Siem Reap (Cambodia)

Siem Reap, Cambodia – A Special Place in Our Journey

Note: This was our second visit to Siem Reap in 2025.  Our previous visit in February is outlined in a previous post.

Siem Reap is truly one of the more special places we experienced during our round-the-world journey. We’ve grown to love the slower pace of this laid-back Cambodian town.  The relaxed chilled out lifestyle, low cost of living, and rich culture and history have made it one of our favorite destinations in Southeast Asia.

Siem Reap has a peaceful, small-town feel that reminds you of countryside life.  There aren’t many distractions, and that helped us completely unwind and put us in a very relaxed state.  Life feels simple here — in the best possible way.

The people make it even more special.  Cambodians are incredibly kind, respectful, and gentle-hearted.  Their calm and easy-going nature makes it easy to feel welcome.  It’s part of their culture to love, share, and show respect — and you can truly feel that when you’re there.

Barbie and I enjoyed Siem Reap so much that we returned for this second one month stay, both within the past year.

Our Stay at Angkor Grace Wellness Resort

One of the highlights of this visit was staying at Angkor Grace Wellness Resort.

We loved having our own two-bedroom apartment with a full kitchen and living room — it truly felt like home.  The resort itself is tranquil and beautifully designed.  The fitness center is impressive, and the onsen, yoga, Pilates, and sound healing classes added to the wellness vibe.

The tropical pool was the perfect place to cool off during the hot afternoons, especially after long mornings exploring Angkor Wat and the town centre.  The pool became our favorite midday retreat.

A Calmness That’s Hard to Find

Siem Reap has a unique calmness that reminds me of what Chiang Mai felt like back in the 1990s.

There’s very little traffic and almost no hustle and bustle.  Compared to Siem Reap, Chiang Mai today feels like a busy metropolis.  Siem Reap feels almost frozen in time — but in a good way.   Another chilled out, relaxed ‘small town’ on par with Siem Reap that can be added to any journey thru SE Asia is Luang Prabang, Laos.

Since our first visit to Siem Reap in 2015, the town center has developed nicely.  New restaurants, cafés and modern coffeeshops have replaced many of the older style dilapidated building structures.  Yet, it has managed to keep its relaxed charm.  The new ultra modern Angkor Market III (the newest and 3rd location in the company chain) is quite impressive and a great place to stock up on groceries if staying longer term.  And, the abundance of spas offering traditional Khmer massages for around $7 per hour is the cherry on top. It’s pure relaxation at an affordable price.

Getting around town is also so easy and inexpensive.  The iconic remorques (Cambodian tuk-tuks), are everywhere and can be booked conveniently through the Grab app.  These remorques are roofed open-air passenger carriages that are pulled by a motorbike.  Riding in them is alot of fun and refreshing.  We looked forward to taking joyrides around town everyday.

A Surprisingly Festive Christmas

We arrived during the Christmas season and were surprised at how festive everything felt.

Although Cambodia is about 98% Buddhist, the country is very open to celebrating global holidays. The Christmas decorations and events felt genuine — not just something done for tourists.  The tuk-tuk parade especially felt like a real community celebration. (see video below)

We noticed something similar the previous Christmas in Bangkok.  Even though both Thailand and Cambodia are predominantly Buddhist, they warmly embrace other cultures and celebrations.

A Difficult Time at the Border

During this visit, there was tension and fighting along the Thai-Cambodian border.  It was shocking to us because both countries are generally so peaceful.  These clashes were really just isolated to the border areas and there were no safety issues for us in Siem Reap.

However, you could see the sadness on the faces of some locals in Siem Reap.  Many were apologetic, even though it was completely out of their control.  It showed us again how kind and thoughtful the Cambodian people are.

Best Time to Visit

This time we visited during the dry season (December and January), and it was much more comfortable than our previous trip in late February when the heat was intense.

The hottest months run from March to June, with April and May being especially oppressive due to high temperatures and humidity.  The monsoon season typically runs from May through October, which can also make travel more challenging.

A Growing Expat Community

There is a growing number of expats and retirees living in both Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. Cambodia’s accessible and flexible visa options and affordable lifestyle make it attractive, especially as neighboring countries like Thailand have become stricter with long-term stays.  Barbie and I could easily see ourselves spending a greater amount of time here in the future, if Siem Reap just only had access to a beach.

We’ll Be Back Again

Siem Reap is a must-visit destination in Southeast Asia.  It offers history, culture, affordability, and a rare sense of calm that’s becoming harder to find in the region as it gets rapidly developed.

We’re already looking forward to returning for our fourth visit.