In Sihanoukville, we met a small group of Russian tourists and decided to go with them in their minivan. Unfortunately, we didn’t know then that the road from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap was in a terrible state and for 6 hours we were constantly shaking on every hole and pothole. But the whole road is full of potholes and this seems to be the main route between the two cities.
We were surprised to read on the Internet some reports from various travelers about the supposedly good quality of this road. This data is either very outdated or simply unreliable. Maybe the road was once good, but not now, so we do not advise anyone to drive along it. Moreover, it will most likely not be repaired soon - the Khmers do not know how to work well, and foreign sponsors for repairs may not be found for a long time.
As we realized later, the third and best (inexpensive) way to get from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap is by speedboat on Tonle Sap Lake (runs from July to March, when there is sufficient water level in the lake). Travel time is about 5 hours, the ticket costs $25. The distance between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap is about 600 km.
Let's face it, Phnom Penh is not a center of tourist attractions and entertainment, of which there are few. Typically, travelers stop here for a short time, on the way to other resorts and attractions in Cambodia.
However, Phnom Penh has its own interesting places and attractions that you will not see anywhere else. For example, the museum of genocide and memory of the victims of the Pol Pot regime or the “killing fields” where the bodies of these victims were buried.
However, we personally wanted something more positive, so we spent the day in Phnom Penh visiting the National History Museum and the Royal Palace with the famous Silver Pagoda. I liked the museum; it has a large collection of surviving statues from excavations in Angkor.
The Royal Palace, of course, is not as luxurious as in Bangkok, but still very beautiful. It also has not only its own emerald Buddha (in fact, they are made of jade everywhere), but also several quite impressive statues of Buddhas made of pure gold. And the Silver Pagoda got its name because of the floor, which is lined with real silver tiles. The floor is carpeted, but from the edge you can lightly touch this historic silver covering with your bare foot. In Cambodian temples, just like in Indian and Thai ones, you must remove your shoes before entering. Photography was not allowed inside the Silver Pagoda, but photos of the palace grounds can be seen below. We walked there with great pleasure and recommend it to other travelers.
After 6 pm we left Phnom Penh for Siem Reap and after many hours of wild shaking on a bumpy road, we arrived in this wonderful tourist town at about 1 am.
Without a doubt, Siem Reap is one of the most visited cities in Cambodia due to the fact that nearby is the sacred ancient city of Angkor - the capital of the Khmer Empire, which existed in the 9th-15th centuries. Angkor Wat is especially famous - the largest temple complex on the planet, included in the UNESCO cultural heritage list.
Unlike other cities in Cambodia, Siem Reap looks quite European, since in recent years it was built exclusively to receive numerous tourists.
The city has a large selection of absolutely inexpensive and high-quality hotels for every taste and budget. The most popular places to stay are in the Old Market area near Pub Street, as well as near the Night Market where housing is even cheaper. The main thing is that in the area of these streets there are many good cafes, restaurants, shops and shopping arcades with souvenirs, things and fruit. There are places to take a walk in the evenings.
We chose to live near the central square in the nice and cozy Prum Bayon Hotel. A deluxe room with a good breakfast cost only 1,300 rubles for two. The hotel even had its own swimming pool, which comes in very handy after a hot day of hiking around the temples of Angkor.
The hotel was announced as 3 stars, but it was even a strong 4. Then we saw many more inexpensive and good hotels. If you come to Siem Reap, you will always find an acceptable accommodation option for you - the city is simply created for tourists.
Of course, ancient Angkor is the main attraction of Siem Reap. Every year this temple complex is visited by several thousand tourists from all over the world.
There is no point in describing its numerous temples and monuments - such detailed descriptions are quite sufficient on the Internet. We will only share our personal impressions and advice.
Allow 2-3 days to explore the main temples and other attractions. Before visiting Angkor, it is better to collect information about it in advance, because the territory is really huge. Walking is unrealistic; you won’t have time to see much. Some temples are located at a distance of more than 40 km. It is better to travel with a map or guidebook in a local tuk-tuk, which you can negotiate inexpensively yourself or book a guided tour at your hotel.
