Siem Reap, Cambodia, has a very rich culture and traditions that are still evident up to today. The locals have instilled in their minds and hearts to preserve their beautiful culture and pass it from generation to generation because it’s the only way for these traditions to live on. They have made it their life’s mission and also a part of their livelihood to share and welcome tourists, for them to gain knowledge and understanding of how immensely important Cambodian culture is to the locals. They live and breathe their culture and this is what they are trying to protect and preserve. Cambodia has been welcoming tourists from all over the world and there is a long list of things waiting to be discovered. Here are the best non-touristy things to do in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Scroll down to see the list.
1. Take a cooking class on Cambodian cuisine (from USD 32.0)
This is a perfect, immersive experience for food enthusiasts and who would love to know how to cook these traditional Cambodian dishes. It’s a hands-on experience in the art of Cambodian cuisines in a three-hour cooking class with a local chef. After the class, you will take part in an interactive workshop with a small group and enjoy your three-course meal. For a little souvenir, you will receive a recipe book to take home, convenient for when you want to try and experiment on cooking Cambodian dishes.
Cambodian Village Cooking Class
Duration: 3 hours
2. Make your own copper bracelet (from USD 31.0)
Copper is one of the treasured commodities in Cambodian culture. Watching the Cambodian copper-smiths use their skills and craftsmanship in creating unique copper bracelets is truly a marvelous art. Their designs are intricate and difficult and take time and talent that only Cambodian artisans have mastered. In this tour, you will get to experience, first-hand, how to create your own designs starting from a flat piece of metal. You will get the chance to chisel, cut, hammer, shine and wash the metal for the finished product.
Copper Bracelet: From Metal to Masterpiece
Duration: 2 hours
3. Take the scenic river to the floating village (from USD 60.0)
The floating village is a popular tourist destination and one of the top things to do in Cambodia. These floating villages are surrounded by lush greens, rice fields and colorful flowers. This tour is lined with floating markets which the guests can stop by and shop to support the local community. This is a perfect chance to observe and explore how the locals are living their day-to-day life by the rivers, and how they make a living out of it.
Tip from tour guide
I recommend checking out the Kampong Phluk Floating Village to get a glimpse of the daily lives of the local people and their stilt houses. You can say hello to the numerous other boat passengers while riding on Southeast Asia's biggest freshwater lake, Tonle Sap Lake. Other lovely things that you can witness during your ride include a Buddhist pagoda, the lush mangrove forest, a local church, and a high school.
Kompong Phluk Floating Village Private Tour
Duration: 4 hours
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4. Watch the breathtaking Angkor Dynasty Show (from USD 40.0)
Angkor Dynasty Show is a world-class performance of the culture and history of Cambodia. The performers are very skilled and talented, truly a powerhouse cast. The production, lights, sounds and visual effects are high-tech, dramatic and powerful, which leaves the audience with a breathtaking sight. Be ready to perform as well, because the show has interactive parts which give you the chance to fulfill your dreams of being onstage. Have a sumptuous buffet before watching the show and enjoy the night away.
Angkor Dynasty Show - Free hotel pick up
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Siem Reap Tour Guide
Vichhay Chhom
I am Vichhay, was originally born in Siem Reap, Cambodia, the city of Angkor with a bachelor degree of English Literature from CUS University in Cambodia plus over 7 years working as an English Teacher and I have taken a new opportunity for an offically licensed Tour Guide for Angkor Region. I can speak three languages; Khmer (native language), English, and a bit German. As a native of Siem R... Read more
Tours by Vichhay
5. See the jaw-dropping Phare, The Cambodian Circus
សួស្តីខែថ្មី ខែមីនា និងជាខែនៃទិវានារីអន្តរជាតិ ដែលនឹងខិតជិតមកដល់? តើអ្នកទាំងអស់គ្នាមានពាក្យពេជ្រអ្វីខ្លះចង់និយាយ...
Posted by Phare, The Cambodian Circus on Thursday, 28 February 2019
This is one of the awaited evening entertainments in Cambodia, with young and fresh talents. You will be captivated by their energy, talent and skills that make them great performers on stage. They use music, dance, their bodies and their emotions to convey a storyline, whether historical, folk or modern. The circus artists are students and this is their way to cope with everyday living as they are taught to hone their skills and this is a place for them to earn a decent wage.
