Siem reap city cambodia. Siem Reap in Cambodia - information and guide to the city of Siem Reap. Airfare low price calendar

Close to Angkor Wat and among the ruins of the ancient city of Angkor Thom is the second largest temple in Cambodia - Bayon. It was erected in the middle of the XII century during the reign of King Jayavarman VII and is dedicated to the glorification of the Buddha.

A monumental temple-mountain appears before tourists, as if created by nature itself. Here and there fantastic boulders appear, resembling stone heads. Bayon is considered a stone miracle, a striking vision for the human eye.

The monumental walls of the temple are guarded by lions with tired mouths, and the temple itself consists of three decreasing terraces. In the lower terrace, only pillars and stunning reliefs have been preserved, depicting not only the everyday life of a common man, but also historical personalities. The walls of the second terrace depict scenes from religious and mythological sources.

But the most important thing in this temple is its central tower, symbolizing the center of the universe or the world mountain. Initially, in the center of the tower there was a figure of Buddha, the height of which reached 4.75 meters. Unfortunately, only fragments of it have survived to this day. Around the tower there are 52 smaller towers, each of which is crowned with four human faces, facing the four cardinal directions. There are 208 such faces in total.

Thus, this bizarre, monumental and partly fantastic temple is a real masterpiece of the medieval architecture of Cambodia and the cultural and historical heritage of this country.

Crocodile farm

Crocodile farm in Sien Reap is not just an attraction for tourists where you can see exotic animals, but also a real farm, the purpose of which is to obtain the final product - crocodile skin.

The farm is located in the southern part of the city, on the road to Tanle Sap Lake. About 300 so-called Siamese crocodiles live here permanently. In nature, they prefer slow-flowing freshwater reservoirs, and here pools serve as their habitat. The farm was established in 1979 under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture as a zoo and existed in this form until 1989. Now it is private property, and crocodiles are not raised here for the purpose of protection and preservation of the species, but solely for commercial interests. However, this does not in the least reduce the entertainment of the visit, especially if you catch the process of feeding predators. However, for a small fee, you yourself can feed the crocodiles with fish, duck or chicken.

In the shop at the farm you can buy crocodile skin products: bags, wallets, belts. For those who are fond of the exotic, stuffed crocodiles are sold - a product, of course, specific, but if you decide on such a purchase, do not forget to take a receipt from the store. The fact is that when flying home from Thailand, a scarecrow can be confiscated - they are prohibited for export from the country. Upon presentation of a purchase receipt in Cambodia, there will be no problems with export.

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Lake Tonle Sap

Tonle Sap Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. The area of ​​the lake is changeable - in the dry season it is about 2,500 square kilometers, and during the rains, the river of the same name flowing out of the lake changes its direction of flow, and the lake spills up to 16,000 square kilometers.

Translated from the Khmer language, the name Tonle Sap sounds like this: "Big fresh water", but most often translated as "Big Lake". This incident is explained by the fact that the literal translation is not at all true - the lake is muddy and muddy. Travelers who come to these parts tend to admire the Khmer and Vietnamese floating villages, as well as biosphere reserves with countless wading birds. They say that Tonle Sap is an extremely fishy place, where since ancient times the fish went in huge shoals, and the Cambodians got their food by fishing.

The inhabitants of this region spend their entire lives on the water. In this lake district you can find floating hospitals, police stations, restaurants, shops, schools, bars, cafes and even gas stations. Life is so arranged that from a young age the natives live with an oar in their hands. Because there is simply no other way to travel here.

Cambodians consider the liberation of the country from French colonization to be the most outstanding fact of their modern history. The Independence Monument, opened in Phnom Penh on December 9, 1962, became a symbol of the acquired sovereignty. An exact copy of this monument was recreated in the city of Siem Reap.

The famous Cambodian architect Vann Molivann became the author of the building. The monument is made as a modern interpretation of traditional Khmer buildings. It is believed that the monument was built on the model of the Main Tower of Angkor. It looks like a five-tiered pagoda with through doors-passages, built of terracotta stone. The total height of the structure is 20 meters. The edges of each tier are decorated with cobra heads - they say there are 100 of them here. Now the monument represents not only the deliverance from the protectorate of France, but is also a symbol of eternal memory and gratitude to all those who died during the terrible years of the civil war.

The unique style and excellent performance made both the Independence Monument in Phnom Penh and its exact copy in Siem Reap very attractive tourist sites. Both are especially good in the evening in the beams of spotlights. On national holidays, the monument is decorated with red-blue-white ribbons symbolizing the Cambodian flag.

Siem Reap Airport

Siem Reap International Airport (IATA: REP) is the largest Cambodian international commercial airport located in the city of Siem Reap. It is located 8 kilometers from the city of Siem Reap and serves mainly tourists who fly to visit Angkor - the main attraction of Cambodia. The airport accepts aircraft of class A310/320 and below.

Banteay Kdei Temple

Not far from Siem Reap, you can find the dilapidated temple of Banteay Kdei. The date of its foundation is attributed to the twelfth century, during the reign of Jayavarman VII. For unknown reasons, the construction of the temple was carried out very chaotically - projects were constantly changing, in connection with which absolute confusion arose in the architectural plan. In addition, the material used in construction turned out to be of poor quality, which was the main reason for the current state of Banteay Kdei.

The name of the temple Banteay Kdei is translated as "Citadel of the sanctuaries". Presumably, the temple was built on the ruins of an ancient Buddhist temple. Today, planned reconstruction work is underway in Banteay Kdei. A lot of work has already been successfully done to rid the temple of the roots of trees.

Lolei Temple

Lolei Temple was built in 893, during the reign of Yasovarman I, King of the Khmer Empire. The temple was dedicated to the father of Yashovarman I - King Indravarman I. The main feature of the Lolei temple was that it was located on an artificial island in the middle of the Indratataka barai - a man-made reservoir (which has not survived to this day). The area of ​​the island was approximately 80 by 90 meters.

Today, the Lolei temple is a monastery. For this reason, many of the architectural features of the building were destroyed - the monks did not want to waste time on research and set about landscaping with their own hands. At the same time, everything that the monks thought was "unnecessary" was demolished, including terraces and pavements.

On the walls of the Lolei temple, you can see drawings depicting gods, monsters and snakes.

Are you curious to know how well you know the sights of Siem Reap? .

Ta Prohm Temple

Ta Prohm Temple was built by the Khmers at the end of the 12th - beginning of the 13th century. Its original name is Rajavihara. The temple is located about one kilometer east of Angkor Thom. It was founded by King Jayavarman VII - he conceived the temple as a Buddhist monastery and university.

Ta Prohm is dedicated to the Hindu god Brahma. The temple was discovered in the 20th century during the restoration of the temples of Angkor. The appearance of the temple makes a huge impression - the walls and roofs of the temple buildings are crowned with centuries-old trees that are woven into the stones with their roots. When the temple began to be cleared of trees, it became clear that it was the roots of the trees that were the main fastening element, without which the temple would hardly have survived to this day. After that, it was decided to leave everything as it is, because the trees adorn the walls of the temple to this day.

The most popular attractions in Siem Reap with descriptions and photos for every taste. Choose the best places to visit the famous places of Siem Reap on our website.

More attractions in Siem Reap

Siem Reap is a small town in Cambodia, located near the country's main tourist attraction - the Angkor temple complex. I have long been interested in the Khmer Empire, and I have always been amazed that they could build such grandiose structures as Angkor Wat - the world's largest Hindu monument of culture and architecture. And finally I decided to persuade my husband to go and figure it all out on my own. So we went to Siem Reap on our own from Thailand for the first time.

