Temples of Angkor
The magnificent Temples of Angkor are
iconic symbols of Cambodia, the spectacular complex a vivid vestige
of the ancient Khmer Empire. Built between the 9th and 13th
centuries, more than 100 temples have been uncovered as evidence of
this impressive ancient civilisation and one of the biggest cities
of its time. The complex's ancient ruins, well-preserved temples
and stone monuments take a few days to explore in its entirety.
An impressive Hindu temple surrounded by a
moat, Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument ever built and
acknowledged as one among the greatest marvels of humankind. The
walled Royal City of Angkor Thom is home to the Bayon Temple and
its huge stone faces, another fascinating attraction.
If budget allows, visitors can see Angkor
from the air in a hot air balloon or helicopter. It is particularly
special to see the temple complex at sunrise and sunset, and it is
best to avoid going during the midday heat. Also note that visitors
are expected to dress respectfully and ticket vendors may refuse
entry to those showing too much skin.
Address:
Three miles (5km) outside Siem Reap.
Opening time:
Daily 5.30am-6pm.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Juan Antonio F. Segal
Aki Ra's Landmine Museum
The Aki Ra Museum provides a jarring counterpoint to the ancient
Khmer glories on display at Angkor Wat, instead showcasing the more
recent horrors of Cambodia's political and social upheavals.
Founded by a former Khmer Rouge child soldier, the museum provides
a clear and compelling account of this troubled time, and the
appalling legacy of landmines and unexploded ordinance that remain
a blight on the lives of Cambodian people. Despite ongoing efforts
to find and defuse these sleeping weapons, it is estimated that
about five million still remain. The museum teaches visitors how to
recognise mines and what to do should they encounter them.
Address:
Located four miles (6km) south of Banteay Srey Temple,
within the Angkor Wat Archaeological Park.
Opening time:
Open daily 7.30am-5pm.
Landmine Museum, Cambodia
spiraltri3e
Psar Chaa (Old Market)
Psar Chaa, the Old Market, is Siem Reap's most
popular shopping experience for visitors. Stalls sell all kinds of
souvenirs including silk, carvings, stoneware and paintings, while
fresh produce and seafood stalls can be found inside. In fact, the
market presents an excellent opportunity to sample all kinds of
authentic Khmer food, invariably served with the distinctive local
prahok, a type of fermented fish paste. A good accompaniment is
coconut milk drunk directly from the fruit. The ubiquity of
baguettes and frog legs is a delicious legacy of the French
colonial era. Haggling is normal. So be patient, good-natured and
maintain your sense of humour and you can get wonderful deals. The
Old Market is central and conveniently located close to the river
and the popular Pub Street.
Opening time:
Daily 7am-8pm
Psar Chaa Market
Allie_Caulfield
Angkor National Museum
The Angkor National Museum is an archaeological institution
dedicated to the preservation and presentation of the Angkorian
articles. A source of rich insight, it provides important
historical, cultural and mythological context to the temple
complex. Its fascinating treasures include the lion and demon heads
missing from statues, Khmer artefacts predating the Angkor period
and an enthralling collection of ancient Khmer and Sanskrit stone
tablets. The museum also uses multimedia displays and various
artefacts to evoke the golden age of Khmer culture. In addition to
the entrance fee, and the optional extra cost for taking in a
camera, visitors can pay for an educational audio tour.
Address:
No.968, Vithei Charles de Gaulle, Phoum Salakanseng, Khom
Svaydangum, Siem Reap
Opening time:
Daily 8.30am-6.30pm
Angkor National Museum
e_chaya
Siem Reap's climate is typical for Cambodia, and can be
described as tropical with seasonal monsoons. The weather is warm
year-round and temperatures do not range drastically.
There are two distinct seasons: the rainy season and the dry
season. Temperatures during the rainy season (June to October)
average at about 93°F (34°C). Dry season high temperatures, from
November to May, average slightly higher at 97°F (36°C).
Visitors should bear in mind that roads can get very muddy and
rain showers can disrupt activities during the rainy season. The
city can be dusty and very hot when it's dry. The cooler winter
months running from November to February may be the best time to
visit Siem Reap.
Siem Reap's variety of restaurants cater to every taste.
