Your guide in visiting Siem Reap & Angkor, Cambodia

How to get to Siem Reap?
Where to stay in Siem Reap?
What to do and see in Angkor?
What to do and see in Siem Reap?
Where to eat in Siem Reap?

Today Siem Reap is a city mainly driven by tourism due to its proximity with Angkor Wat. Siem Reap city center is only 15 minutes by car from the main ticketing office of the Angkor Archaeological Park.

HOW TO GET TO SIEM REAP

Siem Reap is relatively accessible with a number of airlines flying direct to Siem Reap Airport across Asia. I’ve arrived Siem Reap from flying direct from Hong Kong with HK Express. (A trip report on my HK Express flight can be found here) It was a short uneventful 2 hours flight from Hong Kong.

The Siem Reap airport is only 15 minutes by car to the Siem Reap city center where most of the hotels are located. An air-conditioned taxi from the airport to the city cost a flat rate of USD$10. There is only one taxi booth after customs and you pay directly to the staff at the taxi booth.

WHERE TO STAY IN SIEM REAP

I’ve stayed at the Park Hyatt which is a beautiful property at the center of the city. The city is quite small but Park Hyatt is only 5 minutes walk to Pub Street. It is also only 5 minutes walk to the new trendy area called Kandal Village.

Park Hyatt – beautiful property in Siem Reap

Personalized check-in with welcome drink.

Rooms facing the main street can be noisy.

WHAT TO SEE & DO ANGKOR

ANGKOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

Angkor Archaeological Park is an UNESCO site and one of the biggest archaeological site in the world covering over 400km2. Most will recognize Angkor Wat as only a temple complex but the area consist of a number of temples and is also the Khmer capital founded in the 9th century. It was still unknown why it was abandoned some time in the past 500 years.

The main street leading up to the temple of Angkor Wat.

The Khmer Empire control most of the mainland southeast Asia from 800 to 1430. The area of Angkor contains temples and monuments that spans more than 600 years and it is important to understand that all the temples you see inside Angkor is actually built by different Kings during this period of time. The ancient capital city of Angkor Thom built by King Jayavarman VII in the late twelfth century is also located here. The temple of Bayon commissioned by King Jayavarman VII is one of the most spectacular in Angkor second to Angkor Wat. Therefore, their architectural and cultural differences are very prominent in the Angkor Archaeological park.

If you are interested in learning about the ancient Khmer empire and Angkor, please visit the great websites below.

National Geographic (A great overview of Angkor) – http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/07/angkor/stone-text

National Geographic (Ancient Mysteries Short Video) – http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/ancient-mysteries/angkor-wat-temples

CNN Travel – http://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/angkor-unesco-global-treasures/index.html

BBC Culture – http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20170309-the-mystery-of-angkor-wat

Tourism Cambodia – http://www.tourismcambodia.com/attractions/angkor.htm

Tales of Asia (Great guide/maps to Angkor) – http://www.talesofasia.com/cambodia-siemreap-guide-temples.htm

History of Khmer Empire – http://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Cambodia/sub5_2a/entry-2840.html

Khmer Empire based on water control – https://www.thoughtco.com/angkor-civilization-ancient-khmer-empire-169557

Examples of other less visited temples in Angkor site – https://alisonincambodia.wordpress.com/2013/08/20/off-the-beaten-path-at-angkor-chau-srei-vibol/

Amazing Photos of Angkor – http://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/2061278/angkor-another-light-photographers-unique-take

Angkor cannot be visited in 1 day due to its vast area and huge temple complexes. I did it in 1 day and it was not the perfect way to visit Angkor. In 1 day, you can only visit the main temple of Angkor Wat and a few more near the main site. There are many more ruins and temples at the edges of the Angkor capital which will take a much longer drive to reach. The most popular temples in Angkor were made popular because of the Movie Tomb Raider where the actress Angelina Jolie placed Angkor in everyone’s go to list.

In 1 day, the best is to hire a private transport with driver and a local guide. The price may vary but from USD$70, you could get a full day private guide with air-conditioned private transport for the whole day with hotel pickup and drop off. There are number of packages which may include the famous sunrise and sunset depending on your needs.

Below are the temples and sites you will usually see in Angkor during a 1 day tour.

