Want to visit Siem Reap and its temples?
I give you the experiences of my stay.
In practice
At the airport
Siem Reap has one airport.
Remember to bring USD (US Dollar). On arrival, the tourist visa, valid for one month, costs you 30 USD.
I didn’t have any dollars, but I was able to pay in THB (Baht). It cost me 1800 THB! Almost double… Credit cards are not accepted.
Currency
The official currency is the Riel (KHR), but all establishments display their prices in USD.
So change USD before leaving, they will be accepted everywhere.
You will often be given back a mix of USD and Riel, which obviously does not simplify the control of what you are returned. I checked a few times that what was returned to me in Riel was correct and I must say that the exchange rate was correct.
Credit cards
Credit cards are not widely accepted, except in very touristic places. Cash is king.
I also had problems withdrawing USD from ATMs. Not all ATMs allow you to withdraw USD and, where possible, the minimum withdrawal is USD 100 with a USD 5 fee.
Visits
Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat is probably the most famous temple in Cambodia. Everyone remembers his majestic figure, where the imposing competes with majesty.
Enjoy the vast esplanade that leads to the temple. From here, the view of the temple is breathtaking.
Inside, it’s a little more mixed. The temple was the victim of the changes of beliefs of the various kings, passing from Hinduism to Buddhism. It has been abandoned for more than 200 years and the damage is visible.
Some bas-reliefs, few statues.
[Lien]
Angkor Thom
This temple, inside the ancient city of Angkor Thom, is 20 minutes by tuk-tuk from the temple of Angkor.
Even though it is much smaller than Angkor Wat, it is truly beautiful with its towers flanked by monumental statues.
[Lien]
Ta Prohm
The most charming temple, in its wooded setting.
Also known as the “Tomb Raider” temple, named after a movie, but mostly video games that I loved.
[Lien]
Some tips
- Hotels offer excursions, I think this is the right place to book your visit.
The hotels commit their image and know the drivers and guides. Less chance that you will come across a rough driver or a guide who is not really one. - Take a guide for all the temples. It would be a shame to walk around without having explanations on the historical context. My hotel offered English or French speaking guides, but the French guide cost double the English guide.
You’ll also find guides at each site, but you’ll probably pay more than if you had taken a one-time guide. - If you visit 4 or 5 temples, you will walk 5 to 6 hours at 35 degrees in the shade and a good part of the visit is in the open air. Remember to take a spare t-shirt and refreshing wipes.
My advice is to start the visits as soon as possible. The Angkor temple opens from 6 a.m.
A good solution is to split your visits over several days and stop at noon at the latest. From noon the heat becomes unbearable and somewhat spoils the pleasure of the visit. - The whole temples cost 37 USD for one day and 66 dollars for 2 days.
These prices do not include transport or the guide.
Important: you cannot buy entry to the sites themselves; you must buy your pass at the administrative center.
CIAO !
