Sustainable travel and boutique hotels in Cambodia

The temples of Angkor are definitely a must. Take time to prepare your trip with sustainable travel in mind and discover amazing boutique hotels in Cambodia. The Kingdom of Cambodia is a country in the Southeast Asia that borders Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and the Golf of Thailand, with the official language Khmer and capital Phnom Pen.

When to go

The most popular time to visit Cambodia is in the dry season between November and February.

April and October are really hot so it would be best to avoid these times. From May to September is low season since it’s rainy season, this means you can get better prices on accommodation and a lush and green scenery.

We went to Siem Reap mid November and found great weather and everything was still green, but it does get really hot. ☀️

Religion

Most people in Cambodia are Buddhist and most Cambodians practice Theravada Buddhism, in which the ultimate goal is to attain nirvana. Every male Buddhist is expected to become a monk for a short period of time in his life.

Getting there

We got to Cambodia from Hoi An, Vietnam. We caught a Grab and got on a flight in Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh city early in the morning. There we caught a bus to Phnom Penh where we would catch a van to go to Siem Reap. Unfortunately we didn’t arrive at the predicted time and we missed our transfer to Siem Reap. Luckily we were able to book another van and we managed to get to our hotel in Siem Reap later in the night.

The two transfers – from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh and Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, were booked separately with 12Go Asia. Although we allowed some time between predicted arrival and departure time, it wasn’t enough. When we got to Phnom Penh it was difficult to find the place where we were supposed to catch our next bus. Communication was challenging and the chaotic traffic didn’t help either. We still managed to get on a tuk tuk and rush to the bus, but unfortunately it had already left.

Siem Reap – Angkor

Cambodia was part of our Southeast Asia trip and our focus were The temples of Angkor, a true magical wonder.

Please note that the temples of Angkor are a religious site and we’re expected to dress accordingly, so don’t wear sleeveless tops, hot pants or short skirts.

Entrance tickets can be bought online at advance, which is much more convenient. We’ve bought the 3 day pass, although we only stayed for 2 days. Since we could only visit the temples during the morning (around noon it would get too hot), I would recommend to save 3 full days just to see the temples on your trip to Cambodia.

Day 1

Angkor Wat

On the first day in Siem Reap, we went to see the sunrise in Angkor Wat, an experience one shouldn’t miss. We got up really early and went with our Tuk Tuk driver (from the hotel) to the temples. After arriving we walked and sat along with everyone else waiting for that beautiful sunrise.

Angkor Wat is majestic and a source of national pride. It’s the ultimate demonstration of the empire’s devotion to religion and master architecture.

Angkor Thom

Next up was Angkor Thom, the “great city”. It is enclosed by a formidable square wall with 13 km in length and encircled by a 100m wide moat. Inside Angkor Thom are Bayon, Baphuon, Phimeanakas, the Terrace of the Leper King, the Terrace of the Elephants, and the Royal Palace. You should set aside at least half a day just for these.

The Bayon Temple

This is the temple with many faces. There is still much mystery associated with Bayon, related to its symbolism and exact function.

Day 2

Ta Prohm

We initially tried to visit Ta Prohm on our first day, but aside from us being super tired, the temple was incredibly crowded, so we decided to return early the next morning – and we’re so glad we did.

This time, we entered through the famous Tomb Raider tree and it was much quieter. We even had a few spots all to ourselves, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere for a while.

This was our favorite temple, as Nature embraces ancient stones, slowly reclaiming its space.

Pre Rup

Pre Rup is a Hindy temple and it means “Turning the Body”, referring to a traditional method of cremation.

Banteay Srei

Banteay Srei has a pinkish tone and includes some of the finest stone carvings on Earth. This is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva. Banteay Srei means “Citadel of the Women” and it is believed this temple was built by a woman.

Where to eat

We didn’t go out to eat in Siem Reap.

On the first day, we took the breakfast box to go and see the sunrise at Angkor Wat, then we went back to the hotel at lunch time so we just ate some snacks there. On the following day we went for breakfast early in the morning and then at lunch time we were back again. We ate dinner at the hotel 😊

Where to Stay – Eco and Boutique Hotels

During our trip, we stayed at a charming sustainable hotel in Siem Reap. At around noon it was already too hot to be exploring the temples, so we would go back to our hotel.

It featured a lovely swimming pool, good food (delicious pancakes!) and spacious bedrooms. They even had tea time in the middle of the afternoon, in which they offered us tea and some snacks. It was the perfect way to spend the hot afternoons! 🥞💦

On top of that they plant trees for every stay and contribute to local communities. ☺️

It was a beautiful, eco-conscious boutique hotel that prioritized both comfort and environmental responsibility—an ideal choice for those seeking sustainable travel and boutique hotels in Cambodia.