My Highlights of Cambodia

Siem Reap & Angkor

Siem Reap itself was more than just a base for the temples.

It’s small, easy to get around, and has a surprisingly relaxed feel once you step away from the main tourist spots.

I walked through Pub Street during the day, which is probably not how most people experience it.

Closed bars, quiet streets, everything a bit inbetween.

I’m not much of a party person, so I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything, but it was still interesting to see that side of the city, just in a different light.

Most of my time was slower.

Cafés, short walks, tuk-tuk rides, and escaping the heat whenever possible.

Then there are places you’ve seen so many times in photos that you almost think you know what to expect.

And then you get there, and it still feels different.

Angkor was like that for me.

Angkor Wat

I met my tuk-tuk driver at 5:00 AM, still half asleep (me, not him :D), and we made our way toward Angkor Wat in the dark.

The plan was sunrise. I bought my ticket online, which was $42 for access to all temples on the tour.

It ended up being too cloudy for the classic view, but that didn’t take away from the experience. The light was softer, the atmosphere quieter, and it still felt special.

I stayed there for over two hours, just walking through the temple, taking it in slowly.

It’s one of those places that doesn’t need much explanation.

Angkor Thom & Bayon Temple

From there, we continued to Angkor Thom and the famous Bayon Temple.

The faces carved into the stone are even more impressive in person.

There’s something surreal about walking through it, surrounded by these calm, almost watching expressions from every direction.

We also stopped at the Terrace of the Elephants, which felt more open, a nice contrast in between the bigger temple sights, but that was were the heat really hit (at 9:30 AM mind you).

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm was one of my personal favorites. It’s the one were nature has taken over.

Massive tree roots growing over ancient stone walls, everything slightly wild and untouched.

It’s also the temple many people recognize from the Tomb Raider movie, which makes it feel strangely familiar even if you’ve never been.

But in person, it feels less like a film set and more like something that’s slowly being reclaimed.

It’s not perfectly preserved, and that’s exactly what makes it so special.

Banteay Kdei

We ended at Banteay Kdei, which was much quieter compared to the others.

Fewer people, slower pace, and a nice way to end the loop without feeling rushed.

By around 11 AM, we were on our way back to the hotel. And that timing made all the difference.

The heat becomes intense quickly, and doing the temples early meant I could experience everything without feeling completely drained.

Overall Experience

Angkor isn’t just one highlight, it’s a series of moments.

Walking through ancient temples, moving from one atmosphere to the next, and slowly realizing how much there is beyond just the one iconic view.

Doing it with a tuk-tuk-driver made everything easy, flexible, and relaxed.

It never felt rushed, I could take as much time as I wanted, and we covered a lot.

Cambodia, for me, was centered around this one experience.

And it delivered, even without the perfect sunrise.

And somehow, that felt like the right way to leave it.