Adventures in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Wide Eyed – exceptional transfers & day tours

When thinking about a reputable company to use locally for your precious time in Cambodia, look no further than Wide Eyed Tours!

Award-winning, Australian-founded travel company, Wide-Eyed Tours specialise in personalised, authentic tours across Southeast Asia.

Waiting for me on arrival at Siem Reap Airport, my Wide Eyed guide Chandara, was all smiles and made me feel at ease immediately.   Chandara was incredibly caring, full of energy, knowledge and excited.   I knew I was in great hands with her for exceptional experiences from Siem Reap.

My private day tours were tailored to my love of photography, visiting unforgettable places, meeting local people and adventures off the beaten track.

Shinta Mani Angkor – an oasis of calm with positive local impact

This luxury boutique hotel blends modern style with Cambodian touches in a way that feels calm and intentional.

Designed by acclaimed architect Bill Bensley, this eclectic hotel offers tranquility, serene pools and Khmer-inspired buildings filled with hand-picked artifacts and artworks.

Service is where Shinta Mani stands out.  Staff remember your name, preferences, and schedules without being intrusive. This translates into smooth mornings, packed breakfasts for sunrise tours, and small details handled before you even ask.

The Shinta Mani Foundation focuses on education, healthcare, and community programs in Cambodia.  Their mission is to ignite a ripple effect of positive change, contributing to the creation of a thriving and vibrant Cambodia.  By choosing a Shinta Mani property, you are making a real, important impact on the people, communities, wildlife & eco-systems of Cambodia.

Angkor Wat – timeless and powerful

Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world and Cambodia’s most iconic site. Built in the early 12th century near Siem Reap, it was originally a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu and later became a Buddhist place of worship.

Famous for its grand towers, vast moat, and detailed stone carvings, Angkor Wat symbolises the heart of the ancient Khmer Empire and remains a powerful national and spiritual symbol today.

The UNESCO World Heritage site, stretching over 400 square kms, contains Angkor Wat and over 100 other temples.  Angkor Wat is absolutely stunning and a sight to see.

Tour operator:  Wide Eyed Tours

Temples of Angkor – Ta Prohm (Tomb Raider Temple)

Ta Prohm, nicknamed the Tomb Raider Temple, showcases the jungle taking over.   It is one of the largest temple complexes built during the Khmer Empire.  Giant silk-cotton and strangler fig trees stand tall with their vast root systems strangling the surviving stone walls, merging beautifully with the temples’ architecture.

The 2001, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider movie (with Angelina Jolie) was set within the Angkor Thom temple complex, and I knew when watching the movie, it was a place I needed to experience… it does not disappoint.

Breathtakingly beautiful and worth an early visit before the crowds.

Tour operator:  Wide Eyed Tours

Temples of Angkor – Banteay Kdei

Banteay Kdei is so peaceful and meditative with no crowds, just bird song.

Also known as the “Citadel of Monks” it is Buddhist temple in Angkor.   These ruins have been home to an active monastery at multiple time periods since its construction in the 12th century, up until the 1960s.

Tour operator:  Wide Eyed Tours

Temples of Angkor – Bayon (Temple of Faces)

Bayon Temple epitomises the creative genius of Cambodia’s most celebrated King, Jayavarman VII.

The Bayon was a definitive political statement about the shift from Hinduism to Buddhism.

Known as the “Temple of Faces” you can’t help but smile everywhere you look.   Keep an eye out for the cheeky monkeys at the entrance.

Tour operator:  Wide Eyed Tours

Beng Mealea – Indiana Jones vibes

For an authentic jungle temple ruin, Beng Mealea is a spectacular sight to behold, located 68kms northeast of Siem Reap.

Beng Mealea was the original design of Angkor Wat.  Unfortunately, it is now seriously damaged due primarily to natural degradation and collapse, with no restoration works taking place, like at the temples of Angkor.

Peaceful and without the crowds, it is the ultimate Indiana Jones experience.  Nature has well and truly run riot with massive trees and their muscular root systems holding on tight, with destructive love.

Tour operator:  Wide Eyed Tours

Tonle’ Sap – Kampong Phluk Stilted Village

Tonlé Sap, is Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake.  Designated in 1997 as a significant Biosphere Reserve for its vital ecosystem and cultural importance to millions of people in Cambodia.

Floating villages shift with the water levels, and life adapts in fascinating ways. Homes, schools, and shops all move with the seasons.

We explored the Kampong Phluk floating village, passing houses on stilts, small shops, and children paddling to school.  It is real daily life here and unfiltered, giving travellers a clearer understanding of how closely life here is tied to the lake.  Friendly kids were keen to practice their English and had many questions for me.

Tour operator:  Wide Eyed Tours

Tonle’ Sap – Mangrove tour

Serenity with locals on our mangrove tour.  Gliding through narrow channels lined with mangroves was calm and surprisingly peaceful after the busier temple days.

The mangroves play an important role in protecting the lake’s ecosystem, and the slow pace allows time to take it all in.  Birds, still water, and shady trees made this one of the most reflective moments of the day.

Tour operator:  Wide Eyed Tours

Wat Svey Romiet Pagoda – Monk Blessing

Afternoon visit to Wat Svey Romiet Pagoda, located directly on the banks of the West Baray, Siem Reap.

Met with a 17-year-old local Buddhist monk, participated in almsgiving and received a private water blessing.

Buddhist monks are a common and respected sight throughout Siem Reap.

Through translation, he was happy to converse and answer questions.   Their lives revolve around study, meditation, and daily rituals – like walking the streets with alms bowls to collect food offerings from the local community.

Tour operator:  Wide Eyed Tours

Thank you Wide Eyed Tours

Cambodia hits you in the feels and has filled my cup with its breathtaking beauty and resilient, welcoming people.

Nature and culture sit side by side.  It’s a place that feels real, not staged.

Its history is devastating and beyond words, but daily life moves gently, even after hardship & heartbreak.

I cannot wait to see more of Cambodia, and I look forward to my next adventure with Wide Eyed Tours.