Hello, all. Let me begin by stating that I�m 72 years of age, male, and reside in the Los Angeles area. I am in the beginning stage of planning a trip to see Angkor Wat in Cambodia, with a final destination in Bangkok, Thailand. I will be traveling alone and pretty much in decent, healthy shape. My travel dates will be from November 6, 2024, to November 16, 2024. I intend to fly from Los Angeles on April 6th, land in Bangkok on November 7th, and then take a flight from Bangkok to Siem Reap. I�m currently thinking of perhaps staying in Siem Reap on November 7th and 8th, with a visit to Angkor Wat on November 8th � thus, flying out of Siem Reap on November 9th. My other intent is to be in Bangkok on November 14th and 15th, with a flyout of Bangkok on November 16th, and return to Los Angeles International Airport.

Question: Should I spend three nights in Siem Reap, or are two nights sufficient?

Question: I also have a gap from November 9th through November 13th. Do you have any recommendations on where to spend those �gap days�? I�m okay with paying for flights.

Question: does anyone know of any personal guide I could hire per day while in Siem Reap and assist with my tour of Angkor Wat and other sites in and around Siem Reap?

Thank you,

If the ONLY think you want to see in Siem Reap is Angkor Wat, two nights might be sufficient (depending on how you handle jet lag), but I wouldn't recommend limiting yourself to just two nights -- there's SOOOooooo much more than just Angkor Wat and it would be a shame (IMO) to miss the wonderful museum (and other sites) in Siem Reap!

Honesly, it depends on your interest in Khmer ruins, which span 6 centuries and vary in how much the jungle has reclaimed, how much destruction was caused during the wars of late in the last century, style, religious orientation, building material, etc. I spent 9 nights in Siem Reap and am very grateful to have seen not only the near-in temples but also several (not all, by any means) extraordinary sites some distance from the city. If you want to see more than just Siem Reap, but less than I saw, I strongly recommend Dawn Rooney's wonderful book.

I thought Cambodia fascinating! With that amount of time, I would certainly urge you to consider Phnom Penh.

I would happily recommend my driver (English speaking, but not a guide -- driver only). I can also recommend a man who can help you find a guide in Siem Reap if that's your preference. Send me a PM if interested. Or contact your hotel.

I didn't write a trip report, but even so, you might find some helpful information in this post:
Finally, Cambodia!

Question: Should I spend three nights in Siem Reap, or are two nights sufficient?

I would spend three nights there. There are lots of sites to see other than Angkor Wat itself. Most visitors seem to spend three days visiting the various sites (partly I suppose because tickets are for 3 or 7 days. Personally, I think 3 days is too much unless you are really into temples and antiquity etc. 2 is about right and you can fit in the main highlights in that time. Most people visit early morning and late afternoon and go back to their hotels in the midday heat. if you forgo that break you can fit in a lot more and maybe even take a trip out to one of the plating village on Tonle Sap.

Question: I also have a gap from November 9th through November 13th. Do you have any recommendations on where to spend those “gap days”? I’m okay with paying for flights.

It looks like you would have one full day for Bangkok which is nowhere near enough. I would add at least another two days there. The other option, or maybe split your time between the two, would be Phnom Penh which is one of my favourite cities in SE Asia. A few photos and details from one of our many visits there in our blog @ https://accidentalnomads.com/2015/06...ighter-future/

Question: does anyone know of any personal guide I could hire per day while in Siem Reap and assist with my tour of Angkor Wat and other sites in and around Siem Reap?

In Siem Reap you have the options of a car or tuk tuk and an official or unofficial guide. You can arrange in advance but it is just as easy to ask your hotel to organise on for you on arrival. I have done it both ways and found the official guides to be more than a little tedious repeating by rote a "standard "script . I also prefer a tuk tuk to a car as I prefer to just accept that it is hot rather than jumping in and out of aircon. I am sure prices are different from when I was last there but I would expect to pay a tuk tuk driver with some English and who would know the best places to take you, around $4/50 per day. You could expect to pay double or treble that for an official guide and car. It is not about the moment though, I just preferred the informality of a tuk tuk and local with a smattering of English.

In Phnom Penh we just go with a tuk tuk and hire one for the day. Easy to do just by walking outside of the hotel. Probably cheaper than Siem Reap but please dont try to bargain too hard, these guys lead a very hard life in a very corrupt country and get ripped off left right and centre. After spending a few days with one I ended up writing an atricle for an NGO magazine on the subject.

If it helps, when I went last year the prices listed on the Seven Candles Guesthouse were on the high end of the going rates for cars and tuktuks, with or without a guide:
https://www.sevencandlesguesthouse.com/tour-packages

Thank you to all.... the information you all provided is quite informative and valuable! To Crellston, I'm now researching Phnom Penh as a possible site to visit. This is why I love this website .... so informative and very helpful ~

I'm a bit surprised by crellston's post, although I agree with his recommendation to spend time in Phnom Penh. My first visit to Siem Reap I was there for three nights, and finding that insufficient I returned two years later for another five nights.

I also second the recommendation for Dawn Rooney's book. I found that using the book meant I didn't need a guide and I just hired tuk-tuks.

>> Question: Should I spend three nights in Siem Reap, or are two nights sufficient?

three nights for two whole days
or more
take your time
especially after that long haul travel

If you love the beaches you can fly to Koh Samui, which is beside Koh Tao, and Koh Pha Ngan, which are all 3 very popular islands in the Gulf. Since you are limited on time, and to ensure you have plenty of time, I would fly directly in there. Other options are a ferry, but not recommended for getting there. Once you are there, you can island hop between the 3 islands on short 1-2 hour ferry rides. All 3 islands have their own unique vibe and I like to visit them each for at least 2 days every time I come. In fact, I've never been to Thailand without spending at least 2 days on each of the islands. I love them that much.

If you do end up there, stay near Ark Bar Beach Resort in Koh Samui to be close to the action, Haad Rin in Koh Pha Ngan, and Koh Tao is so tiny you can walk the entire island in half a day, so no particular area to stay there. It's probably my favorite of those 3 islands.

other options that I love would be Krabi, Phuket, Ko Phi Phi, as well as Pai, and Chiang Mai. Based on the current place you are going already, It sounds to me like Chiang Mai and Pai would be more a long the lines of what you like to do. If you are really into temples, Ayutthaya, Thailand is going to be the Angkor Wat of Thailand. Cheers, and have an amazing trip!

Hi Sturion, how is the planning going?

Some comments on the suggestion in the preceding post to visit Koh Samui / Tao/ Pha ngan. Firstly, with as you have just four days to play with, you would be spending a disproportionately high proportion of your time in transit, especially in the case of Koh Tao which would involve flying into KS then getting a ferry or speedboat to KT/ KPN and the same on the return . Realistically you would lose 2 of those four days to transit. KS is renowned as a package tour destination and IMO have been vastly over touristed for years. Great if you like that sort of thing but…it is decades since I visited KT, which is great is great for diving but is now a major backpackers destination. Do bear in mind that at 72 you will be the oldest one there by around 40 years! My 55 year old brother in law met his daughters there who are on their gap year and felt very out of place.