Phnom Penh to Siem Reap Tour: Angkor Temples & Market

The Spider Market, a countryside temple, and sunrise over Angkor Wat in one journey.

A 2-day private tour from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap with an English-speaking driver and guide, combining the drive between cities with stops at Cambodia's most distinctive sites. Day 1 includes the Spider Market, Kuhak Nokor temple, and the 12th-century Spean Praptos bridge. Day 2 begins before dawn at Angkor Wat and continues through Angkor Thom, Bayon, Ta Keo, and other temples. The itinerary is fully flexible. Skip a stop or linger where you choose.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Drive Phnom Penh to Siem Reap with stops

• Start private taxi trip
• Visit Spider Market break
• Explore Kuhak Nokor temple
• Lunch and bathroom break
• See Spean Praptos bridge

Day 2: Sunrise and Angkor temple tour

• Start early for Angkor Wat sunrise
• Visit Neak Pean temple
• Explore Bayon temple
• Tour Angkor Thom city
• Visit Ta Keo temple
• Explore Ta Prohm temple
• Visit Tanei temple
• Return to Phnom Penh

The experience

The drive from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap doesn't have to be five hours of highway. This tour breaks it into a full day of stops, starting at 7 or 8 am depending on your preference. Your English-speaking driver picks you up at your hotel and heads north on National Road 6, stopping first at the Spider Market: a working market where vendors sell tarantulas, crickets and other insects to locals. It's a genuine working stop, not a tourist stage, and the market sits right on the route between the two cities.

From there, the day unfolds at your pace. You'll visit Kuhak Nokor, a Buddhist temple complex in Kampong Thom Province set back 2 km from the main road, then stop at Spean Praptos, a 12th-century corbeled stone bridge built during the reign of King Jayavarman VII. The bridge once held the record as the world's longest stone-arch structure, spanning 285 feet with more than twenty narrow arches. A floating village is also on the route. You can choose to visit it or skip it depending on your interest. Lunch and bathroom breaks are built in. You arrive in Siem Reap by evening and settle into your hotel.

Day 2 is the Angkor temples. You start at 4:45 am if you want sunrise at Angkor Wat, or later in the morning if you prefer. A professional English-speaking guide meets you there and leads you through the temple complex: Angkor Wat itself, the artificial island temple of Neak Pean, Bayon with its famous carved faces and bas-reliefs of 12th-century life, Angkor Thom (the capital city Jayavarman VII built as his bride), Ta Keo (the first Khmer temple built entirely of sandstone), and others including Ta Prohm and the jungle-wrapped Tanei Temple. After the full day of exploration, your driver returns you to Phnom Penh.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle.
• English-speaking driver for the full 2 days.
• English-speaking guide at the temples on Day 2.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in both cities.
• cool drinking water throughout the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day11 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 11:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (3 to 80 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 41 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessiblePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Private Taxi Cambodia E C T

Is this one for you?Two days is the minimum to make the drive from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap and see Angkor without rushing. The stops on Day 1 turn the journey itself into the experience, so you're not losing travel time. You're using it. If you have only one day, you'd need to fly or skip the temples. If you have three or more, you can add a second day exploring Angkor or stay longer in Siem Reap.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (1 to 2 years): free.

What is the Spider Market and why do we stop there?

The Spider Market is a working local market in Kampong Thom Province where vendors sell tarantulas, crickets and other insects to Cambodian customers. It sits on the main route between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap and serves as a natural break in the five-hour drive, giving you a glimpse of everyday Cambodian commerce rather than a tourist-focused stop.

Can I choose what time to start the Angkor temples on Day 2?

Yes. You can start at 4:45 am to watch sunrise at Angkor Wat, or choose a later morning departure if you prefer. Your guide will meet you at your hotel in Siem Reap and lead you through the temples for the full day.

What is Spean Praptos and when was it built?

Spean Praptos is a 12th-century stone-arch bridge built during the reign of King Jayavarman VII. It once held the record as the world's longest corbeled stone-arch bridge, spanning 285 feet with more than twenty narrow arches. You'll pass it on the drive between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

Do I have to visit every stop on Day 1, or can I skip some?

The itinerary is fully flexible. You can skip any stop or spend more time at a place you want to linger. Just let your driver know. The floating village on Day 1 is optional and you can choose to visit or skip it.

What temples do we see on Day 2 at Angkor?

Day 2 includes Angkor Wat (the main temple complex), Neak Pean (an artificial island temple), Bayon (famous for its carved faces and bas-reliefs of daily life), Angkor Thom (the ancient capital city), Ta Keo (the first sandstone temple), Ta Prohm (the jungle-wrapped temple), and Tanei Temple, a smaller site surrounded by dense jungle.