Siem Reap, located in northwestern Cambodia, is the gateway to the world-famous Angkor temple complex, which includes the magnificent Angkor Wat. The province also contains a vibrant capital city boasting many luxury hotels, beautifully-aged colonial buildings, a buzzing Pub Street, silk farms, markets, and much more.
The city of Siem Reap, also the capital of the province, is a ‘must-visit’ destination for all visitors to Cambodia. This is where the glorious 12th Century Angkor Wat temple, the largest religious building in the world, is located. Situated on the northern bank of the Tonle Sap Great Lake, this mesmerizing eighth wonder of the world can be easily accessed by plane, land, and boat.
The ruins of Angkor, located in thick jungle, are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are over one thousand temples ranging in scale from nondescript piles of rubble scattered through rice fields to the awe-inspiring Angkor Wat–the best-preserved temple.
Apart from the legacy of the vast Angkor temple complex, Siem Reap has a lot more to offer to tourists, from the spectacular floating village on the Tonle Sap Lake to the heritage site of the Kulen Mountain, to the recently discovered Koh Ker ruins.
In town, there are a bevy of ethnic craft shops, galleries, cafes, eateries and top-notch restaurants serving every type of cuisine. The famous ‘Pub Street’ and the night markets of Siem Reap are now renowned tour destinations in their own rights. Additionally, siilk farms, rice-paddy countryside, fishing villages and a very rich bird sanctuary near the Tonle Sap Lake make Siem Reap one of the most captivating places in the world.
Around Siem Reap
The reason most people come to Siem Reap is to visit the Angkor Archaeological Park. The town is worth strolling about for itself and there are a number of means to go about enjoying the city.
Going about on foot is perhaps the most leisurely and most rewarding. Here, the pace may be quite laid-back to some, but all in all it’s a pleasant place to be at. Along the streets, there are many shops offering services and goods ranging from the basic necessities to fine silk; chic galleries with beautiful display of local art pieces and lots of souvenirs.
For food, there are whole streets catering for the travellers tastes, with tasty Khmer fares such as Amok and ‘Khmer curry’, or pizzas, hamburgers and other international cuisines. Explore the backstreets for more shops and restaurants and have fun. In the evening, stroll down Pub Street and mingle with the crowd. There is never a lack of colours while in Siem Reap.
Siem Reap, located in northwestern Cambodia, is the gateway to the world-famous Angkor temple complex, which includes the magnificent Angkor Wat. The province also contains a vibrant capital city boasting many luxury hotels, beautifully-aged colonial buildings, a buzzing Pub Street, silk farms, markets, and much more.
The city of Siem Reap, also the capital of the province, is a ‘must-visit’ destination for all visitors to Cambodia. This is where the glorious 12th Century Angkor Wat temple, the largest religious building in the world, is located. Situated on the northern bank of the Tonle Sap Great Lake, this mesmerizing eighth wonder of the world can be easily accessed by plane, land, and boat.
The ruins of Angkor, located in thick jungle, are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are over one thousand temples ranging in scale from nondescript piles of rubble scattered through rice fields to the awe-inspiring Angkor Wat–the best-preserved temple.
Apart from the legacy of the vast Angkor temple complex, Siem Reap has a lot more to offer to tourists, from the spectacular floating village on the Tonle Sap Lake to the heritage site of the Kulen Mountain, to the recently discovered Koh Ker ruins.
In town, there are a bevy of ethnic craft shops, galleries, cafes, eateries and top-notch restaurants serving every type of cuisine. The famous ‘Pub Street’ and the night markets of Siem Reap are now renowned tour destinations in their own rights. Additionally, siilk farms, rice-paddy countryside, fishing villages and a very rich bird sanctuary near the Tonle Sap Lake make Siem Reap one of the most captivating places in the world.
Location
The province of Siem Reap is conveniently situated 314 km northwest of Phnom Penh, along National Road No 6. It can be reached all year round by National Road No 6 from Phnom Penh, Poipèt Border Checkpoint from Banteay Meanchey, Kampong Cham Province and Kampong Thom Province, and by National Road No 5 and 6 from Kampong Chhnang province, Pursat province and Battambang province.