Visitors will find traditional Cambodian (or Khmer) food as well as
Western staples.
The Old Market area boasts a wonderful assortment of
restaurants, as do Wat Bo Road and Sivatha Street. Pub Street is a
great favourite among tourists. Psar Chaa (Old Market) is home to a
group of restaurants selling local food for foreign palates. Most
restaurants stay open late and it's easy to find reasonable prices.
Local markets, like the Old Market, are also exciting and
wallet-friendly places to sample local cuisine.
Regarding Khmer cuisine, visitors must try the national dish,
Fish Amok, which is cooked with chillies, onion, spinach and
coconut milk, and served with rice in banana leaves. The more
adventurous should try exotic Khmer staples, like red tree ants and
fried tarantulas.
Siem Reap International Airport
Location: The airport is three and a half miles (6km) west of
Angkor Wat, half an hour's drive from Siem Reap city
centre.
Time: GMT +7
Getting to the city:
There are taxis available outside the airport terminal, and some
hotels arrange private airport transfers if requested.
Car Rental:
It is possible to rent a car at Siem Reap International.
Airport Taxis:
There are taxis available from outside the Siem Reap
International Airport and the journey to the town centre takes
about half an hour.
Facilities:
There are ATMs, duty-free shops, food vendors, restaurants, a
smoking lounge, and a lost and found available to visitors at Siem
Reap International Airport.
Parking
Parking is available at the airport.
Chaul Chnam Thmey
A Cambodian event not to be missed is the Chaul Chnam
Thmey (Khmer New Year), a three day festival held in April each
year featuring colourful processions, music, dancing... and a lot
of water and talcum powder bombs! People douse each other with
water as a blessing, with coloured water signifying the wish for a
colourful future. The local Khmer people make offerings and
exchange gifts at the end of the harvesting season. Traditionally,
houses are cleaned and decorated with flowers, streamers, and
balloons and an altar is set up to welcome the spirit of new year.
People wear new clothes for the celebrations and children give
gifts of money, fruit, or other foods to their elders as a sign of
respect. Many children also wash the feet of their parents or other
elders to show their devotion and respect. Cambodians have many
traditional games and these are played enthusiastically over the
Cambodian New Year on street corners and in homes.
Chaul Chnam Thmey marks the beginning of the new year
but also the end of the busy harvesting season, when farmers give
thanks and celebrate the fruits of their labour. It is a fun and
exhilarating time to visit the country, particularly the Angkor Wat
Temple complex, where celebrations reach their peak.
Venue:
Angkor Wat
![Fan dance]()
Fan dance
cambodia4kids.org
Angkor Wat International Half Marathon
The Angkor International Half Marathon attracts more
than 8,000 runners annually, with nearly 78 countries represented
in recent years. This 21km race through the magnificent Angkor
temples has become increasingly popular.
All funds raised are devoted to victims of landmine
explosions and a number of other pressing issues in Cambodia
including the education and prevention of HIV Aids. There is also
an Angkor bike race which has three categories: the 100km race, the
30km race, and a fun family race event.
The bike race usually takes place the day before the
marathon. Participants can also choose to attend a number of
related celebrations and events including a Gala Dinner Party at
the Prasat Bei Temple which includes a traditional dance show.
Venue:
Krong Siem Reap
![Angkor Wat Half Marathon]()
Angkor Wat Half Marathon
ronan crowley
![]()
Siem Reap is small enough for most of its attractions to be
within walking distance. Otherwise, visitors can choose between
taxis, tuk-tuks, rental cars, and motorcycle taxis to get around
the city. Scooter or bicycle rentals are also options, though
motorcycle accidents involving tourists are common enough for Siem
Reap's authorities to periodically ban rental outlets from
servicing foreigners.
The roads in and around Siem Reap are generally poor and
Cambodia has one of the highest rates of traffic accidents in
Southeast Asia. Wearing a helmet on scooters and motorcycles is
compulsory (there are spot fines).
Tourists mostly use tuk-tuks for travel within the city. Indeed,
English-speaking tuk-tuk drivers can double as very effective and
informative guides. It's important to negotiate rates with them
before setting off.
Though there are plenty of things to experience in Siem Reap,
many top attractions lie just outside the city. The famous Angkor
Archaeological Park is the most notable sightseeing destination.
