Top 11 Things to See & Do in Siem Reap
1. Explore Angkor Wat Temple
Despite so many other things to do in Siem Reap, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor Wat is still the primary
draw for tourists. Constructed in the 12th century by the Khmer people
working under Jayavarman II, the temples of Angkor Wat must be seen to
be believed.
Scores of temples - some restored and some still overgrown with jungle vines - make up the Angkor temple complex, which is about four miles north of Siem Reap. (Many travelers staying at one of the hostels or hotels around Siem Reap simply hire a tuk-tuk to take them around the temple complex.)
The scale of Angkor Wat is overwhelming; while a one-day pass is enough to reveal the highlights, you can buy a three- or even a seven-day pass to explore the Angkor temples in microscopic detail.
Unfortunately, millions of land mines and unexploded objects were left behind by decades of conflict. The many legless beggars in town are a living testament to how dangerous these artifacts still are in the present day.
The Cambodia Land Mine Museum was founded by a former child soldier whose parents were killed by the Khmer Rouge; in the present day, it's staffed by victims and orphans of mines. Although sobering, the Land Mine Museum is a real piece of Cambodia away from the tourism glam.
Visitors are charged to enter; the funds support a relief center and school attached to the museum. Tours can be booked on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9 am to 3 pm, in English and Japanese.
Scores of temples - some restored and some still overgrown with jungle vines - make up the Angkor temple complex, which is about four miles north of Siem Reap. (Many travelers staying at one of the hostels or hotels around Siem Reap simply hire a tuk-tuk to take them around the temple complex.)
The scale of Angkor Wat is overwhelming; while a one-day pass is enough to reveal the highlights, you can buy a three- or even a seven-day pass to explore the Angkor temples in microscopic detail.
2. War Museum
The Khmer Rouge in 1975 and the Vietnamese occupation in 1979 contributed to Siem Reap's tumultuous, war-torn past. Siem Reap did not begin to stabilize and become safe enough for tourists to visit until the 1990s.Unfortunately, millions of land mines and unexploded objects were left behind by decades of conflict. The many legless beggars in town are a living testament to how dangerous these artifacts still are in the present day.
The Cambodia Land Mine Museum was founded by a former child soldier whose parents were killed by the Khmer Rouge; in the present day, it's staffed by victims and orphans of mines. Although sobering, the Land Mine Museum is a real piece of Cambodia away from the tourism glam.
Visitors are charged to enter; the funds support a relief center and school attached to the museum. Tours can be booked on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9 am to 3 pm, in English and Japanese.
3.Military Shooting Rang
Watched one too many action movies and want to give it a try? Forty
minutes from Siem Reap, tourists may shoot an array of automatic weapons
at an old military shooting range.
The prices are not cheap but where else will you have the opportunity to fire an AK-47 or throw a live hand grenade?Retired soldiers supervise the range and continuously harass you to try the latest and greatest in firepower, including belt-fed machine guns. Those with enough money and guts are even invited to fire an old, soviet-made rocket launcher!
4. Angkor National Museum
The Angkor National Museum curates a small but comprehensive collection of relics from the ancient Angkor Empire - over 6,000 lintels, assorted statues of Hindu gods and Buddhist bodhisattvas (not to mention a massive collection of Buddha images collected from all over Cambodia), and sandstone reliefs - all put together in a series of collections intended to create a coherent narrative of the Angkor Empire's genesis and eventual downfall.
The outsized 20,000-square-meter building that houses the museum was first opened in 2007 amidst considerable controversy. Despite the "Angkor" and "National" in the name, the museum is actually a private enterprise owned by - wait for it - a Thai conglomerate....
5. Take in a Show at the Phare Circus
Founded by eight Battambang performers, Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPS) operates a Big-Top-style extravaganza near the Angkor National Museum, interpreting Cambodian culture through a raucous blend of comedy, dance, and acrobatics reminiscent of Cirque d' Soleil.Despite its modern look, Phare Circus taps deep into a historic Khmer tradition of acrobatics, making this fun romp just as authentically Khmer as the apsara dance. Any speaking parts are performed in the Khmer language, though subtitles in three languages are projected on a screen to help the narrative along.
6. Buy Souvenirs at the Old Market
The riverside Psah Chas, or Old Market, combines
shopping for tourists and locals alike. The half of the market
bordering the riverside stocks tourist tchotchkes from floor to ceiling –
silverworks, T-shirts, brass sculptures, jewelry, handbags, and art.
A whole arcade sells pearls, gold, and silver, though the buyer should beware when browsing through the valuables in this part of the market.
The other half of the market caters to locals, most especially in the “wet market” that bisects the Psah Chas complex at its center. From this smelly, humid market, locals haggle for raw meat, vegetables, and processed food products. Tourists with an interest in Khmer day-to-day life can visit this part of the market and watch the wives banter and buy.
