Siem Reap (Angkor) Tour Information:
- Province: Siem Reap
- Area: 10,299sq km
- Population: 732,111
- Density: 68
- District: 12
- Commune: 100
- Village: 882
Siem Reap is the cradle of Angkorean civilization and it is a province that offers plenty of opportunity to tourist enthralled by the cultural patrimony. Siem Reap Angkor is the most attractive landmark in Cambodia in terms of cultural tourist in the Southeast Asia.
The Siem Reap Province is conveniently situated 314km northwest of Phnom Penh, along National Road No 6. It can be reached all year round by National Road No 6 from Phnom Penh Capital, Poipet Border Checkpoint, Banteay Meanchey Province, Kampong Cham Province and Kampong Thom Province; and by National Road No 5 and 6 from Kampong Chhnang Province, Pursat Province and Battambang Province.
The Siem Reap Province can also be reached by speedboats along the Tonle Sap River and its Lake form Phnom Penh Capital and Battambang Province.
Hotels |
A variety of accommodations are available in Siem Reap. We recommend 5 stars hotels including the Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor, Sofitel Royal Angkor, Le Merideien, De La Paix. There are also good 4 stars hotel including Victoria Angkor, La Resident(Pansea), Angkor Palace Resort, and many mid range hotels including Borei Angkor, Steung Siem Reap, Day Inn etc.
Transportations |
One of the best way of seeing the monuments is to hire a private car or Tuk Tuk. A car and driver can be hired for US$23-25 per day. A Tuk Tuk is $10-13. As Banteay Srei is no longer considered a security risk area and is now open to visitors. Beng Mealea and Koh Ker are the best temples for those who wants to get rid of the crowded tourists. They are peaceful and charming temple. Another best way to explore Angkor complex is by bikes where you cycle along the tree lines shade road around the small circuit (25km) to visit all the highlight temples including the jungle temple of Ta Phrom, Angkor Thom, Bayon and Angkor Wat.
Temple passes |
A pass to visit the temples is required and can be purchased only at the new drive-in ticket counter and check point located on the main road to the monuments just before you enter the forested area. Passes are available for a single day, for three days or for one week. The passes are valid for all the sites within the Angkor area, including Roluos and Banteay Srei, Kbal Spean, but they are not valid for the Kulen Hills, Beng Mealea and Koh Ker . The prices are: one day US$20; three days US$40; and four days to one week US$60.
All passes are required to have a passport photograph of the purchaser. As of December 2000 passport pictures are free at the ticket counter. Visitors should carry their passes at all times as they are checked at the entrance of all the major temples. Anyone found without a pass is liable to a fine of US$30. A visit to the Kulen Hills requires a separate US$20 entrance fee collected by a private company. Ticket to Beng Mealea is US$5 per person and to Koh Ker is $US10 per person.
Places of Interests |
ANGKOR WAT
Angkor Wat is the largest temple in the world, with a volume of stone equaling that of the Cheops pyramid in Egypt. It is unlike all other Khmer temples in that it faces west, and it is inspired by 12th century Hinduism. Conceived by Suryavarman II, Angkor Wat took several decades to build. Intricate base relief surround Angkor Wat on four sides.
Each tells a sty. The way the light glows on the ancient stones makes sunrise and sunset the best time to wander through Angkor Wat's 2 square kilometers, climb its tower.
The ancient walled city of Angkor Thom, literally "Great City, "built in the 12th century by Jayavarman VII, contains the famous Bayon temple with its me than 200 enormous mysterious smiling faces. It also contains the 300 meter-long Elephant terrace with its large sculptured royal elephants and Garudas, the mythical guard half-man, half-bird. Also within the walled area is the terrace of the Leper King. A sandstone replica of the Leper King is here.
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BANTEAY SREI
This is the fabled pink temple of women, so called because it is made of pink sandstone & considered a tribute to the beauty of women. Its small size, delicate carving and remarkable state of preservation make Banteay Srei one of travelers' favorite temples. Its Apsara and male and female divinities represent the most skilled craftsman ship of sandstone carvings. It was dedicated in 987, making it one of the oldest temples in the region, though it was not rediscovered until the 1900s.
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NEAK PEAN
Prasat Neak Pean (Intertwined Naga) was built by Jayavarman VII, consists of a square pool with four smaller square pools arranged on each axis. In the center of the large central pool is a circular "island" encircled by the two Naga who intertwined tails give the temple its name. Water once flowed from the central pool into the four peripheral pools via ornamental spouts, which can still be seen in the pavilions at each axis of the pool.
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KULEN MOUNTAIN
At just about 42 km nth of Siem Reap Town, many visits combine a visit to Phnom Kulen with a trip to the pink sandstone temple of Banteay Srei. On either side of the mountain, tall waterfalls crash down the mountain; clean, clear and cool water provide a wonderful place of tourists. Carvings of Brahmin Yonis and lingas can be seen etched into the riverbed. A mountain peak temple houses a huge reclining Buddha, gazing serenely out from his peaceful mountain home.
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BOEUNG MEALEA
Boeung Mealea is the most accessible of Angkor’s lost temples, a mirror image of the mighty Angkor Wat, but totally and utterly consumed by the jungle. Constructed by Suryavarman II (ruled 1113-1150), the builder of Angkor Wat, nature has triumphed here, and it’s hard to get a sense of the monument’s shape a mid the daunting ruins. Boeung Mealea lies about 70Km from Siem Reap at the foot of Phnom Kulen’s eastern extreme. It takes 2-3 hours to get there via either Banteay Srei of Dam Dek on National Highway 6.
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KBAL SPEAN
The original “ River of a Thousand Lingas ”, Kbal Spean is and intricately carved riverbed deep in the foothills the Cambodian jungle. Lingas are phallic representations sacred to Hinduism as symbols of fertility, and hundreds of them are carved into the rock here, as are several carvings of Gods and animals above the small waterfall. The area was only rediscovered in 1969 when French researcher Jean Boulbet was shown the carvings by a local hermit. Kbal Spean lies 50Km northeast of Siem Reap 18Km from Banteay Srei on a dirt road. It takes from 1-2 hours to get there from Siem Reap.
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PHNOM BAKHENG
Dominating the flat landscape, this 10th Century mountain temple is the most popular spot in the area to watch a classic sunset over Angkor Wat and the surrounding fest.
