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Siem ReapCambodia
Tags : Siem Reap
​Siem Reap, located in northwestern Cambodia, is the gateway to the world-famous Angkor temple complex, which includes the magnificent Angkor Wat Temple. The province also contains a vibrant capital city boasting many luxury hotels, beautifully-aged colonial buildings, a buzzing Pub Street, silk farms, markets, and much more.
  
The city of Siem Reap, also the capital of the province, is a ‘must-visit’ destination for all visitors to Cambodia. This is where the glorious 12th Century Angkor Wat temple, the largest religious building in the world, is located. Situated on the northern bank of the Tonle Sap Great Lake, this mesmerizing eighth wonder of the world can be easily accessed by plane, land, and boat.
The ruins of Angkor, located in thick jungle, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are over one thousand temples ranging in scale from nondescript piles of rubble scattered through rice fields to the awe-inspiring Angkor Wat, the best-preserved temple. 
Apart from the legacy of the vast Angkor temple complex, Siem Reap has a lot more to offer to tourists, from the spectacular floating village on the Tonle Sap Lake to the heritage site of the Kulen Mountain, to a more remote temple of Koh Ker.
In city, there are a bevy of ethnic craft shops, galleries, cafes, eateries and top-notch restaurants serving every type of cuisine. The famous ‘Pub Street’ and the night markets of Siem Reap are now renowned tour destinations in their own rights. Additionally, silk farms, rice-paddy countryside, fishing villages and a very rich bird sanctuary near the Tonle Sap Lake make Siem Reap one of the most captivating places in the world. 
    
Location 
The province of Siem Reap is conveniently situated 314 km northwest of Phnom Penh, along National Road No 6. It can be reached all year round by National Road No 6 from Phnom Penh, Poipèt Border Checkpoint from Banteay Meanchey, Kampong Cham Province and Kampong Thom Province, and by National Road No 5 and 6 from Kampong Chhnang province, Pursatprovince and Battambang province. 
 
How to reach Siem Reap
Siem Reap is accessible by direct flights from many major cities in the region including Bangkok, Danang, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Paksé, Vientiane, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong, Kunming, Taipei, etc.  From the capital of Phnom Penh, Cambodia Angkor Air and other airlines operate many direct flights per day to and from Siem Reap. There are also speedboats operating along the Tonlé Sap from Phnom Penh and Battambang Province. Overland, travellers can also reach Siem Reap from Bangkok through Poipet/Aranyaprathet Border checkpoint. 

Places of interest and things to do in Siem Reap besides the temples
Besides visiting the main Angkor Wat complex and surrounding temples, Siem Reap has many more activities and attractions to offer to travelers who want to get off the beaten track to discover different parts of it. Please consider one of our recommendations.

Cycling Siem Reap’s Countryside 
Siem Reap is surrounded by small rural roads that link the small villages around Siem Reap. Paths lead through paddy fields and villages where you will greet by friendly villagers. Discover temples where the typical tourist usually never goes and cycle the rural roads to really get in touch with the local communities. Several stops can be made on the way to see farmers at work, to visit a local school or a local home and of course to taste the delicacy of local snacks and fruits. The cycling tour can also combine with temple visits. 

Kampong Khleang Village
Kampong Khleang floating village is located about 50km (1 hour drive) away from Siem Reap. The village is one of the largest settlements on Tonle Sap Lake and offers an exceptional experience into daily life of people living on the water. In the dry season the water levels retreat and the villages expands further into the Great Lake. Board a local boat and see floating and stilted houses. Observe the local customs and interact with local people. Exploring the small island, which is home to a bustling market, a pagoda, a school and a health centre before returning to Siem Reap.

Khmer Ceramic Fine Arts Centre
Center is a must-see for art lovers, craftsmen, and handmade ceramics lovers. Indeed, the Center is one of the unique places in Siem Reap which still offers authentic handmade Cambodian handicraft. BONUS: The Center also offers Cambodian pottery that will allow you to make your own travel souvenir. 

Kampong Phluck flooded forest (good for late September to February) 
Like Kampong Khleang, Kampong Phluck is a wonderful floating village experience. Visiting this village is highly recommended between August and February when the water levels are high. The village has a bit more of an adventurous feeling to it. Unlike Kampong Khleang, Kampong Phluck is a village completely built on stilts. The houses rise high above the water, sometimes up to 10 meters.

Quad bike countryside ride
Quad biking is a fun way to discover Siem Reap surroundings. Whether you want a relaxing sunset tour with the family or an extreme adventure 2 day ride to the remote temple of Koh Ker, there are packages that tailor-made for you.

Golf
There are now three international standard golf courses in Siem Reap and each with their own variety and challenges for everyone from amateurs to professionals. In addition, with the temples of Angkor Wat nearby, Siem Reap is proving to be one of the world’s best undiscovered golf destinations. 

