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There are so many amazing things to do in and around Siem Reap in 2025. However, many of the BEST things to do are far apart, and you will need to plan your transportation before you go.
What transportation is available in Siem Reap? How do you even know where to start? And how much should transportation cost in Siem Reap? How do you avoid being ripped off? And what are the best ways to get to different attractions in Siem Reap? In this article, we will answer all of these questions and more.
Spending a little time planning and researching now could save you a lot of time, money, and stress later. We have lived in Siem Reap, and we have also visited many times over the years. So we really do have extensive experience traveling and exploring this area (and we absolutely love Cambodia!). We hope that our experience and tips will help you plan your own adventures in this beautiful area.
Also, don’t miss this fantastic guide to The Best Things to See & Do in Siem Reap
Planning & preparation guide – Everything you need to know before you go to Siem Reap
Getting a fair price for transportation in Cambodia
Flexible pricing in Asia
The flexible pricing system in Southeast Asia can be very strange at first, especially if you have not traveled in this region before. Prices in Southeast Asia are often flexible, especially when it comes to transport. So prices can be negotiated. This is called bargaining. When you bargain well, it can actually be a lot of fun. The fundamental rule of bargaining is never to pay more for something than you are happy to pay. It may sound obvious, but understanding this will take a lot of stress out of the process of bargaining. If you can’t agree on a price that you’re both happy with, you don’t need to pay, and they don’t need to go.
The goal of negotiating
In this article, we are not going to share how to get the absolute cheapest possible prices. We have seen travelers pushing hard for extremely low prices (prices which are beyond a reasonable local and fair price). We have even seen travelers refusing to make payment. Ultimately, remember when you are taking transportation in Cambodia, you are supporting locals in a developing country. On the other hand, we have seen local drivers charge travelers extortionate amounts of money for transportation. In our opinion, this is also unacceptable. In this guide, we are going to show you how to get fair and reasonable prices for transportation in Cambodia.
The only way to make sure that you pay a fair price and that you are not being ripped off is to have a good feel for fair prices in the country. Remember, locals may try and convince you that your prices are far too low. It is important to be confident and never pay more than you are happy with.
Learn more about budget travel – Don’t miss our guide on how to travel Cambodia on $18 per day
1 Take a tuk-tuk
Don’t miss our full guide to Taking a tuk tuk in Cambodia
One of the most common and convenient ways to get around in Siem Reap is to take a Tuk Tuk. This is the best way to see and experience attractions that are further afield, especially Angkor Wat. However, if you are not familiar with taking Tuk-tuks, this can feel a little unusual and unnerving at first.
How to find a tuk-tuk in Siem Reap
The great news is that there are many, many tuk-tuks in and around the Siem Reap area. So finding a tuk-tuk is not going to be challenging, especially if you are in the Siem Reap town center area. Many tuk tuks wait around the pub street area of town.
In order to get a tuk-tuk, you just need to speak to a driver and explain where you want to go and whether you are looking for a round trip or a one-way trip. The tuk-tuk drivers in Siem Reap generally have an excellent level of English, and they are generally well aware of all the main attractions in the area. Before you agree to a journey, you will need to agree to a price, and if you are planning a two-way trip, you will also need to agree on the waiting time.
If you are not happy with the price, then just walk on. Once you have found a tuk-tuk that is willing to go for a reasonable price, you can just hop in, and off you go. Riding tuk-tuks in Cambodia is actually a lot of fun. They can generally fit 4 adults (two benches), and the tuk-tuk is open-air, so you can enjoy the sights and smells of Siem Reap as you ride around.
Paying for your tuk-tuk
You do not need to pay for your tuk-tuk ride until you are dropped off at your final destination at the end of the journey. You will need to pay for your journey in cash, and drivers generally accept US dollars or Cambodian Riel (the dual currency can be a little confusing – you may pay in dollars and get change in Riel! – Learn more about Currency in Cambodia) If you are paying using larger notes such as $10 or $20 notes, they may check the note for any damage, including folding, ripping, or dirt on the note. Locals may not accept damaged notes.
TOP TIP: If you’re planning to take a longer trip with a local tuk-tuk driver, we recommend taking the phone number so that you can contact them. Many drivers will drop you off and then wait in a different destination, so you will need to find them when you are ready to return.
