Why Phare
Why Phare
A circus that tells real stories
Phare isn't a conventional acrobatic circus. Its performers create and stage original productions drawn from their own life experiences, recent Cambodian history and folklore — blending circus arts with drama, dance and live music so the acrobatics carry a story. Reviewers who arrive unsure they'll enjoy "a circus" leave describing it as one of the highlights of their trip.
Booking a ticket supports the artists
Phare, The Cambodian Circus is a social enterprise: it grew out of Phare Ponleu Selpak, an arts school founded to give young Cambodians a future through the arts, and ticket sales fund that school and provide professional careers for its graduates. You're buying a genuinely world-class night's entertainment and directly backing the people on stage.
Consistently one of Siem Reap's best nights
GetYourGuide reviewers rate the show 4.8 out of 5 across 2,100-plus verified bookings, and 92% of the English-speaking travellers among them left a perfect score. There are no animals in the acts — just performers — and the praise keeps coming back to the athleticism, the comedy, and how well the story holds together. It's the evening most people slot in after a day among the Angkor temples.
What makes Phare, Phare
What makes Phare, Phare
Four things set a Phare night apart from a standard circus. Here's what you're actually booking into.
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Stories from real life
Each production is an original story — drawn from the performers' own experiences, recent Cambodian history and folklore — told through the acrobatics rather than bolted onto them, so there's a narrative to follow, not just a sequence of tricks.
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Circus arts & theatre
Acrobatics, juggling, contortion and aerial work woven together with drama and dance. It's entirely human — there are no animal acts — and reviewers repeatedly single out the athleticism and precision of the young cast.
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A live band
The whole show is scored live, the music shifting with the story from playful to poignant — a big part of why the hour feels like theatre as much as circus, and why it works with no shared language needed.
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A social enterprise
Phare grew from the Phare Ponleu Selpak arts school, and your ticket funds that school and the artists' careers. Seeing the show is also the point of it — a rare case where the most fun thing to do is also the most worthwhile.
The big top & getting there
The big top & getting there
"Seeing Phare" means a specific big-top tent in Siem Reap, a short hop from the Angkor temples — here's the practical picture.
An intimate big top
The show is staged under Phare's own big-top tent in Siem Reap — an intimate venue where even the further sections stay close to the ring, though it can get warm inside, so light clothing and a bottle of water help. The single nightly show starts at 8:00 PM and runs about an hour.
Seating sections & Phare Insider
Tickets come in Sections A (VIP, closest), B and C, differing by proximity to the stage. Several options also add 'Phare Insider' — an exclusive backstage tour before the show — for a behind-the-scenes look at how the productions come together.
Arrive early, and enjoy the grounds
Arrive at least 30 minutes before showtime — no entry is permitted once the show has started. The Phare Boutique and Café open two hours before, with locally-made crafts and food and drink, so it's worth coming early to eat and browse; reviewers say arriving early adds to the evening.
Getting there
The big top is a short tuk-tuk or taxi ride from central Siem Reap, and hotel pick-up and drop-off aren't included, so plan your own ride. It pairs perfectly with a day at the Angkor temples — the ruins by day, the circus by night. Bring mosquito repellent for the evening.
Cambodian circus & Siem Reap, in pictures
Cambodian circus & Siem Reap, in pictures
A look at the acrobats, the temples, and the town before you go.
Seating & what's included
Seating & what's included
| Option | What it includes | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Section C / B | A seat for the show by section, in the intimate big top | C is the most affordable; B sits closer — the tent is small, so all seats are decent |
| Section A (VIP) | The closest, best seats to the ring | Worth it for the acrobatics up close on a special night |
| Phare Insider | Any section plus an exclusive backstage tour before the show | A behind-the-scenes look at how the productions are made |
| Extras | WiFi and parking on site; no hotel pickup | Food, drinks and souvenirs are available to buy at the Phare Café and Boutique |
Ways to book Phare
Find a Phare show date for your trip
Choose from the seating tiers below; checkout happens over on GetYourGuide, showing the total in whatever currency you use at home.
Planning your evening
Planning your evening
One show a night — arrive early
Phare runs a single performance nightly at 8:00 PM, lasting about an hour. Arrive at least 30 minutes before, as no entry is allowed once it starts. Better still, come early enough to enjoy the Phare Café and Boutique, which open two hours before showtime.
