Beyond Angkor: Siem Reap’s 5 best unique things to do

While Angkor Wat is undoubtedly the crown jewel of Siem Reap, this lively city has more to offer than just its ancient temples. Beyond the the iconic ruins, Siem Reap offers a wealth of experiences that present the rich essence of Cambodian culture, history, and daily life. From discovering hidden artisan communities to learning about Cambodian history and outdoor adventures, there’s a world of exciting activities that many visitors often overlook.

In this post, I’ll highlight Siem Reaps’s 5 unique things to do, that will give you a fresh perspective on the city, taking you beyond the tourist crowds and into the heart of Cambodia’s rich traditions and vibrant life.

Why only 5?

Because in contrast to other blogs you might have seen, that write about 20+ things you can do in Siem Reap, I personally don’t think that there’s so much to do and see there. In the end, it’s not that big of a city. And since I value your time, I’ll only stick to Siem Reap’s 5 best unique things to do!

I’ll also mention a few things you SHOULDN’T do when visiting this Cambodian city! While Siem Reap has some great places to explore, there are a few you might want to avoid due to ethical concerns.

So let’s dive in!

Siem Reap’s 5 best unique things to do

1. Apopo Foundation

If you’ve been following my adventures for a while, you probably know that I stay away from all the “attractions” that involve animals. But in this case, I’ll make an exception. Because visiting Apopo Foundation in Siem Reap, was one of the most heartwarming experiences ever.

The APOPO Foundation is a non-profit organization, with Belgian roots, known for its innovative use of specially trained rats. Those rats, often called HeroRATs, detect landmines and tuberculosis on mine and disease-affected lands. In Cambodia, where millions of landmines remain buried from past conflicts, APOPO’s rats help clear these dangerous areas, making land safe for communities to live and farm.

During your visit you will learn about their life-saving work, meet the HeroRATs in action, and gain insight into the foundation’s efforts in de-mining and disease detection across the globe.

I absolutely enjoyed my visit there and would probably even call it “the best thing I did in Siem Reap”. Apopo Foundation is real and legit and even a few minutes there will show you how passionate they are about their work and how well they take care of the HeroRats.

Booking in advance is advised, but not 100% necessary. I went there without making a booking.

2. Angkor National Museum

If you, like me, visited Angkor Wat on your own, you’ll need to take a trip to this museum.

The Angkor National Museum in Siem Reap is a great spot to dive deeper into the history and culture of the Khmer Empire. It displays well-curated exhibitions, priceless artifacts, sculptures, and relics from the Angkorian period, giving visitors a better understanding of the famous temples and their historical significance. With different galleries covering everything from Buddhist art to Khmer architecture, the museum provides some context for everyone exploring the nearby Angkor temples. So if you want to learn more about Cambodia’s heritage before or after exploring the temples, add Angkor National Museum to your list.

My personal note…

Even though I did enjoy the visit there, and considering that Angkor Wat is the biggest religious monument in the world, it was surprising to me how little it is known about the history of this place. Everything I read says: “some scholars think that, “other researchers suspect something else”…maybe it was built for this reason, maybe for another… . Everything is just based on legends and stories.

3. Theam’s Gallery

If during your visit in Siem Reap you feel like you need to slow down and chill in more of a quiet environment, Theam’s Gallery is a perfect place to do it.

Founded by Cambodian artist Lim Muy Theam, the gallery is a tranquil art space showcasing a unique blend of traditional Khmer craftsmanship and modern art. The gallery gives a glimpse into Cambodia’s culture and Theam’s personal artistic journey which you can admire through paintings, sculptures, and even intricate lacquerware. It also serves as an artistic hub providing insight into Theam’s creative process and offering a calm atmosphere for art enthusiasts.

If you’re seeking to gain an understanding of Cambodian art in a modern context and looking for some relaxing time, Theam’s Gallery is definitely worth a visit!

4. Temples in the city

With the magnificent Angkor Wat being “just around the corner”, smaller temples in Siem Reap city centre are often overlooked. But I quite enjoyed visiting them. Worth mentioning are Wat Preah Prom Rath, Wat Bo, and Wat Damnak. Their peaceful atmosphere and beautiful architecture make them super interesting to visit. Wat Preah Prom Rath, for example, features a striking pagoda, serene gardens and a beautifully presented story of Buddha, while Wat Bo is the oldest Buddhist temple in the area, showcasing intricate murals and a more local, spiritual vibe. Visiting these city centre temples offers a quieter, more personal experience of Cambodia’s living religious traditions.

5. Cycle around

Relatively flat terrain and newly built roads and bike lanes make Siem Reap a great place to cycle around. In fact, if you’re staying in the city centre or nearby, you can easily cycle to all the places mentioned above. If you’re feeling brave and you don’t mind sweating a bit, you can also cycle to Angkor Wat Complex – there’s a cycle path almost all the way. It was actually a cool experience.

