The 7 Craft Workshops in Siem Reap Worth Your Day

1.Cambodian Pottery Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 339 reviews · 2 hours · from $27Our pick

Ride by tuk tuk to the Khmer Ceramics & Fine Arts Centre, where a Cambodian teacher shows you how to shape local clay on a hand-powered wheel. Make several pieces, carve Khmer designs, and choose one to fire and collect the next evening. Extra pieces can be purchased or replaced with a shop item if you leave sooner.

“Loved this. First time trying pottery wheel. The teacher was great at showing and helping you. A great way to spend a couple of hours.”

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2.Cambodian Pottery Class in Siem Reap

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 157 reviews · from $34

At the Khmer Ceramics & Fine Arts Centre, you learn the basics of the pottery wheel from local instructors, including Pauline and Theim. Make several bowls, cups, plates, or vases, decorate one with Khmer kbach patterns, then collect your fired piece after 6pm the next day. Tuk-tuk pickup, materials, water, ice cream, and a pottery diploma are included.

“This is a fun class where you can experience making clay bowls the traditional way. The instructors start with a demo which looks easy but once you start it can actually be quite tricky. Luckily, each instructor works with at most 2 people and they help you as needed so everyone ends up with something that looks wonderful. The school employs deaf people who communicate via miming. There are also posters detailing each step and another guide who you can ask questions if needed so there was never any issues. This class left me with a lot of respect for the artisans who create things with clay.”

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3.Workshop Visit and Sombai Liqueur Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 90 reviews · from $5Best value

Visit Sombai’s old Khmer wooden house in Siem Reap for a short look at its maceration room, then taste 11 rice-wine infusions, from fruity to spicy, plus three alcoholic jams. English tours run Tuesday to Sunday, with French available on request. The tasting lasts about 1 hour 30 minutes, though the guided portion may be shorter.

“This was a really great tour for the price. They tell you about the process of distilling and infusing the rice wine. It was very informative. Also they were willing to do our tour on a holiday.”

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4.Sombai Siem Reap Workshop Cocktail Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 23 reviews · from $24

At Sombai’s Wat Damnak-area workshop, a professional bartender guides you through three cocktails made with Cambodian liqueur. You’ll taste 11 fruit-infused flavors, enjoy local snacks, and learn how the hand-painted bottles are made. Joelle may lead the session, with a small group of up to six people.

“Terrific. In depth instruction on ingredients and how to treat them. One group choice of cocktail then one individual choice. The tour of Sombai afterwards was interesting.”

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5.Half-Day: Silk Farm, Senteur Angkor, and Satcha Workshop

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 7 reviews · 4 hours

Spend four hours with an English-speaking driver visiting Angkor Silk Farm, Satcha Handicraft Center, Senteurs d’Angkor, and Artisan d’Angkor. You’ll see silkworms, weaving, bamboo construction, carving, lacquer, jewelry, and other Khmer crafts, with hotel pickup and drop-off included.

“silk worm farm was very informative frist worksop was brilliant making a vast amount of products at great prices purchased some lovely souvenirs and gifts second workshop tho interesting was expensive but a good half day tour”

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6.Pottery Classes Siem Reap with Pick up Drop off

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 6 reviews · 45 minutes - 2 hours · from $22

I take you by tuk tuk from your Siem Reap hotel to a local pottery workshop, where an English-speaking Cambodian artist shows you how to shape a bowl on the wheel. You then carve Khmer designs into your piece. Your pottery is fired after class, though pickup timing can vary, so confirm it before booking.

“Amazing activity! Would highly recommend to anyone in Siem Reap looking for a creative time with great conversation. Can’t wait to visit again!”

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7.Pottery Classes with Transfer round trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 45 min · from $25

Your guide and driver collect you from your Siem Reap hotel about 30 minutes before departure and take you by tuk tuk to a local pottery studio. An English-speaking potter explains Cambodian ceramic techniques, then helps you shape clay on the wheel and add Khmer designs. The class is listed as 45 minutes, while the full outing is described as about two hours.

“This is a great unique and fun activity! We made three items and it’s honestly fascinating learning to do it, it comes with ease but the staff are on hand to help you. We really really enjoyed it! The staff are wonderful, talkative and friendly. You can also get refreshments during or after the class, you don’t feel rushed you do it all in your own time. It’s located in a beautiful quiet place where they have like a pottery barn, they have dogs who want a fuss which is an added bonus! I’d 100% recommend 😀 really good activity for all ages, familys, couples, friends and groups!”

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