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Personally, we have been to Siem Reap several times, and we are always curious to return to Cambodia. So we will describe more than once our impressions of how the city is growing in the neighborhood of Angkor and what is changing in it. In the meantime, let's start with how to see this city.

There are six easiest options for getting to Siem Reap in Cambodia:

1. by plane from Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and other Asian cities;
2. by bus from neighboring countries - Thailand, Vietnam, Laos;
3. by taxi from the border town of Poipet;
4. by train from Bangkok to Aranyaprathet, and the rest of the way by taxi or bus;
5. by boat from Phnom Penh and Battambang;
6. by helicopter from Phnom Penh and Battambang.

And now I will tell you in detail about each method.

By plane

Flying to Siem Reap by plane is the easiest way to get to the city of Angkor. Airlines fly here with direct flights from all neighboring Asian countries and cities. You can only choose the one that is more convenient. By the way, Siem Reap Departure Tax is always included in the ticket price if it is an international flight. If you bought a ticket for a home flight, then before departure you need to pay $12. It is better to pay in cash.

Here is a list of all airlines flying to Siem Reap and departure cities:

• AirAsia (Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok)
• Air Hanuman (Pattaya)
• Asiana Airlines (Seoul)
• Bangkok Airways (Bangkok)
• Cambodia Angkor Air (Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, Bangkok)
• Cathay Pacific Airways - Dragonair (Hong Kong)
• Cebu Pacific Air (Manila)
• China Eastern Airlines (Kunming, Nanning)
• China Southern Airlines (Guangzhou)
• Hong Kong Express (Hong Kong)
• Jetstar Asia (Singapore)
• Korean Air (Seoul-Incheon)
• Lao Airlines (Luang Prabang, Pakse)
• Malaysia Airlines (Kuala Lumpur)
• Silk Air (Danang, Singapore)
• THAI Smile Airways (Bangkok)
• Vietnam Airlines (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Luang Prabang)

We recommend watching in advance. Flights to Siem Reap at this link >> *
* airlines often arrange sales, do not miss the opportunity to buy a ticket

You can board a plane in your country and fly to Cambodia's second international airport with a transfer in one of the Asian cities. From Moscow, it is most convenient to fly to Siem Reap with a change in Bangkok. Transfer from Siem Reap Airport to the hotel is usually provided free of charge if the hotel is already booked, but will be taken to the airport for $5. A taxi from the airport costs $7.

Coming to Siem Rin by bus is also very easy. You can come from the border states with Cambodia. The most popular route to Siem Reap is from Bangkok. There are also excursions from Pattaya to Angkor. Some tourists prefer to do this route on their own, arriving by bus.

• To Siem Reap from Thailand: Buses that do not need to be changed at the border are operated by the Nattakarn Bus Company, which departs from Mo Chit North Bus Station in Bangkok. All other ways include different variations - how to come to the border from Bangkok to Aranyaprathet, and from there go to the Cambodian city of Poipet and go further to Siem Reap. We have traveled this route several times and share our experience -, history and practical information about).
• To Siem Reap from Vietnam. Travelers in Southeast Asia can also get to Angkor Wat from Vietnam by driving to Cambodia by bus from Na Trang and Ho Chi Minh City. Ticket prices range from $18 to $25.
• To Siem Reap from Laos. There is another very non-trivial way - to come to Siem Reap from southern Laos - from Pakse ($30) and from 4000 islands of Don Det ($35). Read the story of how we went this way the other way around and managed not to pay the border mafia not a dollar, read.

By bus you can get to Siem Reap from Phnom Penh - $7-15, Sihanoukville - $13-18, Battambang - $5, Kampong Thom - $7, Sisopon - $5 and Poipet - $5 and other cities of Cambodia.

Taxi from Poipet to Siem Reap

Arriving in Poipet by bus from Bangkok, most of the tourists do not transfer to another bus, but try to find fellow travelers in order to save on a taxi ride. A taxi to Siem Reap for 4 people costs $25-45 depending on the impudence of the taxi driver. Official taxis from the center of Poipet carry for $25.

By boat to Siem Reap from Phnom Penh and Battambang

Passenger boat is one of the exotic ways to come to Siem Reap from Phnom Penh and Battambang and see Cambodia along the way.

• From Phnom Penh. This trip along the Tonle Sap river and lake is feasible from July to March during the rainy season and the cool season. The boat starts at 7.30 from Phnom Penh and arrives in Siem Reap in 6 hours. The cost of such a trip is $28-30.
• From Battambang– a similar way to get to Siem Reap will take 5 hours and costs $20-25.

By train from Bangok to Aranyaprathet

The railway in Cambodia exists, but does not function for the transport of passengers. However, you can take the train from Bangkok to Aranyaprathet. Then cross the border to Poipet and choose a further method of transportation - by bus or taxi to Siem Reap.

The train departs from Bangkok to Aranyaprathet twice a day - at 5.55 and 13.05. Ticket price - 45-200 baht. Travel time is 4-5 hours. But keep in mind that trains in Thailand are always late.

Helicopter to Siem Reap from Phnom Penh and Battambang

In order not to waste time and immediately go to the temples of Angkor, you can order a helicopter and fly to Siem Reap from any city in Cambodia. Charter flights are handled by Helistar Cambodia and Helicopters Cambodia.

The cost of a helicopter flight, accommodating 5-6 people, starts at a thousand dollars. From Battambang the flight costs $1600 and from Phnom Penh $4700.

It will be quite easy for tourists to orient themselves in the city of Siem Reap if you look at its maps in advance.

Open large Google map →

In different colors on the map are marked:

• Blue - the sights of Siem Reap, as well as a place to buy tickets to Angkor Wat;
• Orange - airport and bus stations;
• Purple - temples in the city and Angkor Wat;
• Dark brown - bank branches in the city;
• Light brown - gas stations, gas stations;
• Green color - a place for renting electric bikes (e-bike);
• Dark red - hospital and post office;
• Gray - border crossings with Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

Siem Reap city maps

Since you need to spend some time in the city, the maps will not hurt anyone. But Siem Reap, or rather its tourist part, is quite small and it is quite easy to navigate there.

Map of the tourist area around the Old Market

Siem Reap, and especially its tourist part - the area around the Old Market - is not so big. Nevertheless, you can use various modes of transport to move around the city both independently and with the help of a taxi.

• On foot. It's easy. As I said, the city is small.
• By bike. Many guesthouses rent bicycles for $1-3 per day.
• On an electric bike(E-bike). This newfangled introduction has already paid off in, and now it has also captured Siem Reap. Electric bikes cost $10 per day (you need a passport to rent). They are usually charged at night, but they can also be charged along the way - pay attention to the special green signs (by the way, they are also located along the Small and Large circles of Angkor). A full charge makes it possible to drive 42 km. In one hour, you can charge an electric bike for 5 km.
• On a motorbike. Since 2016, it has become possible to ride motorbikes in Siem Reap! We personally tried this way of visiting the temples of Angkor and were very pleased with the freedom of movement. Renting a motorbike in Siem Reap costs $10-20.
• By tuk tuk or remorka. Tuk-tuks can be found everywhere in the city. Decent hotels have their own tuk-tuk drivers who drive around the city for free. A tuk-tuk usually costs $1. However, always negotiate the price and destination in advance.

One of the main issues that worries travelers is the weather in. Now I will tell you when is the best time to go to Siem Reap. It should be borne in mind that, like in other countries of Southeast Asia, monsoons rule in Cambodia, and under their influence the Siem Reap weather. There are usually three seasons of climate in Cambodia - cool, hot and rainy season.

