Scribbled by Claire ◊ 04 Jun 2025
Here, we talk about what ‘Phare’ is, what the Cambodian Circus is like and if it’s something you’d like, which seats are the best to book, when to arrive, what the facilities are like and how comfortable the arena is, to help you plan your trip!
I’m not a circus fan. I mean, forced animal exploitation and creepy clowns are really, really not my thing.
So, when my travel buddies suggested visiting the Cambodian Circus while in Siem Reap, I was sceptical (to say the least).
After exclaiming that I wasn’t keen, I was promptly informed that the Phare Cambodian Circus was not the usual clowny, animal experience. It was different, they said. I was being dramatic, they said.
So, I believed them.
And I’m quite glad I did.
Below we’ve included as many photos of the show as possible, plus the seating set up, so you can decide if it’s the ideal experience for your Cambodia trip!
IN THIS GUIDE //
Phare Cambodian Circus in Siem Reap
WHAT IS PHARE?
WHERE IS THE CAMBODIAN CIRCUS?
HOW TO BUY TICKETS
WHAT ARE THE SEATS LIKE?
WHAT IS THE BEST SEAT SECTION FOR THE CIRCUS?
IS THE CAMBODIAN CIRCUS ETHICAL?
NEED TO KNOW
PRE-SHOW AT THE CAMBODIAN CIRCUS
FOOD AT THE CIRCUS
WHERE TO STAY IN SIEM REAP
FAQ
FINAL THOUGHTS – CAMBODIAN CIRCUS
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WHAT IS PHARE?
The NGO-run Phare Cambodian Circus is a performing arts centre set in a big top stage, featuring nightly performances by a contemporary acrobatics group.
Initially opened in February 2013, the Circus shows typically combine traditional Cambodian stories with modern performance styles, including acrobatics, storytelling, drama and live music. Within the stories, Khmer history and myths, as well as social issues, are showcased.
There are no animals used to perform at the Phare Cambodian Circus.
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Where is the Cambodian Circus?
The Cambodian Circus operates in both Siem Reap and in Battambang. This post is about the performances in Siem Reap (although most of the information can be applied to the Battambang location, too).
Phare in Siem Reap is around 2-3 kilometres to the west of the town centre. Here are your transport options:
Grab taxi | order through the app. More comfortable option, especially in the hotter months.
Grab tuktuk | cheaper, quirkier option but without the air-conditioned benefit.
Self-drive tuktuk | find out more about Cambodia tuktuk rental
Rental motorbike | Siem Reap’s roads are a little quieter at night and the journey is easy (apart from last roundabout!). Read more about renting a bike.
Walk | depending on the location of your accommodation, it’s likely around a 30-minute walk.
Hail a street cab or tuktuk | likely to be more expensive than hiring through an app, but there’s no waiting time. This should cost roughly three dollars for a tuktuk.
Are there Tuktuks Around at the End of the Show?
Yes, there are loads of tuktuks that wait outside to pick up all the visitors.
There are loads and loads waiting at the entrance as you leave – they know people need a lift!
RENTING A TUKTUK IN SIEM REAP
We rented our very own tuktuk in Siem Reap for our journeys in Cambodia.
If you’re exploring Siem Reap, consider doing the same!
A tuktuk provides flexibility to explore Siem Reap, the epic Angkor Wat ruins and further afield independently and at your own pace, which we would absolutely recommend. It’s a fantastic (and hilarious) option, especially if you don’t have a motorbike license.
For more information on tuktuk rental in Cambodia, check out our comprehensive guide.
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How to Buy Tickets for the Cambodian Circus
There are three ticket types available for seating, plus a special access pass. The different ticket types refer to zones in the venue (similar to most theatres). The seats at Phare are set out in a typical semi-circular shape across six levels, accommodating up to 330 people in total.
Section A | the most expensive section (adults $38, children $18). The seats are in the centre of the first three rows and each seat is assigned.
Section B | mid-range price (adults $28, children $15). Seats are situated at the back in the centre.
Section C | least expensive (adults $18, children $10). Seats are around the sides, with the potential for a little occlusion, especially if you’re in the back rows and anything on stage is happening at height.
Special access pass | there is also the option to include a backstage, 30-minute tour to learn more about the school, the performers and the company behind Phare Circus.