Approximate prices, if you negotiate directly with a tuk-tuker, are $15 for a trip to the temples of the “small circle” and $20 for a trip to the more distant temples of the “big circle”.
Tickets for 1 day ($20), 3 days ($40) and 1 week ($60) are sold at the official ticket offices along the road to Angkor Wat. We advise you to immediately buy a ticket for 3 days. The special thing about these tickets is that they will have your photo on them. Right there, at the ticket office, each tourist is quickly photographed and a ticket is printed just as quickly. Some people think that it is possible to get to the territory of Angkor without a ticket using roundabout routes. This is probably possible, but it is better not to risk it.
Near each temple they ask to show a ticket, and we have witnessed situations where the photo on the ticket was carefully compared with the face of the person who presented this ticket. Therefore, it is better to have your own ticket and always have it at hand when walking around historical places. The Khmers guard their historical treasures very vigilantly. No bribes in this case will help to penetrate the territory of Angkor.
Below, look at maps of the territory of ancient Angkor, with the main temples that you need to have time to explore. There are several standard routes or you can create your own. All maps are of good quality. You can print or copy them and take them with you.
In addition to the main routes, you will definitely be offered to watch the sunrise or sunset over Angkor. We recommend watching the sunrise. Just be prepared that you will have to leave in the dark, at about 5 am, and you will stand for a couple of hours in a crowd of other tourists. However, the impressions and photographs are worth all this effort.
Here are the photos we got of the sunrise over Angkor.
There are different options for sunset. You can ascend in a special hot air balloon (it does not fly, but only rises on a cable) and watch the sunset or just Angkor during the day from a height of 200 meters. The launch site with the ball is approximately 1 km away. from the gate to Angkor Wat. However, you will see this yellow ball from everywhere. We went up and liked it.
These are the views of Angkor from above.
Also, near the Bayon Temple or at the South Gate of Angkor, elephant rides are available during the day and in the evenings ($10). Elephants are usually based in Phnom Bakheng, from there you can ride an elephant to the top of the mountain to watch the sunset ($15).
The only thing we don’t recommend is watching the sunset from the popular tourist site of the Phnom Bakheng temple itself. Firstly, the temple itself is badly damaged and is not as interesting as other temples. Secondly, at sunset the temple is surrounded by tourists like an anthill and then you will have to climb down the steep steps at dusk among the same crowd, and even in daylight you need to climb there very, very carefully. And finally, most importantly, the view of the sunset from this temple did not impress us at all. The sun just sets behind the forest and you can see something like this from anywhere. We regretted that we went there. It would have been better to ride an elephant at sunset or go up in a hot air balloon. But this is purely our personal opinion.
Briefly, we can say that the city - the temple of Angkor is more than 1000 years old. Of these, for about 500 years it stood abandoned, overgrown with wild jungle. Today, restoration work is being actively carried out on the territory of Angkor - different temples are being restored by teams from different countries, but there will still be enough work for many years.
The most famous temple of the complex is Angkor Wat, the silhouette of which is depicted on the national flag of Cambodia. The temple occupies a huge area - 200 hectares, is surrounded by the same huge man-made moat and is the largest religious building in the world. The shape of the temple is a three-stage pyramid. Angkor Wat is topped with five towers, the height of the central tower reaches 65 meters. The fine, skillful carvings that decorate the stone walls have been preserved. Many statues of the divine dancer Apsara are located throughout the temple. At first glance, it seems that they are all the same, but if you look closely, you will see different facial expressions, clothes and will be surprised how unique each figure is.
Angkor Thom is a fortress surrounded by a hundred-meter-wide moat and a wall 8 m high. The area is also huge - 900 hectares. A picturesque bridge spanning a moat leads inside the fortress. The railing of the bridge is made in the form of the sacred nine-headed serpent Naga. This snake is held on one side of the bridge by the gods, on the other by demons. There are a total of 108 figures of demons and gods. There are 5 gates built into the wall that lead inside the fortress.