How to reach Siem Reap
Siem Reap is accessible by direct flights from many major cities in the region including Bangkok, Danang, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Paksé, Vientiane, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong, Kunming, Taipei, etc. From the capital of Phnom Penh, Angkor Air operates several direct flights per day to and from Siem Reap.
There are also speedboats operating along the Tonlé Sap from Phnom Penh and Battambang Province.
Siem Reap is where you can visit the thousands ancient temples, notible one Angkor Wat, is one of the famous tourist spots in the world. Apart from its temples the natural beauty of Cambodia is also quite well known. Siem Reap is the capital of the Siem Reap Province of Cambodia. Siem Reap Travel Guide would recommend a few days stay here. This stay is important so you can get a feel of the place.
Entrance Fee/ Admission
You must posses an admission pass (Angkor Pass) before you want to visit the temples and it sourounding sites in the Angkor Archaeological Park. Passes may be purchased at the main entrance on the road to Angkor Wat. One-day tickets only can be purchased at the secondary tollgate on airport road entrance near Angkor Wat and at Banteay Srey.
Angkor Ticket Passes are sold in one-day ($37), three-day ($62) and seven-day ($72). The three day pass is valid for one week, i.e. 3 days to be used within the week, not necessarily consecutively. The seven day pass is valid for one month, i.e. 7 days to be used within the month, not necessarily consecutively.For ticket reservation please contact:
Get In
Siem Reap can be reached by either domestic air from Phnom Penh and Bangkok or other flights from major cities in Southeast Asia. For visitors travel overland travel from (Thailand, Vietnam, Laos) please check out the international border crossing information. Cambodian visas are available on arrival at both international airports and most international border checkpoints. The crossing at Aranyaprathet (Thailand) /Poipet (Cambodia) is most convenient to Siem Reap. The road from Phnom Penh to SIem Reap (National Highway 6) is very good condition and so you can reach there by regular buses, taxis and vans running between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap as well as a daily river ferry service.
Siem Reap Arrival
Visas : Visa have to be applied for most nationalities to enter Siem Reap and Cambodia. Visas are available on arrival at the Siem Reap International Airport, the Phnom Penh International Airport and most border crossings.
Airport Departure Tax: Domestic: US$6. International: US$25
Siem Reap International Airport is 6km from Siem Reap town, close to the temples, offering special views of Angkor Wat temple during landings and take offs. Outside the terminal is a ticket booth for registered taxis into town. Independent taxis and motorcycles wait just outside the airport. The price is the same for both: motorcycles are $1 and cars are $5 into town. Most hotels offer free transportation from the airport but you must notify them in advance of your arrival.
Siem Reap Ferry Dock: The ferry to Siem Reap arrives at Chong Khneas near Phnom Krom, 12km south of Siem Reap. There is always transportation waiting at the dock. Mototaxis charge about $1.50-$2 and cars $4-$5 for the 20-30 minute ride into town.
By Air
Flying is, of course, the easiest way to get to Siem Reap. Bangkok Airways offer several daily flights to/from Phnom Penh. For more detail, please contact a travel agent.
By Boat
Ferry Traveling in Cambodia around (July – March) daily ferries carry out the Tonle Sap river and lake between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Then trip is marked by a hill, Phnom Krom, when arriving Siem Reap near the ferry dock at Chong Khneas 12 km south of Siem Reap. In the dry season when the water is low, the ferry stops short of the dock and passengers transfer to smaller boats to traverse the final few hundred meters.
Ferries Schedule: Depart at 7:30AM daily from the Phnom Penh Port on Sisowath Quay near Street 104. Tickets $25-$35, (251km, 4-6 hours). Tickets can be purchased through hotels and travel agents around. At Siem Reap, the ferry docks at Chong Khneas, 15km south of Siem Reap town.
Taxis and motodups await passengers at the dock. Travel is best during the wet season when the river level is high. The ferries are ‘local transport’ and are of variable quality and comfort, often noisy, crowded and over-air conditioned. These ferries in no meet international safety standards yet. Travel is best during the wet season. During the dry season when the water is low, ferry service is usually uncomfortable.
