2 Days Tour in Siem Reap including Lunch, Dinner & Apsara Show

The best part of this two-day Siem Reap tour is the range. You move from a floating village and local market to sunrise at Angkor Wat, then on to carved temples, palm cake, a floating lunch hut, and an evening of traditional dance. It gives you far more than a temple checklist.

I like the private transportation, since your group can keep a sensible pace and take breaks when needed. I also like the personal touch from Dear Diary Tours, including attentive guides, help with photos, and a clear pride in Cambodia. The main drawback is the schedule: a 5 AM start, several temples, and a long second day will test your energy.

Key points to know before booking

• Kampong Phluk and Rolous Market: Begin with local life, a boat ride, and possible kayaking before the major temples.
• Angkor Wat at sunrise: The 5 AM pickup gives you an early start at Cambodia’s most famous monument.
• Banteay Srei adds a different style: Its pink sandstone carvings are more delicate than the larger Angkor temples.
• Meals are built into the plan: Two lunches, two dinners, water, snacks, and the Apsara buffet are included.
• The tour is private: Only your own group participates, with transportation arranged for the full two days.
• Budget for the temple pass: The Angkor pass is not included and costs $37 per adult.

Day One Begins at Rolous Market and Kampong Phluk

Pickup starts at 8 AM, a comfortable hour compared with the pre-dawn departure on the second day. The first stop is Rolous Market, connected with the ancient city of Rolous, an important early Khmer center that predates Angkor Wat.

The market gives the day a useful local beginning. Instead of heading straight to the major monuments, you first see an everyday place tied to Cambodia’s older past. The stop also helps break up the drive toward Kampong Phluk.

Kampong Phluk is the main event on day one. This floating village is explored by boat, with kayaking also possible depending on conditions and the day’s arrangements. The community entrance fees and boat tickets are included, so you do not need to handle those costs separately.

I like this part because it changes the rhythm of the trip. Angkor’s stone temples are powerful, but the floating village shows how people live around the Tonlé Sap area. You can expect a water-based visit rather than a simple roadside photo stop.

The village portion is scheduled for about four hours. That allows time for the boat ride, village views, and a possible kayak outing without making the visit feel rushed. Still, the exact kayaking arrangement is not guaranteed, so treat it as a possibility rather than the main reason to book.

Bring sun protection and a dry layer for the boat. Water and snacks are supplied, which is helpful during a morning spent outdoors. Since the tour runs in a private vehicle, you can keep your personal items with you more easily than on a large shared excursion.

An Afternoon Break Before the Sunset View

After the morning outing, the schedule allows time for a refreshing shower before the late-afternoon pickup. That small pause matters. A boat trip in warm weather followed by temples the next day can leave you tired, so having time to return to your hotel is a real advantage.

The sunset stop needs a little clarification. The stop is labeled Phnom Bakheng, while the description refers to Phnom Krom. These are different locations, so confirm with Dear Diary Tours which hill is planned for your date. Both names can appear in Siem Reap sightseeing plans, but you should not assume the wording is interchangeable.

The schedule gives this portion about two hours, followed by dinner. The value here is less about checking off another temple and more about ending the first day outdoors, after the floating village and before the early start at Angkor Wat.

Dinner is included. The supplied details list two dinners in the package, along with two lunches. Since the second evening includes the Apsara buffet, the first evening dinner is likely the separate meal after the sunset visit, but confirm the exact meal arrangements when booking.

The 5 AM Start at Angkor Wat

Day two begins at 5 AM with hotel pickup in a minivan. That is early, but sunrise at Angkor Wat is one of the reasons this tour works well for first-time visitors. You arrive before the day becomes hot and see the monument in the soft light of morning.

Angkor Wat is the world’s largest religious monument, and the first look across the water toward its towers is the defining image of many Siem Reap visits. The plan includes time to see the sunrise and explore the interior, with roughly two hours assigned to the stop.

That time is enough for an introduction, but it is not unlimited. If you like to inspect every gallery and carving at a slow pace, you may want to ask how the guide handles the sunrise crowd and the interior visit. The early start also means you should prepare the night before, including clothes, water, and anything needed for temple walking.

The Angkor pass costs $37 per adult and is not included. It is an important extra when you compare the $210 tour price with the total cost of your day. Community entrance fees and boat tickets are covered, but the major temple admission is your responsibility.

Bayon and the Faces of Jayavarman VII

After Angkor Wat, the route continues to Bayon Temple for about an hour. Bayon was built during the reign of King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th or early 13th century. Its most famous feature is the collection of large stone faces looking out from the towers.

Bayon feels different from Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat impresses through scale, symmetry, and long galleries. Bayon is more enclosed and visually busy, with faces, corridors, and towers appearing from many angles. Your guide can help explain how the temple fits into the period of Jayavarman VII.

One hour gives you a focused visit rather than a full archaeological study. I think that is sensible on a two-day schedule, since you still have Ta Prohm and Banteay Srei ahead. Wear shoes suitable for uneven stone and expect some walking between the vehicle and the temple areas.

Ta Prohm and the Trees Among the Ruins

Ta Prohm is the temple many people recognize from Tomb Raider. Its appeal comes from the way large trees grow over and through the old stonework. Roots, walls, galleries, and shaded passageways create a scene that feels less orderly than Angkor Wat or Bayon.

The movie connection attracts attention, but the temple is worth visiting beyond the film reference. The combination of architecture and vegetation gives Ta Prohm its own mood. You can spend the scheduled hour looking at carved details, stone doorways, and the places where nature has become part of the ruins.

