Tour operator
Osmose Tonle Sap Eco-Tours
A conservation organisation running eco-tours to the Prek Toal floating village and bird sanctuary on the Tonle Sap, with income supporting lake communities.
Siem Reap photography tours led by photographer Laurent Dambies since 2014, timing visits to temples, villages and the Tonle Sap for the best light.
Good to know
Angkor Photography Tours was established in 2014 by Laurent Dambies, a photographer and photography coach who has lived in Siem Reap for more than 12 years and has led more than 500 workshops. Its motto, We Follow the Light not the Crowd, sums up the approach: tours are planned around the best light and the quietest moments at the temples, villages and markets, so that you come home with better pictures and a calmer experience.
The range of tours is wide. Half-day options include Angkor Sunrise, Angkor Sunset, Life in the Countryside, which ends with sunset, and a morning Pagoda and Market tour. Full-day tours combine the temples with the countryside at sunrise or sunset, or cover Angkor from sunrise to sunset. There is also an e-bike tour to lesser-known temples, a day combining the Tonle Sap lake with Beng Mealea, and a trip to the remote temples of Koh Ker and Beng Mealea. For keen photographers, multi-day Siem Reap photography tours of three to five days and a 12-day Cambodia photography tour for one to four people offer more time to work on technique.
The tours are designed for travellers who want to photograph Angkor and rural Cambodia well, with Laurent acting as both guide and coach, and the small-group format means you get personal attention. Non-photographers travelling with a photographer often enjoy the slower, more observant pace too.
Practical planning matters on these trips. Sunrise tours start very early, so prepare your gear the night before, and bring spare batteries and memory cards, as the temples offer many opportunities. Lightweight clothing, a hat and plenty of water are essential, and you will need an Angkor Pass for any temple visit, plus separate tickets for Beng Mealea and Koh Ker. Ask about the itinerary when booking so you know how much walking is involved.
Bookings are made through the website, by WhatsApp or through Messenger, and the company also shares its work on Instagram. With strong reviews and a long track record, it is one of the most specialised ways to experience Angkor, and it combines well with independent temple visits on other days of your stay.
Laurent Dambies, a photographer and coach who has lived in Siem Reap for over 12 years and led more than 500 workshops.
In 2014.
Half-day sunrise, sunset, countryside and market tours, full-day temple and countryside tours, e-bike temple tours and remote temple trips.
Yes, three- to five-day Siem Reap photography tours and a 12-day Cambodia photography tour.
We Follow the Light not the Crowd, reflecting tours planned around the best light and quieter moments.
Yes, for the main temples, plus separate tickets for sites such as Beng Mealea and Koh Ker.
Small; the 12-day tour takes one to four people.
Through the website, WhatsApp or Messenger.
Attraction
Suryavarman II's 12th-century temple to Vishnu, the largest religious monument in the world and the centrepiece of the Angkor World Heritage Site.
Restaurant
Chef Joannes Riviere's dinner-only restaurant in a traditional wooden house, serving regularly changing eight-course tasting menus of seasonal Cambodian produce.
Café
A speciality coffee café open since late 2014, blending Australian café culture with Cambodian touches, known for espresso, cold drip and simple breakfasts.
Bar
An intimate cocktail lounge on Street 26 styled after 1930s Shanghai, serving martinis, a Raffles-recipe Singapore Sling and home-style Chinese dishes.