Cambodia- Angkor Wat

If you went to Cambodia and didn’t visit Angkor Wat did you really go to Cambodia? In prep for my trip to Cambodia I read a lot of blog posts about what to do and what not to do. And everyone agreed you had to see Angkor Wat. Located in Siem Reap it is about 6 hours from Phnom Penh.

Aside from Angkor Wat, there is plenty to do and see in Siem Reap and I encourage you to spend a few days in the city exploring both the temples and the city. You can buy a 3 day pass to Angkor Wat, we only did one day and hired a guide but that was because we were tight on time.

If you’ve never been and are interested in the history of the temples look into hiring guide. There are so many temples and places to explore a guide can be really helpful. But be sure to leave sometime to explore on your own, there were definitely a few moments when I felt a little rushed by the guide and wished we had more exploring time. If you do a three day pass you shouldn’t have that issue though!

Do your research ahead of time, ladies knees and shoulders must be covered to enter certain parts of the temples. This is a sacred place so please always remain respectful, I am probably the worst with ‘do it for the Insta’ but don’t climb up on areas where it says no climbing. Be respectful and remember that these temples are thousands of years old and we need to be responsible for preserving them for the next generation.

My favorite temple was the Bayon Temple, the temple of the happy Buddha faces! The artistry and craftsmanship preserved in this temple is breathtaking! There is also Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm. If you make the trip to Siem Reap make the most of it and see as many temples as possible!

In addition to touring the temples we visited the Siem Reap night market, where I paid to put my feet in a tank of fish and let them eat all the dead skin off my feet! Pros my feet have never been smoother and it only cost $2. Cons it felt super super weird! We had fun checking out the Siem Reap night life, I wished we had stayed a few more days because I definitely felt safer going out in Siem Reap than in Phnom Penh. Be smart, if you’re going to go out to bars and clubs go with a friend, never accept drinks from strangers, etc you know the deal. Traveling gives us the opportunity to get out of our comfort zone, take the opportunity to do things you would t do at home. Not only did I put my feet in a tank full of fish, I ate a cricket and a tarantula leg! So push yourself to try new things, I am a firm believer that you truly find out who you are in moments when you step out of your comfort zone.

Outfit details:

Pants- Lilly Pulitzer, Shoes- TOMS, t-shirt- Primark