Examples of fair & reasonable local prices for a Tuk Tuk
The best way to make sure you don’t under-pay or overpay is to know fair local prices for tuk tuks in Siem Reap. Here is a very helpful guide to reasonable prices for a range of different journal types in Siem Reap:
- Short local journey (1 – 2km) in Siem Reap town – $1 -$2
- Medium length one-way journey (2 – 5km) in Siem Reap town – $2 – $3
- Medium length round trip (5 – 10km) with a couple of hours waiting time – $5 – $8
- A full morning or afternoon to attractions around Siem Reap – $10
- Full day trip to Angkor Wat, including 3 – 5 temples – $15
- Very long day trip, including some further temples – $20 – $25
Tuk tuks in Siem Reap – A few things to watch out for
Remember, drivers may try and convince you that you are asking far too little for the journey. This is just a way to get more money. Ultimately, if they are not happy with these prices, you can move on, and you should be able to find drivers who are willing to take you for these prices.
Some drivers may pretend to have a lower level of English to play on ambiguity and the language barrier. If you are speaking to a driver who does not appear to have a firm understanding of the conversation, we recommend moving on and finding a different driver. It is important that you can communicate clearly with your driver, especially when it comes to agreeing on the price and destinations.
If these prices seem on the low side, we recommend agreeing to a price like this and then paying your driver an additional tip at the end of the journey. This is a nice way to show appreciation and support a local while maintaining a culture of fair pricing in Siem Reap.
We have pulled together a full guide on bargaining in Asia – this is well worth a read if you’re hoping to travel around Siem Reap by Tuk Tuk.
Why not take a tour?
If all this sounds too complicated and challenging – why not use local tours to explore Siem Reap? For example, this Angkor Wat Tour on Klook is great value for money and a lot of fun!
2 Rent a motorbike
Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE to motorbike rental in Siem Reap
Another fun, convenient, and affordable way to travel around Siem Reap is to rent a motorbike. This is great for solos and couples – especially if you’re on a budget. In the past, it has not been possible for travelers to rent motorbikes in Siem Reap. However, in recent years, the rules have changed, and travelers can now rent motorbikes to travel around Siem Reap.
How do you rent a motorbike in Siem Reap?
If you do plan to rent a motorbike in Siem Reap, we recommend having an international driver’s license; however, if you do not have this, your normal driver’s license should be sufficient. There are plenty of motorbike rental shops situated in Siem Reap town. Bike rental starts at $10 per day. Most places will stick to this price and will not be willing to barter to a lower price. If you are renting for a longer period, then you may be able to reduce the daily rate to $7. You may also need to leave a deposit. If they ask for your passport we recommend negotiating a cash deposit. Make sure the deposit is also stated on your bike rental contract.
Bike rental – Staying safe in Siem Reap
If you’re planning to use motorbike rental to explore Siem Reap, we strongly recommend that you wear a bike helmet; the roads in this area can be quite hazardous and crowded. Also, be aware that there are many unpaved roads around town (even some quite central roads are dusty, bumpy, and unpaved). This can be quite challenging on a motorbike. You can purchase petrol from small street-side shops, which generally sell glass bottles containing petrol.
You can also find several shops around town that offer e-bike rental; these are electric motorbikes, which are a lot of fun to drive around and more environmentally friendly. The main difference between a motorbike and an e-bike is the acceleration; be aware that e-bikes can be very zippy and accelerate quite fast, especially if you have a more powerful model.
TOP TIP: Make sure you are fully qualified to ride a motorbike (most bikes in Cambodia have a 125cc capacity). Also make sure your medical travel insurance covers riding a motorbike.
3 Rent a bicycle
Another way to travel around Siem Reap is by bicycle; this is a fun and enjoyable way to explore the town. In general, we recommend bicycle rental for exploring attractions in and around Siem Reap. If you are very committed and determined, you could use a bicycle to explore Angkor Wat. In our opinion, this would be relatively challenging due to the long distances, and you also need to be very careful on some of the roads, which can be quite fast and crowded. You can rent a clunky old bicycle for as little as $1 per day. Many guest houses and hostels offer bicycle rental. For a newer and more modern bike, it is likely to cost around $3 – $5 per day.
4 Walking around town
Siem Reap, the town center, is a relatively small area. Most of the main attractions, including the river, the main market, shops, and restaurants, are all within a relatively short proximity (1 – 2 km), and it is possible to walk the length of the main town in around 10 minutes. Walking is a great way to explore, especially if you are hoping to stay in the center of Siem Reap town. Most of the roads in town have safe sidewalks (footpaths). Take care crossing roads – pedestrian crossings are few and far between. If you enjoy walking around town, we highly recommend taking a stroll along the river, which is very beautiful and relatively shaded by trees.