• cool season(November - January) is characterized by the coldest weather in Siem Reap and Cambodia. But this only means that rains will be rare, and the temperature will be kept at about 26-29 ° C. However, this is the best time to visit Cambodia and Siem Reap. Many of the poorly accessible during the rainy season, such as Mount Kulen and the river of a thousand lingams Kbal Spean, will be open to the public.
• hot season(February - April) - this is the most difficult period of the year to travel in Cambodia. And the sweltering heat will be the main enemy. In Siem Reap at this time the sun heats the air up to 40 °C. There is no rain, and the rivers and streams dry up. The surrounding fields can also burn, and smog can stand in the air. Not the best time to visit Siem Reap, but possible if you can handle the heat well. Plus, there are fewer tourists. Never forget to take a supply of water with you!
• Rain season(May-October) is a good time to visit Siem Reap. And although rain is expected, and therefore cloudy (Mount Kulen and Kbal Spean will be partially inaccessible), usually bad weather does not last all day. As a rule, rains and thunderstorms occur at night or in the evening, which makes it possible in the first half of the day (from early morning to 16.00) to see the sights of Siem Reap and Angkor. At this time, the temperature is kept around 30 ° C.

The air temperature in Siem Reap and the amount of precipitation by months:

A hotel in Siem Reap should be chosen according to your own plans. There are a lot of places to stay in the city, as they say, for every taste and budget, and every year there are more and more hotels. All hotels in Siem Reap

There are several criteria by which you should choose a hotel or guesthouse:

• Are you a fan of walking in the evening, do you want to go around all the places and have fun in the company of other travelers? Settle closer to Pub Street (Pub street). One street name will tell you that it is noisy and fun here every evening, seven days a week. And the guesthouses are the cheapest. I left my things in the room, you walk all day and come only to sleep.
  We recommend choosing from the best options:
  – One Stop Hostel Siem Reap @ Pub Street- grade 8.9
  – Onederz Hostel Siem Reap- grade 9.5
  – Angkor Breeze Central Villa- grade 9.0

• If, on the contrary, you do not want to live in the thick of things and be away from the noisy market, choose quiet streets. The most comfortable hotels in Siem Reap are located a little further from the city center. There are restaurants almost everywhere, just in a slightly smaller concentration. Here are examples of hotels:
  – Oriental Siem Reap- grade 9.5
  – La Maison du Passant- grade 9.4
  – Homestay Chreav- grade 9.6

• If you plan to leave early every day - in particular at dawn to Angkor Wat or go to distant Khmer temples (for example, Banteay Srey or Beng Melia) at the best morning time, when the light is good and there are no people - then you should not choose a hotel with breakfast. But it’s better to think about how to eat on the road - stock up on food in the evening and eat while the tuker is carrying you, or stop by some cafe along the way.
  – Viroth's Villa- grade 9.5
  – Sambath Residence- grade 9.4
  – Sala Lodges- grade 9.4

• And if you like to sleep well and have a good breakfast, then be sure to choose a hotel in Siem Rim with breakfast included in the price. And preferably with a pool. By the way, even inexpensive guesthouses in Siem Reap, where the room rate is only $10-12, treat their guests to breakfast.
  – The Bayon Villa- grade 9.7
  – Central Indochine D'angkor Hotel- grade 9.3
  – Bunwin Residence- grade 9.3
  

Our hotel in Siem Reap. Very nice room with private facilities and air conditioning in a quiet location for $11 with breakfast - Oral D'Angkor Guesthouse. The owners are a British-Khmer family

• The restaurant in the hotel will be convenient if you do not want to walk around the city in the evening, but plan to relax in your room after a rich cultural program. Otherwise, it's easier to go to one of the countless restaurants in Siem Reap and dine there.
  – Chronicle Residence & Spa- grade 9.3
  – Sumeru Boutique Hotel & Spa- grade 10.0
  – Residence Indochine D'angkor- grade 9.3

• But the pool, if the budget allows, it seems to me, is almost a mandatory criterion. After all, just the opportunity to swim in hot Siem Reap after a tiring day will be the best end to the evening.
  – Dream Mango Villa- grade 9.7
  –Villa b. Maison d'Hotes Angkor- grade 9.8
  – Silver Palms Residence- grade 9.5

• And finally, if you want to stay in the most luxurious hotel in Siem Reap, we recommend that you choose from these:
  – Phum Baitang- grade 9.5 (Luxury 5* villa for outdoor recreation. Terrace, spa, swimming pool, garden)
  – The Privilege Boutique- grade 9.6 (unique 5* spa suites in the city)
  – Prince d'Angkor Hotel & Spa- grade 8.7 (spa hotel 5 * in Cambodian style, the best in the city).

Where to look for hotels in Siem Reap?

As I already said, cafes and restaurants in Siem Reap are apparently invisible: from those located right in the hotel, specialized expensive restaurants for wealthy travelers, eateries next to the market where you can get large and tasty portions for $ 1.5 and ending with canteens and cafes scattered through the streets of the city. The central part of Siem Reap, where tourists live, consists entirely of hotels and restaurants, and only occasionally there are shops, banks and government agencies.

• In Siem Reap you can taste any cuisine of the world. Literally everything is represented: Khmer cuisine, Thai, Italian, Chinese, American. Plenty of pizzerias and cafes serving sandwiches and burgers, there is KFC, Burger King - there is everything! Even vegetarians will be happy in Siem Reap - almost every eatery has a vegetarian menu!
• Do not forget that, as in any hot country in Southeast Asia, fruit shakes are popular in Siem Reap, and the price for them is very low - $ 1-1.5.
• And the famous Pub Street in Siem Reap, of course, speaks for itself - lovers of beer in the company of friends will not be disappointed.
• Recently, many small shops and large supermarkets have opened in Siem Reap, where they sell the assortment of food, clothing, and even souvenirs familiar to any European.

Nice restaurant in Siem Reap that also has a great selection of vegetarian options

And what about himself Siem Reap city? In recent years, the city has become cleaner, people have become richer. There are many more tourists and tukers on the streets. And the Chinese are the bulk of the tourists in Cambodia today.

But the first thing that catches your eye when walking around Siem Reap is the rows of new motorbikes! Yes, yes, now you can see Angkor on a motorcycle on your own! This is just great news for everyone who is so used to riding freely in neighboring Thailand, and in Cambodia was forced to hire a driver with a tuk-tuk.

Nevertheless, tukers still carry tourists on their remorks (tuk-tuks), and those who find it more convenient to see the temples of Angkor without thinking about routes will still be satisfied.

Tuk-tuks are used not only to show tourists Angkor. Cargo remork carries furniture through the streets of Siem Reap

The glory of Cambodia as a country of one dollar is confirmed. There are a couple of tuk-tuks nearby, of course, ready to serve tourists!

And here they are - motorbikes in Siem Reap!

Things to see in Siem Reap

Siem Reap is not such a rich city in attractions, especially compared to Bangkok. But the inhabitants of Siem Reap do not lose heart, because there are temples of Angkor nearby. And yet, if you have daytime to explore the city, then it is worth visiting some of the highlights:

After visiting the temples of Angkor, the first thing to do is to relax. But what to do in Siem Reap during the day and in the evening, I will tell you now.

Things to do in Siem Reap during the day:

In the evening you can go to restaurants or cafes, shop, visit the night market. Also, evening leisure in Siem Reap can be spent by going to popular performances:

• Dance - highly recommended!