By Overland
Bus
Bus travel is the most popular means of overland transportation between Phnom Penh city and Siem Reap. The road (National Route 6 is in very good conditions There are several bus schedule for both directions, taking around 5 to 6 hours drive. Many guest houses, bus companies and travel agents offer a/c bus. It is recommend to buy ticket from your guest house and travel agent. It is varies depend on level of comfort of bus and services include: guide, snacks and on-board toilet. Most buses at least make two stops along the way – at Kampong Thom and Skun for snack and lunch. Phnom Penh doesn’t have central bus station. Buses departure from different companies different stations.
In Siem Reap the main bus station is located near Borey Seang Nam a couple of kilometers east of town center. On arrival, moto taxi from the station into town run $5-$10 and tuk-tuks cost about $5-$15. For passengers departing Siem Reap, most bus companies offer a free shuttle service from the hotel/guesthouse to the bus station.
The following bus companies offer regularly scheduled daily service between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh:
Local Taxi
Local shared taxi: $15 per person. Departs from southwest corner of Central Market in Phnom Penh. 5-8 hours
Private taxi: US$100 or more for the whole car. 4-5 hours. Negotiate the price with a local taxi or arrange a private taxi through your hotel or travel agent. Generally speaking, the better the car, the higher the price.
Motorcycling to Siem Reap
The road to Siem Reap is in good condition, but driving in Cambodia is still challenging in driving. Speeding taxis, animals and oblivious children on the road are the norm. It can be made in an easy day, but two days with a stop over in Kampong Thom is a more relaxed alternative and allows time to visit the pre-Angkorian ruins of Sambor Prei Kuk as well as minor ruins along the way.
Leave Phnom Penh via the ‘Japanese Bridge’ and follow 6A north 75km to the Skun intersection. (Skun is known for its exotic foods – check out the fried spiders, turtle eggs and more at road side stands.) Bear left and follow Rte. 6 to Kampong Thom – about 2-3 hours. In Kampong Thom, the Arunras Hotel, Stung Sen Royal Hotel and Mittapheap Hotel are all decent mid-range places. Arunras Guesthouses and Restaurant next to the hotel is the place to eat cheaply. From Kampong Thom to Siem Reap the trip takes another 2 hours..
Siem Reap to/from Battambang Province
The Road from Siem Reap to Battambang (National Road #6 and #5, across Sway Sisophon): Road travel is generally the easiest, fastest. The road from Sisophon to Battambang is paved and in good condition. Taxi A private taxi is $60-$70. 3-5 hours. Bus The bus costs $6/person and takes about 5 hours. Rith Mony buses depart in both directions at 8:00AM and 9:00AM. Neak Krohom buses departs in both directions at 7:30am.
Getting around
Siem Reap is more ways to get around on foot. The Angkor Archaeological Parkis 4 kilometers from town and the temples inside the park are as much as 3 to 4 kilometers, usually require of transportation to tour the Park. Moto-romauks (‘tuk-tuks,’) motodups (motorcycle taxis) and car taxis are the most popular forms of transportation around town and the temples.
Tuk Tuk (Moto Romauks) Motorcycle Taxis/ Trailers
Two-person motorcycle trailers (Tuk Tuk) have surpassed motorcycle taxis (motodups) as the most popular form of transport. Tuk-tuks are covered offering some protection from sun and rain. In Siem Reap most drivers can speak some English. For short trips around the town, forefingers pay 60000R for motorcycle trailer. To the temples, transportation is usually rented by the day. Rates run $10/day for a motodup, and about $15-$20/day for motorcycle trailers.
Car Taxis
Cars taxis are usually hired on a daily basis. The average car taxi is a fairly new Toyota Camry with air-conditioning. Car taxis run around $20-$25 per day to tour the main temple area and town. There are extra charges if you want to go to more distant temples such as Banteay Srey, Kbal Spean, Phnom Kulen, etc. The driver will charge about $15 extra to visit Banteay Srey.
See & Do
There are many noticeable places that Siem Reap Travel Guide recommends. You can visit The temple ruins of Angkor contained within the Angkor Archaeological Park represent the remnants of the millennium-old Angkorian-era capitals of the ancient Khmer Empire. The Khmer people were and are the dominant ethnic group in Cambodia.
The Angkor Archaeological Park encompasses the main temple ruins of the Angkorian capitals located in the Siem Reap area. Most of these temples were constructed between the 9th and 12th century A.D. and represent the pinnacle of ancient Khmer architecture, art and civilization.