Siem Reap Travel Guide
Gateway to Angkor Wat
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Siem Reap lies nestled between rice paddies, stretched along the Siem Reap River and serves as the gateway to the thousand-year old temple ruins of the Khmer Empire at Angkor. Once a sleepy backwater it is now a travellers' mecca, though not without its charms. There’s colonial and Chinese architecture in the town, with accommodation of all standards and restaurants and bars aplenty. And if it all gets too much – there’s always Tonle Sap’s boat rides to enjoy.
Siem Reap means the 'Defeat of Siam’ a reference to a battle with ancient Siam and captured in stone on Angkor’s monuments. In 1901 the École Française d'Extrême Orient (EFEO) began its long association with Angkor, initially by funding an expedition to the Bayon. Until as late as the early 20th century Angkor had been under Thai control but was returned to Cambodia and the EFEO took responsibility for clearing and restoring the whole Angkor site.
That same year the first travellers to the site arrived. At that time Siem Reap was little more than a village but when Angkor was returned to Cambodia’s French overlords in 1907 construction began and the Grand Hotel d'Angkor opened in 1929. The town is actually a conglomeration small villages that lie along the Siem Reap River, each village was centred around a wat.
Travellers continued to arrive until the mid-20th century when the Khmer Rouge rose to power and only since Pol Pot’s death in 1998 has the tourist industry been rejuvenated.
Attractions in Siem Reap
The main part of Siem Reap town is concentrated around Sivutha Street and the Old Market or ‘Psar Chas’ area where the lovely old colonial buildings can be found. Attractions include Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary, the bamboo village of Kompong Phhluk and Tonle Sap lake.
Activities in Siem Reap
Most people stay in and around Siem Reap for at least two days, but longer is really needed – a week would not be too long to see Angkor and the surrounding attractions.
Relaxing
A boat ride on Tonle Sap is hard to beat after time at the temples and for those wanting some nightlife Siem Reap’s Bar Street is popular.
Getting Around
The town is as yet small enough to be explored on foot, but there is no shortage of transport from motos and remorque-motos to car and driver hire, bikes and taxis.
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