Arrival In Siem Reap & Departure

Siem Reap International Airport is a 6km, 15-20 minutes from town center depend the traffic. Taxis, tuk-tuks and motodups can be hired at the ticket desk located just outside the terminal doors. Taxis run $7, tuk-tuks are $5 and motodups $2 into town area, Vans are also available for $10. Extra charge may apply for hotels outside the main town area. Most hotels and guesthouses offer free pick up from airport with advance reservations.

Chong Khneas Ferry Dock for those arriving from Phnom Penh or Battambang by river ferry, the ferry dock is located at Chong Khneas near Phom Krom, 15km south of Siem Reap town. On arrival rates from the dock to town run about: Tuk-tuks: $5, Taxis: $7.

Chong Kov Sou Bus Station the bus station is located near Phsar Leu a couple of kilometers west of town center. On arrival, motodups from the station into town run $2 and tuk-tuks for $2-$4. For passengers departing Siem Reap, most bus companies offer a free shuttle service from the hotel to the bus station.

Suggestive Bus Companies

    Giant Ibis Transport (the best company)

             - Departure Schedule Siem Reap <=> Phnom Penh: 7:45AM, 8:45AM, 12:30PM & 11PM

             - Price:           $15/pax

             - Deluxe buses

    Mekong Express 

             - Departure Schedule Siem Reap <=> Phnom Penh: 7:30AM, 8:30AM, 12:30PM & 2:25PM

             - Price:           $9/pax

             - Deluxe buses

From Siem Reap to Battambang town, you have to hire a taxi or go by boat through Chong Khneas Ferry Dock. Please check with some travel agencies in town to get more detail and more update.                 

Preparing

Almost all hotels are located in or near Siem Reap Town. There are none within the park. With the exception of Roluos 13km east, the most important temples in the area lay 4-15km north of town, the closest being Angkor Wat. To visit the temples you will need to decide how long to stay, purchase an admission pass, arrange transportation and obtain a guidebook or tour guide.

Park Admission

You must possess an admission pass to visit the temples and sites in the Angkor Archaeological Park. All passes can be purchased at the main entrance on the road to Angkor Wat.

Passes are sold in one-day ($20), three-day ($40) and seven -day ($60) blocks. The three day pass is valid for one week, i.e. 3 days to be used within the week, not necessarily consecutively.

A one-day visit allows you to see highlights of the most famous ruins but little more. Three days is sufficient to visit all of the major temples, a few of the minor ones and have a little extra time for favorites. Seven days is enough to really explore some of your favorites and visit many minor structures as well.

The admissions office opens at 4:30AM. Park visiting hours are 5:00AM - sunset. Banteay Srey closes at 5:00PM and Kbal Spean at 3:00PM. Always carry your ticket. It will be checked upon each park entry and at major temples. A regular admission ticket is not required to visit Phnom Kulen, Koh Ker or Beng Melea but there are separate entrance fees of $20, $10 and $5, respectively.

What To Bring 

Dress for a tropical environment-warm, humid, sunny. Wear light, airy, covering clothing to protect from the sun and mosquitoes. The sun can be intense so bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Consider buying a traditional Khmer scarf (krama) to keep the sun off your neck. Carry a raincoat during the wet season (May-October), though you will probably only need it in the afternoon. You should have mosquito repellent for sunrise and sunset hours. War practical shoes for climbing narrow steps and walking on uneven surfaces. For serious temple explorers, a flashlight, notebook and compass can come in handy. Books, refreshments, water, trinkets and snacks are available from small vendors throughout the Park.

Transportation

The temples are too far apart to make foot travel practical (though some hearty visitors are hiking it anyway). Transportation options include: two-person tuk-tuks (moto-romauk) average $10-$15/day, car taxis $20-$3-/day, motorcycle taxi (motodup) for $8-$10, bicycles for $2-$5/day.

To avoid misunderstandings, negotiate the details of the driver's services carefully - exact price, what time you expect the day to begin and end, availability during lunch and evening hours, limitations on your itinerary, different prices for small/large circuits, etc.

There are always additional fees for transport to distant temples off the main circuits (e.g. Banteay Srei, Phnom Kulen, Kbal Spean, Koh Ker.) 

 

 

Cambodia Visas & Entry Requirements

A passport with at least six-month validity is required. A visa is required for most nationalities. One-month visas are available at Cambodian embassies, and much more conveniently, on arrival at the international airports in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh as well as at most overland international border crossings with Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. Tourist visa: US$30. Business visa: US$35, (sometimes more at overland crossings.) Diplomatic, Official, Courtesy, and Special visas are issued free of charge. One 4x6 photo is required. Tourist visas can be extended for one month, but only one time. Business visas can be renewed up to a year at a time, without limitation of number of renewals.

Siem Reap

Siem Reap is one of the cities of Cambodia. The main body of Siem Reap stretches about 3-4 km north/south along the Siem Reap River and roughly 5-6 km east/west along Rte. #6. The airport is 6km west of town. a 20 minutes ride from town center but some time it might takes 30 minutes if the traffic busy. The Angkor Park entrance lies about 5km north of town and there are no hotels within the park. Almost all tourist services are in or near town and spread relatively evenly across the area, though there are some particularly popular areas such as the Old Market/Pub street area is the tourist center for shopping, dining and nightlife. There are plenty of restaurants and shops around this area. There are lots of new boutiques, hotels and guesthouses which range between $1 to $150 around this area as well. Dozens of hotels and restaurants stretches along Airport Road and road to Angkor. Budget accommodations in the Wat Bo area and the Taphul Village area. A large variety of mid-range hotels, restaurants and shopping along Sivutha Blvd through town.

Cambodia Fast Fact File

Country Name: The King-dom of Cambodia
Country Name In Khmer Language: Kampuchea
Motto: Nation - Religion - King
Capital City: Phnom Penh
Language: Khmer (Cambodian). Some English and French spoken.
Population: 14.86 million (2012 est.)
Major Cities: Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Battambang and Kompong Cham.
Ethnic Group: Khmer, ethnic-Chiness, Muslim, ethnic-Vietnamese, several ethnic minorities in the northeast.
Bordering Countries: Thailand, Laos, Vietname
Intl Airports: Phnom Penh, Siem Reap
Religion: Theravada Buddhism, Islam, Anismism
Land Area of Cambodia: 181,035 square kilometers
Land Area of Siem Reap: 10,299 square kilometers
Currency: Riel (US$1= 4000R)
Voltage: 220v/50Hz
Time: GMT + 7 hours
Country Calling Code: 855
Siem Reap Code Area: 63
Internet TLD: .kh   

Climate

Practically speaking, Cambodia has four seasons in the year:
1: December - February, cool and dry.
2: March - May, hot and dry.
3: June - August, hot and rain.
4: September - November, cool and diminishing rain.

Though cool-dry season is considered the most comfortable time of year, the monsoon season has its advantages for the temple visitor. The countryside and temples are particularly picturesque. The rice paddies and vegetation are green and lush and the moats and reflecting pools around the temples are full. The colorful mosses and lichens and the colors in the wet temple stone stands much brighter and more apparent when wet.