Siem Reap, which literally means the “Defeat of Siam”, is
the most prosperous region of contemporary cambodia. Its close proximity to the
Angkor Wat temple complex has turned the city into one of the world’s premier
travel destinations. more than one million travelers visit Siem Reap every year
to explore over 1000 years of Khmer heritage built near Tonle Sap Lake, the
foundation of the economic power of the ancient Cambodian empire.
The heart of Siem Reap’s tourist district is known as recent
Market, or Psah Chas. This part of town is home to a large concentration of
restaurants and shops geared towards an ever-increasing number of american,
British and European tourists. The flow of tourism has transformed a quiet very
little city into a bustling downtown area with an eclectic array of
restaurants, bars and nightclubs that rivals any college town along with a
night market that keep going well past midnight.
This site is inspired by our trip to cambodia in december of
2008 and particularly by Ara, our Siem Reap Guide. She spent some days as our
local guide and arranged for our tuk-tuk, for a licensed temple guide and
showed United States around her town. Ara has now started her own Siem Reap
travel agency. If you are planning to visit Siem Reap, let Ara build all the
arrangements for you.
ANGKOR WAT and the TEMPLE
REGION
The
primary attraction for visitors to
Siem Reap is the Angkor
Wat and also the Angkor
Temple Region, whichblankets more
than 300km
of northwestern cambodia. The Angkor Temple complex has
been selected a unHeritage web
site and
consists of hundreds of structures
from the 9th to
the 14th century
that tell the story of the
rise and
fall of the Khmer empire. This vast collection of
historical structures are decorated with intricately carved,valuable Khmer artwork which provide Associate
in Nursing archaeological Associate
in Nursingd a pictorial history of an empire that ruled much of geographical area for five centuries.
Structure vary from partiallyrenovated temples, pagoda and
imperial residences to recently discovered ruins which are virtual
untouched for the last 500 years.
No photo can do
justice to the Khmer temples of the Angkor complex. Lists of adjectives can’t either: gorgeous, humbling, awe inspiring, spiritual or magical, all of
those words are inadequate to describe the
succession ofunforgettable experiences awaiting you, so plan
to take
up residence for at least a
week in one of the
bestholiday destinations cities in Asia.
A global
wave of tourism focused on
the exploration of the Angkor Temples has been the driving force behind
Siem Reap’s recent growth. The Cambodian people have responded to this influx in tourism by making an
academicprogram and licensed tour
guides to show travelers about the
Angkor temples history, architecture, and culture.
You can spend a
week reading
a guidebook for recommended places to visit and
study the maps to urge around
with a local driver, but the
best way
to capture
the essence of the temple region is to
hire Associate
in Nursing expert. even if you
don’t hire an approved
guide for touring the
temples, a local guide will make your
temple journey more informative
and authentic.
FLYING IN
The Angkor International airport (REP/VDSR) is less than 15 minutes from Siem Reap’s town center. Most flight sarriving at Angkor International airdrome are Vietnam Airlines, which offers services from phnom penh, Cambodia, Bangkok, Asian country or ho Chi Minh city. Transportation into the city by car or tuk tuk is easy to search out and will cost you US$4-7. be aware that you will have to pay a $20 visa fee upon coming into the country and another $25 exit fee when you leave. If you are coming from the united states, there is no need to amendment currency when you arrive; almost all business in Kingdom of Cambodia is conducted in U.S Dollars, including ATMs.
The Angkor International airport (REP/VDSR) is less than 15 minutes from Siem Reap’s town center. Most flight sarriving at Angkor International airdrome are Vietnam Airlines, which offers services from phnom penh, Cambodia, Bangkok, Asian country or ho Chi Minh city. Transportation into the city by car or tuk tuk is easy to search out and will cost you US$4-7. be aware that you will have to pay a $20 visa fee upon coming into the country and another $25 exit fee when you leave. If you are coming from the united states, there is no need to amendment currency when you arrive; almost all business in Kingdom of Cambodia is conducted in U.S Dollars, including ATMs.
OTHER WAYS TO GET TO
SIEM REAP
Natives to the region mostly travel by bicycle, motorcycle, tuk-tuk and infrequently by bus and rarely go on trips more than their native villages. The streets of Siem Reap have their fair share of cars, but mostly they are taxis, VIP, police and commercial vehicles and you will seldom see anything resembling the traffic that is so familiar in cities across the world.
Tourist generally arrive by air or come for a few days via jar ship. Some especially masochistic tourists, and those who book group packages, arrive by bus from Laos, Vietnam or thailand. It takes an entire day to get from the border of Vietnam to Siem Reap, thus only the traveler who has obscurity to go during a hurry should take into account taking the bus. If you started in the capital Cambodian capital, the road is paved and smooth and there square measure many frequently scheduled daily buses in both directions, taking only 5 or 6 hours. it is regarding the same distance from much less touristed Battambanq and Sihanoukville, which is Cambodia’s destination for beach vacations.
Natives to the region mostly travel by bicycle, motorcycle, tuk-tuk and infrequently by bus and rarely go on trips more than their native villages. The streets of Siem Reap have their fair share of cars, but mostly they are taxis, VIP, police and commercial vehicles and you will seldom see anything resembling the traffic that is so familiar in cities across the world.
