Siem Reap Discovery 3 Days — Self-Launched
3 days · Siem Reap & Angkor, Cambodia
Bravo Indochina Tours charges £232
No-markup version: ~£165 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Bravo Indochina Tours' 3-day Siem Reap Discovery: the same temples (Angkor Thom, Bayon, Baphuon, Phimeanakas, Ta Prohm, Angkor Wat, Pre Rup sunset) and the same Tonle Sap floating village at Kompong Phluk — but with your own hostel, tuk-tuk drivers hired by the day, a shared sunset tour booked via GetYourGuide/Klook, and a public boat or locally arranged trip to Kompong Phluk. Base yourself in central Siem Reap (Wat Bo / Sok San Road / Old Market area) so everything is walkable or a cheap tuk-tuk ride. Buy the Angkor pass directly at the ticket office: 1-day US$37, 3-day US$62 (3-day pass valid over 10 days) — the 3-day pass only pays off if you add a fourth day at the temples. Costs below are rough backpacker estimates in GBP and will vary by season and haggling.
Day-by-day
Arrive Siem Reap — Old Market, sunset and Apsara dance
Siem Reap
Land or bus in and check into a guesthouse/hostel around Wat Bo or Sok San Road. Sort your Angkor pass decision now: for this itinerary the 1-day pass (US$37, ~£29) covers Day 2 perfectly — buy it at the official Angkor Enterprise ticket office on Apsara Road (open from 5am; bring a passport photo or they take one free). In the afternoon walk the Old Market (Psar Chas) and the riverside, then take a tuk-tuk (US$3-5) to Phnom Bakheng or a rooftop bar for sunset if you want a free view — save the temple sunset for Day 2. In the evening book a dinner-and-Apsara-dance show: the budget option is a set-menu dinner show at a restaurant on Sivatha Boulevard or the nightly buffet-and-dance show at Koulen II (around US$12-16 / £10-13, bookable direct or via Klook). If you'd rather go local and cheap, eat at a night-market stall (US$3-4) and catch a free/low-cost dance performance at a social-enterprise restaurant such as New Hope or Spoons.
🚌Arrival by tuk-tuk from airport (~US$7-10 / £6-8) or from the bus station (~US$3-4); all local moves by tuk-tuk or on foot
🛏Hostel dorm or private budget room in central Siem Reap (~£10-16/night; private room in a guesthouse ~£16-25)
- →Buy Angkor 1-day pass at the official ticket office (US$37)
- →Old Market (Psar Chas) and riverside walk
- →Sunset from a rooftop bar or Phnom Bakheng
- →Apsara dance dinner show (Koulen II or local restaurant, ~£10-13)
Angkor day — Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm, Angkor Wat and Pre Rup sunset
Siem Reap & Angkor Archaeological Park
Hire a tuk-tuk driver for the full day (standard rate US$25-35 / £20-28 for the big circuit plus sunrise/sunset — agree the price and the temple list in advance, many drivers speak good English and effectively act as an informal guide). Leave at 5am for sunrise at Angkor Wat or start at 7:30am to avoid the worst heat if sunrise isn't your thing. Route: South Gate of Angkor Thom → Bayon (face towers) → Terrace of the Elephants → Baphuon → Royal Palace area and Phimeanakas → lunch at a local restaurant near Srah Srang or the Angkor Café area (~US$4-6) → Ta Prohm (Tomb Raider temple) → afternoon back at Angkor Wat for the galleries and upper level (queue for the Bakan tower; dress code: shoulders and knees covered) → sunset at Pre Rup. Carry 2-3L of water (refill at the free water stations in the park) and start early. In the evening, stroll the Angkor Night Market and Pub Street for dinner (US$4-6) — the night market is where the tour ends its day too.
🚌Private tuk-tuk hired by the day (~US$25-35 / £20-28 for the whole day, split between 2-4 people if you team up with other travellers)
🛏Same central Siem Reap hostel/guesthouse
- →Sunrise or early start at Angkor Wat
- →South Gate of Angkor Thom and Bayon
- →Terrace of the Elephants, Baphuon, Phimeanakas and Royal Palace area
- →Ta Prohm temple
- →Pre Rup sunset
- →Angkor Night Market and Pub Street in the evening
Tonle Sap floating village at Kompong Phluk, Artisan school and Old Market
Siem Reap & Kompong Phluk, Tonle Sap Lake
Do Kompong Phluk independently rather than as a packaged tour. Easiest route: book a shared half-day Kompong Phluk boat trip through Klook or GetYourGuide (roughly US$20-30 / £16-24 including hotel pickup and the boat), or take a tuk-tuk to the Kompong Phluk pier (~US$15-20 each way, 45-60 mins) and buy the community boat ticket at the pier (about US$20-25 per boat, shared). Note the village is genuinely a stilted community — it's respectful to buy a coffee or snack locally and to skip any orphanage/'school visit' add-ons. In the rainy season (roughly July-November) add the optional small canoe paddle through the flooded mangrove forest (a few dollars, arranged at the pier). On the way back, stop at Artisans Angkor (free entry, silk and stone-carving workshops, legit social enterprise) and the Old Market for last-minute souvenirs and palm sugar/pepper. If you have an evening flight, you'll be back in town by mid-afternoon.
🚌Shared tour with hotel pickup (~£16-24) or tuk-tuk to Kompong Phluk pier (~US$15-20 return) plus community boat ticket; tuk-tuk to airport ~US$7-10 at the end
🛏Same hostel/guesthouse (or check out for onward travel)
- →Kompong Phluk stilted floating village on Tonle Sap Lake
- →Shared boat ride on Tonle Sap
- →Optional canoe paddle through flooded mangroves (rainy season)
- →Artisans Angkor workshops (free entry)
- →Old Market shopping
Self-launched vs. Bravo Indochina Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Bravo Indochina Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£165 | £232 |
| Duration | 3 days | 3 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £67 per person (29%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Bravo Indochina Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£165
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Siem Reap Discovery 3 Days — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £165 per person for 3 days in Siem Reap & Angkor, Cambodia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Bravo Indochina Tours?+
Yes — Bravo Indochina Tours charges around £232 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £165 — a saving of roughly £67 (29%) per person.
How long is the Siem Reap & Angkor, Cambodia trip?+
This itinerary runs 3 days, covering 3 day-by-day stops through Siem Reap & Angkor, Cambodia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, budget, adventure trip through Siem Reap & Angkor, Cambodia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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