Phare the Cambodian Circus
Address: Phare Circus Ring Road, south of the Intersection, Sok San Rd, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia
Website: Phare the Cambodian Circus
Opening hours: 8pm (daily)
Price: 18 USD
6. Take pottery classes at Khmer Ceramics & Fine Arts Centre
Posted by Ree Hotel on Tuesday, 15 January 2019
Discover your artistic side at the cultural center of Cambodia, aiming to preserve the Khmer ancestral pottery techniques and support the Khmer contemporary ceramics art. Learn pottery classes where you will pull the clay out of the bag and shape it to your own design. It’s also a nice time to get to know the locals. Shop at their ceramic center, perfect for art lovers and craftsmen, or buy their tableware, handmade by skilled artisans, each item having its own design and story.
Khmer Ceramics & Fine Arts Centre
Address: 130 Vithey Charles de Gaulle, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia
Website: Khmer Ceramics & Fine Arts Centre
Opening hours: 8am - 8pm (daily)
Price: 25 USD
7. Learn about honey bees with Bees Unlimited
Apis dorsata...
Posted by Bees Unlimited-Your Temple Tour Alternative on Friday, 12 April 2019
Bees Unlimited promotes practices of rafter beekeeping and sustainable honey-harvesting. If you are interested and curious about how they make honey, this is the perfect place to quench your curiosity. It is the only sustainable and comprehensive village-based beekeeping program that combines technology and hands-on training for beekeeping. Going on this tour helps preserve the tradition of honey-harvesting and supports the locals that work hard for it.
Bees Unlimited
Address: #040 Wat Damnak Village, Siem Reap, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia
Website: Bees Unlimited
Opening hours: Sun - Tue, Thu & Fri: 7am - 3pm (No tours on Wed and Sat)
Price: 70 USD
8. Face your fears and try a tarantula
Tarantula is a fried spider and it is a regional delicacy of Cambodia. There are numerous vendors selling this exotic food around the streets of Cambodia, and tourists find this interesting. This somehow became a famous attraction in Cambodia. These garlic-fried tarantulas have been served for more than decades to locals and tourists and other vendors fear that tarantulas are becoming scarce and would affect their livelihood. But as of now, fried tarantulas are one of the most popular foods to try in Cambodia.
Try a tarantula
Address: Siem Reap, Cambodia
Price: 1 USD
9. Learn about the Cambodia Landmine Museum
Posted by Cambodia Landmine Museum on Saturday, 15 January 2011
Landmines in Cambodia have been a heavy problem over the years since dozens of civilians are still injured and die because of landmines left hidden underground from the decades of conflict in the country. Some areas are already free of landmines but the work is not yet over. It is still estimated to be landmine-free for several decades to come. This tour aims to educate guests about the dangers of landmines and how immensely important it is to free Cambodian soil of landmines which could potentially harm the future of the country and its people.
Cambodia Landmine Museum
Address: 67, Cambodia
Website: Cambodia Landmine Museum
Opening hours: 7:30am - 5:30pm (daily)
Price: 5 USD
10. Go ziplining across Angkor Wat Archaeological Park
The moment you realize your inner strength and freedom, priceless. #AngkorZipline #Zipline #angkorpark #siemreap #safety #education #adventure #canopy #treetop
Posted by Angkor Zipline on Tuesday, 7 February 2017
Angkor Wat is one of the largest religious monuments around the world. It was constructed for the Hindu temple, dedicated to the god Vishnu of the Khmer empire. Going ziplining above this park is breathtaking and not for the faint-hearted. Perfect for thrill-seekers, this zip-line adventure is sure to be safe for guests while having an exciting time soaring above jungles. This tour is educational and at the same time fun and heart-pumping.
Angkor Wat Archaeological Park
Address: Angkor Archaeological Park, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Website: Angkor Wat Archaeological Park
Opening hours: 6am - 11pm (daily)
Price: 99 USD
Cambodia has so much to offer
Definitely, planning a trip to Cambodia might be easy since there are numerous things to do, places to see, food to eat and rich culture to be familiar with. Get ready to fill your travel days with jam-packed activities for an unforgettable trip to Cambodia.
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