It’s an ideal place for newbie adventure travellers to experience
the grit, the colours and the chaos of the developing world in a safe, open-minded
and welcoming culture. Travel here gives
a real buzz – Cambodia’s lust for life is infectious and uplifting!
There’s an endless list of things to see and do whilst in
Cambodia, but this post will focus on those within easy reach of Siem
Reap. To comfortably cover all the
sights in this post, I’d recommend a stay of around five days.
Angkor Wat អង្គរវត្ត
The jewel in Cambodia’s crown is undoubtedly the colossal
and hugely iconic temple of Angkor Wat. This
spectacular 12th century masterpiece is the largest religious
structure on this planet. Originally built
as a Hindu shrine, Angkor Wat quickly shifted toward Buddhism. Now there’s always a worry when visiting such
iconic sights that they won’t live up to the hype – I’d dreamed about visiting this
place for years and had high expectations!
Well, I can safely say it didn’t disappoint. It’s so beautiful it literally gave me goose
bumps! It’s an absolute masterpiece of
human ingenuity, standing tall and proud above the jungle.
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| Angkor Wat |
Whilst Angkor Wat gets all the glory, it’s not the end of
the story. The rainforest to the north
of Siem Reap withholds the ruins of an ancient megacity. Upwards of fifty ruined temples, along with
moats and citadels nestle amongst the trees.
For the more committed culture buffs, there’s quite literally weeks’
worth of sightseeing to be had in this part of Cambodia! But for those limited to a one-day pass I’d
recommend visiting Bayon (the well-preserved centrepiece of the ruined walled
city of Angkor Thom) and the stunning vine-tangled temple of Ta Prohm. Exploring Ta Prohm made me feel like Indiana
Jones!
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| Ta Prohm |
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| Ta Prohm |
Those who wish to visit the Angkor temples have the option
of purchasing a one-day pass ($37 USD), a three-day pass ($40 USD) or for the
more fanatical explorers a seven day pass costs $72 USD. There’s no need to book tickets in advance. You will also need to hire a driver in Siem
Reap – a tuk-tuk will generally cost around $15-25 per day and drivers will
wait whilst you visit the temples. These
prices are rather high by Cambodian standards, but it’s absolutely worth every penny.
Tonle Sap ទន្លេសាប
The huge freshwater lake of Tonle Sap lies a short ride to
the south of Siem Reap. These murky
waters are Cambodia’s beating heart - fishing provides food and income to many
thousands of people along its shores. The
lake expands massively during the rainy season, flooding the surrounding
countryside and villages. But villagers
have adapted to the dramatically shifting water levels by building their houses
on stilts!
There are several of these so-called ‘floating villages’
relatively close to Siem Reap – most notably Chong Kneas, Kompong Pluk and
Kompong Khleang. A daytrip gives a fascinating insight into this intriguing and
unusual way of life – you may even see some crocodiles! Chong Kneas is the easiest to reach from Siem
Reap and as such receives the highest number of visitors. It’s generally preferable to visit the
floating villages as part of an organised tour from Siem Reap, as boat
companies in the area have a reputation for overcharging independent
travellers!
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| Chong Kneas harbour - Tonle Sap |
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| Stilted fishermens' houses along the Siem Reap River |
Siem Reap ក្រុងសៀមរាប
So many people simply use Siem Reap as a base to explore the
temples of Angkor. But the town itself
has a laid-back charm of its own.
If you’re not ‘templed-out’ after exploring Angkor Wat, then
there are a scattering of cute and colourful temples and pagodas in the town
itself. I found Wat Phreah Prom Rath and Wat
Bo particularly interesting. These
functioning temples taught me so much about Cambodian Buddhism. And don’t be afraid to ask questions in the
temples – I was always made to feel so welcome as a visitor and locals were
always willing and enthusiastic in sharing and explaining Buddhist tradition
with me!
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| Gold obelisks outside Wat Bo temple - Siem Reap |
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| Bustling night market in Siem Reap |
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| Crossing the Siem Reap River |
Siem Reap truly comes to life when darkness descends – no
article on this town would be complete without mentioning the legendary Pub
Street. The town is a magnet for
backpackers from every corner of the globe – combine this with cheap beer and
you have yourself a pretty awesome party!
This continuous strip of booze-filled bars and clubs is easily one of
the craziest parties in Southeast Asia.
Dancing ‘til the early hours, making friends for life and nursing
hangovers in 40-degree heat is all part of the fun of visiting Siem Reap!
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| Pub Street - Siem Reap |
Practicalities
Before I mention costs, it’s worth noting that the US Dollar
is the most widely used currency in Cambodia.
There’s an abundance of amazing hostels in the town and dorm
beds can be as cheap as $3 USD per night.
A main course in a mid-range restaurant will typically cost around $5
USD, but it’s easy to find good food for as little as $2. Beer is phenomenally cheap – don’t be
surprised to pay as little as $0.50 USD for a pint of local lager. Wherever you need to go – tuk-tuks are your
answer! Short trips around town should
cost no more than $1.50 USD (although bargaining skills are sometimes
necessary!).
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| Khmer food is irresistible - and cheap! |
When budgeting for Siem Reap, be sure to account for entrance
fees for Angkor Wat.
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| Rural infrastructure can be rather rustic! |
Put simply, Siem Reap is a backpackers’ paradise. It’s cheap, fun, friendly and bursting at the
seams with culture. Whilst most people
are drawn here by Angkor Wat, there’s plenty more to keep you busy in and
around Siem Reap. It’s the grit and
grime, colour, chaos and excitement of a developing Asian nation, in a safe and
welcoming environment. It’s the kind of
place that will stick in your mind long after you leave – for all the right
reasons.
I hope you find this helpful and thanks for reading!
Elis Griffiths. x
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