Siem Reap: Afternoon APOPO Rats Tour + Phare Circus Option
Description
Enjoy Discova’s perfect After-Angkor afternoon: meet APOPO’s hero rats, explore Theam’s Gallery’s serene garden pavilions, and elevate your evening with an optional ticket to the famed Phare Circus. • Experience Siem Reap’s cultural side beyond the temples on a relaxed afternoon • Meet APOPO’s HeroRATs and learn how they detect landmines fast • Explore Theam’s Gallery’s serene pavilions and Khmer art collections
Tour Options
Itinerary
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.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Not suitable for customer has a strong phobia or intense sensitivity to rats
Reviews(3)
We visited the Apopo hero rats and were very impressed with the work they do. If dogs can seek out items, illnesses etc why not rats. The hero rats have saved a lot of lives with the work they do along with their ‘keepers’. Our guide Hueng, also took us to Theams Gallery which was like a cultural museum, and very interesting to hear about it. This was followed by a trip to the park near the royal residence where we saw the fruit bats, apparently the only place you see them in Siem Reap, the honeycombs high up in the tree branches of the large bees and the Angkor Wat Statues. Hueng was happy to talk to us about the Cambodian culture and history, both Angkor Wat and the more recent conflict that happened in his family’s lifetime.
Thank you for your thoughtful feedback. We’re delighted to hear you were impressed by the APOPO Hero Rats and their important work, as well as the meaningful stops at Theam’s Gallery and the park near the Royal Residence. It’s wonderful that Hueng was able to share both cultural and historical insights and make the experience so engaging. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again in Siem Reap.
Great activity , lots of information shared about the country and these rats are amazing!! I strongly recommend this activity!!!
Thank you for your great feedback! We’re so glad you enjoyed the activity and learning about the country. Happy to hear our rats impressed you too! 🐀✨ We really appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again!
I had a truly memorable afternoon on the tour to APOPO in Siem Reap. I was the only guest that day, which made the experience feel especially personal. I was promptly met at Ibis Styles Siem Reap by my guide, Heang, who immediately made me feel welcome. It was just a short drive to APOPO, where I joined a small group for the main tour. We were introduced to one of the remarkable “HeroRATs” and watched a live demonstration of how these incredible animals are trained to detect explosives. Seeing firsthand how calmly and methodically they work was fascinating. There was also an opportunity for photos, followed by a short but impactful video outlining the life-changing humanitarian work APOPO carries out in clearing landmines and saving lives. If I had one small criticism, it would be that I would have loved to spend a little more time watching the rats in action. That said, I completely understand that the welfare and wellbeing of the animals must always come first. The tour then continued to the Themes Gallery, showcasing traditional Cambodian art. Unfortunately, there was a power outage during our visit, but I was still able to browse and make a purchase from their shop. They have some wonderful pieces on display — I’m particularly fond of their beautifully colourful elephant artworks, which I collect. Our final stop was a pleasant stroll near the Royal Palace area, a nice way to round off the afternoon and take in a bit more of the city’s atmosphere. Ultimately, it was my guide Heang who truly made the experience exceptional. He is knowledgeable, personable, and clearly passionate about what he does. My five stars go to him without hesitation.
Thank you for your detailed review. We’re delighted to hear that your visit to APOPO was memorable and that Heang made the experience exceptional with his knowledge and passion. We’re glad you enjoyed meeting the HeroRATs, exploring the gallery, and strolling near the Royal Palace. Your feedback is much appreciated.
