Flights to Siem Reap

Tips for First-Time Travellers to Siem Reap

Cambodia uses the US Dollar

You can use US dollars to pay for anything in Cambodia. After booking your airfare to Siem Reap, you don’t need to worry about exchanging your Australian dollars before you arrive. You can withdraw US dollars from any of the ATMs in the city.

Tuk-tuks are the best way to get around

Tuk-tuks are an affordable way to get around Siem Reap. Most rides will cost between $1 to $2 USD ($1.40 to $2.80 AUD). Check with your hotel to see if your accommodation fee includes tuk-tuk rides around the city. If you're buying flights to Siem Reap as a group, one tuk-tuk can only fit two people and their luggage.

Buy a local sim card

English isn't widely spoken in Cambodia. It's a good idea to buy a local sim card so you can look up attractions and restaurants on Google Maps and show it to the tuk-tuk driver. You can buy a basic plan with 1.5 GBs of data when your flights to Siem Reap land at Siem Reap International Airport (REP) for $5 USD ($6.99 AUD).

Visit the temples first thing in the morning

If you're buying tickets to Siem Reap to visit the Angkor temples, it's best to go as early as possible before the heat of the day sets in - and the tourist hordes arrive. You can sign up for sunrise tours and hire a tuk-tuk driver to take you to the various sites so you don't have to cycle or walk in the heat.

The Cost of Visiting

For backpackers buying cheap flights to Siem Reap, you can budget around $20 to $30 USD ($27.94 to $41.92 AUD) per day. A good mid-range budget is $45 to $50 AUD per day, and if you're looking to splurge, you should budget for $100 AUD per day.

Accommodation prices: If you’re a budget traveller buying flights to Siem Reap, you can expect to pay $2 to $9 USD ($2.79-12.57 AUD) for a bed in a dorm room. Budget hotels in Siem Reap that come with aircon start at about $12.50 ($17.46 AUD) per night.

Food prices: When booking return flights to Siem Reap, you don’t need to worry about having a massive budget for food. You can eat for as little as $1.50 USD ($2.10 AUD) from local restaurants and street food stalls. Meals at mid-range restaurants cost about $6 to $9 ($8.38 to $12.57 AUD), and you can expect to spend $15 ($20.96 AUD) on a week's worth of groceries if you're planning to cook your own food.

Transportation costs: You can hire a tuk-tuk for the day to see Angkor Wat for $15 to $25 USD ($20.96 to $34.93 AUD). For short trips around Siem Reap with a tuk-tuk or a motorbike taxi, you'll pay around $2 USD ($2.79 AUD), and a transfer to and from Siem Reap International Airport (REP) costs $6 ($8.38 AUD). If you prefer having more freedom, you can rent a bicycle for less than $5 USD ($6.99 AUD) a day.

Etiquette Tips

Dress code

When packing for your flights to Siem Reap, make sure you have an outfit you can wear to the temples. You'll need to make sure your shoulders are covered, as well as your knees.

Leave a donation

In Siem Reap and the rest of Cambodia, temples are maintained through donations from the public. After visiting, it’s polite to leave some money behind. If you're lucky enough to be invited to a Khmer home, you should bring a small token of gratitude.

Greetings in Cambodia

Before your flights to Siem Reap arrive, practice sompiah, the Cambodian greeting. You'll need to use it when introducing yourself to the locals. If you want to call someone over, you need to make sure your palm is face down.

Top Things to Do and See

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is the main reason thousands of travellers buy return flights to Siem Reap each year. The complex was built between the 9th and 15th centuries, and some temples are still being excavated today. Some of the most popular temples include Angkor Thom, the Bayon Temple and Ta Prohm.

Landmine Museum

History lovers often buy an airfare to Siem Reap to learn more about the country’s Khmer Rouge regime. As an aftermath of the regime, there are still millions of undetonated landmines buried in Cambodia's countryside. The Landmine Museum is an interesting place to visit if you want to learn more about the country's past and its demining efforts.

Go on a zip lining tour

One of the most adventurous things you can do in Siem Reap is the Flight of the Gibbon zip line tour. It's an adrenaline rush that includes a 50-metre abseil and four hanging sky bridges. If you're lucky, you'll spot some gibbons in the wild. It's a great activity for active families buying flights to Siem Reap.

Banteay Srey Butterfly Centre

The Banteay Srey Butterfly Centre is one of the largest butterfly enclosures in Southeast Asia. It’s the perfect activity for nature lovers booking cheap flights to Siem Reap or if temple fatigue is starting to hit.