Night market in Siem Reap little different from daytime. But it is convenient precisely because it works in the evening. The same silver jewelry, T-shirts, paintings, food and other souvenirs. Salons offer massage of any kind right on the street. Foot massage with fish is generally one of the most favorite entertainments in Siem Reap for many tourists. You sit to yourself, drink a fruit shake, and the fish do their job.

Trading at the Siem Reap Night Market starts at nightfall

Various shows both decent and not very popular are still popular in the city of Siem Reap.

We are not great experts on the nightlife of Asian cities, so we will not be able to tell you about the details of nightlife, but such information is probably easily searched for in the relevant blogs and forums. But it cannot be that someone gets bored here in a tourist city. Everyone will find pleasure and leisure to their liking.

Numerous restaurants and bars are open where you can eat quite inexpensively, drink beer, cocktails, meet other travelers and agree, for example, to go to distant temples and divide the cost of the trip in half.

All world flags in Siem Reap! But, unfortunately, we could not find high-quality flags that we bought a few years ago. Presented are poorly stitched and will not withstand washing

sacred souvenirs. With the purchase of Buddha statues, you need to be careful. For example, in Thailand there is a rule banning the export of Buddha images. It is necessary to carefully read the rules in force in Cambodia and neighboring countries on which souvenirs can be exported and which are prohibited

But there are a lot of clothes in the markets of Siem Reap - mostly not of very high quality, unfortunately. But if the goal is to buy a pair of T-shirts and pants to wear while on vacation, why not?

The city of Siem Reap is also famous for selling cheap silver here. When buying, you must choose carefully to get a quality product of the highest standard.

And of course, in Siem Reap you can buy paintings to hang in your house upon arrival. The stories are all the same. You just need to choose a topic that is closer to you.

If you want to bring a souvenir from Cambodia, then you need to be prepared for the fact that market in Siem Reap most textiles and various handicrafts are of rather poor quality. T-shirts for three washings, the seams are barely stitched, the threads stick out. It will take a very long time to look for a quality thing, unless of course you are lucky the first time.

But what is really worth buying in Cambodia, as a unique and real souvenir, is black pepper from Campot pepper. If you are not going to Kampot itself, where everything will be cheaper, then it is worth buying it either in any supermarket (cheaper) or in tourist markets throughout the city (very expensive). We went to the usual city market for locals, where they sell vegetables, meat and other food. There, for a pound of not very high-quality pepper, they asked for $ 5. And for quality, they did not agree to take less than $ 6.5. But the pepper is very good, fragrant, spicy and fragrant! And the price is twice or even three times lower than in the store!

Pepper from Kampot is the best souvenir you can bring back from Cambodia, apart from the experience, of course!

Siem Reap. Angkor - how to see, maps and prices

Every tourist goes to Siem Reap in Cambodia not for the sake of the city itself, but to see the temples of Angkor and the famous Angkor Wat!

angkor wat

• You can also see the most famous and colorful temples, including Angkor Wat. The length of the route is 30 km, in terms of time - from 4 to 6 hours for inspection.
• combines the Small Circle with other temples that are located near Siem Reap. The length of the route is 35 km. Time for inspection 5 - 8 hours.
• - a miniature and unique temple. Many consider it to be the most beautiful in Cambodia and even put it in front of the Angkor Wat temple itself. It can be added to the Greater or Lesser Circle of Angkor.
• The very first temples of Angkor in Siem Reap, included in. Not the most popular among tourists.
• Standing aside from the routes of the Small and Large circles, but a very curious temple of Banteay Samre.
• The distant temples of Angkor - and. The pyramid can only be reached by car, and they take tuk-tuks to Beng Melia, but this trip will take half a day.
• - Preah Vihea or Banteay Chma are also worth attention.
• Natural and architectural wonders - Mount Kulen (it was here that Jayavarman II declared himself a god-king) and. They also need to be visited separately, or added to one of the standard routes from Siem Reap to Angkor.
• Ethnographic visit to the floating village

How can all these sights of Siem Reap fit into one itinerary - for a day or several days? We will write about all this in detail. And of course, we will discuss each route, including non-standard, personally invented routes that we tried on our last visit to Siem Reap. Read about Angkor itineraries.

Angkor is the main attraction in Siem Reap

Recently, many points have appeared on the central streets of Siem Reap where you can rent a motorcycle (electric or gasoline). We took advantage of this option with pleasure and quite examined Angkor Wat and other temples on motorbikes. On the main street or next to Pub Street, you can go around several shops and choose your favorite scooter at a price that suits you. The cost for rent is $10-20. But you can bargain.

Gasoline is sold at a central gas station in Siem Reap or from plastic bottles on the counters in different villages.

Here is a short video from Angkor (Banteay Kdei) near Siem Reap:

Tuk-tuk prices in Siem Reap in 2016:

Tuk-tuk prices in Siem Reap - how much does a large and small circle cost. Here are some prices you can look at

Angkor temple complex maps

In this section, we will present the best maps of Angkor available on the web that will help you deal with the sights of Siem Reap. And in our other articles, we will provide a detailed map-scheme for each temple, so that it is more convenient to understand what kind of building it is.

The most convenient map for visiting the temples of Angkor and making a route

Joking tourist map of Siem Reap

Siem Reap - our review

We can say with confidence that it is getting better and cleaner, there are more hotels and restaurants. We liked that along with the influx of tourists, civilization is gradually coming to poor Cambodia, and Siem Reap is in the clear leader in this indicator. From this morning it is nice to go out onto the balcony and see the coconuts embraced by the sunlight. What can be said as a conclusion about visiting Siem Reap compared to what was here before:

• Corruption in Cambodia is invincible, and you can only fight it with your feet, that is, without coming here;
• Prices in cheap cafes in Siem Reap have not changed, and in expensive restaurants they have even dropped slightly;
• Hotel prices have not changed either (from $5 to infinity);
• Tuk-tuk prices at budget guesthouses have not changed;
• But the prices for tickets to Angkor have risen. Since February 2017, the Angkor pass costs $37 for one day, $62 for three days, and $72 for a week. 2 USD from each ticket go to maintain a hospital for children;
• It became possible to travel around Angkor on your own on a motorbike or bicycle;
• Travel agencies have sprung up offering interesting new tours, for example to Pre Vigea.

In principle, you can exchange currency in Siem Reap for local riels - at a bank or at a hotel. But there is no real need for this, since in Cambodia the US dollar circulates almost like a second national currency. Cambodian riels may end up in your collection when shops give you change that is not a multiple of dollars. It is possible and necessary to pay for your purchase in dollars and riels at the same time. Cambodian riel to US dollar exchange rate: 1 USD = 4000 riels.

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First of all, you need to find and compare the prices of hotels with discounts on different booking sites. In order not to waste time, we use a convenient search engine - RoomGuru. He immediately looks for the best deals on the Internet and shows the most profitable ones. It remains only to choose the right one and go on vacation!

Excursions Angkor. Special offer!

Temples of Cambodia. Angkor.

Seem Rip is synonymous with Angkor. If people say "We are going to Siem Reap", it means that they are going to see the temples. Only the lazy have not heard about the temples of Angkor, and even the lazy have also heard. By some misunderstanding, the temples of Angkor are in eighth place in the list of modern Wonders of the World. And they should be on the second. It doesn't make sense to say who is on the first... :-)
Have you seen the Egyptian pyramids? Do you think Angkor is the same, only Cambodian? No, no and NO! The pyramids are already in the past. Not in the sense that they are from the distant past, but in the fact that they have been so trampled that now they are essentially just stones. Angkor is not like that, Angkor "clings" even the most callous person. And for a traveler who shows at least a slight interest in the culture and history of mankind, the temples of Angkor are amazing! These stones, among other things, keep the spirit of almost the last millennium. Here, among these temples, the Great Khmer Empire was born, reached the peak of its power and fell under the pressure of the Thai barbarians. In the dark corners of the temples, where even the monks go with caution, the great Khmer kings still roam. If you listen and look closely, with peripheral vision and on the verge of hearing, then the Apsaras will appear to you in their eternal dance to the majestic music.