The Angkor National Museum
Looming large on the road to Angkor is the Angkor National Museum, a state-of-the-art showpiece on the Khmer civilisation and the majesty of Angkor. Displays are themed by era, religion and royalty as visitors move through the impressive galleries. After a short presentation, visitors enter the Zen-like Gallery of a Thousand Buddhas, which has a fine collection of images. Other exhibits include the pre-Angkorian periods of Funan and Chenla; the great Khmer kings; Angkor Wat; Angkor Thom; and the inscriptions. Exhibits include touch-screen videos, epic commentary and the chance to experience a panoramic sunrise at Angkor Wat. Although there appears to be less sculpture on display than in the National Museum in Phnom Penh, the presentation of the artefacts here is cutting edge.

Bird watching
Prek Toal is Southeast Asia’s single most important breeding ground for globally threatened large water birds. The sanctuary harbors seven species of water birds of global significance such as Spot billed Pelican, Milky Stork, Painted Stork, Lesser Adjutant, Greater Adjutant, Black headed Ibis, Oriental Darter. The Prek Toal area consists of seasonally inundated freshwater swamp forest with a high botanical diversity. Short tree shrub makes up most of the landscape, forming a dense under story with scattered large trees, which form the vital nesting ground for large water birds. Prek Toal is unmatched throughout South East Asia for the number and populations of endangered water birds it supports through the dry season. Large flocks of cormorants, storks and pelicans are almost guaranteed from January to May, along with herons, egrets and terns. Prek Toal can be visited as a day trip from Siem Reap. The village is about an hours boat ride from where visitors embark from Siem Reap. 

Balloon ride (tethered balloon)
Take a tethered helium balloon ride 200 meters straight up for an amazing aerial view of Angkor Wat, Phnom Bakheng, West Baray and other ruins amongst the surrounding jungle and rice paddies. Bring a camera and binoculars if you have them. The big, yellow balloon is based on the road from the airport to Angkor Wat, about a kilometer from the front gates of Angkor Wat. 

Khmer Arts and Crafts 
Cambodia is also known for its arts and crafts. The concept of silk weaving, painting, basket making, wood carving, silver crafting, buffalo skin carving, knife/sword making, stone sculpting, pottery and ceramic are some of the ancient traditions of Khmer ancestors that still last till present time. It is worth paying a visit to these workshops to witness and understand more about Khmer arts and crafts. If you are interested, perhaps join in some small activities like ceramic or buffalo skin carving classes.

Apsara Dance Show
Experience dance and music styles of a Khmer dance performance. Discover history and legends of the Kingdom through various types of popular and classical dances performed by the Apsara Dancers. Step back in time to the courts of the Angkorian Kings and wonder at the magnificence of the traditionally styled performers' costumes. This is called “Apsara Dance”.

ICF Wakepark
Is the first and only wakeboard park in Cambodia. We cater to all riding styles whether a seasoned pro or a new beginner. We have boards, bindings, vests and helmets for all rider sizes. Come enjoy a day at the lake at Cambodia's first and only wakeboard park.

Cambodian circus Phare Ponleu Selpak 
“Phare, the Cambodian Circus” is an offshoot project of Phare Ponleu Selpak (Association) which translates as “Brightness of the Arts” in English. PPS Association is a Cambodian non-profit, non-governmental association founded in 1994 by eight young Cambodians ex-refugees artists in the area of Anchanh Village, Ochar Commune, Battambang Province. It serves as a tool to build the careers of Cambodian Artists, to revive Cambodian art scenes, to make worldwide arts connections with Cambodia and to contribute to the artistic, educational and social programs of PPS Association. The circus is an amazing blend of traditional and modern theater, music, dance, acrobatic, juggling and contortion beautifully choreographed and performed in a story about Cambodian lives and society. During one hour, through high technical skills, the performers transmit the emotion and excitement and totally blow the audience away thanks to their distinctive personalities and humor. The show is on daily. 

Angkor Wildlife and Aquarium
Angkor Wildlife & Aquarium is the first aquarium in Cambodia featuring a 500m3 aquarium featuring freshwater species as well as a 600m3 saltwater aquarium. The main aquarium building houses freshwater species that are endemic to Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam. There are also 10 hectares of outdoor animal exhibits and attractions including tigers, river otters, and crocodiles. Som of the the critically endangered species such as: Siamese Tiger Perch, Giant Pangaius Catfish (which weigh more than 300 kg), Mekong Giant Catfish (which are three meters long), Giant Freshwater Stingray, Mekong Featherback, and Marbled Whipray. In the saltwater aquarium, visitors can appreciate and learn about species such as whitetip reef sharks, bull sharks, spotted eagle rays, and others. 

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