Planning a trip to Cambodia with kids? From Angkor Wat to island escapes, here’s our first-hand family travel experience.
The afternoon in Phnom Penh passed in a blur of markets, barge crossings on the mighty Mekong Delta, temples, ice-cream breaks and a tree full of cute monkeys who showed me their rear ends every time I lifted the camera. Although I’m sure it was unintentional, the kids especially found this hilarious. Maybe the monkeys were just sick of being gawked at.
We didn’t make it to the Royal Palace that day, or the next. In fact, we didn’t get there until 10 days later, after a whirlwind trip through Cambodia with kids – up to Siem Reap to experience the wonder of the Angkor Temples and down to Koh Rong Island. When we finally did make it to the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, we wondered why we hadn’t visited sooner.
The Royal Palace is reminiscent of Bangkok’s Grand Palace in Thailand. Although the complex isn’t as large, so it’s easier to manage with kids suffering from tired legs. It’s the official residence of the King of Cambodia, so some parts are closed to the public, but visitors can view the throne hall, surrounding buildings and the Silver Pagoda, aka Wat Preah Keo or Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
The Silver Pagoda features a floor covered in five tonnes of shiny silver with an Italian marble staircase leading up to it. There are all sorts of goodies in here, including a life-size solid-gold Buddha covered in 2086 diamonds, the largest weighing 25 carats. I can’t prove any of this as photography is strictly not permitted inside the Silver Pagoda, so you will have to just take my word for it, as I took the guide’s words about the obscene amount of diamonds.
Siem Reap & the Angkor Temples in Cambodia with kids
Getting around Cambodia with kids is surprisingly easy. As a compromise between the cheapest mode of transport from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap and the most expensive, we chose to hire a driver for the 5.5-hour road trip. Our impeccably dressed driver could not speak English, and we knew zero Khmer, but the hotel helped us relay instructions. The driver phoned his son and indicated that we take his phone for any other interpretations. This turned out to be a blessing as his son, Sareth, was a tuk-tuk driver in Siem Reap. Sareth agreed to pick us up the next day for a temple tour.
Before arriving, I thought Siem Reap, the city that services the Angkor temples, was all about Angkor Wat with nothing to offer… boy was I wrong. There is plenty to do for families in and around Siem Reap, and I would love to come back and see more of this small, vibrant city.
Some people say that your hotel is ‘’just a place to sleep’’, but this isn’t entirely true when you’re travelling with kids. A family holiday is always much easier to manage when your hotel offers a bit more, and provides comfortable downtime when you’re not exploring. We really loved our family room at the Ibis Styles, Siem Reap in Cambodia with kids.
Although the bathroom was a little small, the Ibis Styles was very modern with spacious rooms. The kids had their own room and TV, while our room featured a swing chair chained to the ceiling. The extra space was a huge blessing when I was struck down with traveller’s gastro and needed some space.
The best Tuk-Tuk driver in Siem Reap
Sareth, our tuk-tuk driver, was waiting for us when we waltzed out of the Ibis the next day. I expected him to be a no-show because, well, this was all too easy. But here he was, 10 minutes early and ready to go. We learned about Sareth’s life in Cambodia as he spoke of his children. Education is not free here, making it very hard to break the cycle of poverty, and we could hear the pride in his voice as he spoke of their achievements.
To avoid the tour buses, we decided to visit the temples at noon, when many visitors take a break for lunch. Instead, Sareth took us on a tour of Tonle Sap Lake and its floating villages. Tonle Sap is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. In the rainy season from June to October, the mighty Mekong River fills it, reaching depths of up to 14 metres.
The floating villages and their friendly residents were fascinating, with a hub clearly set up for tourists like us. Nevertheless, it was a fun visit involving tuk-tuks, boats and wildlife, which we all enjoyed immensely.
Finally … the Angkor Temples
Lunchtime and the afternoon saw us finally visiting the famous temples we came to Cambodia to see, Ta Prohm (aka Tomb Raider temple) and Angkor Wat. Of course, I’m well aware there are many more amazing temples to explore here, but I wanted to make sure the kids enjoyed the experience, which meant taking the time to enjoy the temples we did visit rather than rushing through many more in the heat.
Ta Prohm was made famous by the original Tomb Raider movie starring Angelina Jolie, and it is here that you will witness nature growing in, around and through the ruins. Nature and temples have collided to create beautiful scenes of green on brown, and being honest, I can’t imagine it any other way. This temple is particularly amazing for kids, as although some sections are off-limits, families can still roam through the corridors and ruins at their own pace, allowing children the freedom to be little explorers.
Angkor Wat is the world’s largest religious building. Built in the first half of the 12th century, it’s amazing that it’s still standing today and even more amazing that we are allowed to wander through it. Angkor Wat involves a lot of walking, and at this point of the day, feet were dragging, and the kids were asking for shoulder rides.
One of my favourite travel memories
Flashes of orange glimpsed through the hallway pillars indicated the monks were nearby, and many people come here to be blessed by them in such a monumental place. I’ve found the words hard to come by to describe these temples, as my words don’t do them justice. Glimpses of orange, the smell of incense, the chatter of tourists, cheeky monkeys, and the clash of nature and man-made structures. It all combines to create a truly memorable experience.
I sat in a quiet courtyard in the centre of Angkor Wat and closed my eyes, my back leaning against a wall, my son and daughter leaning against me as they too rested their legs. Taking a deep breath in and out, I tried to imagine what it would have been like all those centuries ago in this exact same spot.
As we walked back towards the large moat that surrounds Angkor Wat, the sun was noticeably lower in the sky. Light was now shining through the ornate pillars, leaving long shadows of light on the ground and illuminating my daughter’s dark blonde hair from behind as she pulled faces at her brother. The scene is memorable, and words don’t do the memory justice. But it’s this memory that’s my favourite.
Our last day in Siem Reap was spent walking the streets on foot, visiting markets and catching a performance of Phare, the Cambodian circus of acrobats (no animals), a show not to be missed.
Koh Rong Island off the coast of Sihanoukville was our next stop. I had hoped to draw comparisons to other beautiful beaches in south-east Asia, such as Thailand and Vietnam … but that’s a story for another day.
Where to stay in Cambodia with kids
Phnom Penh
- The VMansion Boutique Hotel is a great, affordable option in Phnom Penh. The hotel is eco-friendly without the bragging, makes great use of its space, has helpful staff, and features hand-painted wall art and great food.
- The Raffles Hotel Le Royal is a memorable luxury option. The legendary Raffles service is abundant and kids are welcomed here with an extensive children’s menu and shallow pool. This hotel is pure class at every corner.
Siem Reap
- The Ibis Styles Hotel is a fantastic, affordable family option in Siem Reap. This modern hotel is stylish with an international standard restaurant downstairs and a night market directly across the road.
- The Raffles Hotel dÁngkor is Siem Reap’s luxury Raffles offering and is conveniently located only 10 minutes drive to both Angkor Wat and Siem Reap’s international airport. Although your wallet will be significantly lighter afterwards, you can’t go wrong here.
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