We really liked the Bayon Temple - the main attraction of Angkor Thom. More than 30 slender towers have been preserved in the temple, each of which is decorated with an image of Bothisattva Avalokiteshvara - the embodiment of the endless compassion of all Buddhas. Many visitors are fascinated by these 200 faces of the deity, which create the feeling of being constantly watched. Some claim that facial expressions change depending on the lighting and time of day. While we were exploring Bayonne, the divine faces simply smiled mysteriously at us.
One of the most vivid impressions was visiting the Ta Prohm Temple. Yes, this is the same one where the famous tomb raider Lara Croft was filmed. Locals even joke that this is a temple named after Angelina Jolie. In fact, the temple is most memorable for the fact that it was not cleared of the jungle like others and was left with ancient stones entwined with the powerful roots of centuries-old trees. There is an atmosphere of some mystery and primordial surroundings around the entire temple. There is a version that the ruins of the temples of Angkor became the prototype of the lost city from “The Jungle Book” by Rudyard Kipling, the author of the famous Mowgli.
Few people know that there are a couple more mysterious places in the temple. For example, a picture of a dinosaur on one of the walls. It is unlikely that the ancient Khmers were good archaeologists and reconstructed the appearance of the dinosaur from the bones they found. This suggests that at the time of the builders of Angkor, not all ancient lizards had yet died out. How to explain why the appearance of a dinosaur is depicted with such authenticity? How could they know what real dinosaurs looked like?
There is also a small room with amazing acoustics on the territory of the Ta-Prohm temple. You won't believe it, but you can even hear a heartbeat there. Some guides show this place. Even if you came to explore on your own, try following one of the organized groups and they will most likely lead you to the right place.
There is a similar temple, only smaller in size, among the temples of the “Great Circle”. It's called Ta Som. Judge for yourself how similar Ta Prohm and Ta Som are from the photo below.
We remember the so-called “Great Circle” (50 km from Siem Reap) with two more interesting temples.
First of all, this is the Banteay Srei Temple, which is considered the most beautiful of the Angkor temples. It is also called the women's temple, as there was an ancient nunnery here. It has been preserved better than many other temples. Made of red stone, with unique carved images, it looks simply incomparable. This temple is a must see even though it is located quite far away. In addition, it is pleasing that there are no ubiquitous crowds of tourists - not everyone has time to get here.
I was also very impressed by the large temple of East Mebon, which used to stand on an island, but now found itself at the bottom of a dried up ancient reservoir. On its territory, figures of lions and elephants have been preserved, as well as huge roots of centuries-old trees that have engulfed ancient stones.
In fact, during our two days in Angkor we visited a couple dozen more temples. You can’t describe everything - Angkor is too big. We focused in more detail only on the temples that we personally found most interesting. Other travelers may have their own opinion.
Everyone's impressions of Angkor are very individual. It will be interesting to see comments from those who have already been there and those who are just dreaming of going there. Write and let’s discuss different impressions!
On the third day of their stay in Siem Reap, they usually go on a river trip along Tonle Sap Lake, which is a 30-minute drive from the city. This lake is one of the largest in the world, there is an interesting floating village and a nature reserve with beautiful birds. But we didn’t go there, since floating villages can be seen in other Southeast Asian countries.
In addition, in 2 days we managed to explore the temples of Angkor in a very tight schedule, every day literally “from dawn to dusk.” Immediately after this we decided to end our stay in Cambodia.
Ahead of us was a bright and diverse Malaysia - tropical Kuala Lumpur, flying rhinoceroses of Pangkor, protected jungles of Borneo... Interesting? About all this in our next reports.
Ekaterina Fedorova from a trip to Asia.
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Tour program.
Attention! The website indicates the start date of the tour in Siem Reap (local time Moscow time + 4 hours).
Expand all
1 day
At the request of the guests - dinner and Apsara show or other options (additional charge).
Today Siem Reap is one of the most visited places on the planet. Being the gateway to Angkor, this city has become a real “tourist Mecca”. Enjoy its charm and tranquility, cordiality and versatility.
Day 2
Legendary temples of Angkor. Small circle.
