Siem Reap is one of those places that completely catches you off guard. It’s known for the legendary Angkor Wat, but the city itself has its own unique energy – part laid-back charm, part chaotic adventure. If you’re planning solo travel in Siem Reap, here’s what you can expect, based on my own experience (which, as usual, involved a fair bit of unexpected drama).
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Arriving in Siem Reap: A Ghost Town of an Airport
Flying into Siem Reap was an experience in itself. After coming from the madness of Ho Chi Minh City, stepping into Siem Reap’s airport felt like entering a parallel universe – quiet, barely any other planes, and eerily empty. Immigration and baggage claim were a breeze, and within minutes, I was outside meeting my pre-booked hotel taxi driver.
This is when I should have known my immune system was about to be under attack. My driver spent the entire ride coughing, spluttering, and spitting into tissues, and I just knew – this was the day I got sick. (Spoiler: I was right.)
Where I Stayed: The Angkor Sweet Night Hotel
Thanks to Booking.com’s Genius perks, I ended up with a free upgrade at the Angkor Sweet Night Hotel, a lovely spot with a pool and a balcony. It was a great base – except for the small problem of being vegan in Cambodia.
On my first day, I asked about food, and while the hotel staff kindly made me a basic rice and veggie dish, I wasn’t entirely convinced of its vegan-ness. I quickly realised Siem Reap wasn’t going to be the easiest place for plant-based dining.
Exploring Siem Reap: Wide Pavements & Unexpected Order
Siem Reap surprised me. Unlike other Southeast Asian cities where the pavement is an obstacle course of motorbikes and street vendors, here, I could actually walk around freely. Everything was cleaner and more structured than I expected, making it a really enjoyable place to explore.
One of my favorite places? The Peace Cafe – a chilled-out, vegan -friendly haven with hippie vibes and delicious food. After filling up, I wandered along Siem Reap River, strolled through Pub Street (which gave me major Friday night in Reading energy), and soaked up the atmosphere.
Angkor Wat: The Ultimate Temple-Hopping Marathon
I booked a full-day tour with a sunset finish, which meant an early morning pick-up, waiting around at a random café, then being shuffled onto a different minibus.
At Angkor Wat, I met an American solo traveler who kindly made sure I didn’t get permanently lost in the ancient ruins. (Seriously, there were so many people, and I somehow kept losing my group – but our tour guide had an uncanny ability to find us every time.)
After wandering through the temple complex, we moved on to the Tomb Raider Temple (Ta Prohm) – which I absolutely loved. The massive trees reclaiming the ruins made it feel like nature was taking back its space, and I was living my Lara Croft fantasy.
After exploring more temples (including Bayon Temple, famous for its massive Buddha faces and eerie bat-smelling interior), we finished the day with a sunset hike up Phnom Bakheng. The view? Stunning. The experience? A bit of an endurance test. You have to hike up well before sunset, which means standing at the top for what feels like an eternity. The real challenge? Getting back down in the pitch black. No lights, no clear path – just blind faith that you’ll find your way back to the minibus.
Kulen Mountain: Waterfalls, Temples & Mysterious Vegan Street Food
The next adventure? Kulen Mountain. This followed the same pattern: hotel pick-up, a café waiting game, then an all-day tour of temples, waterfalls, and viewpoints. Highlights included:
✅ Thousand Lingas – Ancient carvings along a riverbed.
✅ Massive waterfall – A great spot to cool off (if you can dodge the crowds).
✅ Reclining Buddha Temple – A massive, impressive Buddha statue lying atop the mountain.
✅ Mysterious vegan street food (without the street) – I tried some local food from pathway stall, which was supposedly vegan… but let’s just say I was highly skeptical.
✅ Frustratingly late lunch stop – After a full day of exploring, everyone just wanted to go back, but instead, we got dragged to a restaurant with limited vegan options.
Still, Kulen Mountain was beautiful and well worth the visit. Just bring snacks, because the late lunch situation was not ideal.
A Heavy But Important Experience: Killing Fields Museum
Before my illness took hold, I also visited the Killing Fields Museum. It wasn’t a large museum – more of a mini-exhibition – but it was still an important visit. If you’ve been to the Killing Fields in Phnom Penh, you might already know much of the history, but this smaller museum still provided valuable insight into Cambodia’s tragic past.
The Trip Downhill: Illness & Skipping the Floating Villages
After Kulen Mountain, things took a turn. Remember that taxi driver? Well, his germs had fully won the battle against my immune system. I got hit with a horrible respiratory virus – the kind that makes breathing feel like trying to inhale through a straw.
To make things worse, burning season pollution swept in, and I had zero energy to do anything. I had booked a tour to the floating villages, but after reading horror stories about it being a full-on tourist trap (and hearing about crocodiles kept in cages in the water), I decided to skip it altogether.
Instead, I focused on recovering before my next destination: Battambang. And to avoid the nightmare of trying to figure out public transport, I booked a private taxi. Expensive? A little. Worth it? 100%.
Final Thoughts on Siem Reap as a Solo Traveler
✅ What I Loved:
• The walkability – wide pavements, clean streets.
• Angkor Wat & Ta Prohm – especially the Tomb Raider Temple!
• The Peace Cafe – vegan-friendly, chilled vibes.
• Kulen Mountain – stunning views, waterfalls, and temples.
• Learning about Cambodia’s history through the Killing Fields Museum.
❌ What I Didn’t Love:
• Finding vegan food outside of specific restaurants.
• Getting sick thanks to my taxi driver.
• The Floating Village tours didn’t seem ethical.
Would I recommend Siem Reap? Absolutely – but go outside of burning season and brace yourself for temple overload.
Before You Go…
If you’re planning your own solo trip my Solo Travel Lifeline might come in handy. It’s like having a travel buddy in your pocket – without the awkward small talk.
Need a ready-made plan? Check out my 3-day travel itineraries for popular destinations – they’re packed with tips and can save you a lot of guesswork. If you want something more personalised, I also offer custom itinerary planning to make sure your trip goes smoothly.
Need a place to stay? I’ve got some handy affiliate links for Booking.com and Expedia to make planning a bit easier. If you book through them, I may earn a small commision – at no extra cost to you – so you’d be helping a fellow traveller out.
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If you’re interested in Southeast Asia, you might also enjoy my posts about Koh Lanta and Phu Quoc.
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