Siem Reap: Afternoon APOPO Rats Tour + Phare Circus Option

Meet your guide at Streats by ibis Styles Siem Reap at 2:30 PM and begin with a visit to APOPO.

At the Visitor Center, you’ll learn how trained “HeroRATs” help detect landmines quickly and safely. During the demonstration, you’ll see how a single rat can search an area the size of a tennis court in under 30 minutes, a task that would take a human deminer several days! Clear, clever, and unexpectedly engaging, the visit gives you a rare insight into a challenge most travellers never see!

Next, continue to Theam’s Gallery, an artistic sanctuary created by master artist Lim Muy Theam. Set within a series of serene, open-air pavilions, the gallery blends home, atelier, and museum. Wander through lush courtyards, ancient-style structures, and a curated collection of Khmer objects, instruments, and everyday artifacts. It’s a beautifully designed space that feels both intimate and immersive and the perfect place to get a glimpse into Cambodian culture, symbolism, and craftsmanship.

Your final stop is the Royal Independence Garden, one of Siem Reap’s most iconic landmarks. Surrounded by historic architecture, like the colonial-era Raffles Hotel d’Angkor, the garden is famous for its enormous fruit bats resting in the treetops. Beside the garden lies Preah Ang Chek Preah Ang Chorm Shrine, an important place of worship for locals.

Guests selecting the Phare Circus option are dropped off directly at Phare Circus for the early evening performance. Created by the artists of Phare Ponleu Selpak, the show blends acrobatics, theatre, dance, and live music into an expressive, high-energy experience. Each performance tells a modern Cambodian story through impressive physical talent and strong artistic style, making Phare one of Siem Reap’s most highly rated evening activities.

Guests not attending the circus return to Streats by ibis Styles Siem Reap around 5:30 PM. This easygoing half-day tour is the perfect way to explore Siem Reap beyond its temples: engaging, thoughtful, and just the right pace for the afternoon.