Breakfast In a hotel. Today you will find an exciting journey into a world lost in the jungle. Angkor- the center of the once powerful and prosperous Khmer empire. You will walk through the ancient capital Angkor Thom, climb the stone mountain - Baphuon Temple, walk through the Royal Square, the terraces of the elephants and the leper king, visit the territory of the former royal palace and the Pimeanakas temple, get acquainted with the legendary Bayon Temple, famous for its stone smile towers, and also reveal the secrets of Ta Prohm temple complex, and of course visit legendary Angkor Wat.
Day 3
Sacred plateau Kulen. Swimming in a waterfall.
Breakfast In a hotel. Excursion to the sacred Kulen plateau. The small Kulen mountain range is considered a sacred place among the Khmers. According to legend, it was here that the divine Buddha took his last step. The journey to the mountain is very exciting and unforgettable. You will walk along the mountain river “thousand lingas”, the bottom of which is decorated with stone carvings for hundreds of meters. Then you will climb to the peak of a mountain rock, where there is a functioning Buddhist monastery of the 16th century with a carved 8-meter silhouette of a “recumbent” Buddha. And also visit the caves in which Indian ascetics spent their entire lives. After which, in the midst of the sultry heat, a gift awaits you - swimming in the cool waters of a two-stage waterfall. Overnight at the hotel.
4 day
Floating village on Tonle Sap lake. Transfer to Phnom Penh.
After breakfast excursion at the hotel Tonle Sap Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. Here it is called the “Khmer Sea”. You will get acquainted with the life and traditions of local fishermen in the Vietnamese floating village of Chong Ne. Excellent fishing and fishing conditions make the lake one of the most productive freshwater fisheries in the world and, once the waters recede, an excellent place for agriculture.
Transfer to the capital of Cambodia (without guide). Meeting with the guide and accommodation at the hotel. Free time.
5 day
Phnom Penh is an Asian pearl.
Breakfast In a hotel. City tour. This excursion is ideal for those who are in the capital of Cambodia for only one day, but want to see and do a lot. And it's possible! We will visit all the main attractions of the city - the pagoda on the only hill of Wat Phnom, the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda. We will get acquainted with the architecture of the city, learn about the customs and morals of the capital’s residents, and also “uncover” the most complex and confusing pages of the country’s history. The busy day will end with a ride on a rickshaw through the central streets of the city and watching the sunset on board a pleasure boat. Feel like a part of this multifaceted and amazing metropolis, with its oriental flavor and the spirit of the colonial past - a city that was once destined to be reborn, and now it is to return to its former glory as the most beautiful city in Indochina. Overnight at the hotel.
There have been some changes on the Koh Rong islands this past year, so we thought we’d write ‘the ultimate’ Koh Rong hotel guide and review all the accommodation on Koh Rong and its sister island Koh Rong Samloem. (See also: Koh Rong Samloem Hotel Guide) Now, finding the best places to stay on Koh […]
Read MoreHow to Get to Koh Rong (From Sihanoukville, Phnom Penh & More)
Over the past year or so there have been some major changes in how to get to Koh Rong and its sister island Koh Rong Samloem – From much faster ferry services from Sihanoukville to Koh Rong, to more convenient flights into Sihanoukville, to the first cross- country train, it has never been easier to get […]
Read MoreUltimate Koh Rong Beach Guide (2019)
A lot has changed on the Koh Rong islands in the past year, so we thought we’d write ‘the ultimate’ Koh Rong beach guide and review all the beaches on Koh Rong and its sister island Koh Rong Samloem. (See also: Ultimate Koh Rong Hotel Guide 2019) Firstly, please ignore what you might read elsewhere – […]
Read More Read MoreKoh Rong Weather – Tips to Plan Your Trip
As we are now in rainy season (middle of May to early November), the weather on Koh Rong Island is starting to change, with more bursts of rain appearing during the day. The bursts usually last for a couple of hours, and the rainy views are beautiful, so we’re sure you’ll have a great time […]