Choosing your section
The big top is intimate, so every section has a reasonable view; Section A (VIP) puts you closest to the ring, with B and C stepping back and down in price. If a behind-the-scenes look appeals, add a 'Phare Insider' backstage tour to any section.
Getting there
The tent is a short tuk-tuk or taxi ride from central Siem Reap; hotel pickup and drop-off aren't included, so arrange your own ride there and back. It slots neatly into an Angkor itinerary — temples by day, Phare by night — since it's only minutes from town.
What to bring
It can get warm under the big top, so wear light, comfortable clothing and take a bottle of water in. As anywhere in Cambodia in the evening, apply mosquito repellent before you go. Photography is fine as long as the flash is off.
Booking flexibility
There's no charge for cancelling within a day of the show, and reserve-now-pay-later is there for anyone who'd rather commit to a night before handing over payment. This show is popular enough to sell through, so give yourself a couple of days' lead time — more if you're travelling in the busy November–February stretch.
Planning a Phare night in Siem Reap
Planning a Phare night in Siem Reap
Phare in Siem Reap: which section, and how to fit it around Angkor
Sections, the backstage option and timing around your temple days — here's how to get the most from a Phare night.
Read more → THE ART FORMWhat "New Circus" Means, and Why Phare Has No Animals
Phare's acrobatics belong to a global "new circus" movement that dropped animal acts for storytelling — here's what that means for your night in Siem Reap.
Read more → THE SCHOOL BEHIND ITPhare Ponleu Selpak: the Battambang Art School Behind Phare
Every Siem Reap ticket supports Phare Ponleu Selpak, a Battambang arts school founded by young Cambodians returning from refugee camps — how the two connect.
Read more → WHAT THE SHOWS SAYThe Stories Phare Tells: History, Folklore and Modern Life
Phare's shows aren't generic circus spectacle — they're original stories about Cambodia, from village folklore to the recent past, told through acrobatics.
Read more → INSIDE THE RINGThe Skills on Stage: Acrobatics, Live Painting and the Band
Behind every Phare show is years of training, live music and, in some productions, an artist painting on canvas — what to watch for once the lights go down.
Read more → CHOOSING YOUR SHOWPhare vs Cirque du Soleil vs Apsara Dance, Compared
Three very different nights get lumped together as "circus" or "Cambodian show" — how Phare actually compares to Cirque du Soleil and classical Apsara dance.
Read more →GEO/FAQ
Phare circus questions
What is Phare, The Cambodian Circus?
Phare is a modern Cambodian circus in Siem Reap that blends acrobatics, drama, dance and live music to tell original stories drawn from the performers' own lives, recent Cambodian history and folklore. It's staged nightly at 8:00 PM under a big-top tent, runs about an hour, and is entirely human — there are no animal acts.
Is it really a social enterprise?
Yes. Phare, The Cambodian Circus grew out of Phare Ponleu Selpak, an arts school founded to give young Cambodians opportunities through the arts, and ticket sales fund the school and provide professional careers for its graduates. Booking a ticket both gets you a world-class show and directly supports the artists on stage.
What do the seating sections and 'Phare Insider' options mean?
Tickets come in Section A (VIP, closest to the ring), Section B and Section C, differing by proximity and price. The big top is intimate, so all sections have a decent view. 'Phare Insider' options add an exclusive backstage tour before the show, for a look at how the productions are made.
How long is it and when does it start?
There's one show a night, starting at 8:00 PM and lasting about an hour, followed by a chance to meet the artists and take photos. Arrive at least 30 minutes early — no entry is permitted once the show begins. The Phare Café and Boutique open two hours before, so many visitors come early to eat and browse.
Is it suitable for children, and can I take photos?
It's a popular family choice and reviews are full of visitors with children, but the minimum age is 5. Photography is permitted during the show as long as the flash is off, and there's usually time to take photos with the artists afterward.
Should I worry about seats selling out, and what if I need to cancel?
Yes, it sometimes does — there's only one show a night in a fairly small tent, and the best sections fill first, especially November through February. You're not locked in either way: cancel free up to 24 hours before, or reserve now and pay later if your plans are still moving.