Even if you're in Siem Reap for just a few days, take a few hours to learn more about the history of the Khmer Kingdom and its Golden Era. You'll learn about the history through the restored artifacts and multimedia presentations on display here, helping you to more fully appreciate the monumental achievements of the empire. (Try and visit the museum before you visit the temples to better appreciate the significance of the rich Khmer history.)

Many visitors do not know the story of the inspiring Aki Ra, an ex-child soldier of the Khmer Rouge era. He has dedicated his life to making Cambodia landmine-free and this museum educates visitors about the history and impact of landmines in the country. The money from your entrance fee supports dozens of at-risk youths and landmine-affected children, too.

If you didn't know much about butterflies before, by the end of this visit, you will be fully versed on their full life cycle. This tranquil sanctuary is the perfect break from the city center, and you can really take your time here, staying to enjoy lunch at the site. The revenue from your visit also generates income for local people in the community and conservation projects.

This is an overlooked museum that is a must-visit for the first-hand stories you can hear from its guides, all of whom are miraculous survivors of the 1970s war. In addition to their heart-wrenching stories, they will explain how each weapon in the museum was used (and all of them are real). One of the guides said he wanted to educate people about the war with the hope of preventing anything similar from happening in the future —needless to say, this is a good cause to support.

The helpful guides here at the silk farm explain the entire process of how silk is made, from the growth of the mulberry trees to the preparation of the silk threads, to weaving. You'll watch the artisans hard at work in each phase of this meticulous process, using the traditional machines. At the end of the tour, you can browse the high-quality silk products, before ending your visit with a refreshing shake or ice cream.

This fantastic social business is reviving Khmer traditional arts and crafts, while employing over 1,300 people, many of whom are in rural areas. Enjoy this wonderful free tour and watch the artists working on their beautiful crafts, before browsing the impressive finished products in the gift shop.