Tourist generally arrive by air or come for a few days via jar ship. Some especially masochistic tourists, and those who book group packages, arrive by bus from Laos, Vietnam or thailand. It takes an entire day to get from the border of Vietnam to Siem Reap, thus only the traveler who has obscurity to go during a hurry should take into account taking the bus. If you started in the capital Cambodian capital, the road is paved and smooth and there square measure many frequently scheduled daily buses in both directions, taking only 5 or 6 hours. it is regarding the same distance from much less touristed Battambanq and Sihanoukville, which is Cambodia’s destination for beach vacations.
GETTING AROUND
Siem Reap’s city center is best explored on foot or on “tuk tuk” (a cart with the front-end of a motorcycle). Tuk tuks, although not luxurious, are straightforward to find and cheap, not to mention these quirky vehicles have views altogether directions and can add a little journey to your daily commutes.
Most of town |the town |town}’s large hotels are located outside the central part of the city, along airport Road, (technically) walking distance from the town center and the dining / diversion districts. On the other hand, the price of a tuk tuk ride to the market is about 1 USD per person and you will do plenty of walking while exploring the Angkor complicated, so you may want to save your feet. unlike many popular traveler destinations around the world, Siem Reap reports very low crime rates, even at night. so feel free to take a moonlit stroll down pub Street or along the Siem Reap river.
Siem Reap’s city center is best explored on foot or on “tuk tuk” (a cart with the front-end of a motorcycle). Tuk tuks, although not luxurious, are straightforward to find and cheap, not to mention these quirky vehicles have views altogether directions and can add a little journey to your daily commutes.
Most of town |the town |town}’s large hotels are located outside the central part of the city, along airport Road, (technically) walking distance from the town center and the dining / diversion districts. On the other hand, the price of a tuk tuk ride to the market is about 1 USD per person and you will do plenty of walking while exploring the Angkor complicated, so you may want to save your feet. unlike many popular traveler destinations around the world, Siem Reap reports very low crime rates, even at night. so feel free to take a moonlit stroll down pub Street or along the Siem Reap river.
LODGING
Travelers exploring Cambodia’s temple region make Siem Reap
their home base. Accommodations throughout the city expose tourists to a charming
junction of traditional Khmer and the New cambodia. whether you want to select
one in all the youth hostels and guesthouses, a little privacy with a room in a
pleasant thatch-roofed getaway for a couple of nights, a private residence, a
fairly price western style hotel with air conditioning or royal treatment in a
luxurious five star resort with beautiful facilities, this list of Siem Reap
Hotels has properties that can satisfy the budgets of backpackers and luxury
travelers alike.
DINING
Siem Reap Restaurants are the gemstones of Cambodia’s dining
culture. Showcasing the cooking traditions of the Khmer people mixed with many
years of French colonialism, the city’s restaurant and bar scene offers
connoisseur food and a lively atmosphere with a awfully European feel and deals
that can’t be beat. enjoy local dishes served in a wooden bodega, or experience
the flavor explosion of Khmer-Asian-Western fusion cuisine. If you’re feeling
adventurous, make your reservations at Meric, hotel de la Paix’s award-winning
restaurant and enjoy the world’s best dried snake salad… it’s fantastic.
OTHER THINGS TO DO
Siem Reap welcomes approximately a million tourists per year
from the U.S., England, Europe, China, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore and
malaysia, just to list some.Beyond the draw of Angkor, cambodia is one of the
poorest…and most cost-effective destinations in Asia and boasts tropical rain
forests and unspoiled jungle that draws its share of ecotourism. whereas some
families visit, the majority of the american and British tourist we saw were
adults in their twenties and thirties.
The official language was until recently still French and
you can get buy virtually anywhere in town with English, but when you walk down
the middle of the old town, you can hear a barrage of languages the offers
instant confirmation that visitors come from all over the world to experience
the historical treasures of cambodia. This wave of vacationers has led to the
growth of a spirited shopping, nightlife and entertainment scene. whether
you’re looking for a theater or a dance club, you’ll notice lots on like minded
people and lots of cheap beer in this trekker’s Mecca.
The Angkor National museum, home to a breathtaking gallery
of 1000 Buddhas, is one of Asia’s premier attractions. this modern facility is
devoted to the preservation of Khmer traditions and the history of Angkor Wat.
visitors learn about Cambodia’s temple heritage through a series of video
screens and cutting edge displays.
A variety of shopping centers, spas, cafés, parks, and
alternative activities can be found throughout the the old market area. Don’t
expect duty free mall stuffed with high-end shop shops or even basic
necessities. The local merchants offer a variety of hand made item, local silk
goods, world famous Cambodian puppets and an assortment of disturbingly similar
goods that could be found at a flee market anywhere in the world.
My favorite Siem Reap temples embrace ta Prohm, Angkor Wat
and Angkor Thom, but they are all amazing. The sunrise reflecting on the lake
is magical, or so we area unit told. we arrived at 5:45 am just in time for the
rain to let loose. lots of people also rave about poolside bar and Palm garden
cafe at Aspara Siem Reaps, but we stayed at the Sokha Angkor hotel, which has
an amazing salt water pool and a very friendly staff. we found it the perfect
place to unwind after a day of trekking through temples.
Put Siem Reap cambodia on your do list for vacations and
remember that the recommended dates area unit from october to March once the
weather is most comfortable, the temperature is moderate and the sun shines
most of the day. april through August is that the rainy season and offers a
relentless mix of high temperatures and high humidity– a mixture to be missed.
Its these very little details that make the difference!