This is another stop where a guide adds value. It is easy to photograph the biggest tree and move on. A good explanation helps you notice how the temple was built, altered, and preserved. The tour’s guides are described as friendly, attentive, and proud of their home country, and those qualities fit this kind of stop well.

By this point, the morning will have been busy. Angkor Wat, Bayon, and Ta Prohm all involve walking, so the planned breaks are useful. The private format also means your group has a better chance of keeping the day comfortable than you would on a large coach tour.

A Palm Cake Stop at Preah Dak

The visit to Preah Dak lasts about 30 minutes and centers on a local palm cake. The village is also known for Khmer noodles, roasted pig, palm cake, and other desserts.

This is a short stop, but it gives the day a food connection that many temple-focused trips miss. You are not simply moving between monuments. You also get a taste of a village known for familiar Khmer dishes and sweets.

The included water and snacks are useful here, but the details do not say that every food at Preah Dak is included. If you want to buy extra noodles, roasted pig, or desserts, ask the guide about prices and payment. The palm cake is the specific food experience named in the plan.

Banteay Srei and Its Fine Pink Carvings

Banteay Srei comes next and is farther from the central Angkor group. The extra drive takes time, but the temple earns its place through delicate carvings in pink sandstone.

Compared with Angkor Wat, Bayon, and Ta Prohm, Banteay Srei is smaller and more finely detailed. Its door frames, lintels, and decorative figures reward close attention. You will see a different side of Khmer temple design here, with careful ornament rather than massive towers and broad courtyards.

The stop is paired with lunch at a floating hut restaurant, and the full portion is scheduled for about two hours. That combination helps justify the longer trip out from the main complex. You get a substantial meal and a quieter change of setting after the morning’s major temples.

The meal arrangement is one of the tour’s practical strengths. Two lunches are included in the package, and this floating-hut stop is specifically connected with lunch. Food quality can vary from day to day, so I would book this for the convenience and setting rather than expect a fine-dining event.

An Apsara Dinner at Amazon Angkor Restaurant

The final stop is Amazon Angkor Restaurant, where a Western and Asian buffet is served during an Apsara dance show. Apsara is a traditional Khmer performance art, known for controlled hand gestures, graceful movements, ornate costumes, and stories linked to Cambodian culture.

This is a useful way to finish the trip. After two days of temples and village visits, the show gives you an evening performance rather than another historical site. It also makes the second dinner easy, since the meal and entertainment are planned together.

The show lasts about two hours, and admission is included. You should expect a set cultural program in a restaurant setting, not an intimate theater performance. The buffet format offers choice, which is helpful for a mixed group, though anyone seeking a very local or quiet dinner may find the setting more tourist-oriented.

Still, the Apsara performance has real value for a short Siem Reap visit. You get an introduction to Khmer dance without having to arrange a separate evening booking or transport. It rounds out the temple visits with living cultural performance.

What the $210 Price Really Covers

At $210 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Siem Reap. The value comes from the amount bundled into two private days: hotel pickup, private transportation, community fees, boat tickets, two lunches, two dinners, water, snacks, and the Apsara show.

The price also buys time and coordination. You do not need to arrange separate transport for Kampong Phluk, the sunset stop, the main Angkor temples, Banteay Srei, or the dinner performance. For a small group, that convenience can make the cost reasonable.

The major extra is the $37 adult Angkor pass. Insurance is not included either. Add that amount before comparing the tour with independent transport or a shorter temple outing.

The private format is especially useful for families and small groups. Only your own group participates, and the guides have been praised for attentive service, careful scheduling, friendly conduct, and taking memorable photos. The company has also handled transport for people arriving late from Phnom Penh, though that transfer is not part of the stated tour package and should not be assumed.

Who Will Get the Most From This Tour

I would recommend this experience to a first-time visitor who wants the main Angkor temples but also wants to see daily life around the water. It suits people who prefer one organized plan, included meals, and private transport rather than arranging each part themselves.

It is also a good fit for families and small groups that value help with photos and a guide who explains Cambodia with obvious local pride. Most people can participate, and the tour is near public transportation, though the schedule still requires plenty of walking and an early morning.

I would hesitate if you want a slow archaeological visit. Angkor Wat receives about two hours, Bayon and Ta Prohm about one hour each, and the second day packs in several stops. You will see a lot, but you will not have unlimited time at every temple.

The first day is easier, with an 8 AM pickup and a hotel break before the sunset outing. The second day is the demanding one. If you book, protect your sleep before the 5 AM departure and do not plan a late night beforehand.

Should You Book It?

Book this tour if you want a well-organized private overview of Siem Reap, with temples, village life, local food, and an evening show in one package. It offers more variety than a temple-only tour and includes many expenses that can otherwise become a nuisance.

Skip it if you prefer to focus on one or two temples at a very slow pace, or if you dislike early mornings and full sightseeing days. Before paying, confirm the Phnom Bakheng or Phnom Krom sunset stop, the exact dinner schedule, and how the Angkor pass will be handled.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not accepted for a refund.

FAQ

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup is offered from the Siem Reap area, with an 8 AM start on day one and a 5 AM pickup for the Angkor Wat sunrise on day two.

Is the Angkor temple pass included?

No. The Angkor pass costs $37 per adult and must be paid separately. Community entrance fees and boat tickets for the floating village are included.

What meals are included?

The package includes two lunches and two dinners. It also includes water and snacks. The Apsara evening includes a Western and Asian buffet at Amazon Angkor Restaurant.

Is the Kampong Phluk boat ride included?

Yes. Community entrance fees and boat tickets are included. Kayaking may be available depending on the arrangements and conditions.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your own group participates, and private transportation is provided.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not eligible for a refund.