Do you want to see it all in one day? We do not recommend! Temples do not tolerate fuss. Two days? It's like having half your dinner, it's like watching a play before intermission and going home. It's up to you, of course! But we warned you!
And now briefly (on five pages) we will tell you what you simply must see. And you yourself decide whether to watch the grandiose performance in half or in full!

In 1112, Suryavarman II, the Sun King, became the ruler of Cambodia. According to legend, he could make the lotus buds bloom and make everything prosperous. During his reign, Cambodia became the greatest power in Southeast Asia, and Angkor reached the highest point of development in the history of its architecture. It was during this period that Angkor Wat was built. This is the most famous building in this ancient city. This temple was built during the second period of Angkor and is dedicated to the god Vishnu, since at that time Hinduism prevailed on the territory of the Khmer Empire. Therefore, the king ordered the construction of a temple in honor of Vishnu, one of the three supreme gods of Hinduism. Vishnu maintains the cyclic existence of the universe. According to legend, Vishnu falls asleep while lying on a giant coiled snake that floats on the waves of the universal ocean. Vishnu's dream is equal to one cycle of the universe or 4.5 billion human years. When Vishnu awakens, a lotus grows from his belly, Brahma appears from the lotus flower and begins to create the world. And at the end of the cycle, the god of destruction Shiva destroys this world. Vishnu will alternately fall asleep and wake up, and the Universe will be created and destroyed in an endless cycle.

Angkor Wat is made up of large stone blocks. right on the surface of the earth. More than 30 billion tons of stone were used to build 1,500 columns. Most stone blocks weigh 500 kg each, while the largest ones weigh 10 tons. No cement or other fastening materials were used in the construction process, however, the stone elements are so precisely fitted to each other that the deviation in height between the walls is minimal.
Angkor Wat is a giant symbol. According to Hindu ideas about the structure of the world, the center of the universe is Mount Meru, rising in the middle of the ocean. This is the place where all the gods and goddesses live. Meru is surrounded by four smaller temples, the sun and moon revolve around the mountain, and at its foot an endless ocean stretches. Angkor Wat is built in accordance with these ideas, using abstract geometric shapes. Angkor Wat is the largest religious building in the world. It took 89 years to build, and 150 million people took part in the project. By the time the construction was completed, Suryavarman II had long died without seeing the result of the work.

Angkor Wat can be roughly divided into 3 levels, which represent the lower world, the world of people and the heavenly world. Each of the worlds is reflected in the architecture of Angkor Wat. The first level is surrounded by a corridor, the walls of which are decorated with elegant bas-reliefs. In the center of the building is a sanctuary. The height difference between the altars of the sanctuaries is 10 meters. The highest altar is at a height of 65 meters. This is the top of the sanctuary, there are 5 stone pagodas, the central one rises above the rest. It symbolizes the center of the heavenly world. The concept of three worlds is presented not only in the architectural design of Angkor Wat, but is also more clearly depicted in the bas-reliefs that adorn the walls of the corridors. At the first level, the wall, like a long scroll, reveals to us the spiritual world of the Khmers. It is carved with scenes from the everyday life of the Khmer, as well as scenes from various legends of Hindu mythology. The eastern part of the wall depicts the legend of the drink of immortality - amrit. The asura gods and demons have made a truce in order to obtain a magical drink. To do this, they wrapped the lord of the Nagas, the giant snake Vasuki, around Mount Meru and began to pull him in turn, thus churning the milky ocean. The whipping process lasted more than a thousand years, the moon appeared from the waters of the ocean, behind it appeared the goddess of beauty and happiness Lakshmi, who became the wife of Vishnu, the deity of wine and hops Sura, the wonderful white horse and finally the god of healing with a bowl of amrita in her hands.

On the northern wall is depicted the battle of Vishnu with the heavenly devil. Half of the western wall is dedicated to the Hindu epic Ramayana, while the other half illustrates the Mahabharata. The south wall depicts scenes of clashes between the Khmer and the invaders, since the Mekong Delta has always been the subject of encroachment.
Moving along the walls, one can observe how the carving technique improved. The length of each wall is almost 800 meters, it takes from 2 to 4 hours to inspect. The bas-reliefs tell us about a great and brilliant civilization, forever preserving stories from its life. Another wall with bas-reliefs surrounds bayon temple. The theme is devoted to the daily life of the Khmer people: people go to the market, cook food, hunt, treat diseases, dance and sing, worship the gods. In total, there are about 11 thousand images of people.
Bas-reliefs on walls and columns are best preserved in Angkor Wat. Basically, they depict the celestial maidens of the Apsaras, their poses are beautiful and fabulous, they seem to be floating on lotus flowers, calmly and majestically. The variety of hairstyles that adorn the heads of apsaras is surprising. There are 36 different styles.

A careful study of these images and descriptions left by Judogoan allows us to recreate a clear picture of ancient Angkor. According to Judogoan's observations, the houses of the king, officials and rich people were buildings on wooden piles, or even just thatched huts. Although the king wore gold and silver jewelry, he went barefoot like other people. As for ordinary people, there were no tables, chairs and dishes in their houses. They cooked their food in depressions made in the ground, and used coconut shells or tree leaves instead of plates. They ate with their hands and slept on mats thrown on the ground. Such was the simple life of the ancient inhabitants and builders of Angkor. Centuries passed, these people died, only sanctuaries and temples made of stone remained. As a result of complex archaeological excavations, it was not possible to find any traces of the fact that people lived in this area. Only a small number of household items were found. Some representatives of Western civilization even doubt that Angkor was built by the Cambodians. There is a feeling that everything that we see came from nowhere. But they are wrong. Scientific evidence collected over a long period of time confirms that the great Angkor was built by the ancestors of the Cambodians. George Kurkis, an expert on Cambodia from France, spent several years comparing the faces of Cambodians with faces carved on the walls of ancient Angkor, and concluded that there is a physiological similarity between them.

Construction of Angkor Thom was started in 889 by order of Yasavarman the first. Subsequent kings also erected a large number of buildings in this city. Two centuries later, when Suyavarman the second decided to build Angkor Wat, there was no place for him within the boundaries of Angkor Thom, and the temple was moved outside the city. Today, nothing remains of most of the buildings, except for foundations and piles of broken stones. But many temples managed to survive, including one of the most famous - Bayon, located in the central part of the city. In Khmer, the word "tom" means "big". During the reign of Jayavarman the seventh, Angkor Thom was already a large city, and its population reached a million people. Having taken a walk through the ancient ruins, you will definitely feel the spirit of this place. The neatly arranged buildings are masterpieces of architecture, although many of them have already turned into ruins. There is only one form of time left here, and it is called Eternity.