Children under 5 are free, children over 11 are priced as an adult.
What are the Seats Like?
Truthfully, seating at the Cambodian circus is not immensely comfortable.
The rows are basically narrow wooden benches, with your feet resting on the bench below where the row below sits. Each person gets a narrow, thin cushion to sit on.
There is no option to lean on anything, so if you struggle with supporting yourself (like me), you’ll probably be a little uncomfortable.
Section A seating is a little more spread out than B and C, as it is assigned, but still on the same narrow benches.
If you’re standard-sized, un-fidgety, and don’t have any physical disabilities, the seating will not likely be an issue at all. I’m hypermobile and was a little uncomfortable (as I always am), but my travel companions were totally fine.
After all, it’s only an hour long.
WHAT IS THE BEST SEAT SECTION FOR THE CAMBODIAN CIRCUS?
We would recommend trying to get a seat as centrally as possible (so in the middle of A or B).
The only real benefit of A over B is a free re-usable water bottle and specific, reserved seating. In B, it’s a free-for-all and you can sit wherever you want. In A, you’re closer to the action, but I don’t personally think that this is actually much of a benefit.
We sat in section B, right in the centre of the back row. I think that it was the best seat in the house. The view is unobstructed, central and from above you can see the entire venue perfectly. Plus the tickets are $10 less than Section A.
So, personally, we think that Section B offers the best value for money *and* the best experience at Phare.
Note | if you are visiting during the hotter months (around April/May), I can imagine sitting near the top of the venue might get particularly hot, especially if the venue was full.
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IS THE CAMBODIAN CIRCUS ETHICAL?
Phare, the Cambodian Circus, is a great example of ethical, sustainable, community-based tourism in action. It is run by an NGO called Phare Ponleu Selpak, which translates to ‘The brightness of the arts’.
After the downfall of the Khmer Rouge in 1979, nine children at a refugee camp on the Thai border learned to used art as a medium of recovery for the trauma they had endured. Upon returning to Cambodia some years later, they founded the school with an aim to empower other children, as they had been.
This school and its entertainment do not harm animals, nor exploit the performers, and the enterprise helps to support the local community. It creates employment for artists and performers in Cambodia that would otherwise not have such opportunities.
Profits | most of the profits from the ticket sales are funnelled back into the school and its associated social programs. It currently supports 1200 students and their families.
Poverty | provides a route out of poverty for underprivileged Cambodian youth, through free arts education.
Empowerment | the performers are trained, paid fair wages, and can express their culture and identity.
Cambodian stories | instead of generic ‘tourist’ acts, Phare celebrates the Khmer identity, rather than a commodification of it.
No animals | there are no animals used during performances at the Cambodian Circus.
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NEED TO KNOW TIMINGS
Earliest Arrival | 5.30 pm
Food served from | 5.30 pm
Pre-show time | 7 pm
Venue doors opening time | 7.30 pm
Show starting time | 8 pm
There’s no entry to the venue after the show has begun.
Pre-Show at the Cambodian Circus
The venue opens several hours before the show actually starts.
Parking | if you are using your own vehicle, there is free on-site gravel parking at the Cambodian Circus. We rode our rental motorbike there and a guard guided us to a parking spot. They then gave us a hand-written ticket with our number plate on, and placed a duplicate on our handlebar. We left our helmets attached to the bike, like other visitors, without any concerns.
Ticket check | take the email confirmation and swap it for a proper ticket at the booths on-site.
Gift shop | after exchanging your ticket, there’s a gift shop you pass through. It’s honestly really nice and there’s so much stuff I would have bought if I were loaded (I persuaded my travel buddy to buy me a crazy-pretty bracelet).
Pre-Show | there’s a 30-minute show of trainee dancers and performers that happens adjacent to the restaurant area. You can sit in dedicated seating to watch them or watch from the dining space.
FOOD AT THE CAMBODIAN CIRCUS
There is a large, partially covered dining area outside the Phare tent entrance, with lots of food and beverage vendors.
Coupons | at Phare, you purchase coupons to exchange for food and drink at the numerous on-site stalls. Change is given in smaller denomination coupons to exchanged back later. The coupon stall accepts U.S. dollars, Cambodian rial or the Bakong app for payment. The kiosk closes after the performance starts, so go to the bar to exchange any leftover coupons.
