7 Days in Siem Reap: First-Timer Plan
Seven days is enough to see the whole Angkor picture: both circuits, all three far temples on their own separate tickets, a Tonlé Sap village, and a genuinely slow, heat-adjusted pace rather than a sprint. Buy the 7-day Angkor Pass ($72, any 7 days within a 30-day window) from Angkor Enterprise, and treat the far temples as a separate budget line, since none of them are covered by it.
Day 1
Ease in with the Angkor National Museum for background on the Khmer Empire, then browse Psar Chas, the Old Market, in the afternoon. For sunset, head to Phnom Bakheng - it caps at 300 visitors on the summit, so arrive by 4pm in peak season.
Day 1 tip: buy your Angkor Pass today so tomorrow’s 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 won’t get past 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 finest carving in the park, 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, dry in dry season - so don’t expect the same photos you’ve seen online.
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 to Koh Ker, about 110km out, for the striking 7-tier pyramid (around $15, often paired with Beng Mealea in one long day). Stop at the Roluos Group, the empire’s earliest 9th-century temples, on the way back.
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
Visit Phnom Kulen, considered the birthplace of the Khmer Empire, with its own separate ticket (around $20). The mountain has a waterfall and a giant reclining Buddha, but the access road only runs one-way in the morning, so plan an early start. Return to town in the afternoon for a rest and a Khmer massage.
Day 5 tip: confirm the Phnom Kulen access schedule with your driver the night before - missing the morning ascent window means missing the site entirely that day.
Day 6
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 6 tip: book the boat tour through a reputable operator in advance - that sidesteps the on-the-spot add-on scams.
Day 7
Use your last full day to revisit any Angkor sight you rushed past earlier, since a 7-day pass covers a return visit at no extra cost. Spend the afternoon shopping for souvenirs and have a final dinner on Pub Street before your departure.
Day 7 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 for a morning flight.
Read more: the full Siem Reap Travel Guide 2026: What to Know covers the Angkor Pass and separate-ticket temples in detail, and 6 Days in Siem Reap: First-Timer Plan shows a slightly tighter version of this same trip.