Jayavarman the seventh was another king of the great Khmer empire. Unlike his predecessors, he did not profess Hinduism, but Mahayana Buddhism. During his forty-year reign, the country became the most powerful empire in Southeast Asia. He expanded the boundaries of the old Angkor Thom and ordered the construction of many magnificent temples. The world-famous Cambodian smile - all four states of mind: compassion, sorrow, joy and equanimity are simultaneously read on one face. Temple bayon resembles a labyrinth of many mirrors in which gigantic heads are reflected. These huge stone sculptures are located close to each other, like blossoming lotus buds. They smile at each other, as if fascinated looking at their reflection in the mirror, only occasionally glancing at the little people below. The bayon is built in the shape of a square, each side of which is 80 meters long. The main pagoda is located in the center and has a height of 43 meters. In total, the temple has 54 large pagodas of different heights. Each pagoda is crowned with 4 stone faces facing the four cardinal directions. All of these 216 gigantic bas-reliefs were supposed to depict Avanatihishvara, but many believe that this is the face of Jayavarman the seventh. During the day, the stone faces look the same, but when night falls, under the magical light of the moon, the expression on their faces begins to mysteriously change. The sculptors who created this amazing miracle remained unknown. The first rays of the sun, the chirping of birds against the background of the singing of the monks create a unique atmosphere of early morning on the banks of the Mekong.
25 km northeast of Angkor Thom is the palace of Queen Banta Shri, famous for its exquisite carvings. It was built in 967 by order of King Jayavarman 5th. However, the temple was not built in honor of the queen, the locals named it so because the bas-reliefs depict many goddesses and apsaras. But in fact, the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Built during the second building period of Angkor, it was heavily influenced by the architectural styles of Hindu temples.

Ta Prohm Temple was built by order of Jayavarman the seventh in honor of his mother. Today, this place resembles a merciless battlefield between the gods and nature. Its walls are overgrown with cotton trees and seem to be covered with a silver sheen. Trees, creepers, moss, rain, lightning, wild animals, the scorching sun and the coolness of the night attacked the temple for several centuries. The roots and trunks of cotton trees climbed the walls and penetrated deep into the cracks between the stones. They framed windows and doors, gouged roofs, sprouting in the heart of the temple, dividing, enveloping and absorbing it. The finale of this battle was the gradual growth of Ta Prohm into the ground. The jungle and the temple are intertwined into one, and nothing can separate them. This natural miracle did not destroy the temple, but on the contrary, breathed new life into it.

Tonle Sap Lake and Floating Villages

Everything in this lake is unusual and surprising. But the most amazing, of course, are the people living on this lake. The phrase "live on Lake Tonlsap" should be taken literally: people live in the truest sense of the word on the water.
Floating villages are quite widespread in different countries of Southeast Asia, but only in Tonle Sap do they reach such scope and significance. The inhabitants of Tonle Sap live not in simple pontoon huts, but in real floating villages. Not only houses and shops "stand" on the water, but also schools, sports grounds, temples and even police stations. Residents of Tonle Sap, from an early age to old age, move mainly by water - in small boats and in large houseboats, which often even have small plots of land where vegetables are grown. After the decrease in water, many grow rice on the fertile muddy soil of the surroundings, but, of course, water provides the main food for people - these are fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants.

Of course, there are cafes on the lake and viewing platforms for tourists who often come to admire the unique aquatic community. The journey along the "inland sea of ​​Cambodia" usually starts from Battambang or Siem Reap, from where the dams are laid. Small boats sail from them, carrying tourists deep into the lake. Everything is interesting on the lake - a floating crocodile farm and biosphere reserves, where you can observe a rare variety of birds, mangroves and lotuses, but most importantly - the very lifestyle of the "natives" of the lake. Houseboats and shops in themselves are exceptionally exotic for a European. And the children rushing to the floating school in tiny boats and even basins, and the old women delivering food, deftly handling the oar?

There are legends about the origin of these villages that they are inhabited mainly by Cambodians and that this is a thousand-year tradition. However, there is a simpler explanation. When a war broke out in neighboring Vietnam in the middle of the last century, many residents were forced to leave their homes. In the prosperous pre-Pol Pot Cambodia, according to the then laws, foreigners could not settle. Only those who were born there could live on the land of Cambodia. However, there was no mention of the water surface in the laws, and the refugees settled on Lake Tonle Sap. And the settlements became floating, and not just water, due to the variable size of the lake. There are several villages on the lake, although usually only one is spoken of, the largest, with more than five thousand inhabitants and which is a popular tourist attraction. Tourism brings a significant income - however, not to the residents themselves, but to local businessmen (as a rule, these are Chinese). However, something also falls to the share of the “water peasants”, and it turns out that earning money by demonstrating their usual (and unusual for tourists) lifestyle turns out to be more profitable than cultivating land by growing rice and vegetables. Not without reason, in the early 90s of the last century, the attempt of lake residents to move to settlements on the ground, built for them by the Japanese, failed. According to the official version, the settlers simply could not adapt to the land way of life, however, there are opinions that life on the shore turned out to be much less profitable than on the water, and some people believe that the Chinese, who run the tourist business...

Whatever the reasons for the settlement of the lake surface, water settlements live and, by the standards of Southeast Asia, are pretty good. The main thing is that people themselves are satisfied with their lifestyle. They build solid boats, among which there are already a lot of motor boats, floating houses and houses on stilts (the latter, as a rule, belong to ethnic Cambodians, in contrast to the Vietnamese "floats"). In the dry season, pile houses rise above the shallow lake, like watchtowers, and residents, in order not to climb the stairs to their dwelling several times a day, as a rule, wait out this period in temporary “buildings” on the lake.
The village of Kampong Pluuk can be considered a "transitional form" between land and lake life. In the dry season, part of the village is above the water level, and you can move along it not only by boat, but also on foot. The land ends in the middle of the main street, gradually turning into a swamp, and then into a reservoir. Otherwise, Kampong Pluuk is an ordinary fishing village. Normal, of course, by local standards - a Buddhist temple and a branch of the People's Party of Cambodia, of course, are typical only for these places. The architecture is also unusual - both eclecticism and national color. Buddhist monks and people in traditional clothes also definitely indicate that around is the real Southeast Asia, and not, for example, the Far East. Although the nets hung out to dry, boats pulled ashore, fish drying in the sun and ubiquitous fish scales can be found, probably, in any seaside village, and boats in their design really resemble Far Eastern bats.

Surrounding the village is a mysterious mangrove forest bearing the same name.
In the rainy season, it completely goes under water, in the dry season, the trunks rise several meters above the surface of the lake, and you can sail between them on a small boat...

The picture of lake life is so different from the usual Europeans that at first it causes something like a culture shock. It seems that one cannot help but feel sorry for the locals, cut off from the benefits of civilization and forced to get their food from under the water every day. However, quite a bit of time is needed to feel the beauty of the surroundings and a special philosophical mood. Life flows like water, moves slowly like a houseboat, has its floods and dry seasons. All life is water, but the shore... where is this shore?.. And why does a lake dweller need it?

Phnom Kulen - temple and waterfall

According to legend, the history of the Khmer Empire begins with this mountain. There, in 802, Jayavarman the second declared himself king, since then the history of the Khmer empire began. At the top of the mountain there is a Buddhist temple and an 8-meter statue of a reclining Buddha. Pilgrims from all over the world gather here, as Phnom Kulen is considered a "place of power" in Cambodia.

In front of the temple there is a small pool, in the center of which is a lingam. Until now, a Hindu rite is performed here, which is performed only by men to enhance their masculine nature (you need to scoop up water from a reservoir, pour it on the lingam, and then put your head under a stream of water).

