Siem Reap
Best time to travel
The best time to travel would be during the dry season of October to March, avoiding the monsoon season of June to September. Temperatures remain fairly constant year round.
Fly to
Phnom Penh or Siem Reap via Bangkok
flying time
12 hours and 30 minutes
time difference
GMT + 7 hours
Visas
Issued on arrival
Health Requirements
Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from an endemic area
Itineraries
Into the Heart of Cambodia
Into the Heart of Cambodia highlights * Temples of Angkor Wat * Colonial Phnom Penh * Visiting Sam's brothers Clean water project Read more ...
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Nestled between rice paddies and stretched along the Siem Reap River, the small provincial town of Siem Reap serves as the gateway to the ancient temple ruins of the Khmer Empire. With a distinct colonial and Chinese style of architecture this town emanated from a cluster of old villages, but today is alive with culture, restaurants and pubs. There is a vast array of delicious cuisine on offer in the many restaurants and don't forget to enjoy a local performance of Apsara dancing!
Excursions are available to the surrounding paddy countryside and boat trips on the great Tonle Sap Lake to fishing villages and bird sanctuaries. Siem Reap is the hub for the Angkor Archaeological Park, Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, which encompasses dozens of temple ruins including the legendary Angkor Wat whose archaeological significance and visual impact sets it amongst other wonders of the world, such as the Pyramids, Machu Pichu and the Taj Mahal.
Temples of Angkor
The main attraction to Siem Reap is undoubtedly the temples of Angkor. Spread throughout a large area from the main town there are individual circuits that our guides will take you to with a flexibility to ensure you avoid the regular tourist track. The central circuit includes the centrepiece of Angkor Wat, one of the largest religious monuments in the world, often seen at sunrise or sunset, the Bayon Temple, located at the centre of the magnificent Angkor Thom compound, with the majestic character created from over 200 faces carved on the towers, the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King, and Ta Phrom temple, where the luxuriant tropical vegetation has enveloped the temple.
For those wanting to explore further afield, whilst the journey can be long, you are rewarded with less visited temples but no less impressive. Banteay Srei, the only temple not to be built by a King, is covered with some of the most beautiful deep and intricate carvings of any Angkorian temple. The Rolous Group of temples are among the earliest temples built and marked the beginning of the classic period Khmer art. Beng Mealea is similar to Angkor Wat in size but its current state is dominated by the jungle; trees have grown out of towers and vines entangle columns, making for some fantastic photographs. Koh Ker is another temple complex which represents the remnants of the capital of the Khmer Empire from 928 AD - 944 AD, away from the tourist masses the premier ruin of the complex is Prasat Thom, an imposing seven tiered pyramids. Banteay Chhmar, being brought back to its former glory through local work, is well known for its intricate carvings and long walls of bas-relief. Vast and ruinous, it is one of the few temples to feature the enigmatic Bayon-style giant faces with their mysterious smiles.
Suggested Siem Reap Accommodation
Amansara
Amansara is situated on the outskirts of Siem Reap, only 10 minutes from the entrance of Angkor in a lush garden enclosure. Once the guest villa of King Norodom Sihanouk, it has been transformed into...
Grand Hotel d'Angkor
Raffles D'Angkor, a grand historic hotel that has been sensitively restored to its original architectural style, is a destination in itself. Situated only a few kilometres from the ancient Angkor complex...
Hotel De La Paix
Located in the heart of Siem Reap, this stylish boutique hotel offers outstanding levels of luxury to provide guests with a unique lifestyle experience. Only a few kilometres from the famous UNESCO...
La Residence d'Angkor
Surrounded by majestic old trees, La Residence d'Angkor is built in the Khmer style within a leafy walled garden, located on the river in the centre of Siem Reap.
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Guest Testimonial
We appreciated knowing the travel specialist (Katie Sims) from the previous A&K holiday. The hotels in Grenada and Cordoba were excellent.
The Renfe trains from Grenada to Malaga were very impressive. On time, comfortable and fast. ![]()
- JS, Wirral
World Travel Awards
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A&K Philanthropy
Sam's Brothers Clean Water Project
Provides local communities with access to clean, bacteria-free water in rural Cambodia, where waterborne illnesses are responsible for more than half of all deaths.












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