So whether you want to weave through the local markets, visit small temples in the city, or ride further out to see rice fields and local communities, cycling is a fun and eco-friendly way to explore Siem Reap and its surroundings.

Ok, we covered Siem Reap’s 5 best unique things to do. Now I’ll share with you…

3 things NOT TO DO when visiting Siem Reap!

I have to mention though, that I actually DIDN’T DO the things I’ll tell you about – well, because you shouldn’t do them. The information I’ll share come from my trusted fellow travel bloggers or they’re just…common sense.

Going to Floating villages on Tonle Sap Lake

One of the “tourist attractions” in Siem Reap are the floating villages. Different companies might sell you trips to see them under different names, like: authentic floating village experience or sunset tour to stilts home village. But they all entail more or less the same thing. You come to Tonle Sap lake, get on a boat for $20, sail out to see how people live in poverty on the water and come back. And when I say poverty, I mean extreme poverty: laughing children playing in mud and garbage, waste falling into the water, caged animals…dirt, stench and diseases in over thirty degrees heat.

And if you think that your trip there can perhaps help these people – I wouldn’t count in it. Most likely the money will go to the companies organizing those trips, getting rich at the expense of the poor.

I always stay away form such “attractions” and I’d really recommend you do the same. The more I researched it, the more “cringe” feeling I was getting. You’re paying someone to sail you around incredibly poor people, “admiring” extremely horrible conditions they have to live in.

If you want to see houses on stilts or how people really live in Cambodia, you can simply take a bus from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (or the other way around). On the way, you’ll pass many villages with stilt houses and have a sneak peak into people’s lives without paying someone to turn local poverty into a spectacle for tourists.

The two next “NOT TO DO things” in Siem Reap really apply to the whole country of Cambodia.

Visiting orphanages

Due to ethical concerns and the negative impact it can have on children, visiting orphanages in Cambodia (or elsewhere) is highly discouraged as well. Firstly, many orphanages in Cambodia are set up specifically to attract donations from tourists. In some cases, children are not even orphans. They are sometimes taken from their families and placed in orphanages to generate profit. And even if they are “legit”, orphanages relying on tourism often prioritize profit over children’s well-being. Funds might not go toward improving living conditions or education, but straight into the pockets of already rich scammers.

Secondly, short-term interactions with tourists can disrupt children’s emotional well-being, leading to attachment issues. They need stable, long-term care, not brief encounters with strangers who they’ll never see again.

Lastly, the more orphanages are supported through tourism, the less effort is put into supporting family-based care solutions, which is definitely a healthier alternative for children and their families.

So be a responsible traveller and don’t treat orphanages as a tourist attraction!

Visiting elephant “sanctuaries”

While more and more travellers get educated about why they shouldn’t ride elephants, there has been a shift towards elephant “sanctuaries”. And as the demand for sanctuaries grows, there are unfortunately many places that are capitalizing on this and calling themselves “sanctuaries” without taking care of the elephants.

Another tour you can do in Siem Reap is a visit to Kulen Elephant Forest. While they advertise themselves and a home for retired elephants, even just a quick photo check can light up red lights. Because if you can ride, feed, touch or bathe with an elephant, it’s NOT an ethical sanctuary! Elephants are wild animals that belong in the wild. If a venue allows you to get close enough to ride, bath or touch them, it’s because they’ve been cruelly trained. Moreover, Kulen Elephant Forest is not listed on World Animal Protection website as an ethical sanctuary. I’m not saying that they’re not looking after the elephants that are under their care, but..ehh, maybe just skip this one.

The best you can do for the elephants is donating to reputable organizations without visiting them anyway!

If you want to know more about responsible travel, check out my mini guide!

Btw, the only Cambodian elephant sanctuary that is featured on World Animal Protection website is: Elephant Valley Project. So if you really want to see the elephants, maybe go to this one instead.

I didn’t want to end this blog post on such a negative note, but I feel like those things had to be said. Well, written.

Anyway, that’s a wrap!

Hope you enjoyed my “Siem Reap’s 5 best unique things to do” blog post. And you’ll take into consideration all the things you shouldn’t do when visiting Siem Reap and Cambodia.

If you’re visiting Angkor Wat during your time in Siem Reap – and you obviously are – check out my blog post! I share details about going there for famous sunrise. I also answer the most important question you might have: is sunrise at Angkor Wat really worth it!

If you have any questions, drop them in the comment section or write me a message on Instagram.

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Hi, it’s Aga, the author of this blog. If you found this blog post interesting, entertaining or useful, please think of buying me a virtual coffee to support the site’s running costs. But if you know me, I might actually spend it on coffee. Thanks!

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