The main attractions of Phnom Kulen are the river of a thousand lingams and a waterfall. At the bottom of the river, lingams and yeni (male and female) are carved, in addition, you can see the figure of Shiva and his wife. It is believed that the river symbolizes the Ganges, which flows majestically in the Himalayas. The river ends with waterfalls, large and slightly smaller. In the pool, which is formed by the waters of the waterfalls, the Cambodians themselves bathe and, of course, this is an obligatory ritual for tourists. The water in the river is considered to be prayed, so every visitor strives to swim in it (it is very cold!)

Angkor National Museum

The museum tells about the history of Khmer culture and civilization, shows the history of the temples of Angkor. It is very modern and interactive, equipped with the latest technology. The museum is huge and consists of eight galleries, each dedicated to a different theme: Khmer civilization; religion; great Khmer kings; Angkor; Angkor Thom; the history of the stone; vintage costumes; Hall of a Thousand Buddhas. If you are not at all familiar with the history and culture of the Khmer state of the Angkor period, then you should not miss this museum in any case.

Admission: 12 dollars. When booking tickets on the museum website http://www.angkornationalmuseum.com/ you can get a discount.
Working hours:daily from 8:30 to 18:00.
How to get there?The National Museum is located at 968 Boulevard Charles de Gaulle.

Landmine Museum

This museum was founded by a former Khmer Rouge soldier named Aki Ra, who later became a sapper. With the help of exhibits, which are demined bombs and mines, the museum tells about the problem and the great danger of anti-personnel mines, which in large numbers remained in the lands of Cambodia after the civil war. You can also watch a short film about the life of Aki Ra.

It may not be worth going so far (the museum is located 31 kilometers from Siem Reap) just for the sake of the museum, but if you pass by (on the way to the Banteay Srei temple complex and Phnom Kulen), why not drop by and donate to help victims of anti-personnel mines a couple of dollars.

Admission:the entrance is free. Donations that you can leave at the museum will go to help landmine victims.
Working hours:Daily from 7:30 to 17:30.
How to get there?in 2007, the museum moved to a new location, and is now located 31 kilometers from Siem Reap.

Crocodile Farm

The Siem Reap Crocodile Farm is home to over 1,000 crocodiles. You will not see any shows with Thai-type crocodiles here, but if you have never seen live crocodiles, it is worth a visit. Here you can also buy products made from the skin of a crocodile, cow and other animals at prices lower than in Thailand.

Admission: 3 dollars.
Working hours: from 7:00 to 19:00.
How to get there?The farm is located on the road to Tonle Sap Lake.

Military Museum (Siem Reap War Museum)

There is a military museum on the way from Siem Reap to the airport. Large samples of military equipment that participated in real hostilities are exhibited in the open air, and many small exhibits are collected inside the museum. The collection of large equipment includes helicopters, planes and tanks, including Soviet-made ones, but, unfortunately, everything is in very poor condition. Some of the equipment, apparently, was transferred here directly from the battlefields after they were hit. Some of the exhibits are overgrown with grass. In general, the impression of the museum is that it is abandoned and no one takes care of it.

The museum is quite interesting to visit. But if you are not a fan of military equipment and history, most likely you will be disappointed after visiting.

Admission: 3 dollars.
How to get there?The museum is located a few kilometers from Siem Reap on the way to the airport.

Cambodia Cultural Village

In this theme park-museum you can get acquainted with the life and culture of the numerous peoples of Cambodia. In a rather vast area of ​​the park, in fact, there are as many as 11 unique villages belonging to various cultures living on the territory of the kingdom. In each of the villages, in addition to exhibits, you can watch traditional shows and performances, including: wedding ceremonies, acrobatic and circus performances, games, dance shows, elephant shows and more. Here you can see the traditional Apsara dance. It even has its own wax museum, which tells about historical events and prominent personalities from ancient times to the present. Of course, there is a traditional restaurant in the village.

This place is definitely worth a visit. Only one thing is bad - to see everything here, you need at least half a day, and there is always not enough time in Siem Reap.

Working hours: from 9:00 to 21:00.
Admission:The entrance fee for a standard ticket is $11. Children free.
How to get there?The village is located 3 kilometers from the city center.

This is the busiest and most touristy street in Siem Reap. Along the street there are many bars and restaurants, and in the evenings all the tourists rush here. Often the street is so full that it is even problematic to find a free seat in the bar. But it doesn’t matter: if you didn’t find a place, you can safely find where to sit on the next street.

How to get there? Pub Street is considered the center of the city, although geographically it is the southern part of the city. You can get to it on foot or for 1-2 dollars by tuk-tuk from remote hotels in the city.

Any tourist who goes to see the legendary Angkor gets to the city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. After Thailand, you do not immediately feel in it as if you are in a new country: all the small cities of Southeast Asia are similar. The city of Siem Reap is made by details - something that does not let you forget that you are still in Cambodia. Details, merciless sun and scattered locals. We offer you to look at photos of Siem Reap and feel its atmosphere.

Our review of Siem Reap: dusty but pretty

In Siem Reap, it is dusty and very hot during the day. Locals cover their faces with handkerchiefs up to their eyes. Early in the morning, only cafes open where you can order breakfast, or shops, where, by the way, they can also prepare a good breakfast - and already cheaper than in a cafe. There are few macaroons in Siem Reap, as in Thailand: mostly people eat in cafes a la canteens or in restaurants a la cafes, enjoying large, tasty portions and brushing off pesky flies.

It is impossible to walk 100 meters in Siem Reap without hearing calls for a day trip to Angkor. Sometimes we stopped and asked the price. They were the same everywhere, and if the owner of the tuk-tuk at first tried to overestimate it, then after a short bargaining he willingly went for a discount, as if he agreed: yes, you are right, I turned down something. However, we decided to order a tuk-tuk in advance at the hotel - what if our driver oversleeps, where will we find him then?

Traffic in Siem Reap is reasonably chaotic, that is, self-regulating. There are many cyclists, including foreigners - because there is a stupid opinion that it is better to ride a bike to Angkor Wat than to rent a tuk-tuk. The expression on the faces of these unfortunate travelers will tell you in no uncertain terms how bad such an undertaking is.

In general, as the photos of Siem Reap show, this town can be called pretty and relatively clean. It has several attractions and entertainment, good inexpensive cafes and a market. We think that you can spend 10 days in Siem Reap without getting bored at all.

And we begin our selection of photos of Siem Reap with beautiful Cambodian brides. The dresses of the brides are quite modern, in traditional dresses you can meet local residents only in Angkor, where you can take a picture with them for money.

In the photo - the National Museum, one of the attractions of Siem Reap.

The visiting card of all small cities in Southeast Asia is black scary wires. We do not want anyone to work as an electrician in Cambodia.

Sidewalks in Siem Reap are not everywhere, but motorbikes with tuk-tuks are everywhere.

Note that the design of the Cambodian tuk-tuk is not complicated. Why aren't they made in Russia yet? We hooked the cradle to a motorcycle, and we would have made such a form of transport for entertainment.

Siem Reap without electricity is very romantic

In the center of Siem Reap there is a small park with a river and shops, and in another part of the city there is the Night Market, beloved by tourists and local shopkeepers. We got to it on foot in pitch darkness - the lights were off in the whole city. There was some kind of another accident, because of which generators at hotels, shops and restaurants were buzzing everywhere in Siem Reap. We couldn't even get a Khmer massage to compare it with a Thai one - there was no light for almost a day! No one expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of electricity - after all, drinking beer with minimal artificial lighting is even more romantic 🙂

The city park in Siem Reap is small but pretty. We enjoyed relaxing there in the heat.

In the center of any small town, a stinky river flows. Although in fairness it should be said that this river is not stinky, but simply nondescript.