Food | options vary from small snacks that start from $1 and up (things like Cambodian glazed sesame donuts, which I would highly recommend). Larger meals, including Western options like burgers and Cambodian noodle and rice dishes cost around $6-7. The portion sizes are decent and the food average, for the most part. It’s all freshly cooked (you can see the wok flames from nearby seating tables). The food stalls close after the performance. There are vegetarian and vegan options.
Drink | there’s a bar serving both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. These include soft drinks, water (free water refills are available from a water cooler in the car park), cocktails, beer and wine.
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WHERE TO STAY IN SIEM REAP
We’ve stayed multiple times in Siem Reap, each time trying out a few different hotels.
Our favourites have been:
Hari Residences and Spa ($$) | this hotel is simply outstanding value for money. It’s located in central Siem Reap by the river and old town, so everything is walkable. The staff take customer service *way* above and beyond, and the super clean and comfortable rooms are enormous, with large balconies furnished with swinging chairs. It’s such an arty, thoughtfully designed hotel, even down to the welcome drinks and (actually decent) cake.
The hotel has one of the best rooftop pool views in the city, too! Oh, honourable mention for their outstanding always-included breakfast, which was fresh, vegetarian friendly and massively varied (there were these perfect little bread pudding baked things which I ate far too many of). We had two rooms at this hotel for a week (with a friend) and wanted to stay longer.
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Viroth’s Hotel ($$$+) | this hotel was an immaculate dream that I never wanted to wake from (sounds dramatic, but it’s true). It’s bit pricier than our usual choices, but also absolutely worth every penny (it had a exceptional reputation and I wanted to test it out). With a location near the river, it’s perfect for exploring Siem Reap on foot, although we didn’t really want to leave after arriving.
The staff are second to none (I actually mean that, probably the best customer service we’ve received anywhere), the aesthetic design is top notch and the hotel is pristinely maintained. I’m a plant person, so this hotel was magical for me. The rooms are modern, with extremely comfortable beds, and are way brighter than any others we’ve had in Cambodia. Everything about this hotel was just so thoughtful. Also, the exceptional pool and restaurant are worth staying for, alone.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Phare Cambodian Circus air-conditioned?
Yes, the venue at the Cambodian Circus is air-conditioned during the hotter months. Hand-fans are provided upon entry all-year-round, and we found the temperatures comfortable in the cooler month of January (even at the top of the venue). If you visit during April/May, I could imagine it being potentially a little uncomfortable, temperature-wise.
Is Photography allowed at the Cambodian Circus?
Yes, photography is encouraged at the Cambodian Circus. No flash photography is allowed for safety reasons.
Is the circus suitable for children?
The show is definitely suitable for kids. When we visited there were loads of kids at the circus, however it will depend on the individual whether they can sit still comfortably for more than an hour quietly (parental discretion here!).
How long is the show?
The actual circus show lasts for an hour. You can take your seat about half an hour before the show begins and there is a short meet-and-greet at the end, too. So in total, you could be in the venue for up to 1 hour 45 minutes.
Can you visit the circus and Angkor Wat in the same day?
Yes, you can visit the circus after a day touring Angkor Wat, in fact we’d highly recommend it! You can also visit the APOPO mine-detecting rats first thing in the morning on the same day, too, and see all the best parts of Siem Reap in one day! For more details, check out our two-day itinerary.
Where to Next?
Honestly, I wasn’t keen to visit anything with the word ‘circus’ in it. It just always gave me nightmares.
However, the ‘White Gold’ show we saw by Phare Circus was really fantastic – not Cirque Du Soleil levels, obviously, but it’s a thoughtful, imaginative and entertaining show. One that supports the local community, too!
It’s a particularly great option for something to do in the evening in Siem Reap, too – especially if you’re less than keen to spend your time in Pub Street every night (totally not my vibe in 2025). For more things to do in the evening, have a look at our two-day itinerary.
If you’re keen on photography, the Cambodian Circus is also an excellent opportunity to get some nice shots of something unique! If you’re visiting Angkor Wat with the intention of taking some decent photos, consider having a peek at our Angkor Wat photography tips and our favourite locations. If you intend to travel further afield, have a look at why we love Battambang so much!
Have a great trip!
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