Ta Prohm

Temple built by King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th and early 13th century. The temple seems to be consumed by the jungle and where the Tomb Raider movie was filmed.

Outside the temple in Ta Prohm, Angkor. – Spherical Image – RICOH THETA

Inside the temple in Ta Prohm, Angkor. – Spherical Image – RICOH THETA

Inside the the temple in Ta Prohm, Angkor. – Spherical Image – RICOH THETA

Angkor Thom

Angkor Thom and surrounded by a city wall and have a few amazing looking gates to the ancient capital such as the South Gate. The great capital of Angkor Thom was built by King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century.

Bayon

The faces of King Jayavarman VII? Nobody knows for sure.

The temple of Bayon inside Angkor Thom is one of my favorite with numerous towers of massive smiling faces. Many thinks that the smiling face might be the face of King Jayavarman VII but nobody knows for sure.

Inside the temple of Bayon in Angkor. – Spherical Image – RICOH THETA

Baphoun

Baphoun is also inside the great capital of Angkor Thom and is the tallest pyramidal temple in Angkor. I cannot image how impressive this once looked back in the 12th century.

Elephant and Leper King Terraces and the temple of Phimeanakas

The King terrace is part of the walled city of Angkor Thom. The terrace is thought to be where the King observe the return of its army. It is impressive to see how grandeur the terrace looks and the detail of the carvings that is along the terrace. I did not have to visit the temple of Phimeanakas.

Angkor Wat

Our guide took us into Angkor Wat from the Ta Kou Entrance which I highly recommend because it is very quiet here with rarely anyone in sight compared to the main entrance which is full of people. Also you can get a sense of how vast the complex is and with beautiful surroundings.

Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world at 400 acres and the most famous in Angkor. The outline of the temple is also the flag of Cambodia. It was built by King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century. I am not only amazed by the architectural details throughout the complex but how well preserved the details were after almost 900 years. I am particular impressed by the south gallery inside the temple which depicts the punishments and rewards of the 37 heavens and 32 hells. It is chilling to see how ancient Khmer civilization depicted heaven and hell so vividly.

Inside the temple of Angkor Wat. – Spherical Image – RICOH THETA

Sunset at Bakheng mountain

I did not see the sunrise and sunset but I was warned that the crowed is almost unbearable in high season. There is also a limit on how many people can be on Bakheng to see the sunset since 2017.

Entrance Fee and Tour Guide

The only fee that is not included is lunch and the entrance fee to the park if you join a 1 day tour. Tickets for 1 day is USD$37, 3 days for USD$62 and 7 days for USD$71. The multi-day passes must be used consecutively. A photo of you is printed on the ticket and is taken free of charge when you purchase your ticket. The ticketing center is newly built and very large with many ticketing counters.

I’ve used a guide company called “Asean Angkor Guide”. I’ve booked ahead of time online and they are very responsive. They have a number of guides and drivers working under them so it might be by chance if you like the guide or not. The guide we had is a local Cambodian and speaks great English. He very good and very passionate about Cambodia and the Khmer empire.

WHAT TO SEE & DO IN SIEM REAP

Siem Reap is the fifth largest city in Cambodia and the capital of the Siem Reap province in northwestern Cambodia. Today it is mainly a tourist town because of its close proximity to Angkor Wat.

The 2nd floor of Red Piano Restaurant at Pub Street offers a great vantage point for all the action below.

The city center of Siem Reap is relatively concentrated in a small area. It is mainly catered to tourism. The location of Park Hyatt Hotel is fantastic because everywhere in within walking distance.

WHERE TO EAT & SHOP IN SIEM REAP

An intersection of Pub Street with many “bar carts” along the road.

Pub Street – This area is full of restaurants and bars. It is where all the night live is for tourist. Some may like it and some may not.

The Little Red Fox Espresso cafe at Kandal Village.

Kandal Village – This area is where all the newer hip restaurants and shops are located. I love is area as there are a number of interesting shops and small eateries. Below are some of the shops in Kandal Village:

The Art Coffee – Coffee Shop

HAPPYTITE JamCafe – Cafe with homemade jams

The Little Red Fox Espresso – Great Coffee Shop with live music when I’ve visited.

The Hive – Great cafe with good food.