Cambodians who can't count

The Cambodians who live in Siem Reap seemed to us friendly and benevolent. True, they are reluctant to bargain: especially at the Night Market (spoiled by Europeans gasping for cheapness) and in stores where there are no prices on goods. In one of these mini-marts in Siem Reap, we were offered to buy beer almost twice as expensive as in a store around the corner, and they did not agree to cut the price at all. We laughed to ourselves and left.

And the sellers and waiters in Siem Reap are very scattered and do not know how to count. You probably thought that the locals cheated us in their favor? It was not there - in ours! The first two or three times we pointed out the mistake to them, which caused a storm of positive emotions. And then we got tired of fighting with the system, and we dutifully agreed with the voiced mathematical result.

Obviously, in Cambodia, schoolgirls will learn to drive a motorbike faster than to count correctly without a calculator. The girl in the photo today seems to have given her motorbike to her younger brother and is forced to ride a bike to school, putting her hand on her friend's shoulder.

Siem Reap is one of the most visited cities in Cambodia. Although the local population is small, only 200 thousand people, such popularity is due to the fact that Angkor Wat, a popular tourist destination, is located not far from it.

Siem Reap city on the map of Cambodia:

The name of the city was not chosen by chance. Translated from Khmer, "Siem Reap" literally sounds like "Siem is defeated." This name, founded in 802, was given to the city after the troops of the Khmer Empire expelled the Thais from here in the 16th century. Prior to this event, the city was simply called "Siem".

Sights and excursions in Siem Reap

The city is not the most interesting, and if you try, you can find interesting places. For example:

• Elephant Terrace, which was rebuilt by order of the king of the Khmer Empire, Jayavarman VII. In this way he honored his mighty army of elephants, which was feared by the enemies of the king. There is a huge number of sculptural reliefs and statues of these amazing animals.
• Independence Monument- an exact copy of a similar monument erected in the capital of Cambodia in honor of the liberation from French colonization.
• Lake Tonle Sap- the largest body of water in all of Cambodia, while its size is not constant and depends on the rainy season. In times of drought, the area of ​​this wonderful place is approximately 3 thousand m2. When it rains, it increases to 16 thousand m2. The fauna presented in the reservoir and its surroundings is impressive: about 850 species of fish, birds, snakes, turtles, etc.
• Mine Museum is one of the most unusual museums in the world. Fully dedicated to mines and the effects of this terrible type of weapon. By the way, 40% of the cost of the entrance ticket goes to charity: one half to sponsor the work of sappers, the other half to help people affected by the explosions.

Also popular here are activities such as elephant riding or a walk around a crocodile farm, visiting fishing villages and rice fields, and flying in a helicopter or hot air balloon around the outskirts of Siem Reap.

For those who cannot live without shopping, this is the best place for shopping in Cambodia. There are many shops and shops throughout the city, and several markets. The most famous and largest are the Old Market, the Central Market and the Night Market.

Well, for lovers of nightlife, a whole street has been built - Pub Street. There are places of entertainment, restaurants, nightclubs.

Urban transport

The main mode of transport in the city is a tuk-tuk, which is a bike with a carriage attached to it. Such transport transports from 2 to 4 people at a time, depending on the number of seats in it. The fare ranges from $2 to $5 per trip from all passengers.

Another possible option is a bike. It can be rented for independent movement for $ 15-20 per day. Or you can take a motorcycle taxi with a driver who will take you wherever you need for a nominal fee of $ 1 to $ 5.

If you want to manage the road yourself, but are afraid to drive a bike, then rent a bike. It will cost from $1 to $3 per rental day.

There are no buses in the city as such, even few cars. But it is possible to rent an old Toyota Camry with a driver to help you get to the temple grounds, the lake, or other cities. It will cost $6-$8.

Cheap hotels in Siem Reap

There are more than enough options for living in the city. Here are some of them:

• Lin Ratanak Angkor Hotel is one of the best options for families. The hotel itself is not located in the city center and is popular due to its service. The hotel belongs to the category of four-star hotels, but those who rested here appreciate the level and quality of service for all five stars. The residential complex of the hotel has 104 rooms, on the territory there is a restaurant with local, Asian and European cuisine, a grocery store, a fitness center with a spa center and a swimming pool. The hotel complex provides guests with a transfer from the airport and back free of charge.
• De Sonyn Boutique - is a ten minute walk from the main entertainment street of the city Pub Street and a fifteen minute drive from the airport. The hotel is relatively young, built in 2012, but has already earned a place in the list of favorite hotels among tourists. It is a mini-hotel in size: there are 16 rooms, a garden, an outdoor pool and a restaurant for guests.
• The Bayon Villa is another place to stay almost in the heart of the city. It takes 10 minutes from the airport. The hotel offers comfortable accommodation with TV and minibar, as well as free internet and barbecue facilities.
• Ring Boutique Hotel - stands out among city buildings with unusual architecture. There is a swimming pool with lighting, a restaurant, a bar. Transfers to and from the airport are provided.

Other hotels in Siem Reap with discounts from Booking:

Cafes and restaurants, local cuisine

Eating out in restaurants in Cambodia is more expensive than in Vietnam or Thailand. But Cambodian cuisine is quite tasty, although not very diverse. Tourists are also offered Chinese and Japanese, Italian, French, Thai and other cuisines.

The average check is no higher than $15, more often $6-$8 per person, which is also quite a lot.
Of the interesting places can be identified:

• Grill Wine Cafe- with insanely delicious cuisine, for meat lovers.
• Mango Cuisine— a small restaurant with a romantic atmosphere. Suitable for vegetarians.
• Spoons- a restaurant where you can taste Asian or local cuisine at reasonable prices.
• Happy Angkor Pizza- the best happy pizza in Siem reap with the addition of ganja. The effect is achieved in an hour and can last for several hours - it is better not to drive.
• Angkor What? bar- the most famous bar in Siem Reap with inexpensive alcohol and an incendiary atmosphere. Their slogan reads: "Encouraging irresponsible drinking since 1998."

The most common local dish is fish amok cooked with coconut milk. No less popular among tourists: pork with ginger or fried fish with sweet and sour vegetable sauce.

Here are some food prices in Cambodia cafes:

Useful information for visitors

• Packing your bags for a trip, take with you several pairs of waterproof shoes. The roads here are often flooded with rain, and they are rarely repaired.
• The local currency is , but do not rush to exchange money for it. Here they calmly accept the usual dollars.
• Don't forget to bargain in shops and markets, it is so accepted here. It is quite possible to knock down the initial price tag several times and leave with the desired product, having bought it at the right price.
• At the hotel take a free guide so as not to stray around the city in search of the right locations. Or download a set of required .
• And, of course, be polite and courteous with the staff of the hotel where you are staying, and with the local population. And then the rest will be comfortable and enjoyable.

How to get from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville?

Sihanoukville is the main resort town of Cambodia, where most often travel from Siem Reap. There are several ways to get there:

• By night bus- Travel time - 11 hours, from 8 pm to 6 am. The cost of the trip is $ 20 dollars if you buy a ticket from the porter at the hotel. If you choose this option, don't forget to bring warm clothes with you so you don't get cold on the bus at night.

Cabins in a hotel bus from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville

• By taxi– order a car from the hotel. The option is convenient because you don’t have to adjust to the schedule and other passengers, but it comes out much more expensive in cost - from $ 200.
• By plane- the fastest option for those who value their time. Travel time is only 50 minutes. Buy tickets at aviasales.ru, the cost is from $ 178. Get to the airport using a tuk-tuk or a transfer from the hotel where you stayed in Siem Reap.

We are looking for cheap flights here: