graduates of an NGO arts school for at-risk youth.
Day 3 tip: Neak Pean looks different by season - full in the wet months, a dry field in dry season - so don’t expect the same photos you’ve seen online regardless of when you go.
Day 4
Hire a car and driver (around $40-50) to reach Beng Mealea, about 65km out - a jungle-swallowed temple with its own separate ticket (around $10). Continue on to Koh Ker, about 110km out, for its striking 7-tier pyramid (around $15, often paired with Beng Mealea in one long day). On the way back, stop at the Roluos Group, the empire’s earliest 9th-century temples, included on the standard pass.
Day 4 tip: this is a long driving day - start early and pack water, since the far temples have less shade and fewer facilities than the main park.
Day 5
Take a boat tour to a Tonlé Sap floating village - choose Kampong Phluk or Kampong Khleang over Chong Khneas, since Chong Khneas has become worn down by fake-orphanage donation requests and inflated boat-tour detours that the other two villages don’t push on visitors. In the afternoon, visit Artisans Angkor for a free workshop tour, and the Cambodia Landmine Museum, founded by former child soldier turned deminer Aki Ra, is a dignified stop worth an hour (around $5, funds ongoing demining work).
Day 5 tip: book the boat tour through a reputable operator in advance - that’s how to sidestep the on-the-spot add-on scams.
Day 6
Use your last full day to revisit whichever Angkor Wat or Angkor Thom sights you rushed past earlier, since a 7-day pass lets you return without buying a new ticket. Spend the afternoon browsing the night market and Pub Street, or book a Khmer massage to rest up before departure.
Day 6 tip: confirm your airport transfer with the new Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (SAI) in mind - it’s 45-75 minutes from town, not the old in-town airport, so build in extra buffer.
Read more: the full Siem Reap Travel Guide 2026: What to Know covers the separate-ticket temples and pass mechanics in detail, and 5 Days in Siem Reap: First-Timer Plan shows a tighter version of this same trip.