The best place to start: the graffiti-covered Angkor What? the bar that launched Pub Street into the Siem Reap stratosphere when it opened in 1998. It's incredible energy, cheap drinks and late, late hours keep it a Pub Street mainstay for both long-timers and newcomers alike.
A whole arcade sells pearls, gold, and silver, though the buyer should beware when browsing through the valuables in this part of the market.
The other half of the market caters to locals, most especially in the “wet market” that bisects the Psah Chas complex at its center. From this smelly, humid market, locals haggle for raw meat, vegetables, and processed food products. Tourists with an interest in Khmer day-to-day life can visit this part of the market and watch the wives banter and buy.
7. Party or Shop After Dark at the Pub Street & Night Market
After dark, it's less about the authenticity and more about getting soused: thus the draw of Pub Street and the neighboring Night Market for Siem Reap's tippling visitors. Drink an Angkor Beer (or a good number of decent Southeast Asian beers, for that matter) at one of the many neon-lit bars down this pedestrianized corner of the city.The best place to start: the graffiti-covered Angkor What? the bar that launched Pub Street into the Siem Reap stratosphere when it opened in 1998. It's incredible energy, cheap drinks and late, late hours keep it a Pub Street mainstay for both long-timers and newcomers alike.
8. Angkor Silk Farm
Templed-out? You won’t have been the first person to have been overwhelmed by the number of Angkorian ruins to take in. Angkor Silk Farm
is just one of the antidotes available to help balance out the
historical with the contemporary — it costs nothing at all to visit and
we found it surprisingly fascinating.
Part of Artisans Angkor, a social business best known
for its artisan workshop and high-end shop in central Siem Reap — worth a
half hour of your time to visit in its own right — the silk farm shows
you how the silk behind those beautiful silk wares is produced. You can
take a free shuttle from Artisans Angkor departing at 09:30 or 13:30 or
hop in a tuk tuk for the 20-minute ride out of town to the working silk
farm near Puok district.
At the farm you’ll have your own local guide assigned to you to show you
around. You can see the mulberry trees growing on site that sustain the
diet of the silk worm, the raw cocoons that are harvested and boiled,
and the intricate processes of unwinding fibres, dyeing threads, and
spinning and weaving them. It makes you appreciate why silk is no cheap commodity.
Perhaps the most interesting part is seeing the myriad women weaving
designs on the many looms. The tour takes around an hour and is
educational and informative — it’s really more interesting than you
might expect.
The silk farm is a fun and relatively short diversion from Siem Reap’s
absolute must-see sights, with the opportunity to pick up some quality —
though not cheap — gifts and souvenirs. For those with a penchant for
packing in the activities, you can make a half-day tour out of the Silk
Farm and Mechrey village on the Tonle Sap, or the West Baray, which are located in the same direction.
10. Kampong Phluk ( Floating Village )
Kampong Phluk, which literally means “harbour of the tusks”, is actually 3 villages, with mainly stilted houses, that line the main entrance to the Tonle Sap Lake from this area. It’s just over 30km from Siem Reap and can be easily managed in a half day trip. The community sustain themselves mainly on catching fish and shrimp, but also harvest some land crops during the dry season.The road trip and also the river trip are relatively short compared to some of the other villages. A private company will ferry you through the village to the lake as that is the main destination. There aren’t any activities that tourists normally can do in Kampong Phluk as this is a working village and most of the people are focused on their own industry, quite separate to the tourism industry buzzing past their doors.
Literally going right past the houses of the locals can be interesting to view another way of life, but it can feel quite invasive as well, especially knowing these residents aren’t either involved in or receiving any benefit from the industry. However, nearby there are small boats that can take you around the mangroves, or flooded forest, which is a more authentic experience. There are also a few floating restaurants and stopping here also supports some of the local tourism industry.
11.Angkor Wat Balloon
Approximately 1km west from Angkor Wat a bright yellow helium balloon
resembling a giant egg yolk offers visitors a bird's-eye view of the
magnificent Angkor temples.
The German made helium balloon is attached to a rope and ascends
approximately 200 metres, floats for a while and then descends. It isn't
actually a tour and it only lasts about 10 minutes but it is enough to
get some great pictures of Angkor Wat on a clear day.
The balloon flies approximately 30 times a day from sunrise to sundown and can carry up to 30 passengers. The balloon is owned and operated by Sokha; the company which own the rights to the entry tickets to Angkor Wat as well as many other activities, such as helicopter tours.
The price of a Angkor Wat balloon ride is US $20 p/adult, children under 12 US $7.50. Khmer adults pay US $7.50, in case you want to invite your driver or someone with you.
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