Stretching over 150 square miles (400 sq km), it houses some of the
most important archaeological sites in Asia. More specifically, the
park contains the magnificent remains of several buildings and
monuments from the ancient Khmer Empire (9th to 15th century). The
most famous sites include the Temple of Angkor Wat and the Bayon
Temple. Adventurous travellers may want to visit temples like Beng
Mealea, which nestles in the jungle. The Angkor temples can easily
occupy visitors for several days, particularly as the Angkor
Archaeological Park's landscapes are magnificent in and of
themselves.
There are several notable tourist attractions within Siem Reap,
including the Angkor National Museum, which is a useful complement
to the archaeological wonders of the Angkor Temples. This modern
museum is home to impressive galleries of artefacts taken from the
temple complex. Another not-to-be-missed museum in Siem Reap is
rather a different experience. Aki Ra's Landmine Museum lays out
the modern strife of a country still struggling with landmines.
Visitors must be sure to visit Psar Chaa (the Old Market), a
bustling collection of merchant stalls. This is a good venue for
shopping and experiencing daily life in Siem Reap.
Villages on Stilts
Most tuk-tuk and moto drivers in Siem Reap will be
only too happy to take you on a tour of one of the area's famous
'villages on stilts'. Many of the houses lining Tonle Sap Lake are
built on ten foot (3m) poles, so that when the water rises - as it
does every year during the monsoon - the homes are not flooded or
washed away. There are three main floating villages around Siem
Reap located around the Tonle Sap Lank. The closest floating
village is situated in Chong Khneas, just an hour's drive from Siem
Reap. Villages closer to Siem Reap tend to be touristy, while those
further away are far more picturesque and authentic.
A two-hour boat trip through Chong Khneas village
costs about $8 per person or around $20 for a boatload. While the
stilted homes are at their most practical during the wet season,
the villages are most visually spectacular during the dry season,
when their long stilts rise up eerily out of the mud or shallow
water. Be aware that there have been tourist scams in the villages
and that the poverty witnessed can be disturbing.
![Floating Village]()
Floating Village
Paul Stocker
Tonlé Sap Lake
Boeung Tonlé Sap is one of the largest
freshwater lakes in Asia. Containing a rich and diverse ecosystem,
it's home to a wide array of fauna such as crocodiles, turtles,
macaques and otters. Villagers live in stilted or floating houses.
The Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary in the Tonlé Sap Biosphere Reserve is
home to ibis, stork, pelicans and fish eagles, all best viewed
during the dry season. There is also a Tonlé Sap Exhibition in Siem
Reap, showcasing Khmer heritage through a display of the local
people's culture and environment. Boat tours on the lake are
popular and an enthralling way to see the riverside villages and
interact with the locals. It usually costs well under $20 to hire a
boat and you can share it between a few people. Tips for the guides
are also expected.
Address:
The lake is about nine miles (15km) south of Siem
Reap
![Tonle Sap Lake]()
Tonle Sap Lake
K-ro27
Beng Mealea
For those charmed by Ta Prom's jungle-clad stones
within the Angkor Wat temple complex, it's well worth making the
five-hour round trip to visit Beng Mealea, the ruins of an ancient
town centre. This little-visited sandstone temple, whose name means
'lotus pond', has now almost completely fused with the surrounding
jungle. Built in the 12th century as a Hindu temple but long since
abandoned, this sprawling complex is built in a similar style and
scale to Angkor Wat. If you prefer to travel off the beaten track
then Beng Mealea, overgrown and largely unrestored, will captivate
you with its mystique and the relative freedom to explore its nooks
and crannies.
Address:
45 miles (70km) from Siem Reap
Opening time:
Daily 7am-5.30pm
![Beng Mealea]()
Beng Mealea
Lawrence Murray
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Juan Antonio F. Segal
Landmine Museum, Cambodia
spiraltri3e
Psar Chaa Market
Allie_Caulfield
Angkor National Museum
e_chaya
Fan dance
cambodia4kids.org
Angkor Wat Half Marathon
ronan crowley
Floating Village
Paul Stocker
Tonle Sap Lake
K-ro27
Beng Mealea
Lawrence Murray