Read MoreUltimate Koh Rong Samloem Hotel Guide (2019)
Discover the best places to stay on Koh Rong Samloem with our 'Ultimate Koh Rong Samloem Hotel Guide' – Whether you want to lie back, unwind, and admire the magnificent views, swim in the warm crystal-clear ocean waters, explore the exotic wildlife , or learn the historic Khmer culture, this mesmerizing island is your perfect destination. […]
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Over the past year many new attractions and activities have opened up on Koh Rong. Below, we are going to summarize the best things to see and do on the beautiful island – From snorkelling / scuba diving with the exotic marine life, to watching mesmerizing sunsets and seeing glowing plankton, to paddle boarding, kayaking, […]
Read More10 Best Hotels on Koh Rong (2019)
Several new resorts have opened up on Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem in the past year, so we thought it might be a good time to re-evaluate the best hotels on these beautiful islands, and decide the 10 best hotels on Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem. (For a more in depth review, see: […]
Read More7 Best Beaches on Koh Rong (2019)
There are many spectacular beaches on Koh Rong Island. Here, we are going to evaluate Koh Rong’s best beaches in 2019 and make a list of our top favorites. We’ll try to cover both Koh Rong and its beautiful sister island Koh Rong Samloem, but choosing the best beaches on these island paradises is not […]
Read MoreBest Boat Trips on Koh Rong Island (2019)
If you’re staying on Koh Rong Island, and would like to do something different (and a little more adventurous), we would recommend for you to take a private long boat around the island. There really are some incredible places to see, and it makes for a fantastic day out with your friends, family, or partner. […]
Once Cambodia's road network improved, buses quickly became the most popular means of intercity transport.
From the city Sihanoukville to Siem Reap There are two main types of buses - day and night (sleeping) buses.
Daytime buses:
— stop in Phnom Penh, where everyone gets off and transfers to another bus of the same company
- are cheaper than overnight ones
Night buses:
— they stop in Phnom Penh, but usually there is no need to change trains;
- cost more than daytime ones
- it is believed that they crash more often than daytime ones due to animals suddenly running onto the road, oncoming vehicles that do not have headlights (this is a local form of saving), or break down, but statistics show that they are not much more dangerous than any car
Direct flights There is no route from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville and all buses go through Phnom Penh. The road consists of two parts: the bus travels 314 km from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh for 5-6 hours, then it stops to drop off and pick up passengers for about half an hour, and then from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville another 230 km and about 4 hours drive along the National Route. No. 4. There are several more stops along the way so that passengers can go to the toilet and buy something to eat. Thus, the entire journey takes 10-11 hours, although much depends on the weather and traffic congestion.
Bus tickets You can buy at the offices of a specific company (see addresses below), or you can purchase with a small markup at any travel agency or hotel. You can buy one ticket from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville, or a ticket only to Phnom Penh, and then buy another ticket for another time.
One main thing bus station in Phnom Penh does not exist, and buses from different companies stop at different points in the city - for example, near their office. One of the largest bus stations in Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh Sorya Transport, is located near the Central Market (Phsar Thmey).
In Sihanoukville, the main bus station bears the name of the city and is located in the northeast of the city, a kilometer from the railway station.
In Siem Reap, the main bus station, Chong Kov Sou, is located a few kilometers west of the city center.
Prices are in US dollars.
Main transport companies:
Capitol Tours
Phnom Penh Office:№14AEo, Street 182
Telephone: + 855 23 217 627, + 855 23 724 104
Website: http://www.capitolkh.com/ (in English)
Departure: daily
Phnom Penh - Siem Reap: 7:30, 8:30, 10:15, 12:00, 13:30, 14:30
Siem Reap - Phnomen: 7:00, 7:30, 9:00, 10:00, 12:00, 13:30, 14:30PM
Phnom Penh - Sihanoukville: 7:15, 8:45, 9:45, 13:30, 14:30
Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh: 7:30, 8:30, 12:30, 13:30
Giant ibis Transport
Phnom Penh Office: 3E0, Street 106 (in the territory of the night market on the river side; telephone: +855 23 999 333)
Office in Sihanoukville: road leading to Sokha Beach, Group 5, Sankat 4 (phone: +855 89 999 818)
Office in Siem Reap: 6A, Sivatha Road, Phum Mondol 1, Sangkat Svay Dongkom (Phone: +855 63 768 808)
Website: http://www.giantibis.com/ (in English)
Departure: daily
Phnom Penh - Siem Reap: 7:45, 8:45, 12:30
Siem Reap - Phnomen: 7:45, 8:45, 12:30
Phnom Penh – Sihanoukville: 8:00, 12:30, 14:45
Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh: 7:30, 9:00, 13:30
Price:
Phnom Penh – Sihanoukville: $11
Phnom Penh – Siem Reap: $14
GST Express Bus
Phnom Penh Office: No. 13 Street 142 (opposite the southwest corner of Phnom Penh Central Market (Phsar Thmey)
Telephone: +855 23 355 379,+855 12 895 550
Mekong Express
Phnom Penh Office: No. 87 Sisowath Quay (corner of Street 102 on the river bank; telephone: +855 23 427 518)
Office in Siem Reap: No. 14A, Sivatha Blvd (phone: +855 63 963 662)
Departure: daily
Phnom Penh - Siem Reap: 7:30, 8:30, 12:30, 14:25
Siem Reap - Phnomen: 7:30, 8:30, 9:45, 12:30
Sorya Transport
Office in Phnom Penh located at the intersection of Charles de Gaulle and Street 67 (opposite the southwest corner of Phnom Penh Central Market (Phsar Thmey), phone +855 23 210 359, +855 12 631 545)
Office in Sihanoukville: Ekareach Street (phone: +855 92 181 808, +855 81 908 008)
Office in Siem Reap: No.588, Tep Vong Street, Mondul I,Khum Svay Dang Kum (phone: +855 92 181 800, +855 81 908 000)
Website: http://www.ppsoryatransport.com/ (in English)
Departure: daily
Phnom Penh - Siem Reap: 7:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:30, 8:00, 13:45 15:00, 16:45
Siem Reap - Phnomen: 5:30, 6:30, 7:30, 9:30, 8:30, 10:30, 12:30, 14:00
Phnom Penh - Sihanoukville: 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:30, 15:30, 17:45
Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh: 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10600, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 17:45
Sokha Komar Tep Express Limousine Bus
OfficeVPhnom Penh:
No. 7Eo, St.106. Sangkat Wat Phnom, Khan Doun Penh (phone: +855 23 991 414, +855 17 545 151)
OfficeVSiemRip:
Chong Kov Sou bus station (near Phsar Leu market; phone: +855 17 545 252)
Website:
http://www.sokha-komartep.com.kh/ (in English)
Departure:
daily
Phnom Penh - Siem Reap: 7:30, 8:00, 8:30, 9:30, 12:30, 13:30, 18:30, 23:30, 24:00
Siem Reap - Phnomen: 7:30, 8:00, 8:30, 9:30, 12:30, 13:30, 19:30, 23:30, 24:00
Virak Buntham Express Travel
Phnom Penh Office: Street 106 (on the coastal side of the night market)
Telephone: +855 12 322 302
By plane
Airplanes of the company fly from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville and back daily (since July 1, 2013). Angkor air" The flight lasts just over an hour and costs $130. You can get to the airport by a special bus, but you need to check its schedule at the hotel. You can also get there by motorcycle taxi, taxi or tuk-tuk.
By taxi
Tourists who do not want to travel in a large group and do not want to risk their lives by boarding a plane can hire an air-conditioned taxi that will take you from place to place for $120-200. It is better to negotiate directly with the taxi driver, because if you book through the hotel, the price will be higher.
On a ferryboat
From the vicinity of Siam Reap you can travel to Phnom Penh by ferry, which goes first along Tonle Sap Lake and then along the Mekong River. There is food and drink on board, but it is noisy. The swim lasts 6-10 hours.
Capitol Tours high speed ferry from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap departs at 6:30
By train
The railway does not enter Siem Reap, so this type of travel is not yet available.
— It’s better to take water and food with you, because where the buses stop, everything costs noticeably more.
— If you travel at night (and sometimes during the day), it can be cool inside the bus, so it’s better to also take a jacket and other warm things with you.
— The bus station is located in the very center of Sihanoukville and there are always tuk-tuks and motorcycle taxis on duty there, which know all the tourist spots. Necessarily haggling.
— To travel such a long distance, you should never take minibuses, because they are very